The Red Sox are planning to deploy right-hander Garrett Whitlock out of the rotation in 2023, general manager Brian O’Halloran told reporters at the GM Meetings (link via Chris Cotillo of MassLive). O’Halloran added that Tanner Houck could get a look as a starter as well, although that decision hasn’t yet been made.
“With Whit, we told him to plan to be a starter and we expect him to be a starter,” the GM told reporters. “With Tanner, we said something similar. We talked through that he will go through the offseason planning to be a starter and we’ll build him up as such. But there’s a little bit (less) definition around his role and he knows it could go in either direction.” O’Halloran added the decision to move Whitlock to the rotation “was a little bit more clear and definitive” than the situation with Houck, whose role figures to be determined in part by the course of the Boston offseason.
Whitlock has worked almost exclusively as a reliever in his MLB career. Since being selected from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft, the UAB product has made 68 relief appearances and nine starts. Whitlock has frequently worked multiple innings out of the bullpen, however, emerging as one of the league’s most valuable relievers. He’s tallied 112 2/3 innings of 2.24 ERA ball as a reliever, striking out a well above-average 28.1% of opponents. Whitlock predictably hasn’t been quite so dominant as a starter, but he owns a 4.15 ERA with a decent 23.5% strikeout rate and a stellar 5.5% walk percentage in that time.
The 26-year-old doesn’t have much experience turning a big league lineup over three times, but he mixes three pitches and has handled hitters from both sides of the plate. That gives Whitlock a chance to be a quality starting pitcher, the role he filled throughout his time in the minors.
Boston signed Whitlock to an $18.75MM guarantee during Spring Training. He’s controllable via a pair of club options through 2028, and Cotillo notes that deal contains some innings-based incentives — ones which Whitlock cementing himself in the rotation would help him unlock.
As for Houck, he started 13 of 18 appearances in 2021 but came out of the bullpen 28 of 32 times this year. Houck also worked multiple innings frequently, but he’s had more marked platoon splits than Whitlock has. Left-handers this year had a .259/.376/.400 line against the 26-year-old hurler, who stifled righties to a .205/.269/.227 line. Houck’s heavy reliance on his fastball and slider at the expense of a changeup or splitter have led to some concern among evaluators about his ability to turn lineups over three times as a starter.
Boston will unquestionably add to their rotation over the coming months. At present, the Sox have just Nick Pivetta, Chris Sale, James Paxton and now Whitlock as rotation pieces for 2023. Former top prospect Brayan Bello could get into that mix, as could Houck, but only Pivetta looks like a safe bet for innings. Sale and Paxton have barely pitched the past couple years because of injury, while Bello’s rookie season was up-and-down. The Sox are seeing Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Wacha and Rich Hill hit free agency.
How’s the payroll looking for the Red Sox after arbitration, without making any new additions ?
About $100MM I would imagine this gives Bloom $100MM-$120MM to work with,
As they likely will look to reset the luxury tax
Their after arbitration payroll is expected to be 151million. I imagine they don’t spend much this year and reset next year.
Wacha seems like a no brainer if he’ll sign
Smart choice. He’s one of their best.
…best relievers.
Whitlock has thrown 73.1 and 78.1 innings in the last two years…and he got injured last year. How many innings could he be expected to pitch this year? I would say 100-150 innings. So, yes he could be starter, but he will need a break some time during the season if he is going to be starting at the end of the year. I guess he could start for a while and then move to the bullpen.
150 IP is a good goal. Probably 4-5 IP/game for the first two months and then ramp up.
YBC: That could work. Maybe have him be the 5th starter. I’m thinking most 5th starters don’t go deep into games.
And/or phantom IL for “arm inflammation” to manage his workload.
With Whit using just three pitches, I like him better in the pen.
This Whitlock story is giving me deja vu. Tried it already and it’s clear he pitches better in a relief role. He’s not your closer, he’s the fireman. I’m still on the fence with Houck. A 3rd decent offering to start or just more whiffs to close. Better command would benefit either way of course. I just think there is more to him than a great 8th inning setup man., he needs to find his role and cement it.
Team has worked with him since drafted on that 3rd pitch and it’s never really developed. it was a changeup if recall correct to begin with and he wasn’t good with it, now the splitter, which he rarely throws and is flat much of the time.
The slider is as good as about anyone’s, which is a saving grace and the 2 seamer dances all over. 2 good ones which should keep hitters off balance for a long guy and that’s valuable enough. the 4 seamer is flat and gets hammered. Can’t complain when the sox do develop an effective guy, just think of him as a superior Justin masterson of a few years back.
