Red Sox Still Seen As Best Fit For Elite Free Agent Starting Pitcher Despite Signing Lucas Giolito

It sounds like the Red Sox could make another big splash in the free-agent starter market

The Boston Red Sox already have made one splash in their starting rotation but need to make at least one more. 

Boston recently signed one-time All-Star Lucas Giolito but traded away Chris Sale so there still is a hole that needs to be filled. The Red Sox have been mentioned as a fit for seemingly every available starter but one player who has been floated on numerous occasions is former Yokohama DeNA BayStars Shōta Imanaga.

Imanaga is an intriguing option in free agency and has been mentioned as an answer to Boston's problems multiple times this offseason. He is expected to make a decision about his future soon and the Red Sox are seen as the best fit for his services, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan. 

"The Red Sox entered this offseason determined to add starting pitching and did just that when they reached a two-year deal with Lucas Giolito (per a source)," Harrigan said. "But after following up that move by trading Chris Sale to the (Atlanta Braves), Boston’s rotation doesn’t look that much better than it was at the end of 2023.

"Signing (Jordan Montgomery) would make sense, but given the payroll questions raised in a recent report from Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Imanaga may be a better fit. The Japanese lefty has until Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. ET to sign with an MLB team after being posted by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of the Nippon Professional Baseball in late November."

This likely won't be the last time that Imanaga is mentioned as a fit for the Red Sox. He is just 30 years old and has a career 2.96 ERA in eight professional seasons. Imanaga certainly could help the Red Sox if they decide to make an offer.

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