Should Red Sox Target Three-Time All-Star For Super Bullpen?

The Boston Red Sox have a strong bullpen, anchored by the reigning American League Reliever of the Year, Aroldis Chapman. Even though the Red Sox have an elite closer, Ken Rosenthal, Will Sammon and Katie Woo of The Athletic revealed that Boston is open to the idea of adding a high-leverage reliever to build a “super bullpen.”

“Though the idea is further down their list of priorities, the Boston Red Sox are considering the addition of a high-leverage reliever to create a version of a super bullpen, people familiar with the club’s thinking said,” the trio wrote in a piece published Thursday.

There are plenty of elite pitchers available this offseason if the Red Sox do want to build an even better bullpen. Adding a pitcher who usually serves as a closer to serve as a setup man for Chapman could be considered. However, the Red Sox could also add another closer to deploy a closer-by-committee approach. Edwin Díaz is an intriguing option for the Red Sox.

Díaz reportedly wants another $100 million deal after opting out of his contract with the New York Mets. He was dominant as a closer for the Mets last season, posting a 1.63 ERA, winning the National League Reliever of the Year Award.

Díaz’s joining Chapman might mean he will not be the primary closer. The Red Sox extended Chapman with a $13 million deal during the season. His contract has a vesting mutual option for 2027 with 40 innings pitched next season.

Díaz is an elite closer, but he noted that at this stage in his career, he simply wants to be paid and compete for a World Series. His dedication to winning may make him more open to the idea of splitting closer duties with Chapman or even simply serving as a setup man while Chapman plays out his contract. After that, he may be able to take over as the closer.

“Just get the best deal for my family … I love New York,” Díaz told Newsday’s Laura Albanese when asked about his free agency desires. “I would love to stay in New York, but if I have to go another place, I would be happy. I want to win a ring, so wherever I go, I want to win a ring and enjoy the time.”

The Red Sox would essentially have two closers at the end of games. Díaz and Chapman pitching in the eighth and ninth innings with a lead would make life very difficult for opposing lineups. It would be a similar situation to what the Milwaukee Brewers had with Devin Williams setting up Josh Hader for years. That setup proved to lead to plenty of wins for the Brewers, and the Red Sox could see something similar if they add Díaz for their “super bullpen.”

Díaz is a three-time All-Star and three-time Reliever of the Year. He is one of two players to win a Reliever of the Year Award three times since the inception of the current honor in 2014.