Does Kutter Crawford Deserve A Long-Term Spot In The Rotation?
Pitching… pitching… pitching. It’s really that simple. If the Red Sox are going to get back to being a legitimate contender, Boston needs to rebuild their starting rotation. The offense was the 6th best in the AL but Boston missed the playoffs because they can’t get outs (or play defense). Whoever takes over for Chaim Bloom must figure out who they can trust in the starting staff this year. Let’s have a quick chat about Kutter Crawford because he’s a huge X-Factor heading into 2024.
Personally, I really like Crawford and the people who doubt him are probably looking at it wrong. It’s all about expectations. Crawford can absolutely be a 5th starter for this Sox team. Again, this is just me but I have no issues with having a funky 5th starter. Your rotation should be built like a basketball starting five. If everybody looks the same it’s probably not great.
Crawford, 27, posted a 4.04 ERA in 31 outings for Boston in 2023. His FIP number was actually 3.83 given Boston’s porous defense. His metrics also improved across the board from his 2022 season. A 9.4 K/9 rate is more than acceptable for a 5th starter too.
Crawford also has two more seasons before he even reaches arbitration. He’s not going to cost anything for two more years. That’s what happens when you nail your late round draft picks. Crawford was a 16th round pick out of Florida Gulf Coast and may have gotten positive insight that he could pitch from alum Chris Sale. Either way, it’s time to start acting like the Sox found a nice hidden gem here.
Yes, the delivery is odd. The ball almost comes out by his ear hole. What matters is he’s difficult to pick up and has a legit six pitch mix. He’s going to have an occasional bad start when he can’t locate. The fastball velocity doesn’t blow you away but he represents everything you want in terms of depth starter. Odd, deceptive, and has a ton of pitches to make the hitter think about what’s coming next.
We’ll see who takes over as the new Red Sox general manager. If they’re smart, they will keep Kutter Crawford as the 5th starter. It’s a matter of how you build out the rest of the rotation in front of him.
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