Possible Red Sox breakout candidates for the 2021 season

The Red Sox gain is the Phillies loss

The trade with Philadelphia brought right-hander Nick Pivetta to Boston may go down in Red Sox history as a great one. That is today’s touch of hyperbole. Pivetta was once a high-profile prospect for the Phillies who envisioned the now 28-year-old right-hander as a top of the rotation starter.

The reason Pivetta is in Boston is explained in one word – failure. Pivetta was a failure as a starter and operating out of the bullpen. The talent was there as still is. A mid-90s fastball, a slider, a curve, and an occasional change. The pitches were the puzzle pieces but they never quite fit correctly in that puzzle known as the game.

Pivetta surfaced for two starts in 2020 with the Red Sox. For those two starts, He demonstrated why the Phillies were extraordinary patient waiting for results. This spring, Pivetta has earned the fifth starter slot and it will be a tenuous position to be in. Tanner Houck was sent packing as a roster move and not to collect rust. Failure by Pivetta and he will likely be sequestered to the bullpen or cut loose.

For Pivetta to establish himself as a breakout contender the path is simple – do what he did for two starts in 2020. The physical stuff is there, the opportunity is there, and I will assume the mental toughness. Pivetta performs well which makes the pressure on Chris Sale’s return a bit less and ditto on wearing out the bullpen. I’m putting Pivetta down for 13 wins.