Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow acknowledged on a conference call Sunday night that the deal leaves a hole in the lineup, but he hoped it would pay off this season. Although there is a newly created need for a power hitter, the team now has roster and payroll flexibility to add players at the trade deadline, he said.

This question hovered around the team as last year’s trade deadline approached, too. In 2024, a middling Red Sox team to start the year found its groove in June, going 21-14 from June 1 through July 14 to close out the first half. That convinced chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to buy.

In his final appearance in a Red Sox uniform, Rafael Devers hit a solo shot as Boston shut out the visiting New York Yankees 2-0 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.