Boston Red Sox: 7 starting pitchers of interest at MLB Trade Deadline
Can the Boston Red Sox starting rotation hold strong down the stretch? Better yet, do they have the reliability in the rotation to make a series run at a World Series title?
Those are the questions Red Sox chief of baseball operations Chaim Bloom is going to have to think about as the MLB Trade Deadline comes and goes. He also has to think beyond the promise of young pitcher Tanner Houck and the eventual return of ace Chris Sale.
Beyond the All-Star year of Nathan Eovaldi and the surprise in the lineup that is Nick Pivetta, the Red Sox really can’t depend on the health and consistency of Eduardo Rodriguez, Garrett Richards is well Garrett Richards and Martin Perez is solid as a No. 5 pitcher but come playoffs he is more of an asset in long relief.
So, what should the Red Sox do to upgrade the starting rotation? Should Chaim gamble on what they already have in Eovaldi, Rodriguez and eventually Sale or should he be proactive and go for the jugular at the MLB Trade Deadline?
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Let’s put a Red Sox touch on some of the MLB rumors and buzz surrounding starting pitchers around the league.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher MLB Trade Deadline targets: Jon Gray
If the Boston Red Sox are looking simply to add some stability at the backend of their rotation, exploring a trade for Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Jon Gray may be one of those minor moves that could turn into a major addition down the stretch.
Gray, who is 6-6 with a 3.67 ERA in 18 starts, would be a rental as he is set to hit free agency following the season. So, he should come at low cost with the chance to make the type of impact Nathan Eovaldi made back in 2018.
At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, the 29-year-old Gray could strengthen any contending starting rotation around the league and is certainly sparking interest in his services.
When it comes to the Red Sox, however, the team will have to evaluate whether Gray is an upgrade over what they already have towards the back of their rotation in Pivetta, Houck, Richards and Perez.
In all, Jon Gray is a safe target for the Red Sox. Let’s now turn it up and get aggressive.