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4 needs the Boston Red Sox must address this offseason

By Jacob DeReus

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 15: Members of the Boston Red Sox stand on the first base line on Opening Day at Fenway Park on April 15, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 15: Members of the Boston Red Sox stand on the first base line on Opening Day at Fenway Park on April 15, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Red Sox RHP Jonathan Papelbon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 18: Former Boston Red Sox closing pitcher Jonathan Papelbon throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game Three of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on October 18, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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.

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