Red Sox are on a tear -- will Deadline day bring last-minute moves?

BOSTON – For five weeks, the Red Sox have made a statement with one of the most prolonged and out-of-nowhere hot stretches in their history. This weekend, they added an exclamation point to their exploits.

By sweeping the Dodgers in a three-game series in Los Angeles, the Red Sox are 23-4 since July 1 and 28-6 since June 25. They’ve won 15 of their last 16 road games.

With that run, the Sox are a reasonable five games back in the American League East for the first time since April 21 and have a firm hold on the second AL Wild Card.

In other words, they’ve given chief baseball officer Craig Breslow every reason to bring in reinforcements prior to the 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline on Aug. 3.

The Red Sox, beaming with confidence, aren’t overanalyzing what Breslow might do.

“I don’t hope for anything,” said center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela after belting four homers in the sweep in Los Angeles. “I just enjoy winning baseball games, and I’m not really paying attention [to the Trade Deadline]. I’m really enjoying playing with my boys. If somebody comes, we will welcome him with open arms. If not, we’ll keep winning baseball games with this team. That’s what we do.”

“Of course, that’s something that’s very important for the team,” right fielder Wilyer Abreu said of Monday’s Deadline. “I think we’re in a good spot right now, so we’ll see what happens. But I think whatever happens is going to be best for the team. We’re just going to have to keep playing baseball the way we’re playing.”

While there was activity around the game over the weekend with a total of 10 trades on Saturday and Sunday – and none bigger than ace Tarik Skubal going to the Dodgers – Breslow worked the phones in search of a match that hasn’t materialized just yet.

There will likely be a flurry of transactions around the game on Deadline day.

Breslow thought he had made a significant move a week ago when he got Curtis Mead’s right-handed bat from the Nationals for rookie lefty Connelly Early in an interesting, 1-for-1 swap.

But the significance – at least for this season – was tarnished when Mead suffered a left wrist fracture in his second at-bat for Boston. It is unclear if that fracture will heal enough for Mead to return in ‘26.

In light of the unfortunate development with Mead, Breslow’s search for bats has obviously intensified.

Shortstop and catcher are the clearest paths for Boston to add without disrupting the flow of a lineup that has come together over the last few weeks.

Angels shortstop Zach Neto is a name that continues to come up as a possibility at short. He is one home run away from notching 20-plus for the third straight season.

CJ Abrams, an All-Star in his prime for the Nationals and not eligible for free agency until the ‘29 season, will only get dealt for a large haul.

The Marlins, per sources, are unlikely to deal Otto Lopez.

Might the Sox be able to pry another Marlins player loose in catcher Liam Hicks? While Hicks isn’t scheduled to test free agency until ‘31, Miami loves what is getting from rookie receiver Joe Mack.

The Reds' Tyler Stephenson is another catcher with some pop whose name has been floated a lot.

Then, there is Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, who would be a fit for the three teams (Rays, Yankees, Red Sox) who are ahead of Baltimore in the AL East standings.

If you dare to dream, Rockies All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman would be the big prize addition for his position if Colorado trades him.

With Breslow, never discount the possibility of a pivot if he doesn’t get the big bat he wants. In the offseason, after Alex Bregman declined Boston’s offer in free agency and went to the Cubs, Breslow signed lefty Ranger Suarez to a five-year, $130-million deal in hopes of turning his team into a pitching machine.

Could he do something similar and bring in another arm for a rotation that has two rookies (Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett) whose innings need to be monitored somewhat for the rest of the season?

Reds ace Hunter Greene’s name has come up as a trade candidate, but Cincinnati would have to be blown away with an offer.

Angels left-hander Reid Detmers and Tigers right-hander Casey Mize are other starting pitchers who could be had.

It remains to be seen what additions might be added to the roster when the Red Sox play next on Tuesday night at Fenway Park against the White Sox.

“We’ll see what happens, and if something does happen, we’ll see how we need to adjust,” said interim manager Chad Tracy. “But we’re going to take a well-deserved flight home with an off-day and rest and get ready for the White Sox.”

It is safe to assume that Breslow won’t be getting any rest until the Deadline passes.