The Red Sox got a “filthy pig”, which is the best way that Red Sox broadcaster Lou Merloni would put it. Adding Garrett Crochet was the biggest trade the Red Sox made since acquiring Chris Sale back in 2017. They now have an ace in their rotation and a true workhorse. He is the pitcher they’ve needed and he immediately makes the rotation deeper and better than the 2024 season. But that’s not all.

The Red Sox are seeking for more pitching and have been linked to numerous names. They were in the running for both Blake Snell and Max Fried, but their attention now is on Corbin Burnes. He is one of the three pitchers the Red Sox have been linked to, along with Seattle Mariners Luis Castillo and free agent Walker Buehler. The likelihood of adding two of the three is small, but adding at least one is a strong possibility.

Of the three pitchers; it’s time to choose your fighter! Who would you rather have?

The Three Pitchers of Interest

Corbin Burnes

There is no denying the impact that Burnes can have at the front of your rotation. He was everything that the Orioles were seeking and more. He made 32 starts this year for the second season in a row and pitched 194.1 innings. The Red Sox need an innings eater and someone who can go deep into games and Burnes can do just that.

Burnes finished the season with a 2.92 ERA, which is the lowest for him since the 2021 season. There are so many great things he does on the mound that would warrant the attention of the Red Sox front office. Burnes is a pitcher that can get players to chase, while still finishing in the 74th percentile for whiff rate. He does not get hit hard and does a good job limiting his walks. The one glaring thing about Burnes is the strikeout rate.

The two players the Red Sox have brought in (Crochet, Aroldis Chapman) is that they are great and generating the swing and miss and also have very high strikeout rates. For Burnes, he finished in the 51st percentile for strikeout percentage. This is something that has been going downward since the 2020 season, along with his K/9.

The velocity is still there with Burnes and he has good baseball left in the tank. Sure, he is 30 years old, which could deter John Henry away from a long term deal. However, there are ways to structure such a deal and land the player. Burnes, Crochet, and Tanner Houck is a delightful three headed monster.

Walker Buehler

People truly forget how good Walker Buehler was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Injuries can do that and given the long 162 game grind, people’s memories begin to slip. In the past two years, he’s pitched 140.1 innings combined, but prior to that pitched 207.2 innings. Buehler did miss the entire 2023 campaign. He does have the makings of being a reliable pitcher and a phenomenal depth piece in this rotation. Let Andrew Bailey get a hold of him and the cooking will begin.

Buehler had a tough 2024 season. In all the months he’s pitched, Buehler allowed more hits than innings pitched in each month. To make matters worse, he didn’t even know if he would make the postseason roster. Fast forward and he’s the guy who closed out the World Series and helped the Dodgers deliver a championship.

WALKER BUEHLER CLOSES IT OUT! #CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/1S2242udt6

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 31, 2024

The Red Sox are all in on trying to make the postseason and capture a World Series. Buehler comes with experience and meaningful experience. His World Series experience is helpful for a young team trying to reach that mountain top. Buehler has a 3.04 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in the postseason.

With the Red Sox in the mix, Buehler becomes a great middle of the rotation pitcher and offers tremendous depth and shouldn’t break the bank like a Burnes contract could.

Luis Castillo

This one is much different than the first two options. While those are contracts and the most the Red Sox would have to part with is the compensation pick, adding Luis Castillo is a trade option. The Mariners and the Red Sox are a perfect match in heaven when it comes to a potential trade. The Red Sox need pitching and the Mariners need bats. Time to make the marriage happen and send them off on their honeymoon.

The Red Sox have dangled Triston Casas to the Mariners in exchange for Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo. It got shut down, which allows the Red Sox to pivot to Castillo.

Castillo is older than both Burnes and Buehler (32 years old) and is under contract for another three years. He has an AAV of $21.60 million and also a vesting option in 2028. The option vests with at least 180 innings pitched in 2027.

Castillo has been steady eddy on the bump. He has pitched 150+ innings the last four seasons and has a career ERA of 3.56 and WHIP of 1.18. He fits the bill of being a guy that can take the ball, give you innings, and quality work on the mound.

Castillo did good work with his fastball, with it being virtually untouchable. Pair that with his slider that generated a whiff rate of 35.8% and there is much to be excited about.

Castillo is a phenomenal pitcher and has control. Would I trade Casas for Castillo? Not even close. However, if there are pieces to make the deal work I’d certainly entertain it.

Choosing the Right Pitcher

Each pitcher poses their own cases as to why they should or shouldn’t be coveted. Burnes certainly is a caliber ace pitcher, but the strikeout rate trending downward is a concern. Pair that with the $200+ million dollar contract and that could deter Henry away. Buehler is an intriguing case and could be a lethal weapon in the Bailey laboratory. The contract should be smaller than Burnes, but also having more than one year.

Then there is Castillo, who will cost assets to land, but you know what you are getting with him. Regardless, these pitchers easily make the Red Sox rotation deeper and also playoff caliber.

So who is it? Who’s your fighter?