The MLB offseason is officially upon us, and the Boston Red Sox are expected to be one of the most aggressive teams across the league over the next few months. On Monday, though, the team received some interesting news that doesn’t involve rumors swirling around the potential moves they could end up making in the near future.
That news would involve the release of the official 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, which features 12 new candidates. Among that group is former Red Sox ace Rick Porcello, who spent five seasons of his career with the team.
Porcello arrived in Boston in 2015 and quickly became a key piece of its pitching staff. His career highlight came in 2016, when he posted a 22-4 record with a 3.15 ERA and 189 strikeouts, which earned him the American League Cy Young Award.
Porcello didn’t manage to reach those heights again during his time with the Sox, but he did play a key role on the 2018 World Series squad. In 15.1 innings, some as a starter and some out of the bullpen, Porcello posted a 3.52 ERA and 11 strikeouts.
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Now, he’s eligible for the Hall of Fame, although it remains to be seen how strong his chances are of being inducted. A Cy Young Award and World Series victory help his resume stand out, but Porcello was known more for his consistency rather than his top-end star power.
Still, the fact that he’s even on the ballot goes to show just how respected Porcello’s career in the majors was. Now, it will be worth keeping tabs on his candidacy to see if he garners enough votes to remain on the ballot for more than one year.
Featured image via Patrick Breen/Imagn Images
