Insider Believes Red Sox Could Deploy Surprising Strategy With Rotation

The Boston Red Sox focused on upgrading their pitching this offseason, but the team now faces plenty of questions.

Boston’s rotation is led by Garrett Crochet, while the Red Sox signed Ranger Suarez and traded for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo to further bolster the rotation. The Red Sox also have Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Payton Tolle, and Connelly Early as options for the rotation.

With Boston having a surplus of pitchers, who makes the rotation will be a key storyline to watch entering spring training. Insider Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic believes Boston could deploy a six-man rotation at points this season.

“The Red Sox may use a six-man rotation at points this season, but Crochet said he prefers to stay on a five-day schedule more often than not, and the Red Sox are likely to accommodate their ace,” McCaffrey wrote in a piece published on Tuesday.

“But injuries crop up, and players underperform, so the Opening Day rotation is hardly set in stone.”

A six-man rotation would be an interesting decision by manager Alex Cora.

But Boston has plenty of MLB-caliber starting pitchers, so it could be something the team decides to do.

However, as McCaffrey wrote, injuries do happen, so Boston will need more than five starters to get through this season anyway.