Red Sox Buzz: Michael Wacha, Eric Hosmer, and a very bold prediction

Could the Boston Red Sox land Michael Wacha on the cheap again?

After former Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi signed with the Texas Rangers, Wacha is the top starting pitcher left in free agency and his has yet to heat up.

According to MLBTR, only one team has expressed interest in the 31-year-old Wacha.  That team also resides in the American League East.

"“As things stand, the Orioles are the only known team to have checked in on the 31-year-old, who’s coming off his best season in a while for the Red Sox,” MLBTR writer Simon Hampton writes.  “Wacha made 23 starts for Boston last season, working to a 3.32 ERA across 127 1/3 innings. That mark did come with a fairly pedestrian 20.2 percent strikeout rate, and a solid 6 percent walk rate. Further, his .260 opponent BABIP suggests a bit of good fortune was involved, and sure enough Wacha’s FIP sat at 4.14 for the season.”"

Michael Wacha would give the Red Sox starting rotation depth and security

While Wacha could decide to wait out the market to join a contending team, a return to the Red Sox could be his best option after reviving his career a bit with the team.  In 2022, Wacha was solid with the Red Sox and at time was their most dependable starter.

In 23 games, Wacha posted an 11-2 record with a 3.32 ERA.  He also displayed a competitiveness that the Red Sox could use in a starting rotation that currently consists of Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, James Paxton, Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock and Brayan Bello.

While that seems like a crowded rotation, the health of both Sale and Paxton is an uncertain element and bringing back Wacha would give the team some added depth and security in case Kluber doesn’t have anything left in the tank and Bello takes a little more time to develop.

This would also allow the Red Sox to return Whitlock to the bullpen which would only strengthen the overall pitching staff.

Former Red Sox first baseman Chicago bound?

Another free agent who has yet to find a new team is Eric Hosmer.

After being DFA’d by the Boston Red Sox, the veteran infielder has an opportunity to choose his next location which could shape up to be the Chicago Cubs.

Per MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman, talks are heading up between Hosmer and the Cubs.  In fact, those talks are “promising.”  If Hosmer does in fact sign with the Cubs, that would take another option off the board for Trey Mancini, who could be a potential power bat the Red Sox should have interest in the longer he stays on the market.

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As for Hosmer, he really didn’t get an opportunity to show much in a Red Sox uniform.  After obtaining the veteran first baseman at the MLB Trade Deadline, it never seemed like Hosmer was a part of the team’s plans.  With Triston Casas waiting in the wings, the release of Hosmer came at no surprise.

Alex Cora predicted as 2023 AL Manager of the Year

It’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to the upcoming season for the Boston Red Sox.

One MLB.com writer has penciled in Alex Cora as the AL Manager of the Year which is pretty bold right now considering the team lost Xander Bogaerts in free agency and may have to make another hard decision when it comes to the future of Rafael Devers.

"“The Red Sox stunk in 2022, which, if recent history holds, means they won’t stink next year,” MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovince wrote.  “Cora is one of the best baseball minds in the game, and most people have moved on from the sign-stealing scandals he was involved in.  If the Sox were to rise from the East cellar to somehow reach October, Cora would be an obvious AL Manager of the Year candidate.  Right now, it’s hard to say how the heck they would do that, but, again, they have been know to fluctuate between extremes, and this award rewards extreme overachievement.”"

While the Red Sox still have some work to do in shaping this roster, if indeed the Red Sox are even still contending come September, this bold prediction will hold up well.