Who Will Be Red Sox’s Next Ace? Top 10 Options To Fill Role (Photos)

You know it’s Hot Stove season when the Internet starts buzzing about potential trades and free-agent developments rooted in very little outside of pure speculation. And you know what? That’s OK.

The Major League Baseball offseason generally is full of twists and turns, making it difficult to pinpoint where certain players are going to land before Opening Day. The 2015-16 offseason figures to be no different in that regard — it actually could be more action-packed than usual — and the Boston Red Sox’s pursuit of starting pitching is smack dab in the middle of the madness.

Boston’s quest to land an ace not only has huge implications for the Red Sox, who have finished in last place the last two seasons, in large because of their pitching woes. It also could impact the entire MLB offseason, as there’s no telling how the Sox will go about filling the gaping hole atop their rotation.

The Red Sox have the flexibility to pursue an ace either in free agency or via trade, and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said at the General Managers Meetings they haven’t ruled out anything. So let’s go over some potential starters who could become Boston’s next No. 1.

Click for 10 potential Red Sox ace targets >>

Photo via Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY Sports Images