Four Starters Available For the Red Sox After Corey Kluber Signs With the Yankees

The Boston Red Sox were interested in signing Corey Kluber, but he eventually went to their rival on a one-year, $11 million deal. It’s no secret that Boston needs some help in the rotation after Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Nathan Eovaldi. But who’s still available?

For this exercise, Trevor Bauer isn’t included because he just simply isn’t a fit. He is looking for a huge contract with a big AAV and the Red Sox aren’t one pitcher away from contention.

Jake Arrieta

Arrieta could be a low risk-high reward signing for the Red Sox. He isn’t the great starting pitcher he used to be with the Chicago Cubs after having a few rough years in Philadelphia. The 34-year-old pitched to a 5.08 ERA last season in nine starts before getting hurt.

Perhaps Arrieta will be motivated to prove that he can still pitch well in the big leagues.

Jon Lester

Lester is certainly a fan-favorite in Boston, as that is where he started his lengthy career before going to Oakland for a season and then winning a World Series with the Cubs. Some people believe that Lester still wants to be back in Chicago despite them cutting back payroll, but he might find it appealing to go back to Fenway Park.

Lester’s ERA was above 5 in 2020 for the first time in his career but he only was able to make 12 regular season starts.

Garrett Richards

There have been reports over the last few days that the Red Sox have shown interest in Richards, who has rebounded from Tommy John surgery at the end of his Angels career. He has been with the Padres for the last two seasons, but really only pitched last year after he recovered from surgery.

Richards owned a 4.03 ERA in 2020 in ten starts and four appearances out of the bullpen at the end of the regular season when the Padres were preparing for a postseason push when they only needed three or four starters.

Richards certainly has upside if he can control his pitches. Look for him to sign a shorter contract with incentives.

Julio Teheran

Teheran is known for his time with the Atlanta Braves, but he actually pitched out in Anaheim with the Angels last season.

The 29-year-old struggled in ten games, giving up 35 runs and walking only four fewer batters than he struck out. He could be another cheap option for Bloom to stick at the back of the rotation and hope he returns to the form we saw in Atlanta.

(Photo via Gene Puskar/AP Photo)