Red Sox Reportedly Interested in Injury-Prone All-Star in Free Agency

The Boston Red Sox are casting a wide net in the offseason, trying to upgrade the rotation. They already made the surprising move of trading for Garrett Crochet earlier in the week and are reportedly looking for more reinforcements. The list includes another starter, an RH bat, relief help, and a backup catcher.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow isn't worried about taking big risks, either. According to MassLive's Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox have had talks with former All-Star pitcher John Means. Once a promising hurler and one of the best pitchers in baseball, Means has been a forgotten name in recent years.

Red Sox Trying to Sign Former Orioles All-Star John Means

The left-handed pitcher underwent a second Tommy John procedure in May and will not pitch for at least the first half of the 2025 season. Presumably, this is considered a low-risk, high-reward flyer for the Red Sox and will not preclude them from targeting higher-end pitchers in free agency.

In his heyday, Means was an All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year runner-up. In 2019, he went 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA, 1.135 WHIP, and a 4.4 WAR in 155 innings. He quickly became a fan favorite in Baltimore and an Opening Day starter for the ensuing years.

The following years haven't been as kind to Means. The 31-year-old went through some of the sharpest declines in recent baseball history after devastating injuries. He was only able to start in ten games since his first Tommy John surgery in April 2022, giving up 2.75 ERA in 52 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox are likely counting on their recent success by signing other injured players like James Paxton and Liam Hendriks. Means may be a worthy gamble, but it certainly has a low chance of working out for Boston.

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