While they have made a couple of moves this offseason, the Boston Red Sox are still trying to go for more. Now that they’ve acquired a starting pitcher, they can focus on getting help for the bullpen. Here are two superstar options the Sox could get to make their bullpen a force to be reckoned with.
Tanner Scott, San Diego Padres LHP
Scott has been a Sox target since the trade deadline this past season. Posting a 1.75 ERA with 84 strikeouts and 22 saves in 22 opportunities this past season, he is one of the most dominant closers in all of baseball.
He’s also a lefty, which the Sox only have one of in their bullpen. His stats against lefties are also almost perfect. Against his fastball, lefty hitters have a .065 batting average with a 41% whiff rate. His fastball for righties is also good, with a BAA of .155.
He would be the perfect closer to beef up the bullpen, and put away lefty superstar hitters in the late innings.
Jeff Hoffman, Philadelphia Phillies RHP
Hoffman is almost as good a pitcher as Scott. With the Phillies, Hoffman has posted a 2.28 ERA, 158 strikeouts, a 12.0 k/9, and has a .180 BAA. He could be a premiere late-game reliever for the Sox, potentially taking Chris Martin’s spot in the eighth inning.
Hoffman is also a former starting pitcher turned closer/late-game reliever. This means he can be used over multiple innings if needed, like Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock. This could give rest days to relievers or starters who need it.
While he isn’t a lefty, Hoffman could bring elite pitching to a struggling bullpen. If the Sox want to win, they would sign at least one of these guys, or better yet both.
Hoffman? Scott? Both FA relievers would great in Sox uniform in 2025. Let’s run through the pros and cons of each!
RHP Jeff Hoffman
6’5 | 235 lbs | 31 y/o | R/R
Hoffman’d posted a 2.28 ERA/2.54 FIP, 0.94 WHIP, .180 BAA, and 12.0 K/9 over 118.2 IP with the Phillies.
You don’t… pic.twitter.com/2To7k49y2y
— G.G. (@ggeiss_mlb) December 14, 2024
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