5 starting pitching targets for the Red Sox after missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Losing Yamamoto to the Dodgers is tough, but the Red Sox still have options.
The Boston Red Sox entered this offseason with a clear focus: add several starting pitchers. Boston does not want to sign players with the qualifying offer attached to them. Naturally, this limited their potential scope of targets. Nevertheless, one player emerged as a seemingly perfect option for the club: Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Japanese pitching phenom was posted this offseason and, at just 25 years old, has the potential to be an ace for many years to come. Unfortunately, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday evening, meaning Boston struck out on one of its top targets this offseason.
As the Red Sox pivot to other free agents, here are five appealing options that could beef up the Red Sox's rotation going into 2024.
Shota Imanaga
Imanaga is another pitcher who was posted after a strong season in Japan. He doesn’t possess nearly as much fanfare as Yamamoto, and he’s also a bit deeper into his career at 30 years old. Nevertheless, he’s an appealing middle-of-the-rotation option for Boston, not to mention the fact that he’s markedly cheaper than Yamamoto.
Through 24 outings in 2023, Imanaga posted a 2.66 ERA, 10.6 K/9, and 1.4 BB/9. He also pitched in the World Baseball Classic, leading Japan over the USA in the gold medal game with two strong innings that saw him strike out Paul Goldschmidt and Cedric Mullins. He previously hit 96 mph with his fastball and recorded a lethal 20.5 inches of vertical break on his heater against the USA.
Evidently, the upside with Imanaga is very real. He’d be a rewarding consolation prize for the Red Sox, though they’ll surely face competition as the market shifts following the Yamamoto signing.
Jordan Montgomery
Montgomery helped lead Texas to the World Series last season, and it’s somewhat of a blessing that the champions did not extend a qualifying offer to the dominant southpaw. It helps that he has notable ties to the Red Sox. Not only did the club meet with his agents in early November, but he’s also living in Boston as his wife begins her dermatology residency at a nearby hospital.
The perks of landing Montgomery are evident. He had a 3.56 FIP and 4.3 fWAR last season while tying his previous career-high of 32 starts. He boasted solid control with 7.92 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9, all while adding 0.86 HR/9 and a 43.2 percent ground ball rate. He has the potential to be Boston’s ace, forming a lethal one-two punch with up-and-coming hurler Brayan Bello.
Marcus Stroman
There hasn’t been much chatter linking Stroman to the Red Sox this offseason, but a deal would make plenty of sense. For starters, he’s a proven hurler who does not carry a qualifying offer. Furthermore, he spent the last two seasons in Chicago, pitching for a Cubs team whose front office included now-Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.
Breslow has seen Stroman’s success first-hand, including a strong 2023 in which he made 27 appearances. The right-hander finished the year with a 3.58 FIP, 7.84 K/9, 3.42 BB/9, and 0.59 HR/9. By far his most impressive stat, though, was a 57.1 percent ground ball rate. Throughout his whole career, Stroman has demonstrated an ability to induce weak contact, keeping the ball on the ground and minimizing home runs. That’s something that aligns with Boston’s organizational pitching strategy, making him an instant fit for the club.
Brandon Woodruff
Woodruff is a bit of a risk after he pitched just 67 innings last season, so if the Red Sox do sign him, they wouldn’t count on him to be their ace. Nevertheless, he does have top-of-the-rotation upside after posting a sub-3.20 FIP every season from 2019 through 2022.
The 30-year-old even impressed in limited action last year, showcasing a 2.86 xFIP, 9.94 K/9, and 2.01 BB/9. One perk of signing Woodruff after he was non-tendered by Milwaukee is that Boston would have significant leverage. Not only could they sign him to a cheaper deal than the other players listed here, but they could also add option years to protect themselves if his injuries persist.
Dylan Cease
Cease is different than the rest of the names listed here because he is currently under contract with the White Sox. Therefore, in order to add him to their rotation, the Red Sox would have to trade for him. While parting with prospects is never ideal, doing so could allow Boston to land a top pitcher like Cease while simultaneously demonstrating the aggressiveness that Breslow promised when he was hired.
The 27-year-old put together a respectable 2023 campaign, amassing a 3.72 FIP, 10.88 K/9, and 4.02 BB/9. He has stayed healthy throughout his career, making at least 32 appearances over each of the last three seasons and averaging 5.1 innings per start during that span. There's a chance he could be acquired at a discount, too, given that Chicago appears sold on trading him this offseason.