The Boston Red Sox have seen big ups and downs throughout the offseason. Still, the Red Sox enter next year with postseason ambitions.
Boston saw Xander Bogaerts leave town after signing an 11-year, $280 million deal with the San Diego Padres. The Red Sox fought back and signed Rafael Devers to an 11-year, $331 million extension.
The Sox have signed free agents such as Corey Kluber, Adam Duvall, Justin Turner and Masataka Yoshida. Boston recently competed in the trade of former Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi.
But despite the many additions, the Red Sox are still just finishing the 78-84 season. He missed the postseason for the third time in four years. If Boston truly wants his AL East competition, this last-minute free addition of his agent should definitely help the Red Sox postseason chances.
A look at the Red Sox rotation
The Red Sox are currently set to enter the season with a rotation consisting of Chris Sale, Kluber, Nick Pivetta, James Paxton and Garrett Whitlock. Boston could certainly use some help pitching.
Sale is the biggest name in rotation. After Nathan Eovaldi signed with the Texas Rangers, he would return as Boston’s ace, but Sale has pitched only 11 games since his 2020. It’s hard to believe he’ll finish his 162-game season perfectly.
The same goes for Paxton. Paxton has pitched in just six games since 2020 and missed all of last season after battling back from Tommy John surgery.
Kluber signed a solid deal with the Red Sox after starting 31 games with the Tampa Bay Rays last year. He struggled at times, but proved to be a consistent option mid-rotation: Last season, Pivetta started his 33 games but only had his 4.56 ERA .
Whitlock has been a jewel of the Red Sox since he was drafted in the Rule 5 Draft. In his 77 games he has a 2.73 ERA and a 163/32 K/BB ratio. However, Whitlock has only started nine times in his two-year MLB career. He pitched the most innings of his career last season, which was still him only 78.1.
The Red Sox would be better off keeping Whitlock in the bullpen where he succeeded and bringing in a more experienced starting pitcher.
wacha-chan go home
Michael Wacha was a revelation for the Red Sox last season. As arguably the best remaining free agent pitcher, Boston would be wise to try to win Wacha back.
Wasa started 23 games for the Red Sox last season. He had a 3.32 ERA and a 104/31 K/BB ratio that put him 11-2. His ERA was a career-high in a season in which Washa started at least his 20 games.
The 10-year MLB veteran made great strides last year with the Red Sox. He has proven that he can be a solid pitcher in the upper echelon of any team’s rotation. Boston should look for him in that role again.
When the Red Sox signed him before last season, it was a one-year, $7 million deal. He’s probably asking for a raise, but nothing will keep Boston out of contention. should be It is assumed that they will provide adequate compensation.
Washa is a veteran pitcher who seems to be in the midst of a career renaissance. He couldn’t solve Boston’s long-term pitching problems, but he’ll be more than just a band-aid for the short team.
Why a Wacha and Red Sox reunion makes sense
Bringing back Michael Watcha allows the Red Sox to be more versatile in their pitching rotation. Plus, it gives Boston a much bigger safety net should injury woes reappear.
The Red Sox have been trying to develop Whitlock into the starting pitcher. Perhaps he will succeed in the role. However, Whitlock was the dominant reliever during his time in MLB. Using him as a setup man in front of closer Kenley Jansen or as a long relief could greatly improve the Sox’s bullpen.
Whitlock has never dealt with the workload of starting pitchers at the MLB level. More innings means more chance of injury. The Red Sox already have two injury concerns in the Sale and Paxton rotations. Kluber, 31, started for the Rays last year, but he’s only 36 and already had Tommy John surgery.
But even with all of Boston’s pitchers healthy, Washa is an important piece for the Red Sox. We proved that we can handle the atmosphere.
Signing Wacha would require slightly more money than the Red Sox last agreed with the pitcher. But he showed Boston why he deserved a raise and why the Reds should be part of his Sox potential playoff rotation.
