The Boston Red Sox’s next big splash will likely involve starting pitchers.
After signing star free agents Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, the Red Sox are turning their focus to bolstering their starting rotation. Ben Cherington and Co. have emphasized that adding starting pitching this offseason is a priority, and although the general manager isn’t sure who will be filling out the rotation, he said Wednesday that two new faces could be joining the ballclub.
“I wouldn’t rule out adding two starters. We don’t know what the names are. We don’t know where they’ll come from. We don’t know the cost associated with it,” Cherington told MLB Network Radio, per WEEI.com. “We’re in a position to be active in the market for pitchers.
“Everyone’s got a budget, including us. There is some limit at some point to what you can do. We feel good we’re in a position, whether it’s talent or whether it’s the financial resources, to build a rotation that’s a good rotation and that, along with the rest of the team, can contend for the AL East next year.”
The Red Sox are very much in the hunt for Jon Lester, who remains undecided between the Chicago Cubs, the San Francisco Giants and a reunion with Boston, while they’ve also reportedly expressed interest in Oakland Athletics pitcher Jeff Samardzija.
Cherington also noted that more moves are likely coming, as teams have already started calling him to inquire about the team’s surplus of outfielders.
“The Hanley signing does increase the likelihood of us making a trade. It doesn’t guarantee it but it does increase the likelihood, and sure enough we’ve had a lot of calls on the outfielders since then,” Cherington told MLB Network Radio.
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