The Boston Red Sox have not had an ideal offseason.
The goal was to try and retain star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, though that did not work out as the veteran bolted for the San Diego Padres, signing an 11-year, $280 million contract.
The Red Sox also lost two starting pitchers in Rich Hill and Nathan Eovaldi and missed out on Zach Eflin and Jose Abreu, albeit barely.
The team did sign right-hander Corey Kluber to a one-year deal, but after the deal was announced, one Red Sox analyst provided an update that will have fans seething.
It appears that the team is done adding free agent starting pitchers.
The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier on the Red Sox adding additional free agent starters:
“The Sox are likely done adding free agent starters (that market is well picked over, save for Michael Wacha) but will continue to explore trades.” pic.twitter.com/8w1SDZvyDO
— Chris Henrique (@ChrisHenrique) December 28, 2022
Granted, the market for starters is pretty picked over at this point, though some viable arms remain, such as Michael Wacha, who enjoyed a bounce-back season with Boston in 2022.
But there hasn’t been much news on the trade front either.
Instead, it appears that after adding Kluber, the Red Sox will bank on healthy seasons from oft-injured starters Chris Sale and James Paxton.
Nick Pivetta and Garrett Whitlock are other options.
But there are a lot of question marks for Boston’s rotation entering the 2023 season.
In addition to Wacha, there are a few starters that are still out on the market such as Johnny Cueto, Dylan Bundy, and Anibal Sanchez, all of whom could help the Sox.
But the team appears to set on exploring the trade market.
Perhaps they could swing a deal with the Miami Marlins for right-hander Pablo Lopez, though he would likely come at a high asking price.
At the end of the day, this bit of news will likely frustrate Sox fans a great deal.
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