Boston Red Sox fans should be salivating at the prospect of adding Cole Ragans to their rotation this offseason. The 29-year-old lefty is a prized commodity that could form an explosive 1-2 punch with Garrett Crochet, bolstering the team's chances of winning now.
Ragans' impressive arsenal of pitches is reminiscent of Crochet's own filthy stuff, and the potential for these two to dominate on the mound together is vast. In his limited starts last season, Ragans showed flashes of brilliance, striking out 98 batters in just 61.1 innings, including a 2.50 FIP that suggests he's due for bigger things.
While injuries did hinder Ragans' performance in 2025, it's worth noting that his ERA was inflated by poor luck rather than poor pitching. He also has a favorable contract, locked up through the end of the 2028 season at just $13.25 million per year, making him an extremely affordable piece to add to the rotation.
The only real concern is whether Boston would need to give up too much to pry Ragans away from Kansas City. The Royals are likely to want a haul in any deal, which could mean parting with established big-leaguers like Jarren Duran or younger prospects like Marcelo Mayer and Franklin Arias.
Ultimately, adding Ragans and Crochet to the rotation would make the Red Sox a formidable team that could compete for championships. With Sonny Gray already on board, Boston is taking steps in the right direction towards building a sustainable contender for years to come.
Ragans' impressive arsenal of pitches is reminiscent of Crochet's own filthy stuff, and the potential for these two to dominate on the mound together is vast. In his limited starts last season, Ragans showed flashes of brilliance, striking out 98 batters in just 61.1 innings, including a 2.50 FIP that suggests he's due for bigger things.
While injuries did hinder Ragans' performance in 2025, it's worth noting that his ERA was inflated by poor luck rather than poor pitching. He also has a favorable contract, locked up through the end of the 2028 season at just $13.25 million per year, making him an extremely affordable piece to add to the rotation.
The only real concern is whether Boston would need to give up too much to pry Ragans away from Kansas City. The Royals are likely to want a haul in any deal, which could mean parting with established big-leaguers like Jarren Duran or younger prospects like Marcelo Mayer and Franklin Arias.
Ultimately, adding Ragans and Crochet to the rotation would make the Red Sox a formidable team that could compete for championships. With Sonny Gray already on board, Boston is taking steps in the right direction towards building a sustainable contender for years to come.