Alex Spier of the Boston Globe appeared on MLB Network on Tuesday to field questions about the Boston Red Sox approach to the offseason.
Of course, pitching was the biggest topic of discussion, as the Red Sox are in obvious need of some depth in their rotation heading into the 2024 season.
Spier mentioned the possible pursuit of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jordan Montgomery, but also pumped the brakes regarding two would-be trade targets Boston may have their eye on this winter.
Would the Red Sox trade within the AL East?
One name that's been receiving a lot of publicity lately has been Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow. The towering right-hander has drawn trade interest from a few teams already this winter, and it's likely the Red Sox could be interested.
However, intradivision trades are very rare. No team wants to make a deal with their division rival only to see it blow up in their face.
Glasnow is owed $25 million in 2024 and will be a free agent heading into next winter. With that in mind, the price tag shouldn't be exorbitant, but the Rays already have other suitors. Both the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs are rumored to be in active talks with Tampa Bay.
Could the Red Sox make a run at Corbin Burnes?
The other potential trade target that Alex Spier mentioned was Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes. The right-hander won the NL Cy Young Award in 2021 and it would appear as the Brewers might be looking to rebuild this offseason.
Craig Counsell left the Milwaukee dugout and will now be managing the Brewers' arch rival, the Chicago Cubs. The Brew Crew also non-tendered Brandon Woodruff, one of the team's best starting pitchers, after he underwent shoulder surgery that would likely keep him out most of the 2024 season.
But Burnes will not come cheap. There's also the matter of Burnes being under team control for only one more season before hitting the free agent market.
And if you're thinking about a possible contract extension, think again. Burnes is represented by Scott Boras, who almost always takes his clients to free agency.
Some other potential trade targets the Boston Red Sox could look to acquire this offseason would be Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox and Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians. Cease has two more years until he hits the free agent market, while Bieber will become a free agent after the 2024 season.