If Craig Breslow and the Boston Red Sox are still eyeing ways to bolster their rotation this offseason, the trade market is quietly offering some intriguing possibilities-headlined by a pair of arms who could shift the balance in any staff they join.
Let’s start with the name that jumps off the page: Tarik Skubal.
The Detroit Tigers ace is fresh off his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award, and it’s easy to see why he’s drawing attention. Skubal led the AL with a 2.21 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP, and a 7.6 WAR-numbers that scream frontline dominance.
He also fanned a career-best 241 batters, finishing just behind Boston’s own Garrett Crochet in strikeouts. That’s elite production across the board.
Naturally, teams in need of top-end pitching-like the Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, Orioles, and Giants-are seen as logical suitors. But there’s a catch: Detroit doesn’t seem too eager to part with their ace.
Despite some executives around the league believing there’s a chance Skubal could be moved, the Tigers remain firm in their stance. He’s the cornerstone of their roster, and with two years of team control left before free agency in 2026, they’re planning to compete, not rebuild.
Still, it’s worth noting that extension talks haven’t gone anywhere. And when that’s the case, even a team with intentions to contend has to at least listen-especially when the return could help accelerate a sustainable future.
If Skubal feels like a long shot, there’s another name that may be more attainable: Joe Ryan.
The Red Sox already made a run at the 29-year-old right-hander before the 2025 trade deadline, but Minnesota held firm. Now, with the offseason heating up and the free-agent market for starting pitching looking expensive, trade talks could resurface. ESPN places the odds of a Ryan deal at 50/50-a coin flip that could tilt depending on how aggressive teams get in filling out their rotations.
Ryan isn’t just a fallback option, either. He posted a career-low 3.42 ERA last season, matched his personal best with 13 wins, and logged a career-high 171 innings.
He also struck out 194 batters and registered a 4.5 WAR-both career highs. That’s a durable, effective mid-rotation starter who may still have another gear to hit.
The Red Sox are hardly desperate for arms after acquiring Sonny Gray in a trade with the Cardinals last week. But while Gray brings veteran leadership and postseason experience, he’s 36.
He’s not necessarily the long-term No. 2 to slot behind Crochet. That’s where someone like Ryan fits the picture-a younger, controllable starter who could help stabilize the rotation for years to come.
Boston’s offseason to-do list isn’t topped by starting pitching at the moment, but Breslow has made it clear he’s open to opportunistic moves. If the right deal presents itself-whether it’s for a Cy Young winner like Skubal or a high-upside arm like Ryan-the Red Sox could still have one more big swing left in them.