5 Biggest Red Sox Offseason Priorities That Must Be Addressed
By Tyler Maher
2. Bolster the Starting Rotation
Once Bloom’s replacement is hired, their top priority should be fixing the starting rotation.
Boston’s thin rotation ultimately doomed the club in 2023, especially after Bloom failed to acquire reinforcements at the trade deadline. The Red Sox ranked 22nd in starting pitcher ERA this season and are about to lose one of their top starters (James Paxton) to free agency.
Boston has a decent foundation with Chris Sale, Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta and Kutter Crawford, but desperately needs an ace and more depth. Sale can’t be trusted to stay healthy after missing so much time during the past few seasons, Bello is more of a No. 2/3 starter, and Crawford and Pivetta are both back of the rotation guys. The Red Sox tried and failed to convert relievers Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock into starters, so they’re better off leaving them in the bullpen next year.
Fortunately for Boston, there’s going to be a ton of arms on the market this winter. With elite starters like Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, Aaron Nola, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and others all available this offseason, the Red Sox should acquire at least one of those guys along with another depth option.
Bloom refused to pay up for starting pitching during his tenure, and it ended up being one of the many things that cost him his job. His replacement would be wise not to make the same mistake.