Rays Sign Potential Red Sox Free Agent Target To Bolster Rotation Ahead Of Opening Day

Boston still needs to find an upgrade

Scott Neville | Mar 15, 2024

Rays Sign Potential Red Sox Free Agent Target To Bolster Rotation Ahead Of Opening Day /

In this story:

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are less than two weeks from Opening Day and appear to be at least one arm, realistically two away from having an imposing rotation.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow acted all offseason as if he was going to make multiple additions to the staff but his lone move was to sign right-hander Lucas Giolito -- who just underwent season-ending surgery. Breslow also traded left-hander Chris Sale for second baseman Vaughn Grissom, so the rotation is hurting.

Red Sox priority owner John Henry's frugality has become a major storyline in recent months/years, so a low-budget addition appears more likely than the acquisition of Jordan Montgomery, Michael Lorenzen or Mike Clevinger. Blake Snell is not even worth bringing up.

One affordable option who would have made a lot of sense for the Red Sox has decided to join an American League East rival.

"The Tampa Bay Rays have signed right-hander Jake Odorizzi to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league camp," the club announced.

Odorizzi posted a 4.40 ERA with an 86-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .258 batting average against and a 1.33 WHIP in 106 1/3 innings between the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves in 2022.

The veteran had surgery on his throwing shoulder which took him out for the entirety of the 2023 season but he could prove to be an impactful addition if he produces anywhere close to his career numbers -- 74-69 with a 3.99 ERA (103 ERA+) across 11 seasons.

The Red Sox would be better off with Montgomery, Lorenzen or Clevinger but it doesn't appear as if Breslow is going to get any of those singing done.

Instead, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck will be in the Opening Day rotation -- which not only makes the starting staff less impressive but drastically limits the bullpen depth by not having those two in there.

More MLB: Red Sox Free Agent Slugger Signs Elsewhere Despite Reunion Rumors Swirling

Published Mar 15, 2024

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu