The Boston Red Sox are unlikely to make any changes to their staring rotation prior to spring training, according to Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.
Red Sox ‘unlikely’ to add, trade starters before spring
Boston has been the subject of rumors on the trade and free agent markets, but they appear to be comfortable with their rotation heading into spring training.
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
The club has several capable starters on their roster. Last season, the Sox relied on Jon Lester, John Lackey, Ryan Dempster, and Felix Doubront to provide them with 20+ starts. Clay Buchholz was excellent for the team as well, but he struggled with injuries, finishing with just over 100 innings on the season. They used 11 different starters over the course of the year, posting a 3.84 ERA as a group -- good enough for fourth in the American League.
The team's ability to lean on a deep cache of starters on their way to winning the World Series might be the option they prefer to maintain going into 2014.
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Since Boston appears to be comfortable with their rotation, the trade rumors surrounding Ryan Dempster and John Lackey are likely to subside. Dempster could see time out of the bullpen next season, and would likely remain available if one of the Sox’ regular starters hits the disabled list. General manager Ben Cherington is unlikely to have seriously considered trading Lackey, who has a team option at the league minimum for 2015. Lackey’s contract stipulates that since he missed significant time recovering from surgery due to a pre-existing elbow injury between 2010 and 2014, a league-minimum club option would be available to the Red Sox for 2015.
If Boston is unable to extend lefty Jon Lester past this season -- negotiations they aren't starting until the spring --having Lackey around will ease the loss considerably, especially on such a team-friendly option. Even if they extend Lester, the Sox are likely to see to Jake Peavy and Ryan Dempster leave via free agency after the season, so there would still be a spot for Lackey and one more pitcher.
With those players likely entering their last year with the club, Boston could turn to young arms like Brandon Workman and Allen Webster in the near future. However, the veterans on the roster for 2014 will allow the team to stash Workman, Webster, and others in Pawtucket for further development.
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