Ex-Cubs All-Star Mentioned As Possible Fit For Red Sox To Improve Starting Rotation

Boston could end up landing a former Cubs star this offseason in free agency

Things are about to heat up with the Boston Red Sox.

The 2023 Winter Meetings are set to begin Monday and free agency and the trade market are both about to pick up. Boston's biggest need is in the starting rotation but it has not been able to land a hurler yet this offseason. The Red Sox need to add at least one starter and it's clear that they will be making some additions.

There are some intriguing hurlers still available to help with the top-of-the-rotation -- like Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Texas Rangers lefty Jordan Montgomery. Boston will need to add hurlers to bolster the middle of the rotation, as well, and one player who could make sense is Chicago Cubs All-Star Marcus Stroman, according to the Boston Globe's Alex Speier.  

"Still, sources believe the team has a strong preference to avoid signing a pitcher attached to a qualifying offer," Speier said. "That places three pitchers as prominent offseason targets: Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, left-hander Jordan Montgomery, and Japanese lefty Shōta Imanaga.

"The list of free-agent pitchers beyond those three is long. Former Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodríguez is coming off a strong year with the (Detroit Tigers); Marcus Stroman, who signed with the Cubs when (Craig Breslow) was assistant general manager, is a reliable mid-rotation contributor when healthy."

Stroman would be a very solid upgrade for the Boston rotation. The Red Sox had one of the worst rotations in baseball last year. Stroman made 27 appearances with the Cubs and compiled a 3.95 ERA while earning his second All-Star nod. Boston needs to make a move and landing Stroman would be a perfect place to start.

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