Garrett Whitlock is looking to make a career pivot and transition into the starting rotation. For the Boston Red Sox, it's a strange proposition. The right-hander is one of the best setup men in the league, and that has tremendous value.
Of course, starting pitchers have even more value, hence the higher salaries, but the transition is a risk. Not only does a hurler need to reserve something in the tank rather than just air it out for an inning, but he also needs to have enough variation in his arsenal to turn over a lineup multiple times.
Some Red Sox beat writers don't believe the transition is the best idea. The biggest concern is whether or not Whitlock's health can hold up under a starter's workload. The 30-year-old's past forays into starting have resulted in injuries, making this a serious concern and not just some folks crying wolf.
However, there are still reasons to give it a try. Not now, of course. But in 2027, Whitlock in the rotation could make a lot of sense for a few distinct reasons.
The Red Sox should roll the dice on Garrett Whitlock as a starter in 2027
Presumably, the reason Whitlock would like to try his hand again in the rotation is monetary. On the free-agent market, mid-rotation starters can get upwards of $15 million per season. Look at guys like Chris Bassit and Merrill Kelly, for example, who are making $18.5 million and $18 million this season, respectively.
However, Boston holds options for 2027 and 2028 on Whitlock. If exercised, the Red Sox will pay him $8.25 million next year and $10.5 million in 2028. If he works out as a starter, that's an incredible value.
The next reason to give this a go is the fact that Whitlock has the repertoire to work in the rotation. While the majority of relievers are one-or-two-pitch pitchers, Whitlock has three quality offerings. His sinker is the cornerstone, which he throws 56% of the time, but he has a slider and changeup, too.
The slider he uses at a 26% rate, and it generates a ton of whiffs, coming in at 46.7%. The change gets broken out at an 18% clip, is a weapon against lefties, and also has a healthy 35.6% whiff rate. You might like to see a fourth pitch, just to have a show-me offering, but that's a solid foundation for a starter.
The next point is about righty-lefty balance. The Red Sox have an extreme imbalance towards southpaws. Theoretically, if everyone is healthy, you have Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle, and Jake Bennett all throwing from the left side. If Sonny Gray retires, Boston will have to find a righty to avoid skewing entirely left-handed.
Finally, the risk is minimal. As long as he doesn't suffer a catastrophic injury, the Red Sox can always stick Whitlock back in the bullpen and have a dominant high-leverage reliever should he struggle as a starter. In that regard, they're playing with house money. They control his future for the next two years, and he's paid a reasonable rate for a setup man, and what would be a steal for a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. At that point, why not take the plunge?
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