The Boston Red Sox may use free agency to acquire the pitching assistance they need.
The Red Sox are interested in free agent Japanese league lefty Shōta Imanaga and former Cleveland Guardians right-hander Lucas Giolito, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
According to Heyman, Jordan Montgomery, a star in the World Series, is also connected to the Red Sox.
James Paxton, a $4 million player option holder who led the Red Sox to a 7-5 record in 19 starts the previous season, “has a decent chance to return,” Heyman adds.
In order to compete in the AL East in 2024, the Red Sox, who had a total ERA of 4.52 in the previous season, will need to make some adjustments to their pitching staff.
Imanaga, 30, joined MLB free agency as the second pitcher from Japan to do so, following Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He is predicted to start in MLB, just like Yamamoto.
According to CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa and RJ Anderson, Imanaga struck out 29.5 percent of his batters in 159 innings with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars last season—far above the league average of 19.6 percent.
Even though Imanaga won’t get a deal as big as Yamamoto’s, he would still be an expensive choice. Earlier this month, ESPN’s Jeff Passan estimated that the pitcher might fetch up to $100 million.
Giolito, who played for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Guardians in 2023, is hoping to sign with his fourth team in as many seasons.
Even though Giolito finished the season with a 7.04 ERA after making six starts in Cleveland, he had a strong debut season in Chicago. Heyman reported in November that Giolito’s salary for the upcoming season is anticipated to range between $50 million to $80 million.
With a 2.90 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 31 postseason innings, Montgomery helped lead the Texas Rangers to the World Series, and he has been linked to a number of possible suitors in free agency.
As an alternative, the Red Sox might select Paxton, a known quantity whose two-year club option they turned down back in 2022.
Paxton had impressive bursts of domination in the early half of the season, recording a 2.73 ERA in 56 innings, despite his lackluster 4.50 ERA toward the finish of the season.
Paxton could be a good addition to the Red Sox rotation for less money than Imanaga or Giolito if he can stay healthy, which is a big question given that he started his Boston career recovering from Tommy John surgery and ended his 2023 season on the IL with right knee inflammation.