After getting meager results from their rotation in 2020, the Red Sox continue to explore a wide range of options on the free agent market. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports that the Sox have interest in Jake Odorizzi and former Boston hurler Rich Hill, while Sean McAdam of the Boston Sports Journal writes that Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (who was posted earlier this week) is also on the list of targets.
Between this trio and Boston’s previously-known interest in Corey Kluber, it’s clear the Red Sox are considering pretty much any and all options, ranging from injury reclamation projects like Kluber, familiar faces like Hill, x-factors like Sugano, or Odorizzi, who is arguably the best starter remaining on the market aside from Trevor Bauer and possibly Masahiro Tanaka.
MLBTR’s list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents ranked Tanaka 10th and Odorizzi 11th, with Odorizzi’s track record serving as a bigger argument for a multi-year contract than his injury-marred 2020 season. The righty was limited to only 13 2/3 innings last year, though none of Odorizzi’s injuries were particularly serious or cause for any long-term doubts about his ability to contribute in 2021 and beyond.
There has been enough interest in Odorizzi that he would likely be the most expensive option possible for the Red Sox, though it’s possible Sugano could cost more in pure dollars spending on the size of the posting fee his new team will have to pay the Yomiuri Giants. The 31-year-old Sugano is moving to MLB after eight outstanding seasons with the Tokyo-based Giants that saw Sugano post a 2.32 ERA, 4.59 K/BB rate, and 8.0 K/9 over 1362 innings. The Padres and Blue Jays are two of the clubs who have been linked to Sugano, though it’s probably safe to assume several more teams will be in touch before his posting period ends on January 7.
Speier reports that there is mutual interest between Hill and the Sox, which isn’t surprising given that Hill was born in Boston and still lives in the area. It would be Hill’s third stint with his hometown club, after pitching three seasons (but only 31 2/3 innings thanks to Tommy John surgery and other injuries) with the Red Sox from 2010-12, and then a return trip in 2015. It was during the 2015 season that Hill famously enjoyed a career reawakening, posting a 1.55 ERA over four starts with Boston that served as a springboard for five largely successful (if still injury-shortened) seasons with the Athletics, Dodgers, and Twins.
Hill would be the least expensive of the trio, as he would likely only require a one-year deal as he enters his age-41 season. For a Red Sox rotation that has a lot of durability questions, however, signing someone with “few guarantees about the frequency with which he could contribute” (as Speier puts it) might not be the best course of action. Sugano naturally carries some risk given that it isn’t known how well he’ll adjust to Major League batters, and Odorizzi can’t be seen as a sure thing given his lack of results in 2020.
MetsFan22
Why do the redsoxs want to compete? They aren’t good enough. They should rebuild
bigdaddyt
I agree think at this point Baltimore is starting to pass the Red Sox in terms of on field talent at this point. Red Sox need to just shed all their talent and just go on a full blown rebuild for the next 5 years while the Yankees, jays and Tampa are all beating each other up.
deweybelongsinthehall
LOL. With pitching the Sox can hang another banner. Look at 13 for evidence. Championships are won with skill and luck.
rocky7
Maybe, but when you mention pitching you really mean both starting and bullpen which in their state and the state of the market will be really hard to re-image unless they are willing to trade from the Major league roster (which hurts your so called “offense”) or willing to shell out big money to do so whether now or at mid-year when players come available.
Nobody knows what Sale will be like coming back and Rodriquez certainly has his questions also….for instance.
Yes, it does take skill both offensive and defensive, which is not equal across their horizon of players, and luck which any team hopes for.
So is it possible…sure if you believe in Santa! Not to worry, they’ll be back…just takes some time!
User 4245925809
Agreed Dewey. They don’t handcuff themselves giving away 3-4y deal to tanaka/odorozi, whom I think neither would work out well in boston and should be in fair position. Sale should give them half a season, hopefully rodriquez 100-150 innings makes up for an awful lot of the rubbish they had starting last year.
