Boston Red Sox: Setting expectations for 3 offseason acquisitions
By Max Bozicas
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Richards
Garrett Richards is perhaps the most intriguing signing for the Boston Red Sox. He has great stuff when he’s healthy, but he’s been plagued by injuries for most of his career. Richards’s deal with the Red Sox amounts to $8.5 million in 2021 with a club option for $10 million in 2022.
Richards has a career ERA of 3.62 with a 1.255 WHIP. He usually does a good job of keeping the ball in the park as he sports a HR/9 of 0.8.
If Richards can stay healthy, odds are he’s the second or third best pitcher in the starting rotation. The only problem is that Richards staying healthy is a really big if. Richards has only made 41 starts since the beginning of the 2016 season.
At his best, Richards is a very good boost to a Red Sox pitching staff that desperately needs one. However, don’t rule out that he might unfortunately take a trip or two to the injured list.
If Richards pans out, he could end up being the best signing the Red Sox make this offseason and could be instrumental to the team making another playoff push.