“If it turns out to be a surprise team that is running late for….

Will the Boston Red Sox surprise their supporters by acquiring the best available free-agent pitcher? Craig Breslow, the chief baseball officer of the Red Sox, is just as cautious as his predecessor to make a significant free agent acquisition, and the ownership’s lack of financial support hasn’t made things any better. Having said that, the Red Sox are feeling the heat from the supporters, and at least one member of the national media continues to believe Boston will make a big impression.

During a live broadcast of Bleacher Report on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post stated, “I won’t be shocked if it’s a surprise team late for (Blake) Snell.” “The other teams I could see, I’m going to say Boston, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels — those are teams that could be in the mix for Snell in the near term.” Snell pitched for the San Diego Padres for 32 starts last season, going 14-9 with a league-best 2.25 ERA, 234 to 99 strikeout to walk ratio,.181 batting average against, and 1.19 WHIP in 180 innings.

With a league-best 182 ERA+ and 5.8 hits per nine innings, the 30-year-old led Major League Baseball; nonetheless, he was frequently in trouble due to his league-high 99 walks. His route to greatness was distinct and might not be repeatable. Snell’s lack of consistency as a starter also affects his availability, which posed a serious problem for the Red Sox in 2023. When his rookie season and the truncated 2020 season are taken out of the equation, he has averaged 142 innings per 162 game season.

All of that being said, the Red Sox really need to strengthen their rotation. Although Jordan Montgomery makes the most sense, Boston’s Opening Day starter should be the current National League Cy Young champion, so there shouldn’t be any complaints. Although there’s no reason for supporters to think that ownership would spend in a significant free agent this winter, Boston hasn’t been written off by the national media just yet.