5 Red Sox on Thin Ice This Offseason

2. Kutter Crawford

While he shined at times throughout the 2023 season, Kutter Crawford was one of Boston's more inconsistent players from April to September.

The Okeechobee, FL native finished the year with his third consecutive losing record (6-8) and while his 4.04 ERA was far from putrid, it wasn't exactly a stable number. Not only did he pitch to an ERA of 4.70 or worse in two of the five months of the season, but he also went 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in his final 6 appearances.

If the Red Sox are going to become a force to be reckoned with, they need more consistency from the 27-year-old — especially at home. After all, Crawford went 0-5 with a 6.00 ERA in 15 games (11 starts) at Fenway Park compared to a 6-3 record with a 2.49 ERA in 16 away outings (12 starts).

Like Houck, Crawford finds himself as a potential trade candidate if Boston's looking to pull off a blockbuster this offseason, per MassLive's Chris Cotillo. If the Sox can land someone like George Kirby, who Cotillo suggests, then sacrificing Crawford is a no-brainer.

At the end of the day, Crawford shouldn't have that long of a leash. Yes, he's a solid contributor when he's on his game, but he must find a way to play to his potential more often.