While the Red Sox are looking to cut salary, they still have a job to do regarding their bullpen.
Whether you think the team’s bullpen was good in 2019 or not, you can certainly agree that you can never have enough pitching. So for that, who should the Boston Red Sox look to sign this winter?
Will Harris
The Houston Astros relief pitcher will hit the market this offseason. While he doesn’t seem to be a qualified offer target, the Red Sox shouldn’t have a lot of obstacles with this target. The 35-year-old is coming off of a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Astros. During his six-year career, he posts a 2.84 ERA, a 23-18 record, with 20 saves in 396.1 innings pitched. He has shown his reliability and consistency throughout the season. While thanks to the depth of the relief market this winter, these players might not receive the high contracts or the long wait like the last couple years have trended.
Arodys Vizcaino
The 28-year-old is coming off a quick season in Atlanta. He underwent right shoulder surgery in mid-April to clean up his labrum. While his recovery status is unknown, the explosive pitcher could be a comeback player to light up the pen.
Cody Allen
While he was signed by the Angels, then released, then signed by the Twins, then DFA’d, he still has something left to prove. The all-time saves leader in Cleveland Indians history is still young. The 31-year-old is only a year removed from a 27 save season. If he is healthy, there’s room to negotiate.
Steve Cishek
The sidearm slinger has had an up and down career thus far. He was able to stick it out with the Cubs in 2019. A 2.95 ERA, 57 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched is only a small sample size of what this kid can do. While coming off a 2 year $13 million deal seems pretty affordable to good help. Cishek has been traded for time and time again, making his cost drop even though he pitched well last season.
While these are only just a few options to consider, there are a plethora of other free agents or trade targets that we haven’t even considered. So let Bloom and company settle in, watch the World Series, and let’s get to work.
