The 2024-2025 class of free agent starting pitchers offers the Boston Red Sox plenty of options to add star power and depth to their rotation this offseason. While Boston had a solid group with Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck, the Sox missed an ace this year to lead their righty-dominant starters.
Alongside signing an All-Star, the Sox need to sign additional support to help pack a deadly one-two punch. While there will be high hopes for the returns of Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock, the Sox shouldn’t rely on them. Plus, bringing on another talented starting pitcher will be insurance when injuries inevitably affect the team.
Free agency opens up in about two weeks, so hopefully Craig Breslow and Co. are already mapping out their desired targets.
Ranking top available free agent starting pitchers for Red Sox heading into 2025
3. Shane Bieber
Banking on Bieber to return from Tommy John surgery and pitch as well as he did last year, if not better, is a bet the Sox shouldn’t hesitate to make. He’s the perfect candidate for Boston to pair with another impact signing or trade acquisition given his track record, and he can provide a veteran presence entering his age-30 season.
Bieber is a power pitcher that shouldn’t be slept on. He has served as Cleveland’s ace for the last seven years with a career 3.22 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, earning Cy Young votes in half of his full campaigns. Though he only pitched two games this year, everybody knows what Bieber is capable of, and he will be ready to go by the middle of 2025.
2. Blake Snell
There’s little not to like about Snell. Coming off his Cy Young-winning 2023 season, he posted a 3.12 ERA while only giving up 34 walks and six home runs over 104 innings. Aside from a rocky start, largely attributed to his late signing with the Giants and limited Spring Training time, Snell gave up no more than three earned runs in a single outing from June through the rest of the year.
If the Sox want a seat at the league’s metaphorical adult’s table, then spending the money on Snell is one of the best ways they can work to get back into contention. Snell is expected to turn down his $38.5 million player option with the San Francisco Giants, and should command a $100 million contract of sorts. The Red Sox have the money and they could use a left-hander who has two Cy Young awards and plenty of postseason success.
1. Max Fried
Fried offers the Sox everything they need to take the next step. In his eight seasons with the Braves, he has a career 3.07 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 23.1 WAR. His best attribute is not surrendering home runs (just 0.8 per nine innings), which would be incredibly valuable at Fenway Park. And, if his lights-out regular and postseason pitching somehow isn’t convincing enough, he offers diversity to the rotation as a lefty like Snell.
As a two-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove Award winner, and World Series champion, Fried is an elite starter who is worth more than the $22.7 million per year that Spotrac evaluates him at. It would be a huge mistake for Boston to not aggressively pursue him, especially with his buddy Lucas Giolito expected to be back for the Sox in 2025.