MLB insider highlighted a potential Red Sox trade deadline target

Another name for the Red Sox to consider: The MLB trade deadline continues to approach, with Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow recently explaining that the front office will “look to improve the team.”

The deadline, set for July 30 at 6 p.m. ET, presents a few opportunities should the right deal present itself to Breslow and Boston’s brain trust. During his conversation with Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, Breslow outlined pitching and a righthanded bat as possible pieces to add.

As far as pitching, ESPN MLB reporter Buster Olney named one potential trade target in a recent column.

“Carlos Estevez has what so many contenders are looking for,” Olney wrote, “dominant stuff and experience closing games. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have closers, in Clay Holmes and Kenley Jansen, respectively, but Estevez would provide either one of those teams someone who could take the ninth inning if the closer was weary or slumping.”

Estevez, 31, is currently the Angels’ closer. He’s notched 20 saves, holding a 2.38 ERA over 34 innings pitched in 2024. The numbers represent what is (so far) a career year.

“And he’s making a very affordable salary of $6.75 million this year,” Olney added, “meaning that he’d cost the acquiring team little more than $2 million for the rest of the season.”

Trivia: Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen currently ranks fifth in all-time MLB saves at 439. Two of the four players who rank above him also played for the Red Sox for parts of their careers. Can you name them?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: One pitched in Boston from 1988-1990. The other did so from 2016-2018.

Scores and schedules:

Tonight, the Red Sox host the Yankees at 7:10 p.m. in the first of a three-game series.

Also today, the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris gets underway with the opening ceremony starting at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Tomorrow, the Revolution host Mazatlán F.C. of Liga MX in the first game of the group stage of the 2024 Leagues Cup. The game will kick off at 8 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

• 5 takeaways from Day 2 of Patriots training camp
• The Paris Olympics opening ceremony is making history. Here’s what to know and how to watch.
• Sixers exec says team will be looking ‘to take the title away’ from Celtics in 2024-25
• Wyc Grousbeck brings Bob Cousy NBA championship trophies in surprise visit
• Scott Zolak’s early impression of Drake Maye
• Marcelo Mayer, Red Sox farm system earn rave reviews in Keith Law’s prospect rankings
• Max Jones’ bruising brand of hockey should make him a popular figure on Bruins
• Patriots’ Calvin Anderson has new outlook, thirst to compete after recovering from malaria battle
• Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez opens up about fulfilling ‘lifelong dream’ of buying his parents a house
• Craig Breslow discussed the Red Sox approach to the MLB trade deadline

Another no-hitter call for Don Orsillo: The former Red Sox play-by-play commentator was on the call for Padres pitcher Dylan Cease’s no-hitter on Thursday. Orsillo was there for a trio of Red Sox no-hitters as well: Hideo Nomo (2001), Clay Buchholz (2007), and Jon Lester (2008).