Here is more information as to when the Red Sox were 'seriously engaged' with the Twins about a trade for Joe Ryan

Like many Red Sox fans, Joe Ryan was among those who were deceived by false social media posts that he had been traded to Boston prior to Thursday’s deadline. The Twins pitcher admitted that he thought he was on the move after seeing multiple social media posts from verified outlets that said that the Red Sox acquired him in a trade.

Boston also registered an interest in trading for Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, who, like Ryan, didn’t get moved before the trade deadline passed on July 31. In the end, the Red Sox weren’t able to bolster the top of their starting rotation, but they clearly tried to be aggressive, up to a certain point.