The Red Sox need some serious help with their pitching. That much has been known and reiterated all season.
But, thanks to a little trade that happened last weekend, the front office can now make much bigger waves in the free agent market than could have been expected just a week ago.
The Red Sox made a statement in sending away some contracts that didn't make sense for the team anymore, but that doesn't mean the club isn't ready to shell out more dough if needed to get the team back into serious contention.
Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz will now form the core of the Red Sox' starting rotation, with Felix Doubront and Franklin Morales both making their cases for consideration throughout the season. But Aaron Cook, Daisuke Matsuzaka and several members of the bullpen still have something to prove, meaning the Red Sox have plenty of spots to fill when looking outside the team in signing free agents this offseason.
While the free agent market isn't as great as it's been in years before, with most of the big-name pitchers who could beef up a rotation still under contract with various teams (don't think that the Red Sox wouldn't love to go pilfering Cliff Lee from the Phillies), a few free agents could be great pickups for Boston once this season winds down if the Sox can't swing any more big trades to get the help they need.
We've pulled together names of a few starting pitchers who could be intriguing should they find a way into a Red Sox uniform after free agent signings end.
Click here for a photo gallery of top free agent pitchers the Red Sox could pursue>>
