There have been a lot of active stories revolving around Red Sox spring training this year. As of writing this, the Red Sox have a 6-3 record. That is the second-best win-loss record in spring training behind the 8-1 Baltimore Orioles. This shows that the Red Sox are a promising team that could make some noise during the regular season, but this is just a small sample size to be fair.
On Thursday Feb 29 Garret Whitlock pitched three innings while only giving up one run. This is a good sign, as the Red Sox are really relying on their young pitching to carry them during the regular season. Boston traded away aging veteran Chris Sale and replaced him with Lucas Giolito. Other than Giolito, the Red Sox rotation is going to be filled with young pitchers. This can work out well for the Red Sox, or it can crash and burn.
The pessimistic way to look at this situation is that veterans who have big league experience are preferred because they would not be learning on the job. Optimistically, one could say that each of these younger pitchers can break out and become a valuable major league asset. The Red Sox have been interested in fortifying their pitching since my last article. Boston added all-star closer Liam Hendriks to their team.
Hendriks, who is one of the best closers in the sport, to a two year ten-million-dollar contract. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, this is more of a 2025 move as Hendriks will be out for all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. I think Hendriks is a great reliever that will fortify Boston’s bullpen. He is the big named closer on which they can build the rest of their bullpen around. The only negative is that this move does nothing for the 2024 Red Sox. Multiple baseball insiders have also claimed that Boston is talking to starting pitcher, Jordan Montgomery.
In my opinion, Montgomery is the best available starting pitcher who is still unsigned. He is known for pitching a lot of innings and had a spectacular postseason run with the World Series winning Texas Rangers. If the Red Sox do complete this move, I think it would be the best signing they’ve made this offseason by far. Although Montgomery is not an ace, he would pitch innings and provide veteran insight for the other pitchers.
The only problem with Montgomery will be the competition for his services. Montgomery’s agent is Scott Boras, who is notoriously known for getting players the best contracts. I would not have my heart set on Boston signing Montgomery, but their name being mentioned is a good sign. On Sunday February 25th the Red Sox biggest star, Rafael Devers clobbered a homer. Devers will have to step it up, as newly acquired Vaugh Grissom will not make opening day due to a groin strain. Grissom, who was the return for Chris Sale in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, was the best acquisition that Boston made this offseason in my opinion.
Boston fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see his debut. On the bright side, if all goes well, he should return to the field in the first few months of the season. Overall, The Red Sox have improved since last season. There is a chance that they add another big name like Jordan Montgomery, but I would hold out hope for it.
On the bright side, the Red Sox are off to a hot start which could translate over to the regular. Hopefully the optimism of a new year at spring training can propel the Red Sox to a long win streak when the season starts.