Red Sox Targeting 'Front-Of-The-Rotation Type' Starting Pitcher This Offseason
The Boston Red Sox have been building their rotation with oft-injured, high-upside, low-floor starters over the last few seasons and banked on their high-octane offense to get them to the promised land.
The plan has not worked and the team's need for a true ace has never been bigger. It's clear that the Red Sox could use multiple offseason additions to the rotation and reportedly plan to end up with at least two new starters via free agency or trade.
Boston will be in the market for a premier arm to kick off the winter, which has been reinforced by multiple reports.
"Boston is targeting a front-of-the-rotation type (starting pitcher)," ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday.
Passan reported that the Red Sox will be involved in the bidding war for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, alongside the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also said the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays might get involved.
Yamamoto is the top pitcher on the market and could command over $200 million this winter. After him, there still is a bevy of frontline starters to target.
Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray, Eduardo Rodriguez, Marcus Stroman and Lucas Giolito all fit the description in free agency. Shota Imanaga and Yariel Rodriguez are intriguing international options who could develop into top-tier starters as well.
The trade market could boast Milwaukee Brewers' Corbin Burnes, Tampa Bay Rays' Tyler Glasnow, Cleveland Guardians' Shane Bieber and possibly even Chicago White Sox's Dylan Cease.
The Red Sox should have one or hopefully two of the aforementioned names on the roster by Opening Day, Yamamoto being the clear-cut top choice.
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