Should Red Sox Pursue Hurler Who Was Just DFA'd By Divisional Rival?
The Boston Red Sox bullpen and starting rotation have been hit with several injuries throughout the 2023 season and could use some external help.
Their pitching staff as a whole has a 4.39 ERA this year, lower than any team currently in postseason contention.
It's safe to say that the Red Sox could use some help bridging the gap to the return of multiple starters and relievers.
On Monday the Tampa Bay Rays designated right-handed reliever Yonny Chirinos for assignment. The 29-year-old has a 4.02 ERA this season in 62 2/3 innings across 15 appearances. He's particularly thrived on the road with a 2.95 ERA in nearly 40 innings pitched. His underlying metrics are poor but that has not impacted his actual production thus far this season.
Chirinos has mainly been a bulk pitcher for the Rays this year, frequently following an opener in the rotation. This is the exact type of pitcher that the Red Sox could use with the current state of their pitching staff.
The Rays now have one week to trade Chirinos or pass him through waivers. He has only $521K left on his salary this season if a team does want to pursue him. He also has one more year of arbitration left on his contract after this season.
Considering some of the arms the Red Sox have thrown out there recently, it wouldn't be wild to think they will give some serious consideration to Chirinos. The fact that he would be coming from the Rays organization, however much we overrate this element of it, would seem to be appealing to Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom given his history with that club.
Now would the Red Sox rather look to trade for more advanced pitching talent at the deadline? That remains to be seen.
Though the current pace of this Red Sox team (10-2 over their last twelve games) would lend you to believe that they are continuing to get closer and closer to being in full buying mode at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
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