The Boston Red Sox could be in the market for a starting pitcher near the July 31 trade deadline. Outside of Garrett Crochet, the starting rotation has been a letdown.
Crochet has pitched great so far for the Red Sox. He has a 2.04 ERA in 12 starts. However, the Red Sox have not done a good job winning his starts. Their other starters have also failed to provide length or keep them in games. CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson tabbed Ryan Weathers of the Miami Marlins as a fit for the Red Sox.
“Weathers has the potential to be one of the deadline’s biggest wild cards,” wrote Anderson. “He’s only pitched a few times so far this season, but he’s captured attention with his improved stuff and velocity. Weathers won’t even qualify for arbitration until after this winter, giving the Marlins the option to hold and let him gain value. I’m including him anyway because teams in need of another above-average starter might be willing to make a speculative play for his services.”
Weathers has a 1.15 ERA this season through three starts. He made his debut late this year, but has dominated since returning. He has 15 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings of work. He is still just 25 and is under club control through 2028. There is no telling how many starters will be available near the deadline, so the Marlins may actually be able to get a haul for him now instead of waiting for him to potentially raise his value.
Last season, he had a 3.63 ERA for the Marlins in 16 starts. He came over from the San Diego Padres in a deal that sent Garrett Cooper and Sean Reynolds to the Padres.
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The Marlins made him a full-time starter, and he has thrived. On the Red Sox, he could slot in behind Crochet and give the Red Sox another reliable starter. If the Red Sox want to play their way back into the postseason picture, their starting rotation will need an upgrade. The Marlins are poised to be sellers, but with Weathers’ club control, it may be difficult for teams to pry him away.
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