The Boston Red Sox have already made a splash this offseason by trading for Sonny Gray, bolstering a rotation that needed a serious shot of reliability. But in a loaded American League East where pitching depth can make or break a season, Boston might not be done yet.
Let’s start with what we know. Gray is a proven veteran who brings stability and playoff experience.
He slots in nicely behind Garrett Crochet, who’s positioned to lead the staff. Add in Brayan Bello, and you’ve got a solid top three.
But “solid” doesn’t always cut it in a division where every team is stockpiling arms like it’s October every day.
That’s why the idea of Boston pursuing Michael King is more than just a rumor-it’s a logical next move. King, who was part of the blockbuster deal that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees, finally got his shot to start full-time with the Padres.
And he didn’t waste it. In his first full season in the rotation, King posted a 2.95 ERA and struck out 201 batters.
That’s not just good-it’s “front-line starter” good.
Now, last season wasn’t quite as smooth. Injuries to his shoulder and knee limited him to just 15 starts, but even then, he managed a 3.44 ERA.
That’s the kind of resilience that front offices pay attention to. He’s not without risk-he’s only had two seasons as a starter, and he’s tied to a qualifying offer-but he’s one of the most intriguing arms on the market for a reason.
From Boston’s perspective, the qualifying offer complicates things a bit. Signing King would cost them a draft pick, and for a team still trying to build up its farm system, that’s not nothing.
But Craig Breslow, now leading the Red Sox baseball operations, knows that standing pat isn’t an option. Not when the Blue Jays have already locked up Dylan Cease and the Yankees are reportedly eyeing Kyle Tucker and other big names.
This is the new reality in the AL East. If you want to compete, you need waves of starting pitching.
Injuries happen. Slumps happen.
And when they do, it’s the teams with depth that survive.
Adding King to a rotation that already features Crochet, Gray, and Bello would give Boston four legitimate starters with upside. It’s not just about reaching October-it’s about being built to last once you get there.
We’ve seen what happens when teams run out of arms in the postseason. The Red Sox have been there before, and if they want to get back-and stay-on the October stage, they need to keep building.
King may not be the final piece, but he’s the kind of move that signals intent. And in this division, intent matters.