José Berríos Would Look Really Good In A Red Sox Uniform
The Boston Red Sox are really good. I mean really good. Boston holds the best record in the American League with a record of 52-31. It’s time to start thinking championship? The Red Sox are still very much in the midst of rebuilding the farm system so going all in two years after trading Mookie Betts for the exact reason doesn’t seem ideal. However, José Berríos is the one sensible target that could push the Red Sox over the top.
José Berríos would look really good in a Red Sox uniform. As Boston gears up for another potential title, starting pitching is the one real weakness on the ball club. The Sox rank 20th in MLB with a starting pitching ERA of 4.43. The offense and bullpen have carried Boston to this point.
Can you win a World Series title with a mediocre starting pitching staff? Certainly baseball has changed and starters aren’t going super deep into games anymore. However, come October, time and time again you need that horse to push you over the top.
Hey, maybe Chris Sale is that guy. If he looks like the Sale of old coming back from TJ surgery, there is your ace to ride with come postseason time. If Sale is right, the Sox are dangerous to start any series off. The question remains is the current rotation of Nathan Eovaldi, Eduardo Rodriguez, Garrett Richards, Martin Perez, and Nick Pivetta good enough?
The positive note is that those guys have been healthy all year. Boston has only used five starters the entire season. The 5th being Tanner Houck who is a young stud and close to returning as well. The durability of the starting staff has been crucial because a number of key organizational arms have gone down for the year. Bryan Mata, Thad Ward, Connor Seabold, Aldo Ramirez, and Noah Song are either out of the year or have missed significant time with injuries.
The Red Sox probably need one more legit starting pitcher to bring another title home. Berríos continues to be the target that makes the most sense.
A: José Berríos is a proven stud who’s having a great year (7-2, ERA of 3.52, 9.1 K per 9)
B: Berríos is not a rental. He comes with a year of control next year.
C: The Red Sox have three players on the roster who come from Puerto Rico (Yacksel Rios, Christian Vazquez, Kike Hernandez). Alex Cora, the manager, may know Berríos very well. Cora’s connection with Hernandez is probably the biggest reason they signed him this offseason.
Because of the lack of viable options on the trade market, Berríos likely won’t come cheap. Would a package of Bryan Mata, Jeisson Rosario, and Hudson Potts get it done? It remains to be seen which prospects Boston will declare untouchable. However, Triston Casas, Jeter Downs, Jarren Duran, and Gilberto Jimenez probably top that list.
The Twins could decide not to try Berríos and try again next year. No one could blame them for blowing up a last place AL Central team with a record of 33-47. If available, Boston should be aggressive pursuing José Berríos. He could be the piece that clinches another World Series title.
