Red Sox offseason trade targets part I

Focusing on the greatest needs

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The 2022 Boston Red Sox have been dissapointing to say the least, but all we can do now is look towards the future and hope the front office addresses all the needs that have been bubbling the past few years.

Pitching:

You cant have a good team without good pitching. The rotation this year included Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Wacha, Rich Hill, Nick Pivetta, and breakout prospect Brayan Bello. Others who contributed include Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck. You are also missing two starters in Chris Sale and James Paxton the entire season.

The best of this rotation was Wacha, who had a 3.32 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP, 104 strikeouts in 127.1 innings. He signed a one year deal and I think should definitely be resigned as that number 2-3 guy in the rotation.

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Michael Wacha was efficient and excellent in his first start off the IL last night. The Red Sox-Yankees game was only two hours and 15 mins. Wacha pitched like he had plans after the game.

Eovaldi on the other hand, dealt with more injuries than you want one of your best starters to have. He also had an underwhelming season with a 4.05 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 99 strikouts in 104.1 innings. He is also heading for free agency at the end of the season and in my opinion should not be extended a qualifying offer. As much as I love and respect him, I think it’s time for the Red Sox to move on from him this offseason and find a new number 2 guy.

Now, there are a few option out there for trade targets. One that I have identified is Sandy Alcantara. He had a 2.28 ERA this season with a 0.98 WHIP, 8.1 SO/9, 207 strikeouts in 228.2 innings. He’s only 27, and signed a contract with an AAV of $11.2 million. The Red Sox now have the prospects to make more big trades like they do in the past thanks to Chaim, now lets get serious and them.

Another I have identified is Zac Gallen. He put on a great season this year posting a 2.46 ERA, 0.894 WHIP, 9.4 SO/9, 189 strikouts in 179 innings. He is also 27 years old with team control through his first year of arbitration next year. Rotation could potentially look like:

Chris Sale - Michael Wacha - Sandy Alcantara - Brayan Bello - Nick Pivetta

Chris Sale - Michael Wacha - Zac Gallen - Brayan Bello - Nick Pivetta

I think I am going to hold off on relievers for another piece, as that’s a whole other story.

Outfield:

Currently the Red Sox have a set left and center fielder in Alex Verdugo and Kike Hernandez, and they’ve had to move people around for right field. I don’t have confidence in another Jarren Duran experiment, and Rob Refsnyder is a certified bench guy who I want back next year. There is one guy specifically who I want in right field for the Boston Red Sox next year, and that’s Mike Yastrzemski.

Although he is having a down season this year in San Francisco, I believe he could really turn it around in Boston. Yes, he is 32, but when he gets to a hitters ballpark like Fenway, I expect a lot of home runs and RBI’s. He had a .303 on-base percentage with 55 RBI’s and 17 home runs. Over 3 full seasons with the Giants, he has 63 home runs, so expect about 20 or more from him a year in Boston.

Not to mention the incredible story it would be for the grandson of Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski playing where he did all those years ago.

This is my first piece for Beyond The Monster and am super excited to start this new journey in sports writing.

Follow Chris on Twitter @JaxonLahner

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