Boston Red Sox: Corey Kluber a good rotational depth piece
One of the biggest question marks for the Boston Red Sox heading into the 2023 season is their starting rotation.
Before yesterday they had Chris Sale, Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock and Brayan Bello. James Paxton and Tanner Houck are also options. Definitely don’t feel great about that!
But yesterday, the Red Sox gave themselves a little bit more depth in the starting rotation by signing former Rays pitcher Corey Kluber. The Kluber signing is for one year and $10 million.
Corey Kluber gives the Boston Red Sox a pitcher with A.L. East experience
This is something I always value in starting pitching. Kluber has spent the last two seasons pitching in the American League East. He spent the 2021 season with the New York Yankees and then last season with the Tampa Bay Rays.
In 164 innings last year with the Rays, “Klubot” went 10-10 with a 4.34 ERA. The former two time Cy Young award winner also had 139 strikeouts, 21 walks, and a 1.213 WHIP.
The A.L. East is going to be an absolute juggernaut this year. Look at all of the teams and where they currently stand.
The Yankees are coming off being in the ALCS, getting swept by the Astros in the process. You have Tampa Bay that’s always in it. Toronto is continuously trying to get better and has a highly talented lineup. Baltimore is looking like they’ll continuously get better. Then, there’s the Red Sox.
Kluber has some knowledge of both the Rays and Yankees lineups from being in the organizations before. That’s valuable! Pitching against the Orioles and Jays a bunch doesn’t hurt either!
Corey Kluber gives the Boston Red Sox some much needed depth
Look, we all know one of the main reasons the Red Sox signed Kluber was to give them a much needed starter in the rotation. You just lost Rich Hill and Nathan Eovaldi to free agency.
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This starting rotation has a ton of questions to it. Will Sale and Paxton stay healthy? Can Bello make a huge leap in his first full MLB season? What can Whitlock do as a starter on a consistent basis? What side of Pivetta will we see from start to start? Will Houck get some starts with more than two turns through the lineup?
To me, that’s a few too many questions for a starting rotation. That’s why Kluber is way more valuable than people think. He is a guy that can at least give you anywhere from 24-32 starts, as long as he stays healthy of course.
The bottom line with Corey Kluber and the Boston Red Sox
Look, Corey Kluber is a good depth signing, especially at only $10 million. But, he shouldn’t be the only move to bolster this rotation.
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The Red Sox need more to add to this starting rotation, besides Kluber. It looks like that’ll come in the form of a trade more likely than other free agency moves.
So make that trade! Be competitive. Give Red Sox fans like myself a reason to believe in this team.
Right now, Red Sox nation is dreading 2023. Give fans a reason to buy back in on this team, even a little bit.