Thin Is Not In When It Comes To Pitching: The Case For Kyle Lohse

Coventional – hell even unconventional – wisdom dictates that Boston must secure more starting pitching as they now ready themselves to vault into spring training. With almost all big league clubs opening in Florida or Arizona with seven to eight potential starters, Boston’s got five — John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Felix Dubront and Ryan Dempster (with Kalish, Dempster and Sweeny on the club, does Boston really need one more Ryan?).

Oct 22, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Lohse (26) pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of game seven of the 2012 NLCS at AT

Spot starter turned head case Alfredo Aceves is decidedly not the answer. The best John Farrell and Juan Nieves can do with Aceves is set him straight from the start and allow him to excel and what he’s very good at – middle relief and spot set up roles.

Franklin Morales started a few games for the Sox when the injury plague struck and was decent for a time but then fizzled. Again, he’s much better suited to that lefty bullpen status.

Ben Cherington and company must get busy and part with some of the very well managed cash left over from the Dodgers windfall.

There has been a cargo ship load of words written about Kyle Lohse in the offseason. Allow me to cut to the chase. After a sparkling 16-3, 2.86 ERA 2012 season the 34-year old the Cardinals’ pitcher is still hanging around in free agency limbo.

"Do you? Don’t you? You do! Pull the trigger and get Lohse."

He’s coming off back-to-back strong seasons (he was 14-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 2011). He’s currently making just south of $12 million with the Cards so can easily fit within Boston’s salary structure and can be an innings eater (211 and 188 innings pitched in 2012 and 2011 respectively).

In addition to Lohse, the Sox will need to secure at least one more quality starter before they can deem the club ready to start sorting out their options as spring training approaches. Take the first step and move on Lohse before spring training. If not, another club is sure to scarf him up.