Boston’s pitching depth is creating both leverage and a logjam ahead of spring training.
The Red Sox didn’t set out this offseason to create a numbers problem in their rotation, but that’s exactly where things stand as spring training approaches.
With the addition of Ranger Suarez, Boston suddenly has an abundance of viable starting options - and not just the “nice problem to have” variety.
Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Johan Oviedo and Patrick Sandoval all enter camp expecting meaningful roles, while Connelly Early, Payton Tolle and Kyle Harrison give the organization real depth waiting in Triple-A.
On paper, it’s one of the deepest pitching groups the Red Sox have fielded in years.
That depth, unsurprisingly, has led to conversations.
A league source tells Jen McCaffery of The Athletic that Bello and Sandoval have surfaced in trade talks, as has reliever Jordan Hicks.
None of that means a move is imminent, but it does reflect a front office that understands it can’t carry everyone - and doesn’t necessarily need to rush into solving the logjam, either.
Bello remains the most interesting name in that mix.
Two years ago, he was viewed as the cornerstone of the rotation after signing a six-year, $55 million extension. Since then, the Red Sox have layered in Crochet, Suarez and Gray, reshaping the hierarchy around him.
Bello is still young, still cost-controlled, and still capable of holding down a mid-rotation role - but that same profile also makes him more movable than Boston’s top pitching prospects. Ken Rosenthal reported in December that the Red Sox had quietly shopped Bello, and his name hasn’t gone away.
Oct 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello (66) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning of game two of the Wildcard round of the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)Sandoval represents a different kind of calculus.
The 29-year-old was signed last offseason while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and Craig Breslow recently said he’s expected to be on the same schedule as the rest of the rotation this spring. For teams looking for experienced rotation depth with upside, Sandoval checks a lot of boxes, even if Boston still sees value in holding onto him.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Patrick Sandoval (43) throws the ball during warm ups in the first day of Spring Training on Feb 12, 2025 in Lee County, FL, USA. (Chris Tilley/Imagn Images)Hicks, meanwhile, feels like the clearest “fit” for a potential deal - even if it’s the hardest to execute.
Acquired from San Francisco in the Rafael Devers trade, Hicks struggled mightily in Boston, posting an 8.20 ERA in 21 appearances before landing on the injured list. He’s owed $12 million in 2026, and while the Red Sox used him exclusively out of the bullpen, his recent history as a starter gives other clubs something to squint at.
Whether that’s enough to move the contract is another matter.
Sep 3, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Jordan Hicks (46) throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Fenway Park. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)Ideally, the Red Sox would resolve some of this before camp opens. But history suggests they’re comfortable letting things breathe.
Alex Bregman didn’t sign until the second week of camp last year, and injuries around the league inevitably reshape pitching markets as spring unfolds. If anything, Boston’s surplus gives them leverage to wait.
For now, the Red Sox can afford patience.
They’ve built a rotation with layers, optionality, and trade value - and that’s a far cry from where they were not all that long ago. The question isn’t whether a move makes sense. It’s when, and under what circumstances, the front office decides the timing is right.
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.