Red Sox latest signing suggests starting rotation isn’t fully set in stone

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said on the most recent episode of the "Baseball isn't Boring" podcast that the front office may spring into action after the opt-out date.

Players with opt-out clauses in their contracts were free to vacate their deals on March 23 if they did not make the major league roster of the club they were signed to. The Pirates let pitcher Chase Anderson walk, and the Red Sox signed him later that same day.

Boston signed Anderson to a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the potential to tack on $500K in performance bonuses. Lucas Giolito was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for Anderson on the 40-man roster.

Anderson will likely serve as a long reliever for the Sox, but he has the stuff to make starts if needed (he's a career starter, after all). He joins Josh Winckowski in the 'pen as one of Boston's more capable long relievers and they can both make spot starts if the team gets desperate.

Red Sox signed likely long reliever Chase Anderson after he opted out of his contract with Pirates

Anderson is a 10-year MLB veteran and he's moved through many teams since 2020. He spent the beginning of his career with the Diamondbacks and Brewers, but he's struggled to maintain consistency since then.

Since 2020, the right-hander has made 52 appearances with the Blue Jays, Phillies, Reds, Rays and Rockies and logged a 6.19 ERA over 192 innings. He posted 160 strikeouts over those innings and found a way to limit hard contact in 2023 with Colorado. Fans have to wonder if Anderson could slot into the rotation if Tanner Houck or Garrett Whitlock can't last as starters. That would mean the Sox are hedging their bets with a low-cost option in Anderson.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that the pitching staff is not final with Opening Day just days away. He expects the staff to be decided after Boston's exhibition series with the reigning World Series-champion Rangers on March 25 and 26. Without Cooper Criswell on the Major League roster, Anderson seems like a lock for a long-relief slot.

After Breslow's recent comments on the "Baseball isn't Boring" podcast, Sox fans could still expect more action from the team. As more clubs define their Opening Day rosters and more players are cut, a new wave of talent is destined for the open market.

They won't be the moves Boston fans spent all offseason hoping for — if they sign Jordan Montgomery, it'll be a different story — but anything would improve the Red Sox's pitching staff at this point.

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