Red Sox: What the starting rotation looks like now

We know which pitcher will take the top spot in the Red Sox rotation, but who fills in after David Price?

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

There’s a new ace in town, as the Boston Red Sox have brought in David Price to anchor the starting rotation.

It’s no secret who will take the mound on Opening Day, but who else fills out the rest of the staff? The Red Sox have plenty of depth, but are without a clear cut No. 2 that will slot in behind Price. On the flip side, there are several deserving options vying for spots near the back of the rotation, a few of which will inevitably be left out.

The Red Sox 40-man roster includes nine pitchers that made at least one start for the team in 2015, but there are only four open spots in the rotation. Some of those pitchers will be sent to Pawtucket to serve as emergency depth for the big league club, while others may need to be transitioned to the bullpen.

We also can’t rule out the possibility of trades clearing up the picture for us. The Red Sox have several pitchers with appealing contracts that other teams could be enticed to deal for. This may be a way for ownership to shed some salary off the books to ease the damage that Price’s historic contract has done to John Henry’s wallet.

We can safely assume that the new $217 million man will take the top spot in the rotation, but let’s take a look at the best options to fill slots two through five.

Next: Clay Buchholz