Garrett Whitlock wants a shot at the rotation, and the Red Sox may have a smart reason to let him try it in 2027.
That sounds like a risky ask on the surface. Whitlock has been one of the best setup men in the league, and that role carries real value. But a starter can be even more valuable, which is why the idea has enough pull to be worth considering - even if the move comes with obvious concerns.
The biggest one is health. Whitlock’s previous attempts to start have ended with injuries, and that’s not a throwaway warning sign.
It’s a legitimate issue, especially for a 30-year-old who would have to handle a starter’s workload instead of maxing out for one inning at a time. He’d also need the kind of pitch mix that can hold up across multiple trips through a lineup.
Still, the case for giving him that chance in 2027 is stronger than it might look.
One reason is money. Whitlock’s interest in starting likely has a financial edge to it, because mid-rotation starters can land big contracts on the open market.
Chris Bassit is making $18.5 million this season, and Merrill Kelly is at $18 million. Boston, meanwhile, has options on Whitlock for 2027 and 2028 that would pay him $8.25 million next year and $10.5 million in 2028 if exercised.
If he can turn into a starter, that would be a major bargain.
There’s also the stuff. Whitlock isn’t just a one- or two-pitch reliever trying to fake it as a starter.
He has three quality offerings. His sinker is the foundation, and he throws it 56% of the time.
Behind that are a slider and a changeup. The slider comes in at a 26% rate and misses bats at a 46.7% clip.
The changeup is used 18% of the time, works well against lefties, and posts a 35.6% whiff rate. A fourth pitch would help, but the base is there.
Boston’s roster construction gives the idea another boost. The Red Sox are heavily tilted toward left-handed pitching.
If everyone is healthy, Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle, and Jake Bennett are all lefties. If Sonny Gray retires, the club would need a right-handed arm to keep from becoming completely unbalanced.
And if Whitlock doesn’t hold up as a starter? The downside is limited.
The Red Sox could always move him back to the bullpen and still have a dominant high-leverage reliever. They control him for the next two years, and his salary is reasonable for a setup man and potentially a steal for a No. 3 or No. 4 starter.
That’s why the question is less about whether Whitlock is a reliever or starter in the abstract, and more about timing. Not now. But in 2027, the Red Sox should at least be willing to take the plunge.
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