The Boston Red Sox realized this year that they have a surplus of outfielders. With the emergence and signing of Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela, it would be smart for Craig Breslow and the rest of Boston's front office to target a position like starting pitching to ensure a strong rotation headed into next season.
Now that Major League Baseball's season has wrapped up, hot stove season is here, and the trade rumors and predictions are starting to heat up. In a recent trade prediction, the Red Sox are predicted to land a notable Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher.
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In a recent major predictions piece by Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter, the Boston Red Sox are predicted to make a deal with the Pirates for starter Mitch Keller:
"The Boston Red Sox have an abundance of outfield talent and a clear need for a veteran starting pitcher to replace Lucas Giolito, who is expected to decline his end of a $19 million mutual option. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a terrific homegrown starting rotation, but ranked dead-last in the majors with 583 runs scored and a.655 OPS as a team."
In the hypothetical deal, Boston would swap Wilyer Abreu for Keller. Keller had an ugly record of 6-15 this season, but posted a 4.19 ERA in 176.1 innings.
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This deal would help bolster Boston's starting rotation, while giving the Pirates an outfielder that can play every day in Wilyer Abreu, and also give the team some much-needed offensive help.
Last offseason, the Red Sox were active in both the trade market and free agency, which led them to the MLB playoffs for the first time in a few years.
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