The Red Sox's Reinforced Pitching Staff Impresses Garrett Whitlock Ahead of Spring Training
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Garrett Whitlock stepped out of the Red Sox clubhouse on Wednesday morning, his eyes drawn to a group of pitchers engaged in catch practice.
"We've got a bunch of arms this year," the right-hander remarked. "It's impressive."
Whitlock's statement carries weight, given his proximity to the action. He resides just a few minutes from Fenway South, a facility he's been utilizing since the conclusion of last season's playoff loss to the Yankees. Whitlock has been keenly observing the team's developments, particularly the additions of Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo, and Ranger Suárez to a starting rotation led by Garrett Crochet, who finished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting. The Sox also boast Kutter Crawford, who had a 4.36 earned run average over 33 starts and 182.2 innings during the 2024 season before suffering knee and wrist injuries that sidelined him last season.
Crawford, who has been at Fenway South since mid-January, threw his latest bullpen session on Tuesday. Pitching coach Andrew Bailey anticipates Crawford will compete for a spot in the rotation. "I feel great," Crawford stated on Tuesday. "Ready to go and get out there. I’m not holding back at all."
The Red Sox's pitching staff has undergone significant changes, with nine of the 15 starters from last season no longer in the organization. Walker Buehler and Lucas Giolito, who combined for 48 starts, remain free agents. Others have been traded. Whitlock noted the presence of numerous major leaguers at Fenway South, with nearly half of the 40-man roster on the field on Tuesday. Live batting practice sessions are scheduled for Friday.
Despite the early activity, the first official workout for pitchers and catchers is not until next Tuesday. The atmosphere was vibrant, with bullpen coach Chris Holt and catching coach Parker Guinn joining the session. Carlos Narváez, a catcher, expressed enthusiasm, emphasizing the importance of getting to know the new pitchers. Brayan Bello, who reported early to prepare for the World Baseball Classic, will join Sandy Alcantara, Cristopher Sánchez, and Luis Severino in the rotation for the Dominican Republic, showcasing his status in the game after a 3.35 ERA last season.
The Red Sox are also preparing outfielders Wilyer Abreu and Kristian Campbell for potential infield roles. This preparation adds to the speculation that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow might trade one of the outfielders to acquire an infielder and address an obvious roster hole. Marcelo Mayer, Romy Gonzalez, and Nick Sogard are potential alternatives, but manager Alex Cora is cautious about overextending their roles, viewing them more as backups.
The team has time to piece together their lineup, as Alex Bregman was signed on February 13 last season. For now, the focus is on players returning to the field, readying themselves for the upcoming season.
