MLB Free Agency is officially underway. With another free agency period comes another chance for the Red Sox to improve upon their team. Coming off a highly dissapointing 2022 season, Boston should be looking to make some major moves. This a team that needs major improvement in major areas.
One of those major areas is starting pitching. Considering Michael Wacha was technically their best starter last season, I’d say there is room for serious improvement.
Nothing against Wacha, who actually had a really solid year. He finished the season with a 3.32 ERA in 23 starts and went 11-2. He’s also a free agent now.
It’s just that Wacha isn’t exactly considered a “top guy” by most. Nathan Eovaldi was technically Boston’s ace, but he’s a free agent as well. The rest of the rotation was a mix of 42 year old Rich Hill, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Krawford, Josh Winckowski, and Brayan Bello.
Not a rotation that really strikes fear into the hearts of your opponents. If Boston wants to get back into contention, they’ll need some real reinforcements. They need a household name. An All-Star caliber pitcher who can takeover as Boston’s new ace.
Here enters Carlos Rodón. Thanks to Jacob DeGrom signing shockingly with the Texas Rangers, Rodón is now the best SP on the market. DeGrom would have been a sweet signing for the Sox, but it was a pipe dream. Rodón on the other hand, may not be.
The Red Sox have money to spend. They so far have been very cautious, not even re-signing their own free agents. At this current moment, Xander Bogaerts, Nathan Eovaldi, and J.D. Martinez remain unsigned.
Their being overly cautious doesn’t bode well for their chances of making a move for Rodón. However, they have the money to do it. That’s the most important factor here honestly. The Sox can offer Rodón exactly what he wants.
They’d be stupid not to make an attempt at him. Rodón gives Boston their true ace. He’s been one of the best pitchers over the past two seasons. He’s had his fair share of injury history, but the last two seasons he’s been healthy, and it shows.
🚨 NO-HITTER 🚨
— ESPN (@espn) April 15, 2021
Carlos Rodon becomes the second White Sox pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the last two years!
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/UfGvFKN5qR
With Carlos Rodón signing with the Giants (2 yr/$44M), here's 50 seconds of Rodón missing bats with 98-100 mph heaters pic.twitter.com/ehZcCWQ43y
— Nick Pollack (@PitcherList) March 11, 2022
Rodón last season on a “prove it” deal with the San Francisco Giants was fantastic. He finished sixth in the NL Cy Young voting. Rodón had a 2.88 ERA in 31 starts, and made his second career All-Star team.
Carlos Rodón, 9th and 10th Ks.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 4, 2022
And a "Sit TF Down." pic.twitter.com/DJH41nLHLX
Carlos Rodón, 9th and 10th Ks. pic.twitter.com/NqQqxmmkoc
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 30, 2022
Rodón finished third in all of baseball in total strikeouts with 237. He was top ten in the league in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) with a 5.4 WAR. Most impressively, he lead the league in strikeout rate, averaging 11.98 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
Carlos Rodon exhibiting BCE (big closer energy) while acting as closer for the game he started (he threw a CG) pic.twitter.com/nD0LqTL4ds
— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) July 10, 2022
He’s an absolute monster on the mound, and someone Boston could definitely utilize. I think it is entirely possible the Sox make a move on him. I’m hoping for the sake of the 2023 season that they do.
Featured Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
