For the last two seasons, Garrett Whitlock has been one of the best pitchers the Boston Red Sox's bullpen has to offer. But the righty has considered changing that.
Whitlock told Tim Healey of The Boston Globe that he would consider a return to life as a starting pitcher (subscription required). Whitlock in 2021 debuted with Boston as a reliever, but he began starting some games shortly after in 2022. He made four starts in 2024 and planned to take his full season as a starter, but a UCL injury derailed that plan.
“I definitely know my body better and know everything better now, and so it’s definitely something I’d be open to," Whitlock said, via Healey. "So it’s one of those things where the team would have to be on board with it and just talk through everything and go through it. But it’s something I’d always be open to.”
Some fans and people in the Red Sox organization could be excited to hear Whitlock say he's interested in reprising his role as a starting pitcher. Boston has just one righty starter in its rotation this year, Sonny Gray, and he'll be a free agent at the end of the season, barring an unexpected contract extension. Whitlock's success in the bullpen could translate to more in the rotation and he could compete for Gray's former spot.
Red Sox should keep Garrett Whitlock in bullpen despite his willingness to return to a starting role
But Whitlock's history as a starter isn't as clean as it is from the bullpen. Whitlock went on the injured list twice in the 2022-23 seasons with hip and elbow issues. He missed all but four appearances of the 2024 season after he underwent the internal brace procedure to repair his UCL. His elbow even flared up after a period of heavy use out of the bullpen this season. Adding starts into his repertoire hasn't worked before, and though it could work now since Whitlock said he's more in-tune with his body, it isn't a risk the Sox should be willing to take.
Whitlock has had more success as a reliever than as a starter, though he's pitched far more in relief and the sample sizes are far from equal. The veteran has posted a 4.29 ERA over 109 innings across 23 appearances as a starter and a 2.37 ERA over 254.1 frames in relief. The Red Sox need right-handed rotation depth, but they also have Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford and Johan Oviedo recovering from injury, and none of them have established themselves in another role as seamlessly as Whitlock has.
Whitock told Healey that he would return to a starting role if the Red Sox want him to (he's under team control until after the 2028 season due to two club options) or if any new team he signs with wants him to change. For now and in 2027, the Red Sox should stick with the good thing they have, which is Whitlock as one of the most dangerous relievers in the league.
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