Red Sox Reportedly Could Trade Young Hurler In Bigger Deal To Boost Starting Rotation

Should the Red Sox trade one of their most intriguing young hurlers?

Things are going to look different in Boston in 2024. 

The Red Sox are expected to be extremely active this offseason and the club will need to be if they want to return to the postseason next year. Boston's starting rotation was among the worst in baseball this season and needs a serious upgrade this offseason. There are sure to be plenty of big-name players available in free agency and also a few possibly through trades.

If the Red Sox opt to make a trade this offseason to improve the rotation they will have to give up some solid pieces and one player who reportedly could be a trade piece is young hurler Tanner Houck, according to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey.

"Like (Jarren Duran), Houck could be a building block, a player with something to prove, or a trade piece," McCaffrey said. If the Red Sox want to make any trades this winter, they're going to have to make tough decisions on young players with big-league time that other teams will covert. It's hard to know how the next leader of the team will view Houck. Could a trade package including Houck and a few others get a bigger return on another starter? Or do they keep giving him a chance in the rotation?

"Houck posted a 5.01 ERA over 21 starts, his first full year in the rotation. He is still pre-arbitration and made $740,000 last year. His contract status makes him a bit more enticing to teams, too, as opposed to (Garrett Whitlock)."

Houck has shown flashes at the big-league level and could be an intriguing hurler to keep around but has been mentioned in trade rumors before. The big righty is just 27 years old and already has spent parts of four seasons in the big leagues. If Boston is willing to trade Houck it should be in a bigger deal for a star. Multiple hurlers have been linked to Boston in the past -- including Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber and Chicago White Sox start Dylan Cease. If Boston could land someone at either Bieber or Cease's level then a move certainly makes sense. If not, maybe it makes sense to hang onto Houck to see what he can do. 

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