As for Hill? he’s wanted to resign in Boston every year since the club fixed his issues and he found success with that sweeper of a curve, it’s just that someone else was always willing to way, way overpay him, blister issues and all for some reason.
pinstripes17
They can hang another last place banner this year maybe, good luck competing with the Orioles for fourth place!
Fever Pitch Guy
Agree with Dewey, I think Metsfan needs to stay in their lane because they clearly don’t know about the Red Sox. The offense is still among the best,overlooking the sham of a 2020 season. The starting pitching will be much improved with the expected return of Sale and ERod next year and another proven arm they are already shopping for, all they really need is relief pitching. I trust there will be a resolution to the outfield situation, whether it be bringing back JBJ or acquiring another outfielder. JD will be Comeback Player of the Year and lead the offense along with Xander and Devers, and Verdugo will be right up there with them. The 2020 farce will soon be forgotten.
Randy Red Sox
That is how Bloom did it in Tampa. Just a couple more last place finishes and the Sox should be ready to compete in 2025
looiebelongsinthehall
Love the Yankee fan objectivity. One more championship for the thumb will make five this century. In my rooting lifetime, it’s 7-4 NY. Taking into consideration the what have you done for me lately attitude and I’m content in both the overall championships and the rivalry situation. My concern though is I’ve lost respect for Boston ownership that I expect they won’t allow Bloom to complete the job he was hired for. Their interference by re-hiring Cora speaks volumes.
Mlb1971
Pinhead – one World Series appearance in 20 years….NYY fans have nothing to brag about …. no flag flying for you either…….lol loser
JoeBrady
Losing respect for someone, on the basis of something you expect in the future, makes no sense. You can only lose respect for someone on the decisions that they make, not the decisions that you predict they will make.
Further, do you have any evidence that they interfered on the Cora decision?
dlevin11
Yes how successful were the Stankees at winning another World Series banner last year.
pinstripes17
The Yankee jealousy is real! Have fun in last place again this year, Sox fans!
jmi1950
Pin stripes you are still living in the 1950s.
The Boston /NY rivalry is real but Boston fans have long ago got over any jealousy.
The last 20 yrs : Sox 4 WS wins, Pats 6 NFL wins, Celtics 1, and Bruins 1.
NYY/Mets 1, Giants/Jets 2, Knicks/Nets 0, Rangers/Isles/Devils 1.
Total New England 4 teams win 12 championships in 20 years.
NY/NJ 9 teams win 4 championships in 20 years. Three of
those by teams that play in NJ.
DarkSide830
Baltimore has a lot of questions even if most of their prospects pan out. they would probably have finished well worse then the Red Sox with a full 2020, even with how bad the RS pitching was. cant act like Baltimore’s staff was overall amazing anyway – they were relying on LeBlanc/Milone/Woj for a bit
Perksy
Probably would just sign 1 year starters to fill out the roster until some of their minor league pitchers are more ready.
VonPurpleHayes
You could say the same about the Mets. A few FA signings turn the Mets from last place team to contender. Yes. The Mets are in better shape than the Sox, but the same theory applies. A big market team is never really far away.
VonPurpleHayes
I mean…it does seem silly though. Sox need a lot of pieces, but maybe these can be placeholders
MetsFan22
I understand what your saying but the Mets add pieces and they are legit contenders. Redsoxs need a lot more
PoloGrounds62
The Mets are a handful of players away from 94 wins per year. The BoSox are a bus full away.
