The Boston Red Sox’s starting rotation rebuild officially is underway.
The Red Sox have agreed in principle to a trade that will send Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and a minor leaguer to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for left-hander Wade Miley, sources told FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman has since confirmed the trade.
Miley, a first-round pick in 2008, is coming off a season in which he went 8-12 with a 4.34 ERA in 33 starts spanning 201 1/3 innings. The lefty struck out a career-high 183 hitters and walked 75.
Miley, who has tossed at least 194 innings each of the last three seasons, owns a 38-35 record, a 3.79 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in 106 career games (102 starts). The 28-year-old was named an All-Star in 2012, and his career numbers might be even better if not for pitching in an environment notoriously tough on pitchers.
De La Rosa, who turns 26 in March, went 4-8 with a 4.43 ERA in 19 major league appearances (18 starts) this season. The right-hander showed excellent promise but also was inconsistent. There’s some question as to whether his long-term future resides in the rotation or the bullpen.
Webster, who turns 25 in February, went 5-3 with a 5.03 ERA in 11 major league starts in 2014. He went 4-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 21 appearances (20 starts) with Triple-A Pawtucket. Webster has impressive stuff, but the right-hander needs to develop more in terms of mound presence to reach his full potential.
Miley is arbitration eligible this offseason. He’s under team control through 2017.
Thumbnail photo via Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports Images