Justin Masterson came up in 2008 and pitched for the Red Sox all the way to the ALCS against Tampa, and then he was traded to Cleveland for Victor Martinez in 2009. IMO, Houck’s stuff is better, but neither were/are super effective as a starter and are more suited for the bullpen. That said Houck is probably better than some 4th or 5th the Red Sox might be tempted to sign. Is he more valuable as a high leverage reliever or low end starter?
I guess I understand why I never received a Sox GM contract. To me, Whitlock is my late inning guy facing the other team’s best and Houck is the closer. Spend time trading, signing or developing the rest of the staff.
He’s better in relief Sox gonna relive the same story again.
No point in yo-yo’ing him back and forth again. He’s there until ’28 if things work out. If he struggles, they can send him down to fine-tune. I think the RS can still option him.
This has Daniel Bard written all over it.
Not really.
mike – More like Joba.
I don’t have an issue either way, as long as they stick to their decision.
Maybe look at Bard’s first-year numbers when he was a starter in the minors (those 27 wild pitches 78 walks in 75 ip are fairly notable) and then consider that he wanted to be given another chance to start and specifically asked for it. Then have a look at Whitlock’s numbers as a starter, for his entire minor league career. Then consider that the Red Sox have always planned to use him as a starter, other than his recovery from TJS where he had to be on the roster all year or they would lose him. Then drop the Bard garbage. Bard had the yips from the moment his career began, and moving to relief saved him. For some reason, he thought it was a good idea to start again (money obviously). These two have absolutely nothing in common aside from playing for the Red Sox.
Houck has so much talent to waste it in the BP. Gotta wonder what he might cost in trade.
He still can’t throw a third pitch effectively at this point. He’s much better suited to a bullpen role than as a starter.
He’s got closer stuff and his mentality also seems like a fit. If the Sox want to compete in 23, they need a COMPLETE staff plan and to me it starts with the 8th and 9th inning guys. How many games did the team lose late in 22?
dewey – Houck was darn good last year as a starter.
Career 3.22 ERA as a starter and better WHIP, SO/9 and SO/W numbers too.
Fever. Teams don’t look at starters like they used to and I don’t recall Houck going late into many games. Thus, I’d rather have him close rather than start. More important for me to have him and Whitlock available for double the appearances (compared to starting) at the end of games).
dewey – You’re right about him not pitching deep into games, but these days how many starting pitchers are allowed? And keep in mind he’s been bouncing around between the rotation and the pen. If he ever became a guaranteed full-season starting pitcher, they would stretch him out more.
Sorry but I’d rather he give the Sox 180 innings a year instead of 65 from the pen. If forced to choose, I’d rather have Whitlock in the pen.
As we saw this season, what good is a solid pen if they don’t have leads to protect? Houck could go several days in the pen without being needed, then he gets brought into a meaningless game just to get some work in. it’s a total waste of a talented 26-year-old.
Darn good as a starter? He can’t make it more than 3 times through a line up. he’s going to be 27 and still hasn’t developed a 3rd pitch. Time to put him in the bullpen and possibly the closers role where he belongs.
the fact he can’t go more than 4 innings and at best five consistently is going to keep him no where near the 180 inning mark. Houck is better served in the bullpen as closer or high leverage reliever.
acel – “Can’t make it” implies Houck begins pitching poorly prior to the 6th inning. That’s simply not the case, he is pulled early because Cora likes using his bullpen even when the starter is cruising … Pivetta immediately comes to mind as a great example.
Let’s examine just one sample of exactly why Houck gets pulled early. This is a CLASSIC example of how Cora manages his bullpen, making decisions in advance based on matchups and the game score .etc … without any consideration for how the starting pitcher is actually pitching.
masslive.com/redsox/2021/08/boston-red-sox-bullpen…
NEW YORK — Red Sox starter Tanner Houck was lifted after just four innings and 58 pitches Tuesday afternoon against the Yankees, marking the latest occasion in which he did not pitch deep into a game. According to manager Alex Cora, that was because the Red Sox — who took a 3-2 lead after Christian Vázquez homered in the top of the fifth — wanted to aggressively manage their bullpen in a seven-inning game.
By replacing Houck with reliever Garrett Whitlock in the fifth, Cora was hoping to use Whitlock for the fifth and lefty Josh Taylor in the sixth before turning to closer Matt Barnes in the seventh (and final) inning. If the game was tied, Cora said, Houck would have stayed in.
