The MLB trade deadline came and went without the Boston Red Sox doing anything to address their beleaguered bullpen. A reliable late-inning reliever capable of filling the void in the closer role was an obvious need. Dave Dombrowski cast a wide net in search of a solution, only to come up empty. What went wrong?
The Red Sox were on the fence about whether or not they should consider themselves buyers at the deadline. An encouraging series victory over the New York Yankees last weekend put them on the cusp of a playoff spot, creating an expectation that Dombrowski would be spurred into action.