Former Boston Red Sox infielder and current Boston Red Sox broadcaster Lou Merloni said he thinks that one of the main priorities for the team this offseason is finding a No. 2 starter behind left-hander Garrett Crochet.

He made the comments on Wednesday morning on NESN.

Current Sox pitching situation 

Crochet is an ace, and he proved it repeatedly this season as Boston got to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The 26-year-old went 18-5 with a 2.59 ERA, striking out 255 batters in 205.1 innings. He's likely to finish high in the Cy Young voting, though Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers is expected to win the award for the second straight year.

Brayan Bello took nice steps forward, going 11-9 with a 3.35 ERA, but since he only struck out 124 batters in 166.1 innings, he doesn't seem to profile as that surefire No. 2 starter the team needs.

Lucas Giolito went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA, but he also lacks swing-and-miss (121 strikeouts in 145.0 innings). He has a mutual option that he's expected to decline, becoming a free agent.

Tanner Houck is expected to miss most or all of 2026 because of Tommy John surgery. Thus, to Merloni's point, a No. 2 starter does seem like a priority for Craig Breslow.

Some specific names

Some specific names that Merloni mentioned in connection with the offseason? Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins and Dylan Cease of the San Diego Padres.

Let's start with Cease, since his situation is easier. He's a free agent and all he'll cost the Red Sox is money, of which Boston has plenty after unloading the Rafael Devers contract.

He only went 8-12 this season with a 4.55 ERA, but he struck out 215 batters in 168.0 innings. He's a former Cy Young finalist who has made 32 starts or more in five straight seasons. He'll pitch next season at 30 years old.

As for Ryan? He's 29 years old and under contract for two more seasons at an affordable arbitration number. That means the Red Sox would have to trade from a robust farm system in order to acquire him. He went 13-10 with a 3.42 ERA, striking out 194 batters in 171.0 innings. That also fits the profile that Merloni says the team needs.

The Red Sox were linked to him at the trade deadline but ultimately weren't able to pry him loose.