Winners of 10 straight games heading into the All-Star break, the surging Boston Red Sox are poised to buy at the 2025 MLB trade deadline.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been open about his plan to pursue starting pitching, but he should also explore options to upgrade the bullpen. Reliable relief pitching is critical for a deep postseason run, and the Red Sox have a chance to make a serious playoff push in the wide-open American League.
Breslow made an effort to improve the bullpen last summer — his first as Boston’s front-office leader — by acquiring rental relievers Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia. Both were in the midst of solid seasons with their previous teams, but they struggled mightily over the final two months with the Red Sox.
This time, Breslow should shoot higher than Sims and Garcia types in his pursuit of bullpen upgrades. The relievers he targets should have a proven track record beyond just 2025, and he shouldn’t be afraid to pay up for an elite high-leverage option to pair with All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman.
Here are 10 relievers who should be on Breslow’s shortlist of trade targets:
Ryan Helsley, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
ESPN’s Jeff Passan got the Helsley hype started by mentioning the Red Sox as the “best match” for the All-Star right-hander. In February, we actually had the Red Sox acquiring Helsley as one of our 2025 trade deadline predictions.
Helsley has been among MLB’s best relief pitchers for the last four seasons. The two-time All-Star even earned Cy Young votes after his outstanding 2022 and 2024 campaigns.
It has been sort of a “down” season by Helsley’s standards, but the 30-year-old is still sporting a 3.27 ERA over 33 appearances. He and Chapman would form one of the scariest and hardest-throwing setup-closer combinations in the game.
Helsley would be a rental as his contract is set to expire after this season.
Reid Detmers, LHP, Los Angeles Angels
Detmers converted to a relief role this season. It was a rough adjustment for the 26-year-old southpaw, but he has been exceptional over the last two months.
Since May 9, Detmers owns a 1.29 ERA wth 37 strikeouts and 13 walks in 28 innings. He went 22 consecutive outings without allowing an earned run before his most recent two appearances.
Making Detmers an even more attractive option for Breslow is that he’s under team control through 2028. Additionally, he’s capable of stepping up as a spot starter if necessary.
Jhoan Duran, RHP, Minnesota Twins
This one might be a pipe dream, but we had to include at least one long shot on the list.
Duran has some of the filthiest stuff in the league, and the Twins aren’t likely to move him this summer unless they get a significant haul in return. The 27-year-old is also under team control through 2027.
That said, Breslow should at least inquire about what it would take to pry him away from Minnesota. Duran has come up in trade rumors over the last couple of weeks, so why not check in on one of the nastiest closers in the league?
Duran has a 1.66 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and 16 walks this season. Boston already has a dominant closer in Chapman, but the 37-year-old is playing on a one-year deal. Duran could take over as the Red Sox’ lights-out closer in 2027.
Griffin Jax, RHP, Minnesota Twins
Jax is the more realistic option if Breslow calls Minnesota’s front office for a potential deal. The 30-year-old shined as Duran’s set-up man in 2024, and although his numbers aren’t quite as impressive so far this season, he’d still be a major addition to Boston’s bullpen.
One encouraging number from this season: Jax’s 66 strikeouts. His 14.4 K/9 so far this year is a career-high.
David Bednar, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
If Breslow is looking for a reliever with a proven track record, look no further than Bednar. The two-time All-Star struggled mightily in 2024 but has bounced back so far in 2025, posting a 2.53 ERA and 1.125 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and only nine walks in 36 appearances.
Bednar, 30, is also under team control through next season. The Pirates already are out of contention, so they should be motivated to sell off valuable pieces sooner rather than later.
Chris Martin, RHP, Texas Rangers
The ex-Red Sox reliever is still doing his thing at 39 years old. Is he destined to return to Boston?
In 37 appearances for Texas this season, Martin has a 2.20 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 34 strikeouts and only five walks. He was one of the Red Sox’ few bright spots in 2023 and 2024, so Breslow should consider the possibility of bringing him back for the 2025 postseason push.
Kyle Finnegan, RHP, Washington Nationals
Finnegan represented the Nationals at the 2024 All-Star Game and has been even better so far in 2025. The 33-year-old has a 3.12 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 35 outings.
While he may not move the needle like a Duran, Jax or Bednar, Finnegan is a rock-solid reliever who should be relatively affordable as a rental.
Steven Matz, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals
It feels like Matz’s name has been connected to the Red Sox in trade or free agency rumors several times throughout his 11-year career. Will he finally join Boston this summer?
Matz has become a full-time reliever this season with St. Louis, and he’s seen some solid results. In 28 outings (two starts), the 34-year-old has posted a 3.35 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.
Similar to Detmers, Matz’s history as a starter means he can be stretched multiple innings if needed. And as a rental, it shouldn’t take too much to acquire him if the price for his teammate Helsley is too steep.
Emilio Pagan, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
Pagan has enjoyed a solid nine-year career as a journeyman reliever. Will Boston mark his seventh team?
The 34-year-old has looked sharp in Cincinnati this season. In 40 appearances, he has posted a 2.93 ERA and 0.875 WHIP.
Pagan’s contract is set to expire after the 2025 season.
Tyler Rogers, RHP, San Francisco Giants
Another rental, Rogers has been nothing short of stellar since joining the Giants in 2018. The 34-year-old is a workhorse who has led the National League in appearances in three seasons, and he’s on pace to do the same this year with an MLB-leading 48 outings before the All-Star break.
This season has been Rogers’ best yet. The submariner has a 1.55 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 34 strikeouts and only four walks.
Rogers would be a rental, so he’s among the most reliable and cost-effective options on this list.
