Red Sox Rumors: Rick Porcello drawing interest from Boston

A new report suggests that Rick Porcello could come back to Boston as Chaim Bloom and the Red Sox front office have an interest in re-signing him.

The Boston Red Sox clearly need to upgrade their rotation via a fifth starter because Rick Porcello entered free agency this offseason. However, it seems as if he may return to Boston.

A report from The Boston Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato states that the Red Sox and Porcello have had continued conversations and that the two sides may be able to work out a deal.

Porcello is coming off of an atrocious 2019 where he authored a 5.52 ERA. The report indicates that a deal with lots of incentives could make sense for both sides. Therefore, if Porcello can’t improve from his 2019 and go back to his Cy Young form, he won’t be over-paid. However, if he can pitch well again, then he will get paid a fair amount.

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While he wasn’t the most effective pitcher in Boston, he did make 30 starts every season except for 2015 when he made 28. While getting paid north of $20 million a year from 2016 to 2019, he never lived up to what his salary would suggest. While he will definitely take a downgrade pay-wise, he should still be able to fit into the 2020 Red Sox plans.

The right-hander was effective in the 2018 postseason, pitching to a mid-3’s ERA. He had one excellent season in 2016 where he edged out the Detroit Tigers Justin Verlander for the American League Cy Young award.

While he has shown glimpses of his potential, if you take out 2016, his ERA with the Red Sox is well over 4.00. However, in Boston’s rotation with the injury risks involved with starters Chris Sale, David Price, and Nathan Eovaldi, they could use someone who can eat innings. The main goal of Chaim Bloom should be to add pitchers that can add depth and pitch innings – a role that sounds tailor made for Porcello.

A deal with Porcello could possible look like this:

Red Sox sign Rick Porcello: 1-year, $6 million (incentives: +$1 million for 20 starts, +$1 million for 30 starts, +$1 million for ERA under 4.50, +$1 million for ERA under 3.75, +$1 million for ERA under 3.25)

That deal would allow for the Red Sox to save money if they simply sign an innings eater, but if Porcello can transform into an All-Star caliber pitcher, he will get paid like one. The right-hander will likely come cheaper than other free agents who eat innings like Dallas Keuchel because he is coming off of a down season. Also, a factor that isn’t talked about much is that Porcello enjoyed his time in Boston which means he could take a discount to return.

Overall, it is good to see that the Red Sox have an interest in bringing back Slick Rick. While he didn’t light the baseball world on fire in his time in Boston, he did throw over 950 innings, and could fill in the back of the Red Sox 2020 starting rotation.