When the July 31 MLB trade deadline came and passed without the Boston Red Sox making a major deal, not only were the team’s fans livid with rage, but even respected MLB media insiders were beside themselves.
They blasted the performance of baseball operations chief Craig Breslow with terms such as, “lethargic,” “epic fail,” “meh” — and even one, former Red Sox player Lou Merloni, now a radio and TV broadcaster for Boston, saying that Breslow’s apparent inaction made him “throw up in my mouth.”
The main trigger for their ire was Breslow’s attempt to acquire Minnesota Twins ace righty Joe Ryan. The Twins were holding a historic fire sale, unloading 11 players on or just before deadline day.
The Red Sox had, and still have, four prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, and according to longtime Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, Breslow put combinations of almost all of them on the table for the Twins to pick from in exchange for Ryan.
But for some reason, it didn’t work, leading one top baseball insider, Ken Rosenthal, to label Breslow’s efforts “feeble.”
But after Friday night’s rousing MLB debut for left-hander Payton Tolle, Red Sox fans and media, it would appear, owe Breslow an apology.
Tolle instantly captured the hearts and imaginations of Red Sox fans, even before he struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits and two runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Two of those hits came in the sixth inning when manager Alex Cora yanked the 22-year-old.
Alright. I’m ready to die for Payton Tolle. Love this man already. pic.twitter.com/TzxHmk6obE
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) August 29, 2025
Reliever Greg Weissert then allowed both inherited runners two score.
“Fenway is already in love with Payton Tolle and it’s only going to grow from here,” wrote hardcore fan, podcaster and media personality Jared Carrabis. “He’s (expletive) unbelievable.”
I think I’m in love with Payton Tolle. pic.twitter.com/984PqBI4Wv
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) August 29, 2025
The Red Sox now say that Tolle will stay on the big league roster and, according to veteran Boston Globe reporter Peter Abraham, “could potentially make five or six starts before the regular season ends.”
Friday’s start was the 19th of the season for the 2024 second-round draft pick, whose pro debut came at the Single-A level in April before making his meteoric rise through Boston’s farm system.
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But what if Breslow had parted with Tolle to bring in Ryan? Since the July 31 deadline, the 29-year-old five-year veteran has made five starts, with two wins, two losses and a no-decision.
Ryan has posted a 5.06 ERA in those five starts, well above the 2.82 ERA he held on July 31, a mark which has since risen to 3.22.
The Twins ace has also allowed five home runs in 103 batters faced. That’s nearly a 5% home run rate. The MLB home rate for the 2025 season so far is 3.44%.
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