I wish Cashman would actually give relievers on the farm a solid chance in NY. Seems like he is always losing good ones in the rule 5. He chases other teams castoffs all year long hoping to unlock some hidden talent, yet keeps decent relievers in the minors or on the shuttle getting mop up duty. When they pitch well enough to force his hand he trades them for pitchers everyone except for him know won’t pitch well in NY. Manaea was available last offseason but he lets Preller get him. Solid TOR lefty who has always been lights out in NY. Nah let’s wait until the deadline and get the overrated righty who has always been meh in NY. Cashman has delivered 1 championship which he bought in 2009. He had the chance to learn from Schtick but apparently didn’t. He would be a very good GM for a middle market team but not the Yankees. Would have liked to see them send him packing with Girardi. Replacing him with Charington. Sorry to get off topic but I get a bit steamed when I see former Yankee minor leaguers that deserved a shot flourishing on other teams because of Cashman’s lack of talent evaluation. Imagine Stephan and Whitlock in the bullpen next year with Chapman and Britton money coming off the books. ♂️ Cashman needs to go.
Low budget………..Low budget
Low budget. …low budget?!
Have been watching the Chaim Bloom administration.
Don’t really buy into the Bogaerts / Devers drama. Figure the plan is to have a young core built around pitching and defense. If they lose those 2 guys it doesn’t matter – in a few years if they’re ready be be a sustainable contending team they’ll have the money to sign 2-3 of the top free agent hitters at that time to go with the young position players they’re developing. Hitters are easy to find. Developing pitchers – especially starting pitchers – is difficult, and that’s what Mr. Bloom excelled at in Tampa Bay.
A franchise that can grow their own pitchers is always going to compete. But it takes a bit of time for an organization to develop a program, put together a staff, and have everyone buy into it. None of the current pitching factories in MLB were put together in a year or two.
Not to throw their main competitor in their face, but Matt Blake just finished his 3rd year as pitching coach of the Yankees (they stole him from Cleveland). Granted he had a lot more to work with on the roster, but especially the last 2 years his pitchers have been carrying that team (along with Judge in 2022).
2023 will be the 4th year of the Bloom administration. They don’t need a few Cy Young contenders or one of the best ERA’s of all MLB teams. But their pitching development area is going to have to start showing some results with their young pitchers next year.
Agreed Samuel. One more thing to add, I’d like to see Bloom invest more draft picks on Pitchers. He hasnt drafted any pitchers above the 4th round. High end pitchers go fast, it would be nice to see a 1st and/or 2nd on a stud pitcher or two.
ReedSox;
What you wrote is interesting……
The Orioles have only had a few pitchers that were drafted high, and literally none below them. Yet last year they got good results from their pitchers – particularly the bullpen.
I’ve read where a lot of organizations prefer to get seemingly failed players that have played in MiLB as opposed to the draft. They get a much better idea of the players capabilities, and if they’re being misused or mis-trained the teams coaches can turn them around. Most of the Orioles pitching staff in 2022 were rejected / failed players.
@Samuel; speaking of the O’s, does Whitlock’s journey look similar to Wells’s but just one year later?. Both Rule 5 pick ups coming off TJ surgery. Both spend time in bullpen strengthening arm then convert to an SP? Only difference being Wells was also on a SP path when with Twins.
Hope your right Sam.
Oh so they learned NOTHING from this season. Got it
Houck is the better fit as a starter, Whitlock is better in relief. That’s been evident. Don’t fix what ain’t broke.
Probably just the opposite with Houck limited to 2 effective pitches. Also.. Game is now at a time where many starters only go 5-6 innings. I think it won’t be long before having shut down long guys will become the next in thing and Houck right now is that type of guy. He can throw 40-50 pitches, or 3-4 innings, rest 2-4 days and be ready again to take over for, say Rich Hill (example) when he tires.
Well what ain’t broken didn’t work either as a whole. If Whitlock and Houck are capable starters, RS can fill in the bullpen with free agents which is the cheapest option. Provided that they can’t resign Bogaerts, next season could be a bridge year resetting their tax rate which isn’t the worst idea.
We don’t need another bridge year.
In retrospect 22 was the missed bridge season.
“I’m sorry” – in Canadian.
@deweybelongsinthehall exactly my point
That sucking sound is the Sox bullpen once again being degraded and ignored. The clown show in the Sox baseball ops dept has to go.
Bad idea.
Whitlock is such a clutch, shutdown weapon in the bullpen and the Sox bullpen was terrible when he has not in it. Hopefully Bloom finds a few reliable arms if they plan to put Whitlock and Houck back in the rotation
Chris Sale? Is that supposed to be a joke?
What are you referring to? Sale is under contract in ’23 and listed as an SP in the article. What joke?
This translates into Bloom is too cheap to sign a real starting pitcher.
It worked out well when they did this to Bard. What could go wrong?
Given the way the Sox have been doing business lately I see this as a financial move more than anything. They’ll be able to put two low cost pitchers in the rotation. It’s really sad the way this team is operating right now.
They were over the threshold in 2022, and they probably need to dip below in ’23. So, what you say is true, up to the “really sad” part.
