How's this for an eye-opening development: With the MLB trade deadline reportedly less than two weeks away, the Boston Red Sox sent a "high-level scout" to Thursday's high-profile showdown between Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard in San Francisco, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.
But before you dream of Bumgarner or Syndergaard in a Red Sox uniform, check out Morosi's full report from Friday morning:
Morosi suggests the scout at Thursday's Giants-Mets game may have been focusing on San Francisco's relief pitchers instead of the two aces that started the game.
Tops on that list is All-Star closer Will Smith, a 30-year-old left-hander who may be the Giants' most coveted asset outside Bumgarner.
The Red Sox obviously need bullpen help, and while the team is intent on converting Nathan Eovaldi to closer, it makes sense that the scouting department would do its due diligence on available relievers in case that experiment goes awry.
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Outside Smith, San Francisco also has some decent middle relievers in right-hander Sam Dyson (.935 WHIP over 46 innings) 24-year-old Reyes Moronta (59 strikeouts in 43.1 innings) and lefty Tony Watson (5.80 strikeout-to-walk ratio).
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski may have to further deplete an already thin farm system to make another move before the July 31 deadline, but it appears Boston is at least kicking the tires on what's out there after bringing in starter Andrew Cashner last week.
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