Boston Red Sox fans expected to see much more of Garrett Whitlock than they did over the 2024 season.
Whitlock spent the 2023 season between the rotation and the bullpen, with 10 of his 22 appearances being starts. He earned a permanent spot in the 2024 rotation and worked his way to a 1.96 ERA after 18.1 innings. Unfortunately, those 18.1 innings were all he got before an elbow injury ended his season.
The 28-year-old pitcher underwent the second UCL repair procedure of his career, which has been characterized by injuries. He's never pitched more than 78.1 innings in a single season, partially due to injuries but also to time spent in the bullpen instead of the rotation.
Whitlock recently shared that he'd be content to move to the bullpen full-time. He's been shelved with injuries so frequently that he told reporters he'll do "whatever can keep healthy."
Garrett Whitlock would be open to move to Red Sox bullpen to stay on the mound
Garrett Whitlock is back to throwing and expects a regular spring training in 2025. Does he want to start or relieve?
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) September 27, 2024
“Honestly, I’ve told them, whatever can keep me healthy,” Whitlock said. “That’s where I’m at."https://t.co/hsConQG1RD
Many Red Sox fans have called for Whitlock to be removed from consideration for a spot in the rotation. Boston's pitchers have been injury-prone, to say the least, in recent seasons and Whitlock and Lucas Giolito's elbow surgeries forced Cooper Criswell into the rotation.
Whitlock has posted better numbers out of the 'pen than he has in the rotation throughout his career. He's clocked a 2.65 ERA over 132.2 innings as a reliever and a 4.29 ERA across 109.0 innings as a starter. By the numbers, he's better suited to a relief role.
But a move to the bullpen doesn't guarantee the health of the pitcher. Whitlock's workload would be lessened if he moved to the late innings, but he would still be needed almost daily. The Sox would likely use him as a long-relief option, and he would be expected to deliver over multiple innings often, which wouldn't take much pressure off Whitlock. If his UCL was going to snap or his oblique was going to strain, it would happen regardless of where he pitches from — what Whitlock needs most is an improved strength and conditioning program.
It is far less detrimental to lose a reliever to injury than a starter, though. If Whitlock's injury struggles continue, a move to the bullpen may be best so the Sox could explore other, more durable starter options. It could also keep Whitlock available for any spot starts Boston might need if anything else goes awry with the rotation.