Dombrowski: Red Sox 'Would At Least Be Open-Minded About' Trading Starters
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Red Sox have perhaps the best starting rotation in the American League after acquiring Chris Sale on Tuesday in a surprise blockbuster deal at the Winter Meetings. But they also suddenly have a surplus of viable major league starters and a few more with the potential to become one.
That was one of many topics that Red Sox president of baseball ops Dave Dombrowski addressed on Tuesday afternoon in the hours following the trade. With Sale, David Price, and Rick Porcello now fronting the rotation, that leaves the likes of Clay Buchholz, Eduardo Rodriguez, Steven Wright, and Drew Pomeranz battling for the final two spots.
Dombrowski said that trading one or more starters to make room for others and improve in other areas was not a necessity, but did not close the door on the possibility.
"As you know, you never have enough pitching. That's the old adage," Dombrowski said when asked about whether he's in a position to trade other starters on the staff. "But I would say that is something we'd at least be open-minded about."
Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune tweeted on Tuesday that the Seattle Mariners are "likely to check in on the availability" of Buchholz and Pomeranz. The problem may have already solved itself with Pomeranz, who carved out a role as an innings-eating middle reliever in the playoffs. Buchholz, however, could be an attractive trade chip with his $13.5 million salary and baseball's thin class of free-agent starters.
Dombrowski also said he likes the team's younger starters in the minors, including Henry Owens, Roenis Elias, and Brian Johnson. So if he is as confident in those guys as he says, then it would behoove the Red Sox to move one or more starters and make more room for them to potentially earn a spot in the rotation.