9 Red Sox Who Won't Return in 2024

7. Tanner Houck

I went over it last week, but Tanner Houck is someone I can see the Red Sox moving this offseason.

At first, it might seem like an odd prediction to make. Houck is a former first-round selection who's been with the organization since 2017. He also showed some serious potential by going 9-9 with a 3.02 ERA across 53 games (20 starts) for the Red Sox between 2020 and 2022.

The 2023 campaign was Houck's first as a full-time starter and while expectations were high, he failed to meet them for the most part, recording an unimpressive 6-10 record and 5.01 ERA in 21 starts. His -2.6 base-out runs saved was also a major drop-off from last year's +10.1 mark.

Could Houck bounce back? Sure — he's only 27 years old and is a former top-25 pick for a reason. But there have also been reports that the Red Sox may capitalize on whatever potential he has as a part of a deal for an already-proven starting pitcher. If Breslow thinks that he can land a legitimate ace, moving Houck is worth the risk.

Besides, Houck being under team control through 2027 could be extremely attractive to any potential suitors, increasing the likelihood of a deal that Breslow can't turn down.