I think the Red Sox are already the best team in the A.L. East, despite recent injuries as they still hold a 2 game lead on the Yankees. I think a righty swinging RF to platoon with Josh Reddick makes the most sense for the Red Sox to pursue. With the Red Sox not wanting to deal a top prospect for a batter, Jeff Francoeur (Royals), Ryan Spilborghs (Rockies), Juan Rivera (Dodgers) and Chris Denorfia (Padres) make the most sense. If choosing between this group of players, Francoeur makes the most sense as he is having a good year. The Royals would likely want pitching for him. Righty starter/reliever Michael Bowden or lefty starter Felix Doubront would likely be of interest to the Royals, and I don’t think the Red Sox would have a problem in dealing either of them and possibly a minor prospect for him. If the Red Sox acquire an outfielder to platoon with Josh Reddick in RF, they can nail J.D. Drew to the bench. At least Drew won’t get hurt riding the pine unless he gets a splinter somehow.

The Red Sox likely have closer Jonathan Papelbon and outfielder Mike Cameron on the trading block right now. If the Red Sox are going to be able to deal either of these guys they are likely going to have to throw in a ton of cash to make it happen. The only glaring needs on the Red Sox are behind the plate and the need for a top lefty reliever. I’m not so sure they can fill both of those holes by dealing Papelbon and Cameron unless they go in the same deal. The Red Sox would be wise to keep these two guys unless they get what they are worth.

The Boston Red Sox minor league system is all torn up right now. With that in mind I would look to make a couple of small deals with the Pirates and A’s. I would trade infielder Jed Lowrie and catcher Mark Wagner (#25 prospect coming into this year) to the Pirates for catcher Ryan Doumit and righty reliever D.J. Carrasco. Doumit would fill a huge hole for the Red Sox until Victor Martinez comes back and Carrasco works a lot of innings saving a bullpen. Then I would flip outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin (#20 prospect heading into this year) to the A’s for lefty reliever Craig Breslow. The Red Sox could really use another lefty reliever and Breslow is one of the better ones on the market. Doumit, Breslow and Carrasco might not be sexy names on the trade market but they also don’t cost top dollar prospect wise and adding them would make the Red Sox a lot better going forward.

The Boston Red Sox are 49-36 on the season which has them in third place in the A.L. East, 5 games behind the Red Sox. They are also three games behind the Rays for the Wild Card in the A.L. If the Red Sox continue to fade they could entertain trade offers for 29-year old righty closer Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon has pitched in 34 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox this year and he is 3-4 with 19 saves, a 3.60 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Papelbon has now pitched in 302 games (3 starts) in his six years with the Red Sox and he is 17-15 with 170 saves, a 2.03 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. The two reasons to consider trading Papelbon if the Red Sox fall out of contention is because they should get a nice return for him and they have a replacement already in the pen in hard throwing righty Daniel Bard. Bard has pitched in 40 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox this year and he is 1-2 with 3 saves, a 1.99 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP. He has only given up 22 hits in 40 2/3 innings this season while whiffing 44 batters as he has been amazing. Bard also has solid control as he has only walked 12 batters this season. If the Red Sox get hot though they shouldn’t even consider trading Papelbon who makes a pretty nasty tandem with Bard at the end of games.

I know, the Red Sox are 49-34 which has them only 2.5 games behind the Yankees in the A.L. East and 1/2 a game behind the Rays for the A.L. Wildcard. They can’t afford to sit on their hands due to all of the injuries they have suffered. The Red Sox appear to be talking to the D-Backs about Chris Snyder but they don’t need to likely aim that high at catcher. They would be better served to find a backup type catcher who won’t cost them prospects they need to add players at other positions. With that in mind it would make sense for them to go after someone like Humberto Quintero or Mike Redmond. If I were running the Red Sox I would be after Mike Aviles, Adam Kennedy, Mike Fontenot or Jeff Keppinger to start at 2B until Dustin Pedroia is ready to return to action. I just don’t have much faith in Eric Patterson and Bill Hall holding down the job. The Red Sox also need help from both sides of the bullpen. Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, Will Ohman, Kyle Farnsworth, Mike Wuertz, Brad Ziegler, Brandon Lyon and Octavio Dotel all make sense. I don’t look for the Red Sox to make major moves before July 31st but they might make quite a few little ones that could make a big difference.