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The Boston Red Sox reportedly have a strong interest in right-handed free agent Jake Odorizzi, according to MLB Network’s Mark Feinsand. Odorizzi’s 3.51 ERA last season would fit nicely in any rotation, but would it matter for the Bo’ Sox?
The Red Sox have serious interest in RHP Jake Odorizzi, per source. Boston chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom was part of the Rays front office when Tampa Bay acquired Odorizzi in December 2012, so there’s plenty of familiarity between the two.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 5, 2021
Boston had an overall 5.58 ERA last year, which won’t win many baseball games. If you can’t get outs, you’re pretty much wasting time.
What’s most enticing about the former Minnesota Twin is that he’s currently a free agent who wasn’t that good in 2019. Three things are working in favor of the Red Sox making this move:
- Odorizzi has an injury history that keeps his cost down.
- Odorizzi’s limited success means he won’t break the bank.
- Signing a free agent comes cost-free to the farm system.
John Henry, who owns the team, shouldn’t care about saving money, but he clearly does. He traded Mookie Betts to the Dodgers to prove it.
Now, the Red Sox have an opportunity to build a rotation in which former Cy Young winner Chris Sale consistently contributes. Will they win the division by making this addition? Not even close, but they shouldn’t let that stop them since the value is right.
They seem to be wanting to pay older guys short term smaller contracts to show they are sorta still trying to compete. I think they’ll start spending big again in 2022.