Trading Tanner Houck would be huge mistake for Red Sox
We have officially reached the point of the offseason where some Red Sox fans are in full on panic mode. That panic just hit an all time high this week when the Red Sox announced Trevor Story had to have surgery. The Story injury has only intensified some in Red Sox nation to make a move. The name being thrown out the most on the Red Sox side is Tanner Houck. While Houck does have a ton of value to net a big asset, he is also a a guy who would be a massive mistake to part with.
Tanner Houck was selected in the first round by the Red Sox during the 2017 MLB Draft. It has been very startling at the recent track record of the team not being able to produce any homegrown starters, and Houck represents a crucial turning point to that problem. Building a young core of pitching with Houck, Bello, Mata, and many others coming up thru the system is a big step in the right direction.
The biggest talking point on the former first rounder is all the different roles he has been in thus far in his career. I recently dove into the unfamiliar situation Houck has found himself in, and hope he enters this season in a more solidified role. He has been used as a starter, a multi inning reliever, a set up man, and as a closer. The guy really has done it all for the Red Sox and will be an impact arm next season. In a best case scenario, the Red Sox need to give Houck a chance to earn a spot in the rotation.
Tanner Houck was a three year starter at the University of Missouri, and looked like he belonged against great competition in the SEC. He was also very solid thru his minor league climb in the Red Sox system. His career ERA in the MLB is 3.02, and he carries a career WHIP of 1.12. Along the solid pitching lines, he carries a career WAR slightly under 2. He rarely gives up home runs at all, as he has only given up 8 in his entire career. The guy can absolutely pitch when called upon. Lets not forget about the actual stuff that he slings.
It just doesn’t sound right to trade controllable years of Houck for a shortstop in San Diego who is only going to be a stop gap for two years until Marcello Mayer is ready. It was already reported among some Red Sox brass that the front office was not willing to commit to more years with Xander Bogaerts because of Mayer looming in a couple years. With a ton of question marks in the rotation as is, it really wouldn’t hurt to keep Houck and start him if Chris Sale and James Paxton can’t string together a full season. The question also remains to be seen is if this team is worth investing into. These same questions were asked at the trade deadline last season, and it proved to be true as the Red Sox had a brutal second half and fell apart. It might not be worth trading the future for any immediate impact on the 2023 team.
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Great article and linking to videos to show the pitches. Wow, I agree do not trade.