For Red Sox, ‘should be or could be opportunity’ to trade for top starter

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    For Red Sox, ‘should be or could be opportunity’ to trade for top starter



    SAN ANTONIO — Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and the Red Sox plan to speak with all 29 other teams before the GM Meetings end early Thursday.

    From conversations so far, Breslow is unsure yet how much frontline starting pitching will be available via the trade market this offseason. He does, however, know that teams value his prospects and the young talent already on the major league roster.

    “The reason the answer is maybe a little bit conflicted is because I think on the one hand, teams really value controllable starting pitching; not a surprise,” Breslow said. “And on the other hand, I think teams are recognizing some of the talent of our system, of our prospects and of our young big league players. So there should be an opportunity or there could be an opportunity. But at the same time, young starting pitching is such a desirable commodity that teams that have it tend to hold onto it. I don’t know anyone who would say they have a surplus of it.”

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    The teams more willing to part with controllable starters are those that are rebuilding.

    The White Sox, who are in rebuild mode after going 41-121 in 2024, are expected to be one of those teams listening to offers. White Sox ace Garrett Crochet should be available for the right package of young talent.

    Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has said he does not plan to trade any of his starting pitchers. But Dipoto has an abundance of talented young starters (Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Luis Castillo, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo). So there’s always a chance he would look to trade one of them to upgrade his offense. The Mariners were 25th in the majors in slugging percentage (.376) last year.

    Young Marlins lefty Jesús Luzardo is another potential trade candidate.

    “Everybody is trying to anticipate how quickly the market will move and if there generally will be greater urgency or patience,” Breslow said. “We’ll find out.”

    The Red Sox extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer to starter Nick Pivetta earlier this week. If he accepts it (deadline is Nov. 19), Boston will have five returning starters in Pivetta, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito who exercised his $19 million player option after missing 2023 because of elbow surgery.

    Breslow said the Red Sox don’t necessarily need to know Pivetta’s decision before acting on other rotation additions.

    “Obviously that’s a consideration,” Breslow said. “But I don’t think it makes sense to approach an offseason where any individual decision kind of sets you on this path that doesn’t provide you any flexibilities. It’s a consideration. It’s a factor. But I don’t think our entire offseason hinges on it.”



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