MLB.com is holding observe of all the newest free-agent and commerce rumors involving the Crimson Sox proper right here.
Dec. 26: Giolito, Crimson Sox ‘stay engaged’ in negotiations (report)Crimson Sox starters pitched the fourth-fewest innings in MLB in 2023, and their 4.68 ERA ranked twenty second within the Majors. Boston was thought-about a finalist for Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who reportedly agreed to a 12-year cope with the Dodgers.
Given their severe want for beginning pitching, the Crimson Sox are certainly one of many golf equipment who “stay engaged” with free-agent right-hander Lucas Giolito, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reported Tuesday. The 29-year-old pitched 184 1/3 innings in 2023 (Brayan Bello led the Crimson Sox at 157) and posted a 4.88 ERA.
Giolito’s season took a major flip for the more severe after he was dealt from the White Sox to the Angels on the Commerce Deadline. He posted a 6.89 ERA in six begins with the Angels, was claimed by the Guardians off waivers on Aug. 31 and put up a 7.04 ERA in six begins with Cleveland. Nonetheless, there is no denying Giolito’s upside: From 2019 to 2021, he posted a 3.47 ERA, ending sixth, seventh and eleventh in American League Cy Younger Award voting, respectively.
Cotillo additionally reported that the Crimson Sox have been in “fixed communication” with veteran left-hander James Paxton, terming a possible reunion “in play however not a certainty.”
Dec. 26: Will Crimson Sox add to their outfield in free company?The Crimson Sox outfield will definitely look completely different in 2024. Tyler O’Neill (acquired from the Cardinals) is predicted to interchange Alex Verdugo (traded to the Yankees) in left discipline, however Boston nonetheless wants to interchange free agent Adam Duvall.
Slugging outfielder Teoscar Hernández might be an possibility for the Crimson Sox. On Friday, Ken Rosenthal wrote in The Athletic (subscription required) that Boston was exhibiting curiosity within the 31-year-old, who hit .258 with 26 house runs for the Mariners in 2023. Hernández owns a profession .486 slugging proportion and has totaled 147 house runs because the begin of the 2018 season.
Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (subscription required) reported that the Crimson Sox had not made a suggestion to Hernández as of Saturday night time, however they have been discussing potential contract parameters. Boston will seemingly face competitors for Hernández: The Dodgers and Angels are among the many groups which have been linked to the free-agent outfielder.
Dec. 23: Crimson Sox ‘exhibiting sturdy curiosity’ in re-signing Paxton (report)The Crimson Sox are in want of beginning pitching, and in response to WEEI’s Rob Bradford, Boston is “exhibiting sturdy curiosity” in bringing again Paxton.
Paxton posted a 4.50 ERA over 19 begins for the Crimson Sox in an injury-limited 2023 marketing campaign. Accidents have been a problem for the 35-year-old, significantly in recent times — he signed with the Crimson Sox earlier than the 2022 season whereas recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure he underwent the prior April whereas with the Mariners.
However Paxton missed all the ’22 marketing campaign earlier than making his Boston debut final Could. Hamstring and knee accidents hampered him, and after a robust begin to his season, he struggled to a 6.98 ERA over his remaining 9 begins.
With a bunch of younger starters behind veteran lefty Chris Sale, who has handled a prolonged listing of accidents of his personal throughout his time with the Crimson Sox, beginning depth appears to rightfully be a significant precedence for Boston. The Crimson Sox have been linked to pitchers on the high of the free-agent market, dropping out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto however nonetheless in play for reigning NL Cy Younger Award winner Blake Snell and others.
Bringing Paxton again would definitely not be sufficient to bolster the rotation, significantly together with his harm historical past. But when he can keep wholesome and recapture what he had early final season (2.73 ERA via his first 10 begins), he might be an vital contributor.
Dec. 21: Which pitchers are in Crimson Sox’s sights with Yamamoto off the board?The Crimson Sox have been certainly one of seven identified groups within the bidding for the perfect beginning pitcher available on the market, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He would have been an ideal match for a membership that sported a rotation ERA within the backside third of MLB in every of the previous two seasons. Nonetheless, the Crimson Sox must look elsewhere to enhance their beginning employees after the Japanese right-hander agreed to phrases with the Dodgers on a 12-year, $325 million contract, per supply.
Though Crimson Sox followers could also be disenchanted in the intervening time, the excellent news is there are nonetheless loads of good pitchers for the membership to think about. That features two-time Cy Younger Award winner Blake Snell and 2023 World Collection champion Jordan Montgomery. The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reported not too long ago that the crew has “proven various levels of curiosity” in Snell and Montgomery. Speier additionally talked about on MLB Community that the Crimson Sox have “appreciable curiosity” in 30-year-old Japanese left-hander Shōta Imanaga, who does not have Yamamoto’s upside however is seen as a stable mid-rotation arm.
Boston has additionally explored the commerce marketplace for pitching, although it’s “seen as being much more fascinated about buying a pitcher with a number of years of management than one who’s a yr from free company,” in response to Speier.
Whereas which will take a pitcher such because the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes off of their radar, the Crimson Sox are fascinated about White Sox right-hander Dylan Stop, who has two years of membership management remaining. They’ve additionally talked to the Mariners about Logan Gilbert and George Kirby however have been “rebuffed,” per Speier. These younger right-handers aren’t slated to hit free company till 2028 and ’29, respectively.
Amongst place gamers, the Crimson Sox have held conversations with Justin Turner a few return to Fenway Park, per The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham. They’ve additionally had curiosity in Whit Merrifield, in response to The Athletic’s Chad Jennings and Jen McCaffrey (subscription required). Getting Merrifield, 34, would tackle the Crimson Sox’s want for higher protection at second base, a place the place their minus-13 outs above common was the second-worst in MLB in 2023.
Nov. 27: Why Montgomery might be a super match with the Crimson SoxEarlier this month, MLB Community insider Jon Paul Morosi reported that Boston officers spoke with Jordan Montgomery’s agent Scott Boras on the Normal Supervisor Conferences. Might Boston have a geographical benefit for signing him?
In response to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam, Montgomery is “spending the winter in Boston and calling town his offseason house”. Whereas Montgomery’s spouse begins her dermatology residency within the better Boston space, Montgomery has been understanding and throwing at Boston Faculty, in response to MassLive’s sources.
Cotillo and McAdam make it clear that Montgomery’s relocation to Boston this winter is not immediately associated to his free agent course of, however it’s notable contemplating the 2 sides have already been involved. Montgomery, who is predicted to clear the $100 million mark after a robust season for the World Collection-champion Rangers, is a perfect match for a Crimson Sox rotation that completed with the ninth-worst ERA (4.68) in ’23.
