Red Sox Linked To Blockbuster Trade For $7.75 Million Padres Star Pitcher

The Boston Red Sox needed to address their starting rotation coming into this season, and they used the trade block and free agency to do so. Boston added Garrett Crochet in a huge trade and signed Walker Buehler away from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But Buehler has struggled, and injuries have piled up for the Red Sox, resulting in a few unproven rookies being given the ball early in the season. While the two rookies, Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins, haven’t been bad, the Red Sox likely don’t want these two in the postseason rotation. Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker recently suggested the Red Sox could go after San Diego Padres starter Michael King because he would be much cheaper to trade for compared to his teammate Dylan Cease. ”

Especially if Walker Buehler’s production is any indication, more pitching will be needed for Boston,” Zucker wrote. “The team already made its big move for the rotation by landing Garrett Crochet and then giving him a $170 million extension, so the odds they go for another proven No.

1 or 2 starter are probably low. “The Red Sox could be another candidate for Woodruff or even King because the cost, in terms of raw dollars and trade assets, for either is going to be less than with Cease.” King would be a huge upgrade to the rotation in Boston, and it likely wouldn’t break the bank for the Red Sox to go get him. Boston could likely package three solid prospects together to bring King to Fenway Park.

To make matters even better for Boston, the Red Sox would have the first chance to sign King to a new contract next offseason.

Former Red Sox reliever caps rollercoaster week with second Yankees DFA

It’s been a strange couple of weeks for former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Adam Ottavino. The 15-year MLB veteran had trouble finding work this offseason following a mediocre 2024 season as a member of the New York Mets, during which he produced a 4.34 ERA over 56 innings.

The Red Sox signed Ottavino as a non-roster invitee to spring training in February, and he looked like a solid low-risk/high-reward pickup by Craig Breslow. Ottavino’s reunion with the Red Sox would ultimately be short-lived, as the team granted the 39-year-old his release after being informed he would not make the Opening Day roster. He produced a dismal 10.80 ERA and allowed six earned runs in 5.0 innings of spring training work.

But established and durable arms like Ottavino’s are a valuable commodity to have in any MLB bullpen, so it didn’t take long for one hated rival to seek it’s own reunion with the unemployed reliever to help fill a temporary need in their bullpen. The New York Yankees developed a roster need when closer Devin Williams was placed on the paternity list on April 1st and quickly signed Ottavino to take his place on a temporary basis.

Former Red Sox reliever Adam Ottavino has been signed and DFA’d by the Yankees twice in April

Ottavino spun 1 1/3 scoreless innings and notched two strikeouts in two appearances with the Bronx Bombers, but they designated him for assignment earlier this week following Williams’ return to the active roster. But Ottavino wasn’t out of work long following reports on April 7 that the Yankees had re-signed him to a Major League contract. He pitched another third of an inning in pinstripes against the Tigers later that night, but it has been reported that the Yankees have DFA’d Ottavino for the second time this week.

Ottavino’s rollercoaster week is starting to become comical at this point. It remains to be seen how much he has left in the tank. His last elite season was in 2022 when he experienced a career resurgence that saw him produce a 2.06 ERA and a 0.975 WHIP as a member of the New York Mets.