Boston also registered an interest in trading for Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, who, like Ryan, didn’t get moved before the trade deadline passed on July 31. In the end, the Red Sox weren’t able to bolster the top of their starting rotation, but they clearly tried to be aggressive, up to a certain point.

In the immediate aftermath of the deadline, it doesn't feel like the Red Sox did much of anything, let alone enough to solidify them as a serious playoff team.