he Boston Red Sox came into the offseason with a clear goal of improving their starting rotation. They have done that by adding Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo so far.
Craig Breslow has noted that the Red Sox may shift their focus to the position player market now and has also noted his desire to add power to the lineup. However, that does not mean he will stop exploring the pitching market altogether.
In terms of free agency, Michael King, Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez represent the best available options. However, the Red Sox may want to spend big on a bat, so acquiring a cheap, controllable starter through trade may make more sense. Just Baseball’s Ethan Hyatt predicted that the Red Sox would trade for MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals.
The Nationals are reportedly open to listening to offers on Gore, and he could be a good fit for the Red Sox. He was an All-Star last season, but finished with a 4.17 ERA. He had a 3.02 ERA in the first half of the season, but a 6.75 ERA in the second half.
His stellar first half may give the Red Sox reason to believe they can unlock some consistency in him and make him a key player in their rotation. He is under club control through 2027 and is projected to earn just $6.5 million next season.
Gore has a 4.03 ERA in his last 62 starts and gets 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He does struggle with command at times, leading all of baseball in wild pitches over the last two seasons.
He ranks in the 80th percentile in whiff rate and strikeout percentage. He has talent for the Red Sox to develop, and he would cost significantly less than other stars on the market. He is still only 26 years old and figures to be one of the hottest names at the trade deadline if he is not dealt by then.
