3 Bold Red Sox Trade Deadline Predictions

Boston Adds Two Starting Pitchers

Boston's much-maligned pitching staff shocked the baseball world when it performed like the best rotation in baseball for much of the first half of the season before injury and regression forced it back down to earth. Still, their 3.66 team ERA ranks fourth in the AL, and starters Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford have (mostly) parlayed their hot starts into really good seasons.

It still isn't good enough. The fifth starter is a massive question mark; Cooper Criswell and Josh Winckowski have both tried their hand in the role, to wildly varying success. Elsewhere, young stalwart Brayan Bello has struggled mightily, to the tune of a 5.19 ERA. Houck, Crawford, and Nick Pivetta make up a formidable top three, but the depth behind them is slim.

Hence why the Red Sox should use the deadline to upgrade. They don't need stars or even youngsters with potential; they need pitchers that have solid, reliable track records and can provide some stability on the staff. With pitching versatility more important than ever, having five or six trustworthy guys who can start or come out of the bullpen is a necessity for good teams.

Think of the 2018 team, which had guys like Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, and Heath Hembree operating in all sorts of roles. That type of pitcher can make or break a team, and, while they may get there in the future, Criswell and Winckowski just aren't there yet.

Names like Michael Lorenzen (Rangers), Frankie Montas (Reds), and Tyler Anderson (Angels) are all in play; each of the three are solid pitchers, with Lorenzen and Anderson in the midst of career years. White Sox star Garrett Crochet is a possibility, although that'd likely require parting ways with top prospects. Whichever direction they ultimately choose, look for two starters to find new homes on Lansdowne this summer.