Red Sox could trade Kevin Pillar, Matt Barnes, Josh Osich before 4 p.m. deadline

Boston Red Sox’s Kevin Pillar (5) runs out a single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Tommy Gilligan)AP

Red Sox outfielder Kevin Pillar is drawing strong interest in advance of this afternoon’s trade deadline and relievers Josh Osich and Matt Barnes are also in play in trade talks, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal adds that the talk of the Mets making a move for Sox catcher Christian Vazquez is “overblown” at this point.

According to Rosenthal, the Cubs are the team with perhaps the strongest interest in acquiring Osich, a 31-year-old lefty who owns a 5.74 ERA and has pitched well against lefties (.231 batting average, nine strikeouts) in 13 games this season. Chicago — along with the Astros, Nationals and others — has also expressed interest in Barnes.

Pillar, who entered Monday hitting .274 with four homers in 30 games, is a free agent after the season and appears to be a prime candidate to be traded to a contender before 4 p.m. Last week, Pillar praised Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom for having open communication with players about potential trades and admitted he made sense as a trade option.

“I know given I only signed a one-year deal here that I don’t cost a ton of money,” Pillar said. “It may make sense for me to be traded. With those conversations, I’ve told them I’ve enjoyed everything about this season despite the lack of success. I’ve enjoyed the challenges that have come. In some ways I feel like I’ve been able to take on a leadership role and help these guys through a tough time.”

The Red Sox have been busy on the trade market, already shipping relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree to the Phillies and first baseman Mitch Moreland to the Padres. Other candidates to be traded on the roster include starters Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez, relievers Austin Brice and Phillips Valdez, outfielders Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. and infielder Michael Chavis.

Report: Christian Vazquez trade rumors: Red Sox’s asking price for catcher ‘very high;’ Mets, Rays have talked with Boston (reports)

Kevin Pillar on Boston Red Sox trade rumors: Chaim Bloom has ‘done a good job in having open communication’

Boston Red Sox trade rumors: Matt Barnes drawing interest from Cubs, Nationals in addition to Astros (report)

Boston Red Sox trade rumors: Relievers Josh Taylor, Josh Osich, Austin Brice drawing interest from contenders (report)

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