MLB Insider Advises Red Sox on Ideal Free-Agent Signing
There isn’t much disagreement over where the Red Sox should focus their improvement efforts following their disappointing 2023 campaign.
If Boston hopes to be a postseason contender again in 2024, it will need to increase the depth of its starting pitching staff. As December approaches, the market for starters is gradually diminishing since Sonny Gray, Aaron Nola, and Kenta Maeda are no longer available.
Luckily for Craig Breslow and company, there are still a few good choices available. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is one of them; according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Red Sox would make a “perfect” free agent signing.
Before Yamamoto, 25, was posted last Monday, Boston was considered as a possible landing spot. As of two weeks ago, the New York Mets had the best chance of signing Yamamoto, with the Red Sox coming in second. Boston is expected to be a contender for the Japanese sensation, as reports suggest that the team gave him preference over players like Nola and even 2023 National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell.
However, throwing all of your eggs into Yamamoto’s basket carries some risk. According to Passan, the right-hander won’t likely sign a contract with an MLB team until following the Winter Meetings the following week, at which point all of the top free-agent starter options should be off the market. Naturally, if the Red Sox are optimistic about their prospects of luring Yamamoto to Fenway Park, then the move might be well worth the wait.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, both the Yankees and the Mets are reportedly making serious moves for Yamamoto, so it appears Boston will have to contend with other wealthy teams in order to complete that acquisition.
