What do do with this pitching staff?

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Ryan MacLeod (RyanMacLeod15)
Contributing Writer

The Red Sox pitching staff is a mess. Outside of Steven Wright, David Price and Rick Porcello (most of the time)there really is nobody that has looked good at all this year. Clay Buchholz will return to the rotation after he was demoted to the bullpen due to poor performance. Eduardo Rodriguez does not look the same as he did last year after he suffered a knee injury during spring training. All of the guys that have been called up from Pawtucket have not proven themselves worthy of a spot in the rotation, including Henry Owens and Roenis Elias. So what do the Red Sox need to do? They have to go out and get a pitcher that has proven that he can either be an ace or a number two starter on this staff, but who do they get and at what cost?

I think it is safe to say that the price on premium pitching has never been higher, in fact trading for an ace could help in the short term but could mortgage the future of an organization. Taking unrealistic names off the list, Jose Fernandez, Chris Sale, and Matt Harvey where do the Red Sox turn to? The next best name that isn't on that list is the most expensive, Sonny Gray. Gray is a fantastic, young starting pitcher who has had a difficult start to the year. After two 14 win seasons in a row, posting a 2.73 ERA last year, he is currently 3-6 with a 5.54 ERA this year. Gray would still command a high price, likely someone like Jackie Bradley Jr. as a a start to the trade with prospects also given to Oakland. Gray would be a solid pitcher to slot into the number two spot in the rotation behind David Price.

Another option is Julio Teheran who seems like he will be at the center of every trade rumor that involves a starting pitcher. Teheran is having a great year in Atlanta, on a team that is awful. His record is no indication of how well he has pitched this year. Teheran has a record of 2-7 but has posted an ERA of 2.93 with 85 strikeouts and only 24 walks. He is under team control until 2020 and is only 25 years old. With Atlanta being in a long rebuild, the Red Sox could steal Teheran away for only minor league prospects. The only issue with that is that likely that would include a prospect that the Red Sox deemed as untouchable.

Then they could look at another pitcher from the Oakland A's, Rich Hill. The Red Sox must be kicking themselves for not offering Hill a deal that matched the 1 year, $6 million that Oakland offered Hill. Hill was fantastic in Boston last season late in the year and his success has transferred to Oakland. He currently is quietly putting together a fantastic season, with a 8-3 record with a 2.25 ERA. Being 36 hurts Hill's trade value but he would likely still command a high level prospect, which is a shame for the Red Sox.

Who else do you think the Red Sox could realistically try and trade for and what would they have to give up? Leave your answer in the comments section or tweet them at me by clicking here.