Red Sox In Bidding War For Star

The Boston Red Sox have been concentrating on addressing two key needs this offseason: acquiring starting pitching and securing an impactful right-handed bat with positional flexibility. While Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has made a move to partially address the starting pitching requirement by bringing in right-hander Lucas Giolito, there has been no action taken yet to fulfill the need for a versatile right-handed bat.

Even though starting pitching and a right-handed bat remain top priorities, Breslow is actively exploring opportunities to enhance the big-league roster, with a focus on potentially acquiring a high-leverage reliever to strengthen the bullpen. According to a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, both the Chicago Cubs and the Red Sox, as two major-market teams, have shown interest in veteran reliever Ryne Stanek.

Stanek posted a 4.09 ERA with a 51-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .221 batting average against, and a 1.24 WHIP in 50 2/3 innings last season. While these numbers are solid, his performance in the previous year was exceptional, featuring a 1.15 ERA with a 62-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .188 batting average against, and a 1.23 WHIP in 54 2/3 innings.

Although that outstanding season may be seen as an outlier, the 32-year-old reliever has maintained a 142 ERA+ over the last three seasons, indicating he has been 42% more effective than the league average during that period.

Recent reports suggest that the potential signing of Stanek might be connected to a trade involving closer Kenley Jansen, who is owed $16 million in 2024. Such a move could create an opportunity for the Red Sox to pursue a signing like Jordan Montgomery. However, given the team’s cautious spending approach, there is a likelihood that Breslow might be outbid by another team, like Chicago or another suitor, resulting in potential frustration for Red Sox fans.