One of the more positive aspects about the Boston Red Sox’s Winter Weekend a few weeks ago was Garrett Whitlock’s new appearance.
A large number of Sox players attended the celebration. The roster is largely unchanged from the previous season, and not much has changed. Whitlock, though, grabbed attention.
The right-hander, who stands at 6-foot-5, has gained comparisons to Red Sox legend Jon Lester due to his rapid metamorphosis. Whitlock is a reliever by trade, but in addition to starting some games last season, Boston utilized him as a starter. The Sox instructed him to come to Spring Training prepared to work as a starter. Will it be the case, though?
The Athletic withdrew its Red Sox roster projection and made an alternative suggestion. Whitlock moved to the bullpen, but Red Sox reporter Jen McCaffrey didn’t mind. Tanner Houck was selected for the starting rotation.
According to The Athletic, Tanner Houck will start the season ahead of Garrett Whitlock in the Red Sox’s rotation.
The rationale behind McCaffrey’s decision makes sense. Houck and Whitlock have been competing for a rotation berth for almost three seasons, with the former having a stronger hold on the position.
However, Houck has a few lifespan problems. In 2023, he struggled with consistency overall and was unable to pitch deep into games with consistency. From 3.15 the year before, his ERA skyrocketed to 5.01. His strikeout rate hasn’t changed, but his walks have increased little.
Whitlock hasn’t spent as much time in the starting rotation as Houck, so his stats aren’t exactly comparable. Whitlock made 10 starts to Houck’s 21, and Whitlock was the only one of the two that made relief appearances in 2023. In his 71.2 innings pitched, the now-Lester-lookalike worked his way to a 5.15 ERA, allowing 13 homers in the process and striking out 72.
Houck and Whitlock are not the only relievers being discussed for the starting rotation. Cooper Criswell, a free agent acquired by the Red Sox, told reporters that he was informed he would be ready to start in Spring Training this year. Starting-level innings will be what Josh Winckowski will be practicing. Despite playing much better out of the bullpen last season, Nick Pivetta was included in McCaffrey’s projections as a starter.
This offseason, the Red Sox are less certain than ever about their ability to assemble a strong rotation, instead of searching for a surefire ace. Though not infallible, McCaffrey’s projections indicate that there may be some back and forth over the pitching staff.
