Craig Breslow: Red Sox will ‘continue to be aggressive’ with improvements
The team's chief baseball officer elaborated on the job ahead following Winter Meetings.
The Red Sox left the Winter Meetings in Dallas this week with their ace for the 2025 season, but there is still some work to do.
Craig Breslow knows that’s the case, too. The Red Sox chief baseball officer specified what the team is looking to do following the Winter Meetings in an interview with WEEI’s “Jones and Keefe.”
“It’s really hard to share what we should expect because if I’ve learned anything over the last [several] days — there are moments in time where you feel something is really close, but at the drop of a hat, it feels like you’re miles apart,” Breslow said when asked if it’s fair to expect the team to make another big move for a starting pitcher. “The one thing that I absolutely can affirm is that we will continue to be aggressive in our pursuit of any path to improving our team.
“That could come via starting pitching [or] a right-handed bat to help balance out the lineup, and we’ll continue to build out the bullpen.”
Boston has been linked to 2021 NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes throughout free agency as he’s the top arm on the free-agent market this offseason. Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler has also been rumored to be of interest of the Red Sox in free agency.
But following the team’s move to add Garrett Crochet, it seems like they might be looking to add another pitcher via trade. They’ve engaged in trade talks with the Mariners about possibly acquiring one of their starting pitchers, with Luis Castillo being a possible target, The Seattle Times’ Adam Jude and Ryan Divish recently reported.
Another general manager signaled to Peter Gammons that a trade between the Red Sox and Mariners involving Castillo makes sense as it would open up money for Seattle to add a free-agent hitter.
“Craig Breslow is tireless, he’s really smart, and if he can clear Castillo’s money, give Seattle help elsewhere and allow them to get Walker, maybe he gets Castillo,” the unnamed general manager told Gammons.
Castillo is set to earn $24.15 million for the 2025 season with four years left on a five-year, $108 million extension in 2022. The three-time All-Star put up a solid stat line in 2024, going 11-12 with a 3.64 ERA, 1.169 WHIP, and 175 strikeouts in 175 1/3 innings over 30 starts. But Castillo is likely the most expendable piece of Seattle’s rotation as it has a few younger arms who pitched better last season and are cost-controlled for the foreseeable future.
As for the other needs, there are still a few All-Star right-handed hitters available. Astros star Alex Bregman still appears to be of interest to the Red Sox.
“That positional versatility could be very applicable to the Boston Red Sox and their interest in Alex Bregman,” MLB Network insider Jon Morosi said on Friday. ” … There is interest from the Red Sox in Bregman playing second base. We know how much Alex Cora respects Alex Bregman. That was a big topic at the Winter Meetings.”
To Morosi’s point, Cora gave Bregman glowing praise when he spoke with reporters at the Winter Meetings.
“Alex is a good player, man. He’s a complete player,” Cora said. “He’s been on winning teams his whole career. Good defender. Offensively, he’s really good. He’s a guy a lot of people are talking about. I do believe he can impact a big-league team, a championship-caliber team. He’s that type of player.”
Cora added that he also believes that Bregman, who’s primarily been a third baseman, can play second base, saying he broached him about that possibility when the two were together with the Astros in 2017.
In his interview with “Jones and Keefe,” Breslow emphasized that Rafael Devers is the Red Sox’ third baseman, adding that they’re “really excited about that.” So, such a move for Bregman would almost certainly require him playing second base.
The Yankees and Astros are also reportedly interested in signing Bregman. Morosi shared that the trade sweepstakes surrounding Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker could ultimately decide what happens with Bregman, saying that a trade would make the possibility of the All-Star third baseman returning to Houston more likely. The Cubs wound up acquiring Tucker late Friday afternoon.
In addition to Bregman, the Red Sox also have a “strong interest” in Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander, MLB insider Héctor Gómez reported. The 30-year-old switch-hitting outfielder is a free agent after earning his first All-Star nod last season, in which he hit .235 with 44 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a .814 OPS. He’s also hit 10 homers in 39 career games at Fenway.
In terms of bullpen help, the Yankees picked up the top reliever on the trade market on Friday. They traded for Brewers All-Star closer Devin Williams, sacrificing starter Nestor Cortes and second baseman Caleb Durbin in the deal.
But there are still plenty of free-agent bullpen arms available. Padres All-Star closer Tanner Scott headlines the group while Phillies standout relievers Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez are also available.
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