Buster Olney Pours Cold Water On Red Sox's Trade Deadline Plans

Buster Olney Pours Cold Water On Red Sox's Trade Deadline Plans originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Based on Craig Breslow's recent comments, the Boston Red Sox are currently hoping and planning to be aggressive at the trade deadline this summer despite their slow start to the season .

That would presumably entail adding offense, as the Red Sox's lineup has been one of the worst in baseball this year. However, MLB insider Buster Olney reminded Boston fans on Saturday why acquiring hitting at the deadline is usually easier said than done. One of the challenges for the Red Sox: even if they want to make substantive changes with the roster, it would be tough to do so, because they’ve got a combination of young (and cheap) players who they expect to develop; and expensive veterans who can’t easily be moved.

And as… — Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 16, 2026 "One of the challenges for the Red Sox: even if they want to make substantive changes with the roster, it would be tough to do so, because they’ve got a combination of young (and cheap) players who they expect to develop; and expensive veterans who can’t easily be moved," Olney wrote on X . "And as the Royals can testify, adding offense in trades — power, in particular — is much tougher than adding pitching. " "Their best chance to add offense was in free agency," Olney added in the comments .

Unfortunately for Red Sox fans, Olney's right. Pitching, especially relief pitching, tends to be more plentiful at the deadline, as pitching staffs have more churn and turnover than lineups given the volatile and injury-prone nature of pitchers. Top position players are less likely to get moved in-season unless they're rentals.