There are a lot of decisions facing the Boston Red Sox this spring training. Manager Alex Cora has to determine who fills key positions and who will and won’t make the roster. When it comes to the starting rotation, there are several different avenues that the veteran manager could go down.
Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow made a couple of trades this offseason and made a major free agent splash signing for his rotation. Those moves are going to make it difficult for some of Boston’s young arms to crack the rotation.
Just how difficult it ends up being remains to be seen. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report predicted that one young pitcher is going to crack the Red Sox starting rotation over one of their new acquisitions they acquired over the winter.
Boston Red Sox Pitcher Connelly Early Predicted to Win No. 5 Rotation Spot
The top and middle of the rotation are all but set for the Red Sox, barring an injury. The biggest battle in terms of the rotation in spring training centers around the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Reuter predicted that left-hander Connelly Early would beat out Johan Oviedo for the final spot on Opening Day.
“The Red Sox have an intriguing camp battle brewing for the No. 5 starter job, with offseason pickup Johan Oviedo trying to hold off rising prospects Connelly Early and Payton Tolle after they both debuted down the stretch last year. Oviedo is the favorite as the established big leaguer, but he does have a minor league option remaining, and Early pitched well enough last September to earn a postseason start,” Reuter wrote.
Early did pitch well last September for Boston. However, he was forced into the playoff start against the New York Yankees in the deciding Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series. He was forced to start that game because Lucas Giolito was ruled out of the playoffs with an elbow injury.
In 3.2 innings, he allowed six hits and four runs with six strikeouts against the Yankees in a 4-0 loss. He was outdueled by New York’s Cam Schlittler. In four September starts, he went 1-2 with a 2.33 ERA in 19.1 innings with 29 strikeouts and just four walks. Early proved that his stuff is good enough to earn a spot in an MLB rotation.
Boston Red Sox Have Multiple Options for No. 5 Starter
There are still a couple of routes Cora can go for his No. 5 starter. As Reuter pointed out, Oviedo has options to go to the minors. He is experienced as a starter from his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, Early is certainly going to push him for the fifth spot.
Boston also signed Ranger Suárez away from the Philadelphia Phillies. They also acquired Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. Don’t forget another young left-hander in Payton Tolle, who throws hard and has swing and miss stuff. The options are endless for Boston in spring training.
Oviedo was the projected No. 5 starter going into spring training, but it would be very surprising if Early beats him out for the No. 5 slot on Opening Day. If he does, then the depth for Boston this year will be one of the deepest in baseball.
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