Boston Red Sox in Need of Number 1 Starter
By Willy
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
The Red Sox started the Hot Stove season off with a bang, signing old friend Hanley Ramirez and new marketing target Pablo Sandoval, two players I figured the Sox would target. Since that time they have signed another old friend in Justin Masterson and traded for Detroit Tigers #3/4 Starter Rick Porcello and Arizona DiamondBacks reliable Lefty Wade Miley.
Since this time however it has been relatively quiet on Yawkey Way with only smaller moves being made. We have been left to believe that other than a Bullpen arm here or there that GM Ben Cherington’s job this Offseason may be done. For me this is a huge mistake.
If Ben is sincere about wanting to build a contending team for this year and years to come then he Must acquire a #1 Starter. The current rotation in my opinion, coupled with a more potent lineup will still only get you 80-84 Wins. Lacking is that pure number One, the guy that can halt or stop a losing skid, can lead the staff, can be counted on when times get rough, can get you a huge Playoff win.
Though Ben did trade prospects in the Miley deal he has been extremely reluctant to trade any of his “home grown” players. To a degree I can understand the method to his madness but in other ways I cannot. For me you make a list of untouchables, let’s say 3-4 players and then everyone else is available in the right deal. The untouchables for me are: Mookie Betts, Blake Swihart and potentially Xander Bogaerts. As much as I love Henry Owens, Christian Vazquez, Rafael Devers among others, I wouldn’t make them untouchable.
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At this given moment there are still two high profile Starting Pitchers available via Free Agency in: Max Scherzer and James Shields, only costing a team a draft pick and tons of cash. Though I like Max I wouldn’t overpay for him as he has a history of only pitching 6-7 Innings per start and his delivery looks like an accident waiting to happen. Shields I would pass on altogether as his record/stats in the Post Season are ugly.
That leaves Ben with trading for another pitcher. At this moment we are left to believe that pitchers: Cole Hamels and Jordan Zimmermann are the best of what may be available. The Philadelphia Phillies demands have been considered by most to be unfair; will their ultra high demands come down the closer they get to Spring Training?
We don’t have a clear picture of what the Washington Nationals would want in return for “Zimm” but we can all safely assume it would be much less then what Philly wants for Hamels.
I don’t know whether to believe Ben when he says he’s happy with his rotation “as-is” and that if he needed to add someone he could do it by the July trade deadline. Why pay almost as much and sometimes more for a rental at the deadline (very rarely a true Ace is available) versus trading for that guy now, allowing him to fit in and gel with his teammates.
Since things have been eerily quiet on Yawkey Way perhaps Ben is working behind the scenes to acquire a top pitcher. I hope he does because without it this team doesn’t exactly strike fear in their opponents and the money saved from not signing Jon Lester would have gone to waste. Ben has time, Pitchers and Catchers don’t report until February 20th but I wouldnt wait until the last minute. Get us that number-1 pitcher Ben or pay the price. Go Sox!