Red Sox Rumors: Boston Interested In 2024 World Series Star

The Red Sox need to improve their starting pitching, and a handful of names have been mentioned ad nauseam as potential additions for Boston.

Craig Breslow and company reportedly have been in contact with both Max Fried and Corbin Burnes, the two best starters still available in free agency. There’s also been plenty of talk about the Red Sox potentially making a blockbuster trade with the Chicago White Sox for Garrett Crochet.

But in a column published Monday night, The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham noted another Boston pitching target who hasn’t generated a ton of buzz this offseason. According to Abraham, the Red Sox are interested in right-hander Walker Buehler.

Buehler looked like he was on track to becoming one of the better pitchers in baseball when he racked up two All-Star selections in 2019 and 2021 and received National League Cy Young votes in both seasons. But he dealt with a significant setback in 2023 when he missed the entire campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The 30-year-old struggled in his first year back — he logged a 5.38 ERA over 16 regular-season starts — but he stepped up when the Dodgers needed him most. Buehler didn’t allow a single run in the 2024 NL Championship Series and World Series and only gave up five hits over 10 combined innings. Los Angeles also turned to Buehler for the final inning of the Fall Classic’s deciding game in the Bronx.

The Red Sox probably should prioritize the likes of Fried, Burnes and Crochet as they try to stabilize their pitching staff. But Buehler would be a cheaper option who could end up exceeding expectations.