MLB Trade Rumors: Do the Boston Red Sox Really Need a Trade?

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As the trade deadline approaches, fans are asking a lot of questions. What teams are going to be buyers? What teams will be sellers? Which player or position could most help a particular team?

We can only speculate. Fans don't know what goes on behind closed doors.

The Boston Red Sox have the best record in the American League and the second best in all of baseball. This begs the question: Do the Red Sox really need to trade? 

Here are six reasons why the Red Sox shouldn’t trade this year.

6. Messes Up Chemistry

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Why make changes to a winning formula? If new players are brought in, regular starters may worry about their job security. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Some think that securing a big-time player for the second half of the season makes sense, but this kind of acquisition doesn't always pan out.

A hot hitter can go on a cold streak or he can have difficulty getting along with his new teammates. The Red Sox are fully aware of the pitfalls of bringing in new talent.

Besides there aren't too many hitters to choose from this year. Carlos Beltran is having a good year, but he is injury prone. He also has said he is only interested in playing for a National League team. David Dejesus is probably the hitter the Red Sox will go after. He will give some at-bats and is consistent.

Beltran and Dejesus have great resumes, but are they really worth getting halfway through the season?

5. Best Starting Pitching

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The only “weak” spot in the rotation is Tim Wakefield, but he has done very well this season. His ERA may be high, but Wakefield has an impressive 6-3 record. Also, Clay Buchholz will be coming off the disabled list to take his starting spot.

The Red Sox don't need to acquire a starter because they already have the best starting pitching in baseball.

Wait, what?

Yes, I said it. The Red Sox starting pitching is better than the Phillies.

Think about it. If there were a seven game series between the Phillies and Red Sox, the first matchup would be Roy Halladay vs. Josh Beckett. Okay, Halladay. Next, John Lester against Cole Hamels. I would give the slight edge to Lester because he has pitched very well in the postseason.

The third game would be Clay Buchholz against Roy Oswalt. Oswalt has had injury problems and Buchholz is a lot younger.

The Red Sox rank tenth in starting pitching ERA because they have had a lot of injuries. The Giants have the best pitching staff, but pitching without hitting doesn't lead to championships.

4. Best Hitting

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At the beginning of the year, people were freaking out about the Red Sox. The hitters weren’t producing and the pitching was not there.

Now, the Red Sox are leading the Major Leagues in nearly all hitting categories. They are first in the American League in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, on-base plus slugging, runs, hits, doubles, and RBIs. Not to mention third in home runs.

Their stats are off the charts.

The Red Sox have position flaws only in shortstop and right field. I think the Red Sox can wait a year or two for shortstop Jose Iglesias and outfielder Josh Reddick to come into their own and shine.

J.D. Drew and Josh Reddick have not performed badly in the outfield this season, and Marco Scutaro has proved to be a consistent hitter. Trading for a shortstop would be the best option for the Red Sox if they trade at all.

3. Best Record

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The Red Sox have the best record in the American League. 

It is scary how good the team is and there aren't any glaring weak spots. Almost every other team needs to add at least one player to their roster in order to be a World Series contender.

The Yankees need starting pitching and a bullpen; the Rangers need at-bat and pitching and the Tigers need a hitter.

Besides the back-end of the pitching rotation, the Red Sox are near perfect.

2. Battled Injuries and Are Still in First

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The Red Sox just won't quit.

Even with major role players—Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Jed Lowrie—injured, the Red Sox are still the top dog in the division.

Just think about what might happen if the entire Red Sox roster were healthy!

1. Relievers Can’t Be This Bad

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Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard are arguably the best eighth and ninth inning, one-two punch in baseball, but what happens when the Red Sox need a guy to pitch the seventh?

Dan Wheeler and Bobby Jenks were supposed to fill that role, but they haven’t lived up to expectations.

Wheeler has a 5.12 ERA and Jenks is on the disabled list. Neither player has ever performed this badly before.

Hopefully they will bounce back and have decent numbers the rest of the way, but if they don’t Koji Uehara or Brandon League will be good fits.