Red Sox Rumors: Matt Garza, Roy Oswalt and Other Possible Answers to the Yankees
By Editorial Staff
Following last night’s flurry of moves by the New York Yankees, many are wondering how the Boston Red Sox will respond. Boston shares a division with New York, and it now looks as if the Red Sox have some ground to make up between themselves and their rivals. Nick Carfado wondered aloud how the Red Sox should counter the Yankees, while others look back at potential deals that Boston wasn’t able to get done this offseason.
Wow, what the Red Sox must be thinking. Yesterday afternoon they were fairly even with their American League East rivals. While the Yankees may possess the more impressive lineup, the Red Sox could counter with a solid top of the rotation.
However, the balance once again shifted in the AL (B)East, as the Yankees acquired not one, but two solid starting pitchers, one of which figures to be around for the long haul.
Nick Carfado of the Boston Globe says the Red Sox now have a few options regarding how they can answer the Yankees busy Friday night. Either the Red Sox could sign veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt, or Boston jumps back into discussions with the Chicago Cubs for starting pitcher Matt Garza.
Both of these would figure to go against the Red Sox current offseason plan, but Carfado believes change may be in order following the Yankees pair of additions.
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has said for the past few weeks that he will be looking to bring in low-cost starters to compete for the final two spots in Boston’s rotation. He’s already added Carlos Silva and Aaron Cook to the mix, but is this enough now that the Yankees have added Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda?
While Carfado took a look at what the Red Sox can do moving forward, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com and Rob Bradford of WEEI.com each offered news of previous deals Boston wasn’t able to complete.
Heyman reported that, while the Yankees obviously inquired on Pineda, both Boston and New York also asked the Mariners about their ace, Felix Hernandez. Both teams were shot down with an emphatic “no”.
The Red Sox were also tied to Kuroda this offseason, and looked as if they could be one of the potential landing spots for the 36-year-old. However, Bradford reported that Boston would have had to first clear payroll space if they were going to sign Kuroda. Bradford also notes that the Red Sox wouldn’t have been able to offer a more competitive bid for Pineda than the one the Yankees did, as the Mariners coveted Jesus Montero more than any bat Boston could offer.
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