The Red Sox master plan has been REVEALED...

The Boston Red Sox master plan seems to be revealed as the days continue to go on and on into this up-and-coming offseason following what was a fallout following the Game 2 loss to the New York Yankees in the wildcard series. I'm here to break down how the starting pitching side may be at the forefront of all conversations this offseason for the Boston Red Sox and a likely candidate to join them as the new right-handed star in that rotation. We'll break down all of the moving parts on this episode of Red Sox Digest So let's not waste any more time and get right to it Breaking down all of the moving parts And yes, we have to start with how Sonny Gray leaving this rotation Leaves a huge gap in everything considered Now, is it definitive that Sonny Gray is going to opt out of his $30 million mutual option with the Boston Red Sox? no but every day that goes by the more that I think about how things actually ended between Sonny Gray and this Red Sox organization in Game 2 of the wild card against the New York Yankees it feels more and more clear as those days go on and I continue to think about everything that was said in the situation that was totally mishandled if you guys don't know obviously Sonny Gray was phenomenal all year long and with that being said he was pulled from a game he absolutely shouldn't have been pulled from and that was going through the third time of the order against the New York Yankees with runners on the corners and one out in that inning and despite Sonny Gray being arguably if not definitively the best pitcher in all of baseball the third time through the order at least in the AL specifically Tracy and the Red Sox organization went away from him and they went to obviously Eric Miller and an onslaught ensued and it's unfortunate but then Sonny Gray vocalized his opinion following that actual move being made and it leads you to believe is Sonny Gray flat out done and fed up with this Red Sox organization after having a career year in Boston pitching to a 2.72 ERA and almost 170 innings pitched with a 1.15 WHIP and overall just dominating being tied for the league record in wins with only Christopher Sanchez at 18 wins and five losses and again that sub three ERA he was phenomenal all season long regardless of the team he was going against regardless of the scenario in which he was in and despite that Breslow Tracy whoever it may have been specifically decided to go away from him in the biggest moment of this Red Sox season and in doing so they didn't go to the guy they went out and signed the only offseason free agent that they signed last year in Ranger Suarez who has been definitively known as one of the best postseason pitchers in the last five six seven years in all of baseball as he has what a sub two ERA has been in every big moment he always answers the call and has been simply phenomenal despite that Sonny Gray vocalized his opinion and it feels like he's on his way out so what does that mean well based off how this Red Sox rotation is currently constructed if the Red Sox do not go out there and or if they go out there and decide not to sign another starting pitching free agent that leaves you to believe that Brian Baez is going to get an opportunity to then remain a starter like we saw him end this previous season after being thrown down in AAA due to not being able to get out of the first inning coming back being a bullpen arm and being flat out dominant in that role he then gets opportunities to start he's pretty damn good in the few starts he then gets to close out the season but if he returns to the starting rotation he then is your right-handed guy in the starting rotation we could assume replacing Sonny Gray based off of all the factors we've already broken down but is that going to work is that going to get the job done for the Boston Red Sox and I'm here to tell you I don't think it is and I don't think there's any reason to not go out there and sign another starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, whether it is the name we are going to break down in Michael King or one of the various others that appear to be on the free agency list or the free agency list, I should say. So a few questions that we have to allude to and why signing more free agents starting pitching should be at the top or at the forefront of all decisions this offseason is one, can Crochet stay healthy for the full season? Can Tully and Jake Bennett handle their larger workloads? We saw Tully do it this year, and he was absolutely phenomenal. Jake Bennett, still up in the air. There is still a question mark surrounding that. Then, can Bale reestablish himself as a definitive starter in the rotation? Again, we saw a glimpse of it towards the end of the year, but he was by far and away the best version of himself out of the bullpen. Then finally, who is the next man up if injuries do hit? Do they go down to the minor league system after giving up, or yeah, giving up Ionson, witherspoon and various other top prospects involved in with this Red Sox organization or would you rather go out there and make a big move remember remember conley early was traded to the Washington Nationals for Curtis Mead who's only had one at bat with this Red Sox team before getting hit on the wrist and being sidelined for the remainder of the season and that was months before the season actually ended so what do the Boston Red Sox actually do what do they turn to well i think going out and