Boston’s only significant losses this offseason came from their bullpen. Superstar closer Craig Kimbrel will almost certainly sign elsewhere, and heir-apparent and fan-favorite Joe Kelly departed for the sunny shores of Los Angeles. Replacing two pitchers of that caliber would be a tall task for any team, and it’s likely the Red Sox will need improvement all around to make up for those losses.
However, Boston will, at some point, have to name a closer, and right now there appear to be three candidates. Ryan Brasier emerged seemingly out of nowhere to become a key weapon for Cora, and only got better as the season went along. However, he still battles consistency and confidence issues, and a more seasoned member of the roster might make more sense.
In that vein, Matt Barnes should be considered a strong candidate for the job. The starter-turned-reliever put together the best campaign of his career in 2018. As one of the primary set-up men for Kimbrel, Barnes logged a 3.65 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 61.2 innings. In the playoffs, he logged three scoreless appearances. Barnes may not end up being the guy, but he deserves a look.
The dark horse in the race might be Tyler Thornburg. The start to his Red Sox career has been anything but smooth, but reports suggest he’s looked strong in training camp. Live baseball will be far more telling than bullpen sessions, but a strong season from Thornburg in any capacity will go a long way toward getting Boston deep into October.