Boston’s bullpen still needs improvement
The Red Sox still need relief pitching help, and MLB’s bullpen market lost arguably its best player Sunday.
Tanner Scott, who was rumored to be of interest to Boston, reportedly will join the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on a four-year contract. Scott, a 2024 All-Star, potentially could have stabilized the Red Sox’s bullpen—perhaps even as a lights-out closer.
So, where can Craig Breslow and company go from here? Not long after the Scott news broke, MassLive’s Chris Cotillo made a prediction about how Boston will improve its reliever corps.
“I’m gonna make a prediction that the Sox land either Carlo Estévez, (Kirby) Yates, (David) Robertson, (Tommy) Kahnle or (Kyle) Finnegan,” Cotillo posted to X.
It’s unclear how those pitchers rank among Red Sox executives in terms of interest. But Cotillo suggested giving a short-term deal with a high average annual value to Estevez, Yates, Roberton, or Kahnle “would make a lot of sense in an effort to add a veteran righty to a pretty strong group.”
Boston also could explore the trade market in an attempt to bolster its relief pitching. And if the Red Sox are already talking to the Cardinals about Nolan Arenado, they might want to ask about another stud in St. Louis.
