Prior to Opening Day against Seattle on March 28, the Boston Red Sox’s starting rotation is under serious doubt with the injury to top free agent signing Lucas Giolito.
The rotation appears to be worse than it was during the previous season, which resulted in a 78-84 record and a last-place AL East finish, because of the injuries and a dismal winter.
The squad currently has two more players to fill the remaining positions in the rotation, which are currently occupied by Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, and Kutter Crawford. While Cooper Criswell, Tanner Houck, and Garrett Whitlock have been vying for a position during spring training, Boston still has time to make another move.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, experienced starter Mike Clevinger, a free agent, is looking to sign a one-year contract before Opening Day and may be a fit for Boston’s rotation.
Clevinger made 24 starts with the Chicago White Sox in 2023 and finished 9-9 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. In addition, he pitched 131.1 innings, which is his second-highest career total. He has a lifetime 3.45 ERA and 1.19 WHIP after eight seasons.
A young core in the rotation might benefit from the addition of another veteran in addition to Pivetta. Bello, Whitlock, Houck, Crawford, and Criswell are among those with four years or less of major league experience.
As reported by Rob Bradford of WEEI, Clevinger has Boston as one of his “preferred landing spots.”
It makes perfect sense for the Red Sox to sign Clevinger. He is a low-cost alternative that might help the back end of the rotation and would probably fit inside the budgetary constraints that Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow has been given by leadership.
Opening Day is quickly approaching, and while Clevinger isn’t as good as fellow free agent Jordan Montgomery or 2023 NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, he would still be the best choice for both parties.
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