Boston is five games behind first place in the AL East and were surging right before the All-Star break following a trade that sent its slugger Rafael Devers to San Francisco. Instead of going all-in at the deadline, the team made minor moves, including bringing in often-injured starting pitcher, Dustin May, from the Dodgers.

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.