The Boston Red Sox need pitching.
A lot of it.
They already watched how the St. Louis Cardinals signed Sonny Gray and the Philadelphia Phillies re-signed Aaron Nola.
Now, they are reportedly interested in Yoshinobu Yamamoto and other top-tier pitching targets.
Apparently, they are also negotiating in the middle tier of free-agent hurlers.
“Red Sox stepping up efforts on free agent RHP Seth Lugo. Four or five others, including Braves, interested,” MLB insider Jon Heyman tweeted.
Red Sox stepping up efforts on free agent RHP Seth Lugo. Four or five others, including Braves, interested.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 5, 2023
Lugo is a very talented pitcher, but not quite in the same tier as Nola, Gray, Yamamoto, or Blake Snell.
He would be in the very next group, though, with Eduardo Rodriguez, Shota Imanaga, and others.
Lugo somewhat flew under the radar last season because he played for the disappointing San Diego Padres, but he had his best season yet as a starter.
In 146.1 innings, he posted a 3.57 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP with 140 strikeouts.
He made 26 starts and finished with an 8-7 record.
Having pitched the bulk of his career as a reliever aside from a single full season as a starter in 2017, Lugo showed this past season that he can succeed in the role.
His performance will likely earn him a nice contract, and the Red Sox appear to be in pole position to secure his services.
It’s not believed that landing Lugo would affect their pursuit of other top starters, but only time will tell.
For now, they will have to secure Lugo himself, and that hasn’t happened.
The team is, indeed, showing its intention of competing in 2024.
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