"A Work In Progress": Boston Red Sox bullpen far from complete
A few Red Sox mainstays from previous years have struggled... How can they turn it around as a unit?
Wednesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves was yet another swift reminder about the current state of the Red Sox bullpen. It’s no secret that the unit as a whole has struggled this year, but Wednesday night made the problem look even worse.
John Schreiber, who we recently wrote about here, has already been thrusted into high leverage situations and has yet to give up a run. Josh Taylor still has yet to return to the Red Sox from an injury. Matt Barnes can’t be trusted in any situation right now. This list could go on and on…..
Where do the Red Sox go from here?
It has to start with the Tanner Houck/Garrett Whitlock usage. Whitlock is effective in any spot you put him in. Alex Cora wants to use Houck in the same spots as he did Whitlock in 2021. Those two seem to still be pretty interchangeable as Cora states above.
Now enter in the bad. Matt Barnes, Sawamura, Robles, Brasier, Valdez, the names could go on and on. It’s been rather rocky each and every night no matter who has been on the mound late in the game. What is there to do to fix it?
Enter in names like John Schreiber, Josh Winckowski, and Connor Seabold. Winckowski and Seabold are two intriguing prospects for the Red Sox. Both are having pretty good years in AAA and the Red Sox could use some new blood to give them some life in the late innings a lot like Schreiber has. We saw Schreiber get the ball and get his first career save against the Braves.
Adding a Winckowski and Seabold are pretty easy moves to make, with both players already being on the 40 man roster. It might hurt to DFA a guy like Matt Barnes given how much money he is owed, but there are plenty of other guys in the bullpen with options remaining like Sawamura and Tyler Danish.
One thing is for certain with the current state of the Red Sox. They are in last place and losing ground day after day. Something has to change, and they need to change it sooner than later. Entering a quick jolt of youth to the bullpen can be the spark they need.
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Photo via Michael Dwyer - AP Photo