We are just past the quarter mark, and how do you like your Boston Red Sox?

Yeah, that’s what I thought.

There should be a lot to like, but …

The team is only 21-21. The starting pitching looks fragile, including Drew Pomeranz, who had another short outing Saturday, lasting four innings.

The supposedly deep lineup is stuck in the middle of the American League in runs. And these Sox have no power – they’re last in the league in home runs.

Muddling along may be the best way to describe it. The Red Sox are fun to watch – seeing another Jackie Bradley Jr. highlight catch, or Chris Sale’s strikeout streak, or Mookie-being-Mookie Betts – but is the team going anywhere?

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Of course it’s early and Boston has time to tweak things. Dave Dombrowski will have to be creative without messing up this team’s future.

Dombrowski has gladly dealt top prospects. He has taken heat for that but without those deals, Boston wouldn’t have Sale or Craig Kimbrel (perish that thought). Dombrowski did trade away slugger and corner fielder Travis Shaw in a deal for setup man Tyler Thornburg.

Thornburg has yet to leave the disabled list, let alone step on the mound, because of a mysteriously sore shoulder.

Regardless, trading Shaw was a mistake. It was obvious that Boston was going to miss the power of David Ortiz. Trading away Shaw – and putting unwarranted faith in Pablo Sandoval – lessened Boston’s pop even more.

So what should Dombrowski do now?

Here are some thoughts.

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Do not, I repeat, do NOT trade Rafael Devers. He is the latest prized prospect in the Red Sox system, only 20 and with the potential of even being in the majors later this year. He has power. He hits to all fields. His fielding is fine at third, a position where Boston needs help. Did I mention he’s only 20?

I’m guessing Devers is safe. The Red Sox were able to trade Yoan Moncada (in the Sale deal) because they knew Devers was coming up.

Be wary of trading other prospects. Jason Groome is your only top pitching prospect. He’s only 18 and who knows how he will do (currently on the DL with a lat muscle strain)? But you’ve already dealt Michael Kopech (Sale deal) and Anderson Espinoza (Pomeranz). Hang on to Groome.

First baseman Sam Travis could be in Boston this year and your full-time guy next season. He’s not a big power guy yet (26 home runs in 277 minor league games), but neither was Kevin Youkilis in the minors. Youkilis worked out. Keep Travis.

Your best trade chips may be first baseman Josh Ockimey and third baseman Michael Chavis, both tearing it up in Class A Salem. Sell high.

Left-hander Jalen Beeks is the ace of the Sea Dogs’ staff. If Boston doesn’t see him in its plans, then the sell-high theory will apply here, too.

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Look to the Royals. Kansas City sits at the bottom of the AL Central and has a group of players headed for free agency. Starter Jason Vargas will be the prize of the lot and the asking price will be too much for a rental. Tempting. Stay away.

Kansas City does have a third baseman (Mike Moustakas), batting .257/.790 OPS with 10 home runs. Can a deal be made?

Ride it out with this rotation. Boston ranks 13th in the league in starters’ ERA (4.54), but the Yankees and Orioles are 11th and 12th, respectively. Boston is hanging in there with this lot, and it can get better.

Yes, Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello has a 4.23 ERA. I remember 2013, when Jon Lester struggled (4.58 at the All-Star break). He turned it around.

So there is Sale, Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez (3.05) as the top three. Pomeranz is at the bottom of the rotation and if David Price comes back strong, then Boston is golden. Price’s one rehab start Friday featured 65 pitches in only two innings, allowing five hits and three earned run. Price said he felt fine despite the numbers. We’ll see. He is scheduled to pitch again for Pawtucket on Wednesday.

Finding help from Pawtucket has been rough. Kyle Kendrick, Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez have not met expectations. Boston seems fearful of giving Henry Owens (28 walks in 36 innings) another try.

Beeks (5-1, 1.60 in Portland) may be a surprise call-up.

This is a solid Red Sox team. It obviously misses Ortiz and is underperforming.

Tweak it here and there. Avoid panic. See what happens.


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