Red Sox Once Again Linked To Pair Of Veteran Pitchers To Bolster Rotation

The Boston Red Sox have a clear need for pitching, and help may be on the way.

The Boston Red Sox could choose from a pair of veteran starters in an attempt to bolster their thin rotation ahead of the Aug. 1 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline.

The latter would be returning for his fourth stint in Boston while the latter has some impressive pedigree which includes a Cy Young Award and six All-Star nominations.

“I think they definitely need a back-end starter,” MassLive's Sean McAdam said on the "Fenway Rundown" podcast. “It’s amazing to me that they’ve gotten as far as they have over the last couple of weeks when 40% of their games are openers and bullpen games. So a guy like (Pittsburgh Pirates') Rich Hill or (Kansas City Royals') Zack Greinke, a veteran guy that can you hope, give you five innings, give up three runs and give you a chance every five days. I think they have to do that, at the very least."

This season, Greinke has a 5.40 ERA, a 65-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .288 batting average against and a 1.30 WHIP in 96 2/3 innings pitched across 19 games. Personally, I don't believe the 39-year-old would be fit for the Red Sox. There are better pitchers who could offer more to the team, especially in the rental market. The veteran was originally linked to Boston by McAdam days ago.

Hill has a 4.84 ERA, a 94-to-42 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .268 batting average against and a 1.45 WHIP in 109 2/3 innings pitched across 20 games. The 43-year-old is in the same boat as Greinke in the rental market, where there are better options should the team invest in the 2023 roster. Hill has been linked to Boston since WEEI's Rob Bradford started bringing him up as a name to watch.

Although these veterans would bring arms to the rotation, strength in numbers wouldn't add too much value in this case. Both are nearing if not at the end of their respective careers, and would mostly just add experience and mentorship to the team as their production has been below replacement level this season.

If this is Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom's idea of buying, he mine as well just sell.

More MLB: Red Sox Reportedly Could Be Interested In Former Cy Young Winner To Boost Rotation

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