MLB Rumors: Red Sox Potential Fit For Top Free-Agent Starting Pitchers
So far, much of the buzz surrounding the Boston Red Sox in free agency focuses on chief baseball officer Craig Breslow targeting a big-time bat such as Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber or New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.
But as we all know, you can never have enough pitching. To that end, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden lists the Red Sox as best fits for four of the top starters on the open market.
Top Starting Pitchers
Let’s start with right-hander Dylan Cease, who Bowden calls the No. 8 free agent. The former general manager lists the Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers as the best options (maybe it would’ve been easier to list who ISN’T a best fit).
Bowden predicts the 29-year-old will get a six-year, $187 million contract, using Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet’s six-year, $170 million deal as a comp.
Cease is durable, having made at least 32 starts in each of the last five seasons and was linked to Boston before the July 31 MLB trade deadline. He has a pair of top-five finishes in Cy Young Award voting but struggled in 2025, going 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA for the Padres.
At No. 11 on Bowden’s list is Zac Gallen, another trade deadline target. Among the best fits named are the Red Sox, Tigers, Houston Astros, Padres, Giants, Braves, Mets, St. Louis Cardinals and Cubs.
Bowden believes Gallen will land a five-year, $135 million contract. The 30-year-old right-hander has three top-10 finishes in Cy Young voting and one All-Star appearance on his resume. Like Cease, Gallen is coming off a down year. Pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Gallen recorded a career-high 15 losses in 2025 while posting a career-worst 4.83 ERA.
No. 13 on Bowden’s list is former New York Yankees prospect Michael King, who has a mutual option on his current deal. The best fits for the right-hander according to Bowden are the Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Braves, Mets, Cubs, Angels and Tigers.
King is expected to land a three-year, $75 million contract according to Bowden. The 30-year-old right-hander made just 15 starts this season for the Padres, missing time with shoulder and knee injuries. But he made a career-high 30 starts in 2024, going 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA.
Shane Bieber comes in at No. 15 on Bowden’s list. The former GM names the Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Guardians, Braves Giants, Orioles, Mets and Astros as best fits. Bowden projects the right-hander will get a three-year, $75 million contract.
The 30-year-old Bieber won the 2020 American League Cy Young Award. But the two-time All-Star underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2024. He made seven starts this year for the Blue Jays and is currently on Toronto’s World Series roster.
Pitching Not Top Priority
Look, do the Red Sox need to spend big on a starter? Not necessarily. Boston has Tanner Houck (Tommy John surgery), Kutter Crawford (wrist) and Hunter Dobbins (torn ACL) on the comeback trail.
Plus top pitching prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early proved they might be ready for prime time following their late-season MLB debuts.
Adding a big-time bat is without question job No. 1 for Breslow. But the Red Sox don’t want to come up short in the American League East arms race, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the free-agent pitching market as we head into Hot Stove season.