Red Sox Rumors: 5 starting pitchers to target before MLB trade deadline
With the Boston Red Sox rumored to be seeking a starting pitcher, here are five options they should consider before the MLB trade deadline.
The MLB trade deadline is only a few weeks away and the Boston Red Sox are expected to be active. If they have any hope of overcoming a nine-game deficit in the AL East or securing a Wild Card ticket to the postseason, upgrading the pitching staff is a must.
Boston is rumored to be eyeing the starting pitching market as the deadline approaches. While the bullpen has received the harshest criticism, Boston is betting that inserting Nathan Eovaldi into the closer role will stabilize their relief core. Eovaldi’s move to the bullpen when he returns means the Red Sox still have a hole at the back end of the rotation though.
The handful of pitchers who have filled that role since Eovaldi hit the injured list have combined to go 2-7 with a 6.79 ERA. Boston doesn’t need to pull off a blockbuster deal for a frontline starter. Finding a serviceable solution at the back of the rotation would be a significant upgrade that could be worth a few extra wins down the stretch.
A tight budget and a weak farm system will limit their options but there should be starters available on the trade market in their price range.
Here are a handful of pitchers who might be on the market by the end of this month who Boston should keep an eye on.
Zack Wheeler
The New York Mets are shopping Zack Wheeler and the Red Sox are one team rumored to have discussed a potential deal for the right-hander.
Wheeler is having a down year, going 6-6 with a 4.69 ERA. However, his 3.65 FIP is more palatable and perhaps a better indicator of how he’s pitching. His career-high 9.8 K/9 and career-low 2.6 BB/9 support that theory.
The 29-year old had a career year in 2018 when he went 12-7 with a 3.31 ERA and he owns a solid 3.88 ERA for his career.
Wheeler comes with injury red flags. His entire 2015 and 2016 seasons were wiped out by Tommy John surgery and a series of setbacks to his recovering elbow. He struggled upon his return but bouncing back last year shows his health issues are behind him. There’s still some risk here but no more so than when the Red Sox dealt for Eovaldi last year with only a half season of evidence that he was recovered from his latest surgery.
The prorated amount of the $5.975 million that Wheeler is owed in the final year of his contract should fit easily into Boston’s budget. The short commitment protects against the injury concerns and should keep the cost to acquire him affordable.
Marcus Stroman
Don’t let the 5-9 record fool you. Marcus Stroman is having an excellent season that earned him his first All-Star appearance.
Stroman ranks eighth among qualified American League starters with a 3.18 ERA and his 1.26 WHIP has him on pace for his best mark over the course of a full season since he was a rookie.
Last year was a disaster for Stroman as he battled through a shoulder injury and an irritating blister. Prior to that, he had consecutive seasons with 200+ innings and even picked up few Cy Young votes in 2017.
Stroman is AL East tested, having spent his entire career with the Toronto Blue Jays. He’s been solid against the New York Yankees (6-5, 4.21 ERA) and Tampa Bay Rays (5-6, 4.35 ERA). He’s been even better against the Red Sox (6-3, 3.44 ERA). Acquiring Stroman not only boosts Boston’s rotation, but it also prevents their division rivals from snatching him up to use against them.
The fiery right-hander has feuded with a few Red Sox players this year and he’s not shy about trolling his opponents on social media. His teammates seem to hold him in high regard though and his antics are far easier to put up with when he’s on your side. He’s good friends with David Price, which should help him acclimate to this clubhouse and smooth over any hard feelings.
The Jays aren’t pressured to deal Stroman now since he won’t be a free agent until after next season but he’ll get more expensive in arbitration and Toronto’s young core isn’t going to contend in 2020. The price could be steep but it may be worth it to fill a need while keeping him away from the Yankees.
Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn is tied for the league lead with 11 wins. We should know by now that pitcher wins are overrated but when a starter has a chance to make a run at 20 wins it’s still noteworthy.
His 3.91 ERA isn’t exciting but keep in mind that Lynn pitches half his games in a hitter’s paradise in the sweltering heat of Texas. His 2.97 FIP is much more promising. Lynn is posting a strong 9.6 K/9 and low 2.0 BB/9. He’s also been fairly stingy with the home runs (0.8 HR/9) despite pitching in a ballpark where the ball tends to fly.
Lynn disappointed with the Minnesota Twins after signing a 1-year, $12 million deal with them prior to last season. They dumped him on the Yankees at the trade deadline and he managed to provide a serviceable upgrade over the struggling Sonny Gray. The 32-year old isn’t the pitcher he was in his National League days with the St. Louis Cardinals but he would be a significant upgrade at the back of Boston’s rotation.
The Rangers signed Lynn to a three-year deal that runs through 2021. He would provide a modestly priced replacement in the rotation for two more years if Rick Porcello bolts in free agency.
Will a Texas team sitting only three games out of a Wild Card spot be inclined to sell? The Rangers hanging around this long has been a bit surprising and if they begin to slide any further over the next few weeks then they are expected to be sellers.
Mike Minor
This again assumes that the Rangers raise the white flag by becoming deadline sellers. That’s hardly a given at the moment but if they do open up for business, Mike Minor is another starting pitcher to target.
Minor is 8-4 with a 2.54 ERA that ranks second among AL starters. That’s even more impressive when you consider his hitter-friendly home ballpark and these results earned him his first All-Star appearance.
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The ERA is due for some regression considering his 3.77 FIP and track record. The 31-year old has only posted an ERA under 4.00 as a starter once in his career.
On the other hand, Minor was beginning to emerge with a breakout year in 2013 before injuries derailed his career. His disastrous 2014 season (4.77 ERA) can be chalked up to pitching through shoulder discomfort that eventually required surgery that sidelined him for the next two years.
Minor signed with the Kansas City Royals in 2017 and pitched well out of their bullpen. He moved back to the rotation when he joined the Rangers last year, going 12-4 with a 4.18 ERA. Not bad for a guy who hadn’t started a major league game in over three years.
Some improvement was expected in his second full season back in the rotation. Maybe not this good, but Minor is clearly talented enough to be an upgrade in anyone’s rotation.
Minor is signed for a reasonable $9.83 million next year before he hits free agency. That could entice the Rangers to hang on to him but you can’t blame them if they decide to sell high either.
Madison Bumgarner
His days of being a perennial All-Star and Cy Young candidate are behind him but Madison Bumgarner remains an effective pitcher.
A 4.03 ERA and 1.20 WHIP are a far cry from his usual standards but still suffice for the role Boston needs to fill. He’s still striking out over a batter per inning and has excellent control with a 1.9 BB/9. Bumgarner’s 4.79 K/BB ratio is actually an improvement over his career rate and ranks 8th among qualified National League starters.
The most appealing aspect of Bumgarner is his track record in the playoffs. He’s 8-3 with a 2.11 ERA in 16 postseason appearances. He’s won three World Series rings with the Giants and was the MVP of the 2014 World Series.
Bumgarner turns 30 the day after the deadline and appears to be exiting his prime years but at least this is a guy we know won’t get rattled under the bright lights of the postseason stage.
Parting with a franchise icon would be difficult for San Francisco but they are a long way from contention and Bumgarner is a free agent after the season. It would be shocking if they held on to him.
Next. Trade Target: Ken Giles. dark
Bumgarner is a big name but shouldn’t command a huge haul considering his apparent decline and expiring contract. There will be plenty of competition for him, potentially forcing a team to overpay, but he’s an option the Red Sox need to consider if they can afford him.