The Boston Red Sox have pulled off the biggest pitching trade of the offseason, acquiring Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a package of high-quality prospects. Despite the trade, Boston still boasts one of the deepest farm systems in MLB and remains a serious contender with an ambitious and forward-thinking front office.
Crochet’s addition aligns with the expected return of Lucas Giolito from Tommy John surgery, setting the stage for a potentially much-improved Red Sox rotation. However, Boston appears far from done, as their aggressive pursuit of Juan Soto suggests they’re willing to keep pushing for upgrades.
While the Red Sox likely won’t spend $700 million on any free agents this offseason, other top pitching options remain on the table. Corbin Burnes is still available, and arms like Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, and Roki Sasaki could significantly boost Boston’s chances in the competitive AL East.
Alternatively, Boston could leverage its stacked farm system in trades as more pitching talent emerges on the market. One intriguing possibility is 23-year-old Pirates ace Jared Jones, fresh off an impressive rookie campaign and under team control through 2027. Pittsburgh’s rumored demands could work perfectly for Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
Pirates’ needs align perfectly with Red Sox roster — and could put Jared Jones within reach
The Pirates are reportedly searching for a standout corner outfielder, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Boston happens to have a promising option in 25-year-old Wilyer Abreu, who posted a .253/.322/.459 slash line with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in his rookie season. Like Jones, Abreu is under an affordable, team-controlled contract through 2027, making him a viable long-term asset for Pittsburgh.
While the Red Sox should value Abreu for both his current and future potential, a player like Jones might be too tempting to pass up. Despite some inconsistency during his rookie campaign, Jones emerged as a strong presence behind Paul Skenes in the rotation. It’s surprising that Pittsburgh would even entertain trading him, but with their urgent need for offensive firepower, this could be a rare win-win deal involving two high-upside young talents.
Jones wrapped up his rookie season with a 4.14 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts over 121.2 innings. His fastball, which can hit triple digits (93rd percentile velocity per Baseball Savant), and a slider with nearly four inches of break highlight his potential as a future ace. Pairing Jones with Crochet in the Red Sox rotation for years to come would be a dream scenario.
Although the Red Sox need offensive upgrades, their biggest weakness in 2024 was pitching. The additions of Giolito and Crochet could provide a significant boost, especially with continued development from Brayan Bello and other young arms. Securing Jones — a potential frontline starter for the next decade — would mark a bold statement of intent by Boston’s front office.
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