Red Sox exploding trades involving relievers from their bullpen (source)
The Red Sox have yet to make a splash in free agency and add any starting pitching to improve their rotation. Despite all that, it’s been reported that Boston has been exploring the trade market to improve their overall pitching depth within the organization.
The Red Sox have been kicking the tires on possible trades involving members of their bullpen, including closer Kenley Jansen and reliever John Schreiber, per source.
The 36-year-old Jansen signed with the Red Sox as a free agent last offseason.
Boston signed the four-time All-Star closer to a two-year, $32 million deal. Jansen posted a 3.63 ERA with a 52 strikeouts, .237 batting average against and a 1.28 WHIP in 44 2/3 innings pitched across 51 games last season.
Industry source said the Red Sox have been looking for an “Alex Verdugo-type” trade package back for one of their relievers.
Boston acquired three pitchers from the Yankees, Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice for Verdugo at the beginning of December. Boston has also added Isaiah Campbell in a trade with the Mariners, Justin Slaten in a deal with the Mets and they’ve handed out MiLB deals to Jorge Benitez and Helcris Olivarez.
The only major league deal the Red Sox have handed out was a one-year, $1 million contract to righty Cooper Criswell.
If the Red Sox were to trade from their bullpen depth, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow could replace Jansen or Schreiber with free agent right-hander Robert Stephenson. MassLive’s Chris Cotillo connected the Red Sox to Stephenson on Thursday.
“A pursuit of Stephenson, who shined in the Rays bullpen this year, would make sense if the team were to trade a reliever like Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin or John Schreiber,” wrote Cotillo.
Stephenson was strong for the Rays out of their bullpen last season. The 30-year-old posted a 2.53 ERA in his first month with Tampa Bay. In 42 appearances for the Rays, he pitched to a 2.35 ERA, 2.45 FIP, and 1.1 FanGraphs WAR. He was one of the nastiest relievers in the American League.
Boston has also remained connected to free agent righty Lucas Giolito and Cuban hurler Yariel Rodríguez, who wants to be a starter in the bigs.
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The Red Sox are committed to saving and making money. Winning isn't necessarily THE priority right now given the moves they are making and have made so far into this off season. They know fans will show up. Good Luck with that. Expect another lost season of mediocrity.
Awesome job Red Sox Giolito, this is a horrible signing. John Henry has literally become one of the worst owners in baseball. If your only interest is to see how fat your bank account gets, then for the sake of the fans, sell the team! Move onto something new. Sox will be lucky if they win 70 games next year! Unless something changes and Henry starts caring about us fans!!!!!