Red Sox were reportedly unwilling to trade outfielders at deadline

Despite being in the mix to trade for nearly every big-name pitcher at the trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox ended up acquiring Dustin May from the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Boston needed to round out its rotation, and there were hopes that the team would trade for another high-end pitcher, such as Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan; however, they ultimately couldn't build a package for him and ended up settling for May.

Per The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey, the Red Sox were reportedly unwilling to part ways with any of their big league outfielders in a potential deal with the Twins.

"But according to league sources briefed on discussions from the Twins’ side, talks fell apart when the Red Sox were unwilling to offer any of their big league outfielders, or an enticing enough package of their top-tier prospects," McCaffrey wrote. "Jhostynxon Garcia, the Red Sox’s top outfield prospect, was in the mix to be in the deal."

"San Diego hotly pursued Jarren Duran, and while the Padres may not have had a starter who matched Duran’s worth, the Twins did. If the Twins wanted Duran or Wilyer Abreu, it would have certainly hurt the club, but adding Ryan would have given that much more of a boost. The best trades are not painless. But once again, the Red Sox balked."

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Ryan received his first All-Star selection this season with a 10-5 record and 2.83 ERA. The 29-year-old is only on a one-year, $3 million deal, but is under team control for another two seasons. It would have been hard to part with a player like Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu, but adding a high-impact arm like Ryan could have made a big difference down the stretch for Boston. 

More MLB: Red Sox's Craig Breslow addresses fans' frustration after deadline