Red Sox Reportedly Offered $300 Million Deal To Premier Free Agent
The Boston Red Sox have faced criticism all offseason long for their lack of activity thus far.
Red Sox part-owner Tom Werner claimed the team would go "full throttle" this offseason, yet has only made one free-agent signing for a whopping $1 million dollars -- for right-handed depth reliever Cooper Criswell.
While most fans have grown restless, there finally is an indication that the Red Sox are actually starting to throw some money around.
"The (San Francisco) Giants and Red Sox both making a strong recent push for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both with offers more than $300 million dollars according to sources," The Athletic's Jim Bowden reported Saturday. "Certainly others too making strong runs."
Yamamoto posted a 16-6 record with a 1.21 ERA, 169-to-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 0.88 WHIP in 164 innings across 23 starts for Orix Buffaloes in 2023.
He's a 25-year-old ace who has interest from all of the biggest spenders in Major League Baseball. It will be a dogfight to acquire his services.
Even if Yamamoto heads elsewhere, it won't be for a lack of effort. All they can do is make a highly lucrative offer, which they've done, and hope their pitch was strong enough. Given the Red Sox's recent unwillingness to spend big, it's nice to see their sense of urgency.
There are a bunch of premier starting pitchers still available. If Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow continues this level of aggressiveness, Boston should have no issue rebuilding the rotation ahead of Opening Day.
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