Red Sox Get Realistic Report on Chances of Landing Tarik Skubal
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Red Sox Get Realistic Report on Chances of Landing Tarik Skubal originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox have needs on both sides of the baseball, but it's obvious that the front office is likely going to focus on the offensive side of things.
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If the Red Sox make the necessary moves during Major League Baseball's offseason, whether it be in free agency or the trade market, they should find themselves in a very good position to be one of the best teams not only in the American League but in all of baseball.
Last season was somewhat difficult to evaluate for the Red Sox because at times they looked like one of the best teams in the game, but at other times they looked about average.
There's obviously a lot of hope that the Red Sox will be that team day in and day out like they were for much of the big stretch a season ago, but that might be an unrealistic ask.
Regardless, the easiest way to get there is to add players who can help them improve. At the top of that list would be Tarik Skubal, undoubtedly the best player on the free agent market.
While Skubal would be a dream addition, the latest report suggests it's unlikely.
“The Red Sox are likely to focus on improving their offense first and foremost, but there’s no such thing as too much pitching depth, so adding a middle-to-back-end starter is on the table. At the moment, the Red Sox possess a full rotation with Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle, Jake Bennett and Brayan Bello or Tanner Houck, but adding to that group will fortify against the inevitable injury.
“While it’s not out of the question that the Red Sox try to reunite with Sonny Gray or target higher-end starters like Freddy Peralta or Trevor Rogers, it’s unlikely the Red Sox will be dropping $400 million to sign Tarik Skubal,” Jen McCaffrey wrote.
A lot of this is going to come down to the type of money that Skubal will land on the free agency market.
While the Red Sox could realistically give him that type of money, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to pay one player $400 million when there are some needs on both sides of the baseball.
I wouldn't hate the Red Sox landing Skubal because of how talented he is, but I also recognize it could create another hole that wouldn't be filled.