It was hard to find anything written about the 2015 Red Sox that didn’t include the word “ace.” But now that Boston has one, will that make its rotation good enough?
It’s a never-ending cycle, but it’s also a valid question. The Red Sox didn’t do much beyond adding 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner (and last year’s runner-up) David Price, and last season’s rotation was in the bottom 10 in Major League Baseball for combined ERA.
So, how will 2016’s arms shape up? Here’s our outlook for the upcoming season.
What to like: David Price.
This one is a no-brainer. The Red Sox didn’t just land an ace this offseason, they landed the biggest prize of free agency, as far as pitching goes. Price’s velocity actually went up in 2015, suggesting the left-hander isn’t on the verge of a decline, and he’s spent most of his eight-year career in the AL East, so he knows what he’s up against.
In short, Price was the perfect pick-up for the Red Sox.
What not to like: The questions surrounding the rest of the rotation.
Clay Buchholz could be the perfect No. 2, but he has to stay healthy. Rick Porcello can mow guys down when he sticks to his sinker, but batters often take his fastball deep. Joe Kelly, well, who knows what Kelly is going to do? Eduardo Rodriguez has the potential to be great, but he’s starting the season on the disabled list, and the Red Sox will have to rely on a knuckleballer in Steven Wright for now. That’s not to say that everything can’t work out perfectly. The talent is there. But if it doesn’t, the alternative is pretty scary.
2016 expectations: Barring a terrible season or injury for Price, the Red Sox definitely could be playoff contenders.
The AL East isn’t as strong as seasons past, and honestly, it could easily take fewer than 90 wins to come out on top. Fangraphs pegged Boston’s rotation as the 10th best in baseball (fourth in the AL) ahead of the season, and that seems about right. It’s not perfect, but Price helps them land among the best. Not to mention, Price’s mere presence takes a lot of pressure off the rest of the rotation, which could go a very long way to helping the Red Sox win.
Minor league prospects to watch: Anderson Espinoza and Michael Kopech.
Espinoza and Kopech ranked Nos. 73 and 98, respectively, on Baseball Prospectus’ top 101 prospects list, and they’re definitely worth keeping an eye on.
The 18-year-old Espinoza shot up to Single-A Greenville after debuting in the Dominican Summer League last season and has a fastball that can hit triple digits with mechanics scouts say will help him as a starter. Kopech, 19, still has some developing to do on the field and in his personal life, but he has major potential. He’s already served a 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs and currently is nursing a broken hand he sustained in a fight with his spring training roommate, but if he can reel that in, he projects as a solid No. 2 starter.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
