The Boston Red Sox entered this season with a different attitude. From the start of the off-season itself, they have been screaming at the top of their lungs—this time, they will spend. They even went after Juan Soto and that sweepstakes. This trade deadline, too, they claimed that they have the green light to improve the roster.

Team president Sam Kennedy said on The Greg Hill Show that the Boston Red Sox had the “ability to [make moves] in terms of a blessing from ownership” to go after the postseason upgrades. Yet, now as the final hours tick, Boston has remained quiet.

Though they did make one move late on Wednesday, trading Blaze Jordan to the Cardinals for left-handed reliever Steven Matz. But the Boston Red Sox need reinforcements. They need a starting pitcher, a first baseman, bullpen depth, and a backup catcher. Now they have been linked to notable names like Sandy Alcantara, Mitch Keller, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Yandy Diaz, among others. But nothing has come as of yet. Why? Money!

Well, one executive told Chris Cotillo that the Red Sox are watching their payroll closely. Right now, they sit at $251.7 million and are just shy of the $261 million CBT threshold. The executive noted that “money is a factor.” It’s frustrating for fans, given Kennedy had promised something else altogether.

Worse is that Boston was in on major names like Dylan Cease and Eugenio Suarez, who could really make a difference to their playoff push. Cease, boasting of elite strikeout numbers and durability, would have addressed Boston’s most urgent needs. Plus, Sox have been linked to Cease not just this time, but last off-season, too. Yet budget concerns, along with the growing sense that the Boston Red Sox are run by what a computer tells them, might have stalled the talks.

The Boston Red Sox also missed out on Eugenio Suarez, as he was dealt to the Mariners just before midnight. Boston, according to The Athletic, had “intentions of acquiring him to play first base.” However, they were outmaneuvered there, too. And all this comes just after the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers, their franchise cornerstone, to the Giants. And they took the bulk of his $313.5 million deal, too. That should have opened the flexibility, but it hasn’t. Plus, they have LeBron James as a minority owner and a $5.5 billion ownership group, yet their own internal budgeting handcuffs Boston. Fans are left wondering—if not now, then when?

Could Sandy Alcántara be the Boston Red Sox’s missing piece?

Now, if there is one piece that Boston can still go for and make a splash with, it’s none other than Sandy Alcantara. Jon Heyman of The New York Post mentioned that the Boston Red Sox are one of the four teams that are interested in the 2022 NL Cy Young winner, along with the Astros, Yankees, and Cubs. “Value is up on Sandy!” Heyman posted.

Alcantara has had a rocky 2025 season so far; he posted a 6.36 ERA in 21 starts. His recent outing, though, tells a different story. He tossed seven shutout innings against the Padres on July 23. But that’s not all; he then followed that with five more scoreless frames on July 29. It’s like he is giving everyone an audition now. And it is hence easy to see why Boston is interested. Alcantara is only 29 years old, locked up through 2026, and with a club option for 2027.

Plus, if he can get back to his Cy Young level, he is the No. 2 starter that the Sox are looking for. But it would, of course, take much to land him. Boston for sure has some cards up its sleeve, from Jarren Duran to Wilyer Abreu, whose name has popped up in trade rumors. But then the Boston Red Sox do seem hesitant to deal Duran. Then there is also their loaded farm system with players like Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and even Jhostynxon Garcia.

Now it depends on whether Boston will stay by their promise and get some reinforcements. Or it will be just one of those false promises.