Red Sox Are Set A ‘Blaze’ By Craig Breslow At Trade Deadline

By: Chris Felico

The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and while contenders reloaded, the Boston Red Sox stood still—or worse, took steps backward. In a time when the team needed bold direction and savvy maneuvering, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow looked in over his head, making questionable moves that left the fanbase scratching their heads and the clubhouse reportedly stunned.

Yes, it was a seller’s market. Yes, asking prices were steep. But that doesn't excuse outright ineptitude.

Let’s start with the trade that lit the fuse: Blaze Jordan shipped off to the Cardinals for Steven Matz. Jordan, while not a perfect prospect, has legitimate upside as a corner infielder with power and improving plate discipline. And with Alex Bregman potentially walking in free agency, you would think keeping a young bat like Blaze’s in the system would be a priority, despite his potential Rule 5 eligibility. Instead, Breslow dealt him for a back-end starter who’s on the IL more often than the mound. Matz doesn’t move the needle for this team—not now, not ever.

Then came the truly baffling decision: James Thibbs III sent to the Dodgers in exchange for Dustin May. Let’s be clear—May is talented. But he’s recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and won’t throw a meaningful pitch until late next season, if then. Not to mention, the Red Sox just roughed Dustin May up in the Dodgers trip to Fenway Park less than a week ago. Thibbs was arguably the most intriguing long-term piece acquired in the Rafael Devers trade, a move that already put Breslow under the microscope. Trading Thibbs is a short-sighted play in a moment that demands forward-thinking vision.

Meanwhile, teams directly in competition with Boston for the final playoff spots actually made themselves better:

• The Mariners added bullpen help and a power bat.

• The Rangers went after impact arms.

• The Blue Jays retooled their roster with a clear sense of urgency, adding pitching and catching depth.

• The Astros reunited with previous Houston playoff hero Carlos Correa.

All four are in the same fight the Red Sox are in. But only Boston chose to stand in the ring with one arm tied behind their back.

Breslow’s inaction—or worse, misaction—isn’t just a disappointment. It’s a failure of leadership at a pivotal moment. This front office sold the fanbase on a narrative of sustained competitiveness while building for the future. Instead, what we got was a team watching the clock tick down while rivals geared up for October. We had the assets with a farm system primed to use for immediate and controllable assets, but declined to make the bold move this team so desperately needed.

If the Red Sox miss the playoffs by a game or two, don’t blame the players. Don’t blame the schedule. Look directly at Craig Breslow’s deadline performance.

Because when it was time to ignite a postseason run, he lit a match and set the team a-‘Blaze’ (pun intended) instead.