LordD99
They’re only a season removed from a winning record. They have a good offense with upside potential based on rebounds from 2020 (JD Martinez for one). One of their biggest issues was starting pitching, so if they can improve there, factor in a Tampa team that likely regresses and a Yankee team that’s focused on getting under the luxury tax and has its own holes in its rotation, and it’s not difficult to see the Red Sox having a shot at a Wild Card slot.
rocky7
Aside from projected division winners, every team has a Wild Card shot at making the playoffs in the offseason….that’s why you play 162 (pre-Covid). Optimism always runs rampant in the offseason!
deweybelongsinthehall
keep talking Rocky,. keep living in the past. when was the last NY championship in any sport? 2009. it’s obvious that your envious of all the Boston championships since. I’m actually a NY fan in all other sports but I try to remain objective. Try to do the same.
looiebelongsinthehall
It’s obvious your envious/jealous of all the recent Boston championships. Two Giants titles and one Yankee. Championship vs all the Boston titles this century. It shows Rock.
deweybelongsinthehall
Correction below before others hammer me. Would love to be able to edit or correct posts.
its_happening
Sale, E-Rod, Eovaldi and one more pitcher puts the Red Sox in contention in the best division in baseball. Don’t sleep on the Sox.
bravesfan88
Well, they could sign a couple of quality free agents to three-four year deals with the hope Boston can field a competitive team by the back half of their new deals..
When you’re a large market like Boston, you never truly HAVE TO rebuild. You can just draft advanced college arms and bats, so they can have another stream of talent coming up shortly. Then, they can sign a big name or two, plus some quality free agent veterans to fill put their holes. Finally, if Boston still needs to acquire more talent, they can just take on a bad contract or two, from a different franchise operating under a tighter budget. This can allow them to acquire either possibly still anuseful piece for next to nothing prospect wise, or they can also get a prospect or two for helping out that team..
It is a heck of alot easier to get through tough times as a franchise in baseball when you have a high payroll in which to work with. What can typically take most franchises four to five years to rebuild, Boston could likely re-tool in just a season or two..
Of course, it isn’t quite as easy as I’m making it out to be, but it certainly is a heck of a crap ton easier for a team like Boston or New York..
DarkSide830
the Red Sox roster is better then their record last year. even just one good SP add would go a long way for them.
Rsox
They’re not that bad. You could argue they had a worse pitching staff when they won the World Series in 2013 than the one they project to have now. That was also a team that ran out Will Middlebrooks, Jonny Gomes, Daniel Nava, and Mike Carp regularly. This current team with an addition or two can be right back in contention
Randy Red Sox
they are
bobtillman
Oh ya John Henry is going into a 5 year plan, while his empire crumbles…..all this while he takes Fenway Sports public….ain’t happenin’.
Ketch
The Sox just need pitching. This story is about pitching. That Baltimore has more on field talent is laughably poor scouting
rocky7
Seems like your over valuing the Sox and under valuing the Orioles..
DarkSide830
The O’s barely did better last year and that was with Milone, Iglesias, and Alberto and its probable you have some rebound from guys like Barnes, Martinez, Beni, etc.
Ketch
The Orioles farm system is considerably better. But the Sox offense is still very effective, as they have been the 6th highest scoring team in MLB for 2019-2020. They really just need pitching, where they were atrocious last year with a largely AAAA staff that was missing the 2 best SP. The Sox still had more fWAR (16.4) than Baltimore (11.5)from 2019-2020..
The Sox can still hit. But they need pitching help badly. But Baltimore is worse at hitting and pitching. Where are they better than Boston?
pinstripes17
The Orioles are much closer to the Sox than you think, if not better. Their young hitters look very, very good. Losing Alberto could really cost them though, that was a very nonsensical move by their FO.
gg24
sign Kluber. he is a bargain and btw they can be in contention this year.
Ketch
All for an incentive-laden Kluber, but that does create a serious risk for Boston hoping all of Sale, ERod and then Kluber can help carry them back to contention. Rich “Blisters” Hill is in the same boat.
Now Kluber does live just outside of Boston for some reason. We will see if this is a factor at all for him.
bobtillman
Kluber and the Japanese fellow…take on some ugly contracts (KK? Inciarte?) to rebuild farm system…..maybe some other dramatic move….BE BOLD!!!!
Doesn’t mean it will work, but the 2020 disaster can’t happen again….else they’ll dump Bloom into the Charles River with instructions on how to swim to Tampa….
