The Boston Red Sox came into the offseason with a clear goal to improve their starting rotation. They have done that by adding Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo.
Craig Breslow has not said the team is done looking at starting pitchers, and if the right player is available, he may pull the trigger. Hunter Greene’s name has been floated in trade rumors, and he is certainly a player the Red Sox would welcome for the right price. However, Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona shut down all rumors of the Reds trading their ace.
“That got legs for some reason,” Francona said on “Foul Territory” on Monday regarding Greene’s trade rumors. “We can’t get those guys in our market, so for us to trade him, somebody better give us their whole team. We love our starting pitching, so I don’t know where that got legs, and it shouldn’t have.”
Greene is one of the best young pitchers in baseball. He was an All-Star in 2024 and had a 2.76 ERA last season. He would undoubtedly be the Red Sox’s No. 2 starter, but if the Red Sox want to add another starting pitcher, it seems like it will not be Greene.
He has 301 strikeouts in the last two seasons and averages 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His four-seam fastball averages 99.5 mph, which ranks in the 99th percentile among big leaguers.
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Greene is under club control through 2028 after signing a six-year, $53 million extension in 2023. The Reds made the postseason this year, so they may be interested in adding more talent and not cutting ties with one of their best players.
The Red Sox rotation is already seemingly better than last season’s, even if they do not make any more additions. However, considering how aggressive the Toronto Blue Jays have been so far, the Red Sox may have to keep their foot on the gas to win the American League East.
Featured image via Jerome Miron/Imagn Images
