This offseason has been a wild one in Major League Baseball, but the Boston Red Sox haven’t exactly gotten in on the action.
The club has made just one notable move, and it was far from flashy.
It was a one-year deal for Michael Wacha, a pitcher who has a 5.11 ERA since 2019.
Right-hander Michael Wacha and the Boston Red Sox are finalizing a one-year contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Wacha, 30, was solid in a starting role for Tampa Bay last season and is expected to bring depth to the Red Sox’s rotation. Deal is pending a physical.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 26, 2021
With some massive dominoes falling around the league and the Red Sox largely staying quiet, many Boston fans are frustrated with the way this offseason is going.
But it’s not too late for the Sox to turn it around.
There are still plenty of talented players looking for homes, and one guy in particular seems like he’d be a great fit with the Red Sox.
This would be a slam-dunk signing for Boston.
Marcus Stroman
The Red Sox need rotation help in a big way.
After losing Eduardo Rodriguez this offseason, the club’s pitching staff has some serious holes.
At best, the team can say it has four starters right now, with those guys being Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Nick Pivetta, and Tanner Houck.
Already, that’s somewhat of a stretch, as it seems like Boston would rather use the 25-year-old Houck in a relief capacity before making him a full-time starter down the road.
But for the sake of this discussion, let’s assume that he begins the 2021 season in a starting role.
Even then, the team would need another arm.
Four guys isn’t going to cut it.
That’s where someone like Marcus Stroman comes in.
Stroman is one of the best remaining starters on the free-agent market, and the Red Sox are reportedly in the mix for his services.
Sources say the Red Sox, Giants, Cubs, Mets, and Angels are interested in free agent righty Marcus Stroman.
— timdierkes (@timdierkes) November 24, 2021
Boston lacks a staff ace at the moment.
Nathan Eovaldi was great in 2021 — in fact, he finished fourth in the AL Cy Young race — but his best fit is as a No. 2 starter.
Over four seasons with the Red Sox, he has a 4.11 ERA and 3.55 FIP.
There’s also Chris Sale, who’s obviously capable of pitching like an ace.
But after Tommy John surgery, there are no guarantees that he’s going to look like his old self in 2022.
Stroman, however, is an ace.
And he’d change the look of this Red Sox rotation in a big way.
The Rundown On Stroman
Stroman is getting better with each passing year.
He’s 30 now, and it seems like he has several great seasons left in the tank.
The righty is coming off of a fantastic 2021 season, a year that was arguably the best of his carer.
He didn’t play in 2020 after opting out, so no one really knew what to expect from him in 2021.
But he provided an answer in a big way.
Over 33 starts, he posted a 3.02 ERA, 3.49 FIP, and 1.15 WHIP.
Marcus Stroman, Filthy 85mph Split Change…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/065fMpqfTN
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 6, 2021
He carried the load for a New York Mets rotation that was without Jacob deGrom for more than half of the season.
The Mets didn’t make the playoffs, but they certainly made things interesting.
Stroman had a major hand in that.
Since the beginning of the 2019 season, the one-time All-Star has maintained a 3.12 ERA, 135 ERA+, and 3.61 FIP across 65 starts.
That’s a huge sample size, and those are some fantastic numbers.
This guy is for real.
The Red Sox could send a huge message to the rest of the AL East by inking Stroman to a deal.
NEXT: Nathan Eovaldi Quietly Had A Career Year In 2021