Randy Red Sox
What are you talking about? Bloom has done EXACTLY what John Henry brought him in to do.
deweybelongsinthehall
Sad but true. Sad in that I don’t believe bringing back Cora was Bloom’s idea. if Sox ownership doesn’t allow Bloom to fully do it his way, it won’t work.
whyhayzee
First off, 2020 is a meaningless macabre malfeasance of a season. Fake season. Discount the statistics. Who cares? Sox may need some adjustments but if you don’t think they’ll be competing soon, you aren’t paying attention. They still have the best house on the block. Some new carpet, window treatments and some fertilizer on the lawn and they’ll be the place to get your candy next Halloween. Trick or treat!
luckyh
Hill??? Does Pedie need company on the DL?
deweybelongsinthehall
You sign Hill for a half a season. if he can stay healthy just until Sale again becomes Sale, that’s enough. if the team gets more and he’s healthy in October, they can actually win it all. That’s why you try to sign Hill.
JoeBrady
Absolutely spot-on correct, imho. I’m not sure what the price tag is, but if we got half a 3.50 season from Hill, for $3M, that’s stealing money. And since 2014, he’s had 7 season with an ERA of 3.66 or lower.
Rsox
I wouldn’t mind Odorizzi. Sugano could be interesting if he’s not a massive overpay. I wouldn’t trust Hill to make more than 15 starts so maybe they shouldn’t go there unless he’s ok with being a swingman out of the pen and signs for cheap
Nobby
The Curse of Mookie Betts will haunt the Red Sox for years.
qbass187
Did that take over for the curse of Manny Ramirez?
jmi1950
I don’t get this qbass — since Manny left the Sox won the 2013 & 2018 WS., how is that a curse?
JoeBrady
I think QBass was being sarcastic,
jmi1950
Nobby — I doubt it could be worse than the curse of keeping Cashman, — at 11 yrs so far.
Rsox
Mookie turned down $300 million to stay. It was only logical to trade him and get something rather than watch him leave for a draft pick. There is no “curse of Mookie Betts”
jmi1950
The Sox add Pillar, Moreland, Hill , Kluber & 2 RPs on 1 yr incentive heavy contracts.
If the team is in the race and Sale looks healthy at the All Star break they pick up a couple of vets with expiring contracts and compete like they did with Eovaldi, & Pearce in 2018.
If Hill and Kluber are injured or bad the cost will be low because no incentives will be earned and whoever has an expiring contract that is doing well can be traded for prospects.
This gives them a chance to compete in 2021 with low $$$ and no long term contracts to hamper signing high $$$ FAs for 2022.
JoeBrady
I think some pieces have to be sorted out, but I pretty much agree. I love Hill for this team. If he gives us 20 starts before Sale returns, that’s huge, A rotation of Eovaldi, ERod, Hill, Pivetta, and Houck are a lot closer to league-average than some people think, though obviously an injury risk.
2 RPs sounds about right, though I don’t know what to expect from Barnes. I expect him to be okay, but if he goes south, he might explode completely.
I like both Pillar and Moreland, but it might depend on other factors. I love Renfroe for RF, move Verdugo to CF, and get a glove for the #4, I like Wong a lot for 2B, though I wouldn’t cringe if they wanted to give Arroyo a shot at 2B, and promoting Downs if Arroyo fails.
Randy Red Sox
20 starts for Hill?? Don’t make me laugh ! When is the last time he started 2o in the first 2/3 of a season??
JoeBrady
In the past 5 years:
20
25
24
13
22 (prorated)
So explain to me what is so funny?
JoeBrady
We’re closer than some think, imho. The reason for this is that our 2020 record was caused by some black holes, and those are easier to fix than the problem of too much mediocrity.
We were 5th in scoring last year, with -0- contribution from Benni, JDM, and 2B. Benni and JDM should revert, and then we need to sign a 2B, and that should get us about to the top in scoring.
