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.

Boston came away from the Thursday deadline with just two new players, both pitchers on expiring contracts. Steven Matz and Dustin May were additions on the margins, but the Red Sox had something much bigger on the docket that they couldn't push over the goal line.