The Boston Red Sox should keep an eye out for any potentially available starting pitchers.
Boston reportedly attempted to bolster its starting rotation this past offseason and looked to add a No. 2 starter to pair with Chris Sale, but the club was unable to complete a deal. The Red Sox ultimately signed veteran Corey Kluber, but he struggled to begin the season and was moved to the bullpen.
The Red Sox’s rotation unsurprisingly started the season slowly as Sale, Brayan Bello, James Paxton, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck all worked themselves back from various injuries.
Boston’s rotation has started to take a turn and impress, but it wouldn’t hurt to add another ace into the mix around the trade deadline if the club is still within range of a postseason berth.
One player who reportedly may become available, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, and could make perfect sense for the Red Sox is Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber.
“Cleveland was a preseason favorite but has struggled to score runs, so its ace, Bieber, may become very coveted,” Heyman said. “As one hopeful rival said, suggesting the Guardians may sell, they are “very clinical and rational.”
Bieber unsurprisingly has been impressive so far this season for the Guardians and has pitched to a 3.08 ERA in 10 starts so far this season. Although he has been solid, Cleveland is 21-28 through 49 games and is 4.5 games behind the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins.
If the two-time All-Star becomes available, he will likely have a big market. Bieber is just 27 years old and already has won one Cy Young Award and has finished in the top seven two other times. Bieber already has an ERA Title, Gold Glove Award, and Triple Crown title also under his belt.
Thanks to its revamped farm system, Boston could likely get a deal done if it saw fit. Bieber still is under team control and won’t become a free agent until 2025 so the price tag likely will be large, but the Red Sox could meet it.
He could be the perfect pitcher to pair with Sale atop the Boston rotation to help push the club to the postseason. He is certainly someone for Red Sox Nation to watch very closely as we approach the summer.
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