ESPN baseball analyst (and former Blue Jays general manager) J.P. Ricciardi joined The Big Show on Thursday to discuss the state of the Red Sox and the status of the shape of the trade market at this point of July. Ricciardi suggested that the injury-afflicted Sox would do well to survive the upcoming series in Toronto against the Blue Jays and then to use the All-Star break to “regroup.”

“I think right now they’re just doing it on guts. I think they see the All-Star break in front of them. I think they’re trying to just get to that date now, get those three or four days and regroup a little bit,” said Ricciardi. “Even if they’re four games out or five games out at the All-Star break, that’s not that a lot. I think they’ve done an outstanding job.

“You don’t want to play a whole season with this lineup. They know that more than anybody. They’re fighting through. Right now, I think they’re looking at these last three games to get to the deadline.”

Ricciardi said that the absence of several everyday players could place significant pressure on members of the Red Sox rotation. The Sox face an interesting predicament with regards to how (or whether) they should trade to address holes left by players who are supposed to return after the All-Star break.

“I think (Red Sox GM Theo Epstein) is smart enough to understand he’s got some really good players coming. He’s not going to risk losing those players for making a deal right now. He sees the big picture. Getting [Dustin] Pedroia back, [Victor] Martinez back, some of these other guys, is going to help ease that a little bit,” said Ricciardi. “I think they can do something along the lines of a stopgap, maybe add one more bat in the outfield and something in the bullpen, which wouldn’t really be stopgap. It would probably be more along the lines of a major move to help upgrade the pen.”

Ricciardi cited a pitcher like Indians closer Kerry Wood as someone who, pitching in front of Sox relievers Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon, could improve the team’s bullpen depth.

“I think that’s exactly the type of guy you’re going to have to look for,” said Ricciardi. “You put him in front of a Papelbon and a Bard, you’ve got three hard throwers coming into a game. It shortens the game, and maybe you’re not asking some of those other guys to pitch in the innings they’re pitching now. It becomes more of a formidable bullpen.”

But Ricciardi also said that the Sox might be well served to see whether internal options such as left-hander Felix Doubront (who is 1-1 in two starts in the majors) or Michael Bowden (who is being moved to the bullpen in Pawtucket) could help to fix their struggling bullpen.

“It might be the best option they have, is internally,” said Ricciardi. “This stage of July, people are holding you ransom. Things change as you get closer to the deadline as guys realize they’re not going to get what they thought they would get. The asking price now compared to later, it may ease up a little bit and open up more avenues for them. Internally is a good way to go.”

That, according to Ricciardi, might be particularly accurate in 2010. The former Blue Jays GM said that he’s identified 17 teams in striking distance of the playoffs, meaning that a lot of teams could be in the market for the same types of players.

“That’s why I think someone might really step up this year and overpay for a quality guy,” said Ricciardi.

Ricciardi said he thought that the Indians will move reliever Wood as well as starter Jake Westbrook and perhaps Fausto Carmona. He also said that he could see the Blue Jays moving young pitchers, catcher John Buck or third baseman Jose Bautista, the latter of whom leads the majors with 22 homers.

For more Red Sox coverage, visit www.weei.com/redsox.