After three consecutive losing seasons, the Boston Red Sox are hoping to turn things around in 2025. Craig Breslow, president of baseball operations, has one goal for the offseason: to improve the starting rotation. Could this involve pursuing veteran Justin Verlander in free agency?
“He [Verlander] should be a target for the Red Sox because of the fact that he certainly could bounce back and return to his 2023 form with good health,” according to SI.com’s Patrick McAvoy. “Additionally, having him around Boston’s young starters could help them develop.
“Verlander is a future Hall of Famer and one of the top pitchers of the last two decades. Having him as a daily resource for [Tanner] Houck, [Brayan] Bello, and [Kutter] Crawford might help them elevate their game while also providing Boston with another reliable starter.”
The 2011 pitching Triple Crown winner is set to sign a $13.9 million contract this winter, according to Spotrac.
Justin Verlander Committed to Pitching in 2025
Verlander’s 2024 season did not go how he planned. After earning a 3.22 ERA in 162.1 innings for the New York Mets and Houston Astros in 2023, he struggled to a 5.48 ERA in 90.1 innings during his age-41 season. Multiple trips to the injured list are believed to have contributed to the lack of production.
The right-hander will be 42 years old in February. After such a difficult year, was he thinking about retiring?
“I do feel like I have a lot more to give pitching-wise,” Verlander told MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart on October 2. “This year was rough, but I learnt a lot from it. Obviously, I discussed with you guys how I was feeling coming back [from a neck injury] and how I needed to push the problem a little.”
The future Hall of Famer believes that spending the entire winter getting healthy will be beneficial. He is also “not ready to step away yet.” Verlander’s eventual destination will be determined by his market and ambitions at this stage in his career.
He may accept a one-year contract to stay with the Astros. He might possibly return to the Detroit Tigers, where he spent the first 13 seasons of his career. The Virginia native may find it appealing to join the Baltimore Orioles (assuming they are interested).
The Red Sox probably prefer other pitchers over Justin Verlander.
Breslow would like to focus on supplementing the rotation this winter. However, based on recent comments, he may be prepared to make a run at an ace.
“Every team in baseball is well served by having someone at the front of the rotation that can win a game when the team needs it, win a playoff game,” Breslow said, according to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey in an October 2 piece. “I believe we were lucky to see a number of players in the rotation improve this year. I do not want to undervalue the work of Tanner, Brayan, Kutter, and others. But at the same time, we need to improve, and we must be open to any opportunity to do so.”
Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Jack Flaherty are among the top starting pitchers set to enter free agency. Blake Snell and Gerrit Cole can join that list if they officially opt out of their existing contracts.
Verlander may have to wait until the best pitchers sign contracts before his market completely develops. If the Red Sox fail to make other substantial acquisitions, they may consider the veteran.
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