Members of the Boston Red Sox have made recent statements that have led fans to believe that they're done shopping for improvements to the team this winter.
From chief baseball officer Craig Breslow essentially saying the starting rotation is set, to chairman Tom Werner stating his excitement to see rookie outfielder Wilyer Abreu get a full season of work at the plate, it feels like Red Sox Nation is being led to the conclusion that the 2024 team is what it is.
Yet, the Red Sox continue to check in on a few free-agent targets, the newest of which is veteran relief pitcher Ryne Stanek.
The Red Sox have expressed interest in signing Ryne Stanek
Stanek has spent seven years in MLB, during which he's played for three teams and posted a 3.45 career ERA. He most recently spent three seasons with the Astros where he logged a 2.90 ERA, although Stanek's most recent season was his among his worst.
Boston currently has no space on its 40-man roster to accommodate Stanek, so the team will have to make a move if it wishes to bring the reliever, or any of its other interests, in.
MLB insider and USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale has linked the Red Sox and Cubs to Stanek, and Chicago has already snatched up a target of Boston's this offseason in Japanese starting pitcher Shōta Imanaga. Don't like the sound of that!
Jorge Soler is still on the market. Do the Red Sox have a chance?
The Red Sox are among many teams to show interest in right-handed slugger Jorge Soler, with the the Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Mariners and Mets reportedly involved. Toronto is believed to be the most serious contender for Soler's signature, and based on the Sox's lowball offer to Teoscar Hernández, it seems they may be out.
Boston could use a right-handed hitter with Soler's tendency for power, and the Cuba native is the best option remaining on the market. Soler declined a $13 million player option from Miami at the beginning of the offseason, which means the Red Sox would have to offer more than that (or a multi-year contract) to get a deal done, and Boston hasn't expressed any interest in spending that kind of money on targets this offseason.
"Outside of J.D. Martinez and maybe Justin Turner, he's the most desirable."@Ken_Rosenthal gives his thoughts on Jorge Soler and whether or not he thinks he'll be back with the @Marlins.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 23, 2024
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Former Red Sox reliever Ryan Brasier garnering interest
Ryan Brasier had been with the Red Sox from 2018 until the middle of the 2023 season, when he was released by the club. Boston spent years trying to improve Brasier with little success — he had a 7.29 ERA at the time of his release from the Red Sox with a 4.55 over his Boston career.
The Dodgers picked the right-hander up and seemingly turned him into a new player. In 39 appearances for LA, Brasier logged a 0.70 ERA, a complete turnaround from his performances with the Red Sox.
The Yankees have expressed interest in signing the reliever, per MLB insider Jon Heyman, after trading away a number of pitchers for Alex Verdugo and Juan Soto. They got a fine return on their investments, but New York's bullpen still needs help with their pitching staff.
The Red Sox aren't targeting a return with Brasier, likely due to his many less-than-successful years with the team, but if the Yankees get the 0.70 ERA version of Brasier as opposed to the Boston version, Sox fans won't be all too happy.