The Sox need free agency to improve. They can't afford to make a major trade.

There have been many many posts suggesting the Sox make trades.  I don't think any of them make sense.

We saw last year what a major trade looks like -- Madrigal and Heuer for Kimbrel.  Regardless of what you think about the trade, the fact is that the Sox created a hole in their team in a go-for-it move that didn't work out.   Now filling the 2B hole created by trading Madrigal is near the top of everyone's wish list, and there aren't any great options out there.  

If the Sox want to trade for a starting pitcher of any quality, they would have to create other holes in our current roster.  

This is because the Sox' farm system is very thin.  Which is also because the recent stars of their farm system are on the major league club.  

The Sox could continue to make the kind of mid-season move that brought Ryan Tapera last year.  But that's about it. 

I guess you could trade Kimbrel to try to fill 2B, but even that creates a hole in the bullpen that would need to be filled.