Red Sox Could Pursue Trades For Three Aces That Reportedly Will Be Available
The Boston Red Sox are about to enter an offseason where their biggest need will be available in spades.
One of the many factors that led to a last-place finish in the American League East was Boston's lack of pitching depth, but the club has a chance to turn things around this offseason with a few notable splashes. While free agency typically is the first domino to fall, the trade market for frontline starters appears to be promising.
"The top pitchers expected to be available on this trade market this season, according to GMs, are Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers, Tyler Glasnow of the Tampa Bay Rays and Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians," USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday.
One of the only downsides to the aces mentioned above would be their contractual agreements, as they are all only under team control through 2024.
The positive spin, however, is Boston would only be committing to a one-year rental. The prospect capital to acquire their services would be much more reasonable than a player of that caliber with multiple years of team control. It also would be easier to sever ties should any of those players turn out to be poor fits for the Red Sox.
With that in mind, if we do make a trade for either Burnes, Glasnow or Bieber, an offer for an extension would undoubtedly be on the table. Ideally, the Red Sox would do what they can to keep them around long-term.
Although there is uncertainty about how aggressive the Red Sox will be this offseason, newly acquired chief baseball officer Craig Breslow gives a sense of optimism that the team could pursue some big names this winter.
A notable trade paired with a couple of free-agent starting pitcher acquisitions could get this team right back on track.
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