Yankees Reportedly Sign Red Sox Free-Agent Target To Bolster Rotation

Boston cannot win a bidding war this winter

Scott Neville | Jan 11, 2024

Yankees Reportedly Sign Red Sox Free-Agent Target To Bolster Rotation /

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The Boston Red Sox's offseason of inactivity continues after losing out on a premier starting pitcher to the New York Yankees.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was adamant that he would bolster the rotation this winter but is quickly running out of options to do so while falling further behind the division race by the day.

"Marcus Stroman has agreed to a two-year, $37 million deal with the Yankees, per source," MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported Thursday night. "The deal, which is pending physical, also has a vesting option for 2026."

Stroman posted a 3.95 ERA with a 119-to-52 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .231 batting average against and 1.26 WHIP in 136 2/3 innings with the Chicago Cubs last season.

The 32-year-old was linked to the Red Sox according to multiple reports, including one by The New York Post's Jon Heyman on Wednesday, who claimed Boston was one of five suitors for the right-hander.

Stroman would have been a solid addition given the price point and short-term pact. With him off the board, Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell are the only true impact starters remaining on the free-agent market.

The trade market is just as bleak as both Dylan Cease and Jesús Luzardo are expected to remain with the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins, respectively -- barring a trade that would decimate the future of a franchise.

The greatest hope for the Red Sox faithful is that ownership is bullied by the media and fanbase to panic and greenlight a Montgomery deal.

Otherwise, Boston will be looking at someone in the James Paxton, Mike Clevinger and Hyun-jin Ryu tier to marginally improve the rotation.

More MLB: Red Sox Target Reportedly Is Seeking Deal In Boston's Range After Strong Season

Published Jan 11, 2024

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu