Red Sox's Level Of Interest In All-Star Closer Revealed By MLB Insider

Seems like business as usual in Boston these days...
Sep 11, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Carlos Estevez (53) smiles alongside first base Kody Clemens (2) after the last out in a victory against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Sep 11, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Carlos Estevez (53) smiles alongside first base Kody Clemens (2) after the last out in a victory against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
In this story:

The Boston Red Sox, in theory, could add a 2024 All-Star reliever to their bullpen. It just doesn't sound particularly likely.

Carlos Estévez, who put up a 2.45 ERA as the closer of the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies in 2024, is one of the top names still yet to be signed on the relief pitching market. And the Red Sox, who don't necessarily need a closer, but could use someone with closing experience, have yet to sign an impact right-handed reliever this winter.

Boston is involved in Estévez's market, according to one Major League Baseball insider. It just doesn't sound like they're itching to ink him to a lucrative contract.

MassLive's Chris Cotillo recently reported via social media that the Red Sox had been in contact with Estévez, but as of Wednesday, there was nothing imminent that might suggest a deal was coming.

“Red Sox have ‘checked in but not serious’ as of this morning,” Cotillo wrote on X Wednesday evening.

In fairness, Estévez might not be one of the Red Sox's top targets at this juncture. They don't necessarily need a closer, and for as good as he was last season, he struck out just 50 batters in 55 innings.

Maybe, for instance, they prefer someone like David Robertson, who struck out 99 batters in 72 innings. Swing-and-miss stuff has been a huge priority of Craig Breslow and the Red Sox's front office this winter.

However, when a fan base constantly gets told that its team is "interested" in free agents, whether that interest is strong or mild, it starts to get annoying after a while. And the Red Sox won't be getting the benefit of the doubt until a big-name signing actually happens.

More MLB: Ex-Red Sox Starter Reportedly Signs With Cubs On Minor League Deal


Published
Jackson Roberts
JACKSON ROBERTS

Jackson Roberts is a former Division III All-Region DH who now writes and talks about sports for a living. A Bay Area native and a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, Jackson makes his home in North Jersey. He grew up rooting for the Red Sox, Patriots, and Warriors, and he recently added the Devils to his sports fandom mosaic. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Boston Red Sox On SI, please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org