Boston Red Sox Considering Adding "Impact" Starter

The Boston Red Sox haven't closed up shop yet for the offseason, as chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has said the team is still look to add an "impact" starting pitcher. 

Bloom says Sox continue to look at potential starting pitching targets, particularly looking for “impact guys” who could be part of the team “for a long time.”

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) January 10, 2023

More specifically, his targets would be young pitchers who could be part of the team “for a long time.” 

The Red Sox' current starting rotation mix includes Chris Sale, Nick Pivetta, Corey Kluber, James Paxton, Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello and Tanner Houck. It sounds like a full house, but there are concerns: both Whitlock and Houck spent most of 2022 in the bullpen, Bello is a rookie, and Sale is... well...not too dependable, after making only 11 starts in the past three seasons. Pivetta and Kluber were offseason free agent signings. 

You never have as much depth as you need but I wouldn’t say we’re looking to add more depth to the rotation as much as making sure we’re in play when there are impact guys available, especially if they are impact guys that can be part of this group for a long time.

                                            —Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom, Red Sox 

Safe to say that none of those "impact", "long-term" options will come from what's left on the free agent market, with names like Michael Wacha, Zack Greinke, Dylan Bundy and Chris Archer still available. Wacha, of course, had a great season in Boston in 2022, and Greinke has been an All-Star, but neither would be considered "impact" or "long-term" options. 

It would seem, then, that the trade route would be the way to acquire such an arm. Hopefully, Bloom has the Miami Marlins on speed dial.

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