Brayan Bello Should Be The Red Sox Ace This Season

Presumptive Boston Red Sox ace Lucas Giolito was recently diagnosed with an elbow injury. The injury will possibly end his 2024 season before it even begins. This now puts the Red Sox in a bind at a position that was questionable at best even with Giolito. Given the current state of the team, Boston has nothing to lose this season. I believe they should try and see if homegrown starter Brayan Bello can handle being the rotation ace.

A Questionable Starting Rotation At Best Anyway

Even with adding free agent Lucas Giolito, the Red Sox rotation was already littered with question marks. Boston’s pitching staff was statistically ranked toward the bottom of the league. All six of the Sox’s returning starting pitchers had issues last season. At one point last season, Boston’s rotation was so unreliable that they had to use an opener for most of July into early August. Despite a clear need for starting pitching and Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery still being free agents; owner John Henry has been reluctant to spend lots of money in free agency.

Brayan Bello Is The Only Pitcher Capable Of Being The Ace

Without Giolito, Boston is now left with Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, and Josh Winckowski. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow even identified another free agent signing Cooper Criswell as a potential rotation option. However, Pivetta, Whitlock, Houck, Crawford, Winckowski, and Criswell aren’t capable of being Boston’s ace. The only pitcher who is capable is Bello. In his first full season, Brayan Bello became Boston’s de facto ace. While he’s struggled at times to take the “next step” in his development, the potential for him to be a top-line starter is there.

More Money=More Responsibility

This spring, despite the presence of Giolito, Bello was working to become the Red Sox Opening Day starter. Now that Giolito will be out for at least most of the season, the 24-year-old just now might have that opportunity. Recently, the Boston Red Sox signed Brayan Bello to a six-year $55 million extension. The deal also includes a $21 million team option for a seventh season. This was a bit of good news since the Red Sox have had a mostly rough offseason and spring training.

However, with more money comes more responsibility. Whenever a young starting pitcher signs a long-term extension, he is expected to become the ace of the rotation. The expectations shouldn’t be any different for Bello despite his inconsistent 2023 season. Given that the Sox have nobody else capable of being the ace, Lucas Giolito possibly being out all year, and Boston’s reluctance to sign a free agent; now is the perfect time to see how the righty handles being the leader of the rotation. Heck, doing this might add something worthwhile to the Red Sox’s upcoming Netflix documentary.

Time For Bello To Start Proving He Can Be The Guy

Boston has nothing to lose this season by putting Brayan Bello at the top of the starting rotation. None of the other starting pitchers on the roster are capable, Boston refuses to spend on free agents, and Bello just signed a long-term extension. They are not going to be in the hunt for the AL East or a spot in the postseason. This season is about player development and figuring out who will be a part of the Red Sox’s long-term future. Allowing him to be the ace will be a great way to gauge where he is at in his development. With Brayan Bello expected to be a part of Boston’s long-term future; the team should be giving him opportunities to prove that.

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