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MLB Rumors: Blake Snell and Max Fried pursued by Red Sox in 2024 free agency | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats and Rumors
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MLB Rumors: Blake Snell and Max Fried pursued by Red Sox in 2024 free agency | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats and Rumors

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Blake Snell #7 of the San Francisco Giants pitches in a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 17, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Boston Red Sox appear to be targeting two star lefties in MLB Free Agency.

During an appearance on the Baseball Bar-B-Cast podcast, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Red Sox are talking with left-handed pitchers Blake Snell and Max Fried.

Tyler Milliken @tylermilliken_

.@JeffPassan mentions in passing that the Red Sox are talking to Blake Snell and Max Fried.
We saw him link the Red Sox and Fried in his offseason preview, but not Snell.
Snell doesn’t have an OQ, which Burnes/Fried both have. Lowest ERA/FIP of any starter in 2nd half. pic.twitter.com/1vDNDZ6Nso

“The Red Sox, everything is in place for them at this point except their ability to develop starting pitchers at the big league level.” » said Passan. “They don’t have a guy. That’s why they’re talking to Blake Snell and that’s why they’re talking to Max Fried.”

Passan also noted that the current free agent market is focused on outfielder Juan Soto and that the Red Sox could potentially pursue White Sox starter Garrett Crochet on the trade market.

Either way, the Red Sox are clearly looking for left-handed pitchers. It’s easy to see why, since the 2024 team featured mostly right-handed starters, with veteran James Paxton and reliever Brennan Bernardino the only left-handed pitchers to get a start. Those two combined for just six starts total.

The Red Sox had only one starter with at least 10 starts, with an ERA less than four, which contributed to the team’s 81-81 mark. This was the third straight season in which the team failed to reach the playoffs and the fifth time since the team won the 2018 World Series that it failed to qualify for the postseason.

Snell went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA for the San Francisco Giants in 2024 and is just one season away from a 2023 NL Cy Young Award. Fried went 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA for the Atlanta Braves in 2024.

Both would be solid additions to the Red Sox pitching staff and give the team a much-needed piece after the 2024 right-handed heavy rotation.