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

By Brendan Mizgala

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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san diego padres trevor rosenthal
September 26, 2020; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (47) pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

RP: Trevor Rosenthal

My second Trevor of the day is Trevor Rosenthal. This pick felt like a no-brainer for me as once again, he’s a veteran reliever with big-game experience that can boost this Red Sox bullpen. Rosenthal has close to a decade of service time in the Majors and in those nearly ten years he’s pitched in the postseason in five of them. I can’t argue against a dude that has made it to the playoffs in five of his eight career years in the bigs.

For all of the success he’s had there is a downside as he has undergone Tommy John which caused him to miss out on the 2018 season. Before he needed the surgery though his numbers were electric and he was a shutdown closer. In his return in 2019, however, there was clearly some rust on the right arm as he finished with 13.50 ERA split across time with Washington and Detroit. Similar to a few of the names I’ve already mentioned, 2020 is what I care about the most.

Rosenthal started the season with Kansas City and made his way to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline. Over the course of the year, he finished with a 1.90 ERA, 11 saves, 13.8 K/9, and a stunning 0.845 WHIP through 23.2 IP. If Bloom and the Red Sox were to spend heavily on anyone this winter, I wouldn’t hate it being Rosenthal. He’s shown that he can be a reliable closer not only before TJS but after as well.

The Red Sox have struggled greatly to close out games late since the departure of Craig Kimbrel after 2018, with Brandon Workman emerging in 2019. However, Workman was dealt at the deadline and Boston doesn’t have a real option to replace him. Bringing Rosenthal to the Sox would be a strong move for Chaim and could cross a serious need off of the shopping list this winter.

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