Earlier this month, Craig Breslow said the Red Sox would likely only pursue starting pitchers who could pitch in the top half of their rotation. Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito were solid behind Crochet last season, but Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter predicted on Friday that the Red Sox would add MacKenzie Gore and Dylan Cease this offseason.
The Red Sox could roll with the likes of Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Kyle Harrison and Patrick Sandoval to round out the rotation. However, Gore was an All-Star last year and could thrive in Boston. Cease is one of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball and could be a great No. 2 for Crochet.
On Nov. 10, MLB insider Bob Nightengale called Gore trade bait. With a new regime in Washington, the Red Sox could go get Gore, who has two more seasons of club control. Gore had a 4.17 ERA in 30 starts last season, but his final 11 starts hurt his overall numbers. He had a 3.02 ERA in the first half of the season.
Cease had a 4.55 ERA in what was a down year. However, in 2024, he finished fourth in the Cy Young Award race. Despite a higher-than-expected ERA, Cease still led baseball in strikeouts-per-nine-innings last season. Cease has made at least 30 starts in each of the last five seasons, and is one of the best free agents on the market.
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Since 2022, Cease leads all of baseball in strikeouts. He and Crochet in the top two spots of the rotation, followed by Gore and Bello, would be a massive upgrade for the Red Sox. Reuter predicted Early would be the Red Sox’s fifth starter, but if the team re-signs Lucas Giolito as well, he would take a rotation spot.
Regardless of who it is, if the Red Sox make two starting pitching additions, they will have plenty of arms who may need to move to the bullpen left over.
