The Red Sox Should Take a Flier on Brandon Woodruff

The Boston Red Sox are set to begin Spring Training and question marks still surround their starting rotation. While they did add Lucas Giolito this offseason, this free-agent signing alone doesn’t solve all their pitching woes. However, with the Red Sox attempting to imitate the Rays, there are ways Boston can improve their rotation without spending a lot of money. One player the team should consider is former Brewers ace, Brandon Woodruff.

A Questionable Starting Rotation

Heading into Spring Training, the Red Sox have made minimal improvements to their starting rotation. Chris Sale was traded to the Braves and the only free agent the team signed was Lucas Giolito. After being traded away by the Chicago White Sox last season, Giolito struggled badly the rest of the year. The one-time all-star would be dealt initially to the Angels where he went 1-5 with an ERA of 6.89 in six starts. Giolito would later be placed on waivers and claimed by the Guardians where he somehow got worse. With Cleveland, he would go 1-4 with an ERA of 7.04 in six starts. In 2023, Giolito would be the first pitcher since 1899 to give up eight runs for three different teams in the same season. Overall, Giolito would finish the 2023 season with a record of 8-15 and an ERA of 4.88.

After Giolito, the rest of the starting rotation isn’t much better. It’ll most likely consist of Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, and Brayan Bello. The final starting spot will probably be a mix of Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck, and Josh Winckowski. Pivetta, Crawford, Whitlock, Houck, and Bello were either hurt or inconsistent. At one point, Pivetta was even banished to the bullpen. Winckowki was used mostly as a reliever last season and only made one start as an opener. It appears that starting pitching is still a position of need for the Boston Red Sox.

An Injury Plagued Yet Productive Year

Despite missing most of the season with a shoulder injury; Woodruff was able to return late in the season and go 4-1 in August and September with an ERA of 2.61. Before hurting his shoulder, Woodruff made two starts putting up an impressive ERA of 0.79. However, late in the season, Woodruff would undergo shoulder surgery. This not only forced him to miss the postseason but possibly all the following season as well. Woodruff would be non-tendered by Milwaukee after the season ending his tenure with the team.

It’s Very Rare to Be Able to Get a Bargain for an Ace

Since Woodruff was non-tendered, this gives the Red Sox all the leverage in negotiations. Rarely, a pitcher with a career ERA of 3.10 is still on the market and can be signed for a bargain. Since the start of the COVID-shortened season, his 2.76 ERA is the fourth-best out of all pitchers who have thrown at least 300 innings; only Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, and Max Fried boasted better numbers during that span. The Red Sox would be getting a steal if they signed Woodruff. This season was supposed to be a contract year for him, had he been healthy, the now 31-year-old would’ve been able to command a long-term nine-figure contract. However, due to his injury, Woodruff will now be forced to take a smaller deal to re-establish his value.

The Red Sox Can Offer a Low-Risk Contract

The one obvious concern with signing Woodruff is the state of his health. The two-time All-Star is slated to miss most of the 2024 season if not all of it. Shoulder injuries to starting pitchers in their 30s are always scary. There is a great level of uncertainty that Brandon Woodruff can still be effective. However, general manager Craig Breslow and the Red Sox front office can easily offer a contract with injury concerns included. One contract the Sox can offer Woodruff is a three-year deal with a reasonable average annual value. To protect themselves against injuries, the deal can have options in it. It is a low-risk, high-reward deal.

The Red Sox Shouldn’t Pass on This Opportunity

Since the Red Sox are rebuilding, they can afford to wait until Brandon Woodruff is fully healthy. This team desperately needs a true top-of-the-rotation pitcher. If things go right and Woodruff returns to form in 2025, Boston will have gotten a free agent steal. He’d be able to be the ace this team desperately needs. If things don’t work out, it would be very easy for Boston to let him go. The Red Sox ultimately have nothing to lose by signing Brandon Woodruff and he could ultimately help solve their pitching problems.

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