There’s been ample dialogue concerning the beginning pitching choices on this winter’s free-agent market, however it’s not the one avenue the Red Sox can tackle their journey in the direction of a greater rotation.
They can commerce for a younger arm with years of membership management, or go for a short-term rental. There’s additionally the Rick Porcello route: purchase and prolong.
For the primary time in years, the Red Sox have the sort of farm system that permits them to make vital, even blockbuster trades. Serendipitously, their newfound abundance strains up properly with the commerce market, which incorporates a number of intriguing arms.
There’s a well-recognized divisional foe in Tyler Glasnow, who’s been dominant for the reason that Tampa Bay Rays acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018. When wholesome, that’s. Since the beginning of ‘19, the right-hander owns a 3.03 ERA and 1.013 WHIP. However, he’s solely averaged 12 begins per yr for a grand complete of 34 begins (332 ⅔ innings) throughout the final 5 seasons. (That’s 22 begins lower than Chris Sale over the identical span.)
Glasnow, 30, missed a lot of the ‘19 season due to a forearm strain. In June ‘21, he went on the injured list with a partial UCL tear and right-elbow flexor strain. At the end of July, the Rays announced that he needed Tommy John surgery; he didn’t return till Sep. 28 of the next season. He started ‘23 on the IL with an oblique strain, and didn’t make his first begin till the tip of May, however completed the yr with a career-high 21 begins.
If the Red Sox desire a extra sturdy choice (knock on wooden), they will fork over a prospect haul for White Sox righty Dylan Cease, who gained’t be a free agent till 2026. Since the beginning of the ‘21 season, the almost-28-year-old (Dec. 28) averaged 176 innings and 32 starts – led the AL in starts twice – with a 3.54 ERA, 3.40 FIP, and 1.257 WHIP over that span. Walks have been an issue, pun intended, but he’s greater than able to holding the ball within the yard and he’s struck out a minimum of 214 batters in every of the final three seasons.
If Chicago’s asking worth is just too excessive, there’s a shorter-term choice within the AL Central. Shane Bieber has been among the best pitchers in baseball and might be a free agent following the upcoming season. Just six years into his profession, the 28-year-old righty is already a two-time All-Star, the 2020 AL Cy Young, a Gold Glove winner, and achieved the uncommon Pitching Triple Crown.
Bieber owns a 3.07 ERA and 1.083 WHIP for the reason that begin of the ‘19 season, but he’s misplaced some steam in recent times. His velocity is method down, and his strikeout fee plummeted from 33.1 to twenty.1% over the past three seasons, and batters hit him considerably tougher this yr (47.8%) than the 2 prior (43.3%). He additionally missed about two months of ’23 with elbow irritation. He’s nonetheless higher than league common at limiting dwelling runs and walks, although.
If the Red Sox need to go for a swim in Lake National League, Corbin Burnes is a possible commerce candidate simply two years after successful NL Cy Young and he gained’t be a free agent till 2025. Since transferring into the Milwaukee Brewers rotation full-time in 2021, he’s dominated to the tune of a 2.94 ERA, 2.92 FIP, and 0.994 WHIP.
Burnes averaged 31 begins, 188 innings, and 226 strikeouts per season over the past three years. The final Red Sox pitcher to make a minimum of 30 begins and exceed 180 innings was Eduardo Rodriguez in 2019. They haven’t had a 200-strikeout season since then, both (Rodriguez and Sale).
There’s additionally Edward Cabrera, the under-the-radar Marlins righty who points too many walks however racks up the strikeouts; he solely allowed 78 hits over 99 ⅔ innings this yr. He’s solely 25 years previous and gained’t attain free company till ‘29, which suggests the Marlins will desire a vital return in change for all that youth and membership management.
Source: www.bostonherald.com