Red Sox Linked To Cy Young Award Front-Runner In Much-Needed Offseason Splash

Boston could land one of the top pitchers in a baseball this offseason to bolster the rotation

The Boston Red Sox starting rotation needs a shakeup this offseason.

Boston already has made changes this offseason by hiring former reliever Craig Breslow to replace Chaim Bloom as the club's chief baseball officer. The Red Sox have plenty of money to spend this offseason and a real need in the rotation. Boston has been linked to multiple stars and reportedly is one of the top landing spots for San Diego Padres ace Blake Snell, according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden.

"Blake Snell is the front-runner to win the (National League) Cy Young Award after a special season in which he went 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 234 strikeouts over 32 starts," Bowden said. "He didn't allow a run in five of his last six starts. Snell ranked in the 100th percentile in pitching run value and breaking run value. Opposing batters hit just .079 against his curveball, .185 against his changeup, and .123 against his slider...

"Best fits: (St. Louis Cardinals), Red Sox, (New York Yankees), (San Francisco Giants), (Los Angeles Dodgers), and (San Diego Padres). Contract prediction: five years, $122 million."

Snell likely will take home the National League Cy Young Award this offseason after a spectacular season with San Diego. He already has one Cy Young Award under his belt after winning the American League award as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. He has plenty of experience in the American League East after spending the first five years of his career with the Rays. 

Boston needs to land a top-of-the-rotation arm if the club wants to get back into playoff contention. The Red Sox took positive steps forward in 2023 but still had one of the worst rotations in baseball. Snell immediately could help fix that.

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