Pitching is more difficult to predict with Sale & ERod. But the ‘Black Hole’ theory still applies. Godley, Mazza, Weber, Brewer, Hart, Kickham, Triggs, Hall, Osich, Brice, Brasier, and Lever, combined for a 1-15 record, with a 7.79 ERA, in 34 of our 60 starts. Those 12 guys will combine for close to -0- starts next year. Replacing those guys with a couple of good #3 guys should be easy.
Factor #3 that i think works in our favor is that we finished relatively well. We were 18-18 over the last 36 games. For comparison sake, since we have some NYY and NYM fans in here, the NYY were 17-19 in their final 36, and the NYM were 16-20 in their last 36 games.
qbass187
I guess Tanaka can go to Boston if he wants to finally get that WS ring.
JoeBrady
No Tanaka. As a RS fan, I had no fear of facing him, so I don’t want him on our side.
sinjin5
Sox need to resign Lester for 2 + an option. There’s the durability they need. Then take a flier on Kluber. Try to stay above water until Sale is back.
jmi1950
I have no problem with Lester, Porcello or any other vet SP but only on a one yr deal with incentives.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Odorizzi is overrated and Rich can’t stay healthy enough to stay on the hill.
I’d rather take a chance on Kluber.
jturk
My lord….is there anything more obnoxious than a Boston sports fan? Gotta make everything about you. Your team stinks right now, no shame there. Just admit it. You’re (for the most part), spoiled objective homers. I have no horse in this race, but come on with calling the Yankees out. It doesn’t matter if they haven’t won a WS title in 11 years…..they have 27. You went almost 100 years without one. Be greatfull, and realistic, geese
jmi1950
When you have the highest payroll and pay Lux Tax 10 out of 11 yrs you need a GM that closes the deal and wins a WS.
2016 Theo saw his chance and traded Torres to close the deal.
2017, Cashman saw his chance but refused to block Astros waiver claim of
Verlander — Astros win WS.
2018 Cashman refuses to include Anduhar in Cole deal, Sox win WS.
2019, Cashman refuses to include extra year on Corbin contract, Nats win WS.
ccrider
I loved Steven Wright before the pinch running incident. I believe he would be available this coming year coming off TJ surgery.
Jeff Zanghi
Why would you say/believe that the Red Sox have no chance to be competitive and should ‘rebuild’? They have a very strong offensive core and while their pitching was atrocious last year… even without adding any additional pitchers (which they certainly will do also) they’d still be getting back their top two starting pitchers (E-Rod and Sale)… so just that alone immediately makes them a MUCH better team. Then from there figure they sign Rich Hill and say Sugano as well. Now all of a sudden they’ve got a very good rotation (on paper anyway) and are maybe only a couple of relievers and a CF away from being a legitimate competItor for a playoff spot. I understand they really sucked last year… And that there are a lot of “If’s” in terms of like Sale and E-Rod’s health but beyond that they still have a lineup that boasts players like Bogearts, Devers, JD Martinez, Verdugo, Vasquez and emerging players like Dalbec and Chavis/Munoz/etc. Plus they’ve got Jeter Downs possibly becoming ML ready next season, had Houck make an incredible debut couple of starts and had Pivetta look like he’s actually figured things out and might finally live up to his potential (sure that’s a big IF but still… they’re a heck of a lot better than their record showed last year and definitely are close enough to wild card contention that they shouldn’t be “throwing in the towel” and launching a full scale rebuild. In fact you could easily make a case that if they made a handful (3-5) BIG acquisitions — say Springer, Sugano, Hand a 2B and another RP and they could actually be legitimate playoff contenders. Granted that would still hinge on the health of Sale and E-Rod… if they were to sign those 3-5 players… they really wouldn’t have ANY glaring holes whatsoever… in fact you could argue that they really would be above average across the board (offense/defense/SP and eh… still maybe slightly below average in the bullpen… but with Hand and another legitimate Reliever… it would go a long way to bolstering it with Barnes, Darwinzon Hernandez and a couple other passable guys filling out the pen)