The Boston Red Sox are changing the narrative surrounding their season. Once seemingly headed towards a mid-season firesale, the team has turned things around. Currently, they boast a record of 40-35, sitting five games above .500 despite not being at full strength.
Now in contention for an American League Wild Card spot, the Red Sox should look to strengthen their roster in the next six weeks leading up to the trade deadline, rather than selling off key players. The priority for Boston should be bolstering their starting pitching rotation, and one name that stands out is Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty.
The 28-year-old Flaherty is having a standout season with Detroit. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report has listed him as the fourth-best pitcher who could be on the move this summer.
“If the Detroit Tigers ultimately decide to sell, Jack Flaherty will be the top rental starter on the market this summer,” Reuter noted. “At 28, he showed ace potential during a brilliant second half for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019, finishing fourth in NL Cy Young voting. However, injuries limited him to just 154.2 innings over the next three seasons. While he managed to stay healthy last year, his performance was inconsistent, ending with a 4.99 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and 148 strikeouts in 144.1 innings with the Cardinals and Orioles. The Tigers took a chance on him with a one-year, $14 million deal in free agency, and he has excelled, ranking among the AL leaders in ERA (3.01, ninth), WHIP (0.95, fifth), strikeouts (100, third), and strikeouts per nine innings (11.6, second).”
Flaherty’s performance this season includes a 3.01 ERA and an impressive 100-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 77 2/3 innings. If he becomes available, the Red Sox should strongly consider making a move to acquire him.
