Boston Red Sox: Best free agent options for team in 2021
For Boston Red Sox fans, this offseason has not been one of the more ideal ones in history so far as their signature additions to this point are pitcher Matt Andriese and outfielder Hunter Renfroe.
Both players have been a part of Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom’s past with the Tampa Bay Rays. And neither are expected to be starters, but instead depth pieces.
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There has, however, been continuous news that general managers around the league are expecting the Red Sox to make a splash soon, and there is even more news that has been linking the Red Sox to names all across the market.
We could be nearing a time where the Red Sox do make that long talked about splash that can set them up to contend in the AL East moving forward.
Whether the position is starting pitching, bullpen, second base, or outfield, the Red Sox have their hands in a lot.
Here’s a look at five free agent options that seem perfect for the team to sign during the remainder of the offseason to bulk up the roster and perhaps even create a playoff team while doing so.
The best free agent options for the Boston Red Sox in 2021 based on their reported interest
SP Jake Odorizzi
Another player from Chaim Bloom’s past with the Rays seems like the most probable in terms of all the free agents the Red Sox have had an interest in. Jake Odorizzi has been a consistent pitcher for much of his career, as a career ERA of 3.92 perfectly illustrates him as a middle of the rotation starter.
What may make him most appealing to Bloom and the Red Sox is that he is unlikely to ask for a big contract following a 2020 season that saw him make a total of four starts before being sidelined. And in those four starts, he was rather bad with a 6.59 ERA in 13 2/3 innings.
If you look at who Odorizzi was before that, you see a guy who had a career year in 2019 finishing 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA and his first all-star appearance. Last year was the first year he really experienced any problems when it came to missing time, which should be a good sign for the Red Sox if they want to help bolster their starting rotation.
Odorizzi isn’t going to walk into the clubhouse and command the baseball on Opening Day necessarily, but he is going to be a guy you can believe in every time out with hopes of getting a win.
Considering their problems with pitchers last year, Odorizzi would be a treat compared to that. It won’t be too shocking if he is pitching in Fenway Park most of his starts in 2021.