TBT: Red Sox Legendary Trade Deadline Moves
Three trades no Sox fan will forget
Today is the MLB trade deadline. A day that can make or break a teams season and even future. This is a season where the Red Sox need it to make their season! We haven’t had a big trade deadline move in years and if there was ever a team that could use a jolt heading into the postseason it’s the 2025 Red Sox. This team feels like it’s on the edge and could potentially be put over the top with a big move.It had me thinking back to previous trade deadlines that changed Red Sox history forever.
1997 : Red Sox Acquire Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek
Maybe the best trade deadline move in team history. The Red Sox and gm at the time Dan Duquette shipped out aging reliever Heathcliff Solocumb and got back two Red Sox legends in the process. Derek Lowe had an up and down career with the Sox but mostly up. When he took on the closer role for the team in 2000 he lead the league in saves. And then two years later as a starter he threw a no hitter and started the all-star game. And of course what he’s most known for is being a huge part of the forever beloved 2004 Red Sox where he started game 7 in New York in the ALCS and game 4 of the World Series. Both the clinching games of course.
And now Jason Varitek. As beloved a Red Sox player that I can think of in my lifetime. A lifer in the Sox organization since he arrived in 97. A three time all-star with Boston but most importantly he was named the captain. Getting a C on his jersey solidified his immortality with Red Sox nation. During maybe the best and most heated years in Red Sox history throughout the 00’s rivalry with the Yankees he was the leader of our most famous team. Of course nothing proved that more than when he smushed A-Rods face. Now he’s in the dugout leading the next generation of catchers and leaders.
2004 : Nomar’s traded in four team deal that brings Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz to the Red Sox.
Maybe the most famous trade in my lifetime as a Red Sox fan. Nomar, or ‘Nomahh’ as he was known by in the city, wasn’t just the most popular player in Boston. He was an icon. Go to any game at Fenway to this day you’ll still see #5 jerseys out there. If you asked anyone in 2003 how long we’ll see Nomar in a Sox uniform the answer would’ve been until he retires. Then the winter of 04 happened and trade rumors were splitting the locker room apart. A change had to be made and that was it. Nomar was no longer the shortstop of the Boston Red Sox. It was a significant bummer, I think everyone wanted Nomar to get a ring here.
But who what got back were two gold glove defenders that were quickly accepted by the team and fan base. Mientkiewicz became our anchor defensively at first base seemingly always being subbed in at the ends of every game to assure victory. In the World Series games when Papi would have to start at first, when Doug would sub in at the end of game he was the proverbial Red Auerbach cigar being lite.
Orlando Cabrera could not have fit in better with a group of Dominican players that loved playing for each other. Also, with Nomar’s fielding slipping the last few seasons it was a breath of fresh air for Red Sox fans to watch a gold-glover at shortstop. Defense was never that groups forte but Orlando made double plays look easy and it was just what the team needed to be the ones who broke the curse, and break it they did!
2018 : Red Sox trade Jalen Beeks in exchange for Nathan Eovaldi.
2018 Red Sox were an absolute wagon. An incedibile team to watch start to finish. Right away this team looked like a team that could compete for a championship. The team was coming to the park everyday and crushing teams. It ruled. Then the trade deadline came and instead of being satisfied gm Dave Dombrowski went and got an absolute horse named Nathan Eovaldi that no one saw coming. It was a case of the rich getting richer when he proved to be as reliable as any starter we had that year. Famously pitching six innings all in extra frames against the Dodgers in the World Series. Trading for Eovaldi was a finishing move the likes of Hulk Hogans leg drop would be impressed by. The trade helped us get our 4th World Series title, the most since 2000, and is a move no Red Sox fan will forget.
The 2025 Red Sox are in a prime spot to make big moves. It started around midnight last night when the Sox traded away the #19 prospect in the system Blaze Jordan for a stud of a relief pitcher in Steven Matz. I don’t think that’s all they have up their sleeves today and I’m expecting more big moves to come. Let’s see what happens, let the craziness begin!
Great article