Every single Red Sox team that has been successful has had a solid closer!
The Red Sox know just how crucial a solid closer is, and what it’s like not to have one. In fact, every Sox team that has won the World Series in the last two decades had a reliable closer. In 2004, it was Keith Foulke, then Jonathan Papelbon in 2007, Koji Uehara in 2013, and Craig Kimbrel in 2018.
This year, the number of pitchers who went out to the mound for a save opportunity number in the double digits, and the Red Sox were still one of the worst teams in terms of blown saves.
With Whitlock moving to the rotation, there are a few internal options for the closer role. Matt Barnes, John Schrieber, and Tanner Houck could all be potentially named closer since each was somewhat successful in save opportunities; Barnes went 5/7, Schrieber went 8/11, and Houck went 8/9.
The Sox can also look outside the organization, but the top arms are already going quickly. The New York Mets wasted no time giving Edwin Diaz an enormous extension. If the Sox want to shut opponents down next year, they need to speed things up now.
Boston Red Sox offseason news, rumors, 2023 payroll, luxury tax, and more
Everything you need to know about the Red Sox 2022-2023 offseason! Payrolls, arbitration, free agents, transactions, luxury tax, payroll, rumors, and more.