Red Sox's Top Hypothetical Trade Targets for Early Season Shakeup
The Boston Red Sox have a winning record this season, despite one of the worst starting rotations in all of baseball.
Their starting staff ranks 28th in the majors with a 5.84 ERA, ahead of only the Cincinnati Reds (6.05) and Oakland Athletics (7.62), and the struggles have spanned the entire staff, with every starter with at least two starts sporting an ERA above 5.00.
If they have any hope of making a postseason push, they will need to do something to upgrade the rotation, though they will also have to weigh whether being buyers is the right move for this current roster.
Assuming they seek outside additions, we have highlighted three starters who could make sense as a potential fit. One is a high-profile addition, one is more of a low-cost pickup and the third is an outside-the-box player who could provide some nice value.
Blockbuster Addition: RHP Alex Cobb
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Alex Cobb is off to a brilliant start this season, going 3-1 with an NL-leading 1.94 ERA in 51 innings of work while tossing his first complete game shutout since all the way back in 2012 when he was pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 35-year-old is pitching in the second season of a team-friendly two-year, $20 million deal, and he also has a $10 million club option for next year with a $2 million buyout that makes him more than just a rental.
He has made 11 career starts at Fenway Park, going 8-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 62.1 innings, and that's also something worth taking into consideration when weighing him as a potential trade target.
More than a few teams will come calling if he is made available.
Low-Cost Addition: RHP Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
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One of the bigger Rule 5 success stories in recent years, Brad Keller has tossed 677 innings and racked up 9.4 WAR since the Cincinnati Reds plucked him from the Arizona Diamondbacks system and immediately traded him to the Kansas City Royals before the 2018 season.
He is throwing his slider less and his fastball more this season, and he has also introduced a new curveball to his repertoire.
The results have been a mixed bag, as he has a decent 4.36 ERA in 43.1 innings but has also walked 40 batters against just 31 strikeouts while he continues to work on dialing in his command.
The 27-year-old is a free agent at season's end, and while he's not a frontline option, he is capable of eating innings with some upside to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation option if he can improve his location.
Outside-the-Box Addition: RHP Paolo Espino, Washington Nationals
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Paolo Espino has been a valuable swingman for the Washington Nationals the past two seasons, and his ability to pitch in a variety of roles could make him a nice depth addition for the Red Sox.
The 36-year-old made 38 starts and 39 relief appearances across 2021 and 2022, posting a 4.56 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 223 innings, and he is currently pitching for the team's Triple-A affiliate as a youth movement is underway in the rotation.
He has a 2.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 16.1 innings in the minors, and if the Red Sox are willing to part with some cash or a low-level prospect, he could be a useful piece of the pitching staff puzzle.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.
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