3 free agent starting pitchers the Red Sox need to avoid at all costs
The Red Sox need starting pitching. They don't need these guys, though.
By Eric Cole
By all accounts, the Boston Red Sox need starting pitching and badly. James Paxton is about to hit the free agent market and the rotation is currently being anchored by the promising, but largely unproven, Brayan Bello and the ghost of Chris Sale. Incoming front office head Craig Breslow has his work cut out for him to get this group into shape.
Unfortunately, this year's free agent class isn't exactly loaded with quality starting pitchers. Boston is widely expected to at least try to sign Shohei Ohtani, but he isn't going to be pitching next year in all likelihood even if they do pull that off. That least Boston's new front office with a problem still in need of solving. Complicating matters, there are some prominent names on the market that they need to stay away from.
Here are 3 free agent starting pitchers the Red Sox need to avoid at all costs
These players are not guys who are incapable of being good. In fact, all of them are immensely talented. However, they all also come with the kinds of risk that Boston shouldn't be taking on right now. Whether it is injury concerns or simple projected cost vs. production, Boston needs to bring guys in that don't have a strong likelihood of blowing up in their faces. Pitchers are already volatile enough as it is, so Boston needs to tread carefully when evaluating their free agent options.
Let's take a look at some of the free agent starters that Boston needs to avoid.