Starting pitching is the main focus for the Boston Red Sox this winter, but the X-factor is how much the team is willing to spend to acquire him.

Although Boston’s starting rotation finished seventh in Major League Baseball in ERA in 2024, the entire group burned out at the same time – during the team’s terrible August – and it It’s imperative that the Red Sox pick up another reliable arm or two to help them out. through dog days this time.

There are varying levels of aces in free agency this winter, and the prices generally correspond to the track records of the pitchers who own them. If the Red Sox want a former Cy Young winner like Corbin Burnes, they’ll have to pay upwards of $200 million, and that hasn’t been their style in recent winters.

Insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic doesn’t see the Red Sox spending nine figures on an individual pitcher, but he thinks they can sign a recent starter for Game 1 of the World Series. He predicted that Boston will reportedly sign Los Angeles Dodgers star Jack Flaherty to a three-year, $68 million contract on Friday.

“The Red Sox are signing right-hander Jack Flaherty to a three-year, $68 million contract and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year, $42 million contract,” Bowden said.

Flaherty, 29, had another season after signing a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers. He was traded from Detroit to his hometown Dodgers mid-season and finished the regular season with a 13-7 record, a 3.17 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 28 starts.

In the postseason, Flaherty struggled, although he had a productive start against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series. He started five games and pitched 22 innings, allowing 18 earned runs for a 7.36 ERA.

While he may not be guaranteed as the number one starter, there is no doubt that if Flaherty can repeat his 2024 season in Boston, he will make the Red Sox a much better team. Competition for its services will be tough, so we’ll soon see if the $68 million price tag remains accurate.

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