signing an actual another piece to the starting rotation should be at the forefront based off how it's constructed Suarez, totally Bennett Sandoval is no longer there he will be an unrestricted free agent this season thank God Brian Mayo and Garrett Crochet so do you need another starter I absolutely believe you need another starter assuming that Sandoval or knowing Sandoval will not be there but then having a huge question mark surrounding Mayo and then obviously taking into account that injuries are going to be a massive factor for not only the Red Sox but various other teams and every team that looks to make a run at the Fall Classic what exactly are the Red Sox going to do and who are they going to rely on and that's where I'm going to pitch the idea of Michael King and him possibly being the option to really balance out this rotation and adding another right-handed bat to this entire situation now you see Kevin Gosman as well as Nick Martinez here listed as well and that is because we are going to break down both of those names in their own individual episodes here coming up on Red Sox Digest but for this video specifically we're focusing on Michael King who posted a 3.21 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP and 185 innings pitched was ranked in the 97th percentile which is great to see he didn't create a bunch of swing and miss ranked in the 33rd percentile in that category at 7.7 strikeouts per nine But overall, Michael King, especially in the postseason, has been absolutely phenomenal. I should rephrase that. He was absolutely phenomenal for a San Diego Padres team that was absolutely rolling. And he was a key contributor to absolutely shutting down a very dangerous offense in Chicago and the Cubs. He ended up going in 32 games played. He goes 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA in 185 innings pitched. again with that 1.18 WHIP, 159Ks with 70 walks overall the guy can create a lot of swing and miss the guy has a filthy changeup that he can throw to right-handed batters to left-handed batters but he's not going to be that definitive ace that everyone wants and when he's on his stuff and when he's at his best he could absolutely be on that ace level but every game every start that he's going to get that's not the Michael King you are going to see at this stage of his career he went out there he handled a high workload and he produced on a on the front lines to say the absolute least for the San Diego Padres and I really think that he would be a legitimate piece as a depth option for the Boston Red Sox in free agency rather than having to go up and give up more assets to make a move and via trade in order to bolster a starting rotation that desperately seems to need more depth you see all of these good teams I know the Dodgers thankfully just got bounced from the playoffs but you look at something they did very well they had a surplus of pitching not only starters but also coming out of the bullpen Sasaki was a starter ends up being moved to the bullpen you didn't see a lot of glass now but when it mattered he was available to start you had Blake Snell you had Yamamoto Shohei had availability he obviously was dealing with injuries and again just trying to get right on the offensive side of things took him out of the pitching equation but they had various starters available and ready to go and it's not a bad really formula to follow having a surplus of pitching whether it's starting or bullpen options is never a bad thing especially for championship contenders because injuries are going to be a problem and are going to be a factor for anyone and everyone in professional sports regardless of the sport you play going out and getting another definitive guy that is proven in the playoffs as Michael King had what a one hit game of seven inning or eight inning game of one hit baseball with what one walk and eight to nine strikeouts against the Cubs and then the following series he was still really really good maybe not up to that level that we saw against the Cubs but he was still very very good he was excellent to say the absolute least this could really give the Boston Red Sox an option to really go out there and add a proven level of depth that could bolster this starting rotation and just have someone to fall on when absolutely need be and not be in a time crunch in an overall crunch or a crunch overall if and when injuries do take place especially in the starting rotation I really do like the idea of going out and signing Michael King and if it's not Michael King there's various others that will break down but if you look at this in the starting rotation with him in it you have Ranger you have Michael King you have Tully Bennett and Baio's there and then you'd add Garrett Crochet as well taking over Sandoval's spot And again, then you have the luxury of being able to put Baio in the bullpen where he was absolutely phenomenal and you'd still have depth of two, four, five, six guys or maybe or five guys. And it would be top echelon guys that you could have faith in and really rely on to get the job done at any point in this season. Let me know down below. What are your thoughts and opinions on possibly going out there and seeing the Boston Red Sox sign Dylan Cease, Michael King, this upcoming off season, a signed King or another a proven right-hander, or B, trust the young rotation and spend elsewhere. Thank you guys for watching this episode of Red Sox Digest. I will see you guys on the next one.