Red Sox: Five players Boston needs to target in Free Agency this winter

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 15: Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom addresses the departure of Alex Cora as manager of the Boston Red Sox during a press conference at Fenway Park on January 15, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. A MLB investigation concluded that Cora was involved in the Houston Astros sign stealing operation in 2017 while he was the bench coach. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 15: Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom addresses the departure of Alex Cora as manager of the Boston Red Sox during a press conference at Fenway Park on January 15, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. A MLB investigation concluded that Cora was involved in the Houston Astros sign stealing operation in 2017 while he was the bench coach. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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atlanta braves shane greene
Sep 23, 2020; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Shane Greene (19) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

RP: Shane Greene

Shane Greene is one hell of a reliever, that’s it, that’s the analysis. We saw over the last two seasons as Boston’s bullpen was worked more and more that there are some serious gaps in the ranks. Even worse, guys who were lights-out last year, looked like they should’ve been in Lowell playing for the Spinners this year. As much as I’ve talked about starting pitchers through this slideshow, I think that relievers will be the most important gets this winter.

Bloom can’t trot out another bullpen staff that was as embarrassing as it was this year. Too many pitchers that didn’t have anything resembling Major League quality stuff absolutely buried the Red Sox. Greene is a guy who not only has great stuff and can come in late in the game but also has close to a decade of service time and won’t be shaken up by a big-game situation.

Let’s look at what he during the regular season, a 2.60 ERA through 27.2 IP in 28 appearances. Last time I checked, those are all good things. He averaged only 6.8 K/9 which isn’t pretty and his H/9 is a scary 7.2, but he did finish with one of his best career WHIP’s at 1.120. So he’s getting the results he just isn’t doing it in a flashy manner by any means. Either way, I’d much rather see him coming out of the bullpen at Fenway Park than some of the jokers from this past year.

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