Red Sox 'Unlikely' To Land Star Duo This Offseason Despite Rumored Interest

Boston needs to add to the rotation but it sounds like it isn't willing to spend the money needed to

What is going on in Boston?

Boston entered the offseason with a clear need in the starting rotation. The Red Sox finished the 2023 campaign in last place in the American League East and won just 78 games for the second straight season.

The Red Sox's biggest roster hole has been in the rotation. Boston entered the offseason needing at least two starters -- preferably one top-of-the-rotation arm and one mid-tier hurler. The Red Sox made a solid move landing one-time All-Star Lucas Giolito but traded away Chris Sale so two hurlers still are needed.

There are some solid options still remaining but it's not clear what the Red Sox are doing. Free agency has moved extremely slow and 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and big lefty Jordan Montgomery still are available.

Either hurler would be a great pickup for Boston and although there has been rumored interest, a signing of either hurler is "unlikely" for the Red Sox, according to the Boston Globe's Alex Speier.

"While it hasn’t been ruled out entirely, sources continue to characterize the Sox as unlikely to make the sort of deep-end, long-term plunge needed to land left-handers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, the top two free agent starters left on the market," Speier said. The Sox have signed free agent Lucas Giolito to a one-year deal with a player option.

"But with James Paxton, a free agent, and Chris Sale traded to Atlanta, the team is still looking to add to a group that includes Giolito, Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck."

At this point in the offseason, it seems like money is the biggest motivator to land one of these hurlers than anything else. A lot of clubs already have made major moves so there isn't as much competition out there.

Even though this is the case, it sounds like Boston isn't going to make a major move to improve the rotation.

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