The trade: The Boston Red Sox acquire 1B Eric Hosmer, IF Max Ferguson, OF Corey Rosier and cash from the San Diego Padres for LHP Jay Groome.
The Padres' landmark deal to acquire megastar Juan Soto not only stole the deadline show, but because it also included getting Josh Bell -- removing the most alluring first base option from the deadline trade market. It also made Hosmer an awkward fit as a bench player in San Diego. Now, Hosmer moves across the country to a team that may or may not be in the midst of contention.
Let's dig in.
This is a short-term upgrade for the Red Sox, a move that dovetails with the team's straddle-the-fence deadline approach. It's also kind of a head scratcher, or at least it became that with the news that lefty pitcher Jay Groome was heading to the Padres. Boston is sacrificing some controllable talent, though at least they aren't adding much to their future payroll commitment. All they are doing is taking a league-average player off the Padres' hands for the cost of a decent pitching prospect.