Regardless of the Red Sox' activity (or lack thereof) at the trade deadline, they are still riding a lot of momentum. They are winners of five of their last seven games and were 17-7 in July. With a 59-51 record, they are one game ahead of the Seattle Mariners for the second AL Wild Card spot.

Instead, Steven Matz came over from the St. Louis Cardinals, but without Ryan, the Red Sox are left hoping that more marginal moves will be enough. Derek Falvey stared at a top 100 prospect return, but wisely backed off when Boston refused to put anyone else in the deal.