It's not an exaggeration to say that the Boston Red Sox have one of the worst bullpens in Major League Baseball. In fact, the club's second-half implosion in 2024 can in large part be traced back to relief struggles.
The Red Sox's first free agency move this offseason addressed those struggles, as they signed veteran southpaw and seven-time MLB All-Star Aroldis Chapman to a one-year, $10.75 million deal earlier this month. Chapman is a solid late-inning option who routinely hits triple digits on the radar gun, but let's remember that Boston's bullpen experienced a historic collapse in 2024; the Red Sox could — and should — still be in the market to add more relievers this offseason.
The Red Sox shouldn't just be scrambling to pick up budget bullpen arms, either; they can theoretically afford to target the best relievers still available, given that they haven't spent any money in free agency since the Chapman signing and that they're almost $100 million under the first luxury tax threshold.
MLB insider Héctor Gómez reported over the weekend that the Red Sox are among the teams showing interest in All-Star relief pitcher Carlos Estevez, along with the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees.
Red Sox among teams showing interest in All-Star reliever Carlos Estevez
He's not a lefty — which the Red Sox would likely prefer, considering that they have just two on their staff, including recently-acquired staff ace Garrett Crochet — but Estevez would be a considerable upgrade to Boston's bullpen. The right-hander, who turns 32 on Dec. 28, finished the 2024 campaign with a 4-5 record, a 2.45 ERA, 26 saves and 50 strikeouts across 54 appearances between the Phillies and the Los Angeles Angels.
In his latest free agency predictions for The Athletic (subscription required), former MLB general manager Jim Bowden projected Estevez's next contract to be three years at $33 million ($11 million average annual value); that's a price that Boston should easily be able to pay given their lack of major free agent signings this offseason.
The longer Boston waits to make a move, the more limited its options will become. If the Red Sox are serious about finding a game-changing solution to their bullpen woes, Estevez could be it.
Even if they don't get Estevez, there are plenty of elite bullpen options up for grabs. The Red Sox have more than enough money to shoot for the best arms on the market, like Tanner Scott, Jeff Hoffman, Kirby Yates, or maybe even a reunion with Chris Martin.
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