{"id":10238,"date":"2024-12-13T02:31:07","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T02:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=10238"},"modified":"2024-12-13T02:31:07","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T02:31:07","slug":"alex-coras-update-on-garrett-whitlock-increases-red-soxs-need-for-starters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=10238","title":{"rendered":"Alex Cora’s update on Garrett Whitlock increases Red Sox’s need for starters"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Red Sox Manager Alex Cora hinted that Garrett Whitlock will return to the pen, increasing the likelihood of the Red Sox adding at least one starting pitcher.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Whitlock<\/picture><\/div>
Whitlock to the bullpen? Sox need more starting pitching. | Brian Fluharty\/GettyImages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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The MLB Winter Meetings are well underway in Dallas and Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora gave some interesting tidbits to\u00a0MassLive\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0Chris Cotillo in a sitdown interview.<\/p>\n

One reveal will impact what the Red Sox do for the rest of the offseason.\u00a0Cora suggested that Garrett Whitlock will likely return to the bullpen\u00a0when he fully recovers from the UCL repair surgery he underwent in May.<\/p>\n

Whitlock\u2019s return to the bullpen should be a plus for his stats and will give the Red Sox a valuable swing-and-miss pitcher for the late innings. However, removing Whitlock from a potential starting role means Boston will certainly need to add at least two new starters to their rotation to go along with Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, and Lucas Giolito. Kutter Crawford struggled down the stretch last season and is certainly not a lock for the rotation. Nick Pivetta seems likely to move on in free agency.<\/p>\n

Given recent departures from Boston and the Whitlock update, the Red Sox will need to bolster their rotation with a few more starters.\u00a0There are a few quality options still available.<\/p>\n

Alex Cora’s update on Garrett Whitlock’s future makes Red Sox even more desperate for starting pitchers<\/h2>\n
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