The 2023 season was a disaster for the Boston Red Sox. Aside from Chris Sale (when somewhat healthy) and Brayan Bello, the Red Sox desperately need a starting pitching overhaul. Some free-agent pitchers stand out from the rest that the Red Sox should consider pursuing.
Red Sox Should Pursue Free Agent Starting Pitchers
Aside from the apparent pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, who may end up playing just the outfield in 2024 (not pitching), there are starting pitchers that the Red Sox should pursue, more so than others.
Big Maple
James Paxton had a good 2023 season, but not a great one. His pitching could best be described as erratic. Though he was 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA, his performance, along with Sale’s and Bello’s, was not good enough to propel the Red Sox to a playoff spot. If the Sox were to re-sign him, it should be for less money, given the injuries and erratic performances he experienced last season. Even if the Red Sox were to re-sign him, Paxton should be the fourth or fifth starter in the Red Sox rotation, behind Bello, Sale, and either a solid number one or two starter next season. If Paxton feels he is worth more than the Red Sox offer, he will likely play elsewhere next season.
Julio Urias
While he may not have had the best season in 2023, on or off the field, Julio Urias may be an attractive free agent for the Red Sox. At only 26 years old, Urias is the youngest free-agent prospect that could yield the highest return on investment. He was the NL ERA leader in 2022. His arrest this past September could be a reason for the Red Sox not to pursue the talented left-hander. Still, he has shown he can be dominant and the best in Major League Baseball. The Red Sox must decide if his 2023 year, on and off the field, is worth the risk and investment in pursuing his services.
Lucas Giolito
Yes, he had a terrible year. He spent the season with three different teams. One may argue that part of his on-field play involved his life off the field. He went through a divorce, an experience that is not easy for anyone, including baseball players. If the Red Sox can get Lucas Giolito back to the All-Star he was in 2019 and the player who threw a no-hitter the following season, then the Red Sox may get a quality starter at a bargain. The big question is, can the Red Sox get Giolito back on track after a challenging year for him throughout 2023?
Jack Flaherty
Though he had an off-year, Jack Flaherty, much like Lucas Giolito, has shown he can be a dominating pitcher in Major League Baseball. After an 8-9, 4.99 ERA season spent with the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles, Flaherty could be another bargain basement find for the Red Sox. The question is how much the gamble will cost the Red Sox and if they feel the benefit of signing him outweighs the potential for them to be unable to return him to the pitcher he was two seasons ago.
Takeaway
Red Sox pitching needs an entire overhaul, especially the starting rotation. There are players not named Ohtani the Red Sox could pursue. Some are familiar faces, while others have seen the highs and lows on the field and in their personal lives. The Red Sox need to decide how to rebuild the starting rotation. They must also determine whether they should invest in pitchers who are still relatively young (All the pitchers above besides Paxton are less than 30 years old) or sign players who are proven pitchers but may be older, like Blake Snell and Clayton Kershaw. Those who are older and consistent pitchers will likely command more money. If the Red Sox want to save money and get the most bang for their buck, Urias, Giolito, and Flaherty may be worth the gamble.
Main photo Credits: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