Agreed that they are trying to get below the threshold. I think they have enough money freed up that they could go get a couple quality starters instead of hoping two very good bullpen arms can do it. They’ll probably go get a couple off relievers and hope for the best. Seems like they are chasing their tail. Granted they have other needs but if a team doesn’t have pitching they have no chance. I think their plan is to fill holes till the young players can get to the majors. I believe a lot of people are thinking the same thing. Hopefully they follow the Braves model and lock up controllable players early. So far the only one I see is Casas and I’d give it this year before offering a long term deal. Hard to be patient when your a Sox fan. I don’t mind admitting I’m spoiled .
“So far the only one I see is Casas” — Cedanne Rafaela appears to be a stud. Hopefully he’s up by September. There are also several right behind him (Yorke, Mata, Jordan. Lugo). In 2-3 years the team will be a young powerhouse (just my opinion/prediction).
Not a fan of this. He seems best built for the relief role. May backfire magnificently.
It would be interesting to see if Tanner could learn to throw a cutter into his mix. I think it would blend well with the 2 seamer and slider, and help improve his numbers against lefties. Maybe try a hard curve, too?
Even if he adds a cutter, I think his best value would be as a closer. I think he could be an All Star closer.
Whitlock? I think making him a starter is just setting an appointment for the 60 day later on down the road. Give him a hose and a fireman’s hat and call him when needed.
It’s definitely worth it to give Whitlock a spot in the rotation. I wouldn’t want to depend on Sale or Paxton making it through a full season. Whitlock has the potential to be a solid starter.
Houck, Whitlock, Schreiber, Taylor, Kelly, Barnes.,Brasier. Not nearly as good as the Astros.
The Sox are more in the 15 th best pen
I’d like to hear from some baseball people that follow the Woo Sox, Sea Dogs, Salem, and Greenville to see if there are any ‘horses’ coming up? and when they will arrive?
I have been following Mata and it appears he’s a better prospect than Bello-T or F?
Cora is not a pitcher; he may think he knows pitching. Bush doesn’t seem to be a pitching coach that spews confidence.. I’d like to see someone on the bench like a John Farrell that has been around a bit. Not as a manager but as a pitching coach. Maybe the Sox need a pitching coach that can help pitchers and have Cora’s ear and confidence.
I don’t understand why Varitek isn’t promoted to being a pitching coach. The man took notes his entire career and I am sure he could help them call a good game.
Starters are no longer being expected to turn a batting order 3 times, twice if they are lucky. I think the average innings for a starter is 5 1/3 innings. If they get to the 6th it’s because they are pitching well. Pitchers like Kershaw throwing a no hitter doesn’t keep him in the game so the expectation for Whitlock is to go 5 and some change innings and then they go to swing man, set up, and closer. Which in my opinion the Sox need all three of those positions lmao.
Finishing in last place and paying CBT money is not in the cards. One can easily finish last, and save 50 million.
Oh my, I think that is going to be a mistake
For those in this thread Tanner Houck has 4 declared pitches not 3 FYI. Personally I would like to see him as either a Starter or at least a long reliever. It appears he is stretching out as a Starter but told he may regulate to the bullpen. That likely depends on Free Agents, who returns healthy aka (Sale Paxton Taylor) I could see a straight Closer role…but to me I love Whitlock Closing at least high leverage late innings situations but he’s been told he should stretch out as a starter with no mention of the bullpen. Houck’s 4 pitches are 4 seem FB, Sinker, Slider, & Splitter…I assume he could add a 2 seam or change up as well…he has teemendous upside if he can repeat delivery and his release point on these…they definitely move…he just needs control & a good tempo & game plan I see a Cy Young top 5 for Houck personally
he might have 4 declared pitches but only two he effectively throws for strikes. it’s the reason why hitters can sit on his pitches and his era spikes significantly the third time through the lineup.
acel – He’s faced a hitter 3rd time though for just 30 career PA’s.
That’s a heckuva SSS to make any determinations on.
And how can a pitcher learn to go deep in a game if they aren’t given the opportunity to get better at it?
Nobody has ever improved at anything by not trying …
FPG. another straw man argument by you that includes very cherry picked data. you’re not including his minor league stats when discussing the 30 career PA. The reason they have such a short leash in the majors is because of his minor league track record which isn’t a small sample size by any means and shows ghastly ERA splits his third time through the lineup. He never showed that ability in the minors hence the quick hook…it’s that simple. This was a well known fact about Houck that almost everyone who follows the red sox even passingly knows.
To the question of how can a pitcher learn to go deeper into games is pretty simple. Learn an effective third pitch that you can throw for strikes. Houck hasn’t done that in 3 years of college, 3 plus years in the minors and now going on three years in the majors. His best role is in the bullpen plain and simple and I think he has way more potential to excel/be dominant in that role.