Red Sox May Not Add Another Starter This Offseason Unless This Happens

What is Boston's plan for the rest of the offseason?

The Boston Red Sox are in a surprising spot.

Boston made some positive strides last season although it finished in last place in the American League East after winning just 78 games for the second straight season. The Red Sox's biggest roster hole entering the offseason certainly was the starting rotation.

If Boston's starters were more consistent and went deeper into games last season, it certainly could've been a playoff team. The Red Sox were in contention for an American League Wild Card spot for much of the season until right around the trade deadline. 

Boston entered the offseason with high expectations and claimed it was going "full throttle" as the club looked to improve. Since then, the Red Sox's biggest roster additions have been Lucas Giolito and Tyler O'Neill. Both are solid pickups, but the club hasn't done what it said it was going to.

There still are some big-name hurlers available in Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell, but it sounds like Boston isn't going to sign either of them. Instead, it looks like the only way we see another big addition to the rotation will be through a "creative trade for a starter," according to the Boston Globe's Pete Abraham.

"But unless he can put together a creative trade for a starter, it was made clear Friday night that any additions between now and spring training would likely be lower-tier free agents on short-term contracts," Abraham said. "That could require shedding some payroll first.

"The Sox have a plan and they’re not budging. But (Sam Kennedy) said that won’t always be the case. Once the young position players are deemed ready, the payroll will go back up."

At this point, it has been made clear that the Red Sox don't plan on handing out a big contract this offseason. Plus, Boston has made it known that it doesn't plan to trade Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, or Kyle Teel this offseason. 

It's unclear what the team will do next.

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