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After Eduardo Rodriguez, what happens to the Boston Red Sox rotation?

By Kevin Henry

Aug 28, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck (89) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck (89) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the news on Monday that Eduardo Rodriguez was signing a five-year deal with the Detroit Tigers, how big of a hole will the departure leave in the Boston Red Sox rotation?

What impact will Eduardo Rodriguez leaving for the Detroit Tigers have on the Boston Red Sox?

In six seasons, Rodriguez posted a 64-39 record for the Boston Red Sox, starting 153 of the 159 games in which he appeared. He also finished sixth in the 2019 American League Cy Young Award voting following a season where he started 34 games, posted a 19-6 mark, and logged a career-high ERA+ of 128.

There’s no question that the Red Sox will miss having the 28-year-old southpaw as a part of the rotation, but Boston does have options to replace him internally, even before potentially chasing a starting pitcher on the free agent market as Jon Morosi of MLB Network tweeted after the Rodriguez deal to Detroit was done.

Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi lead the rotation in its current state, with Tanner Houck coming off a year where he made 13 starts and allowed 57 hits in 69 innings of work. Nick Pivetta also showed his durability, making 30 starts and striking out 175 in 155 innings.

Who could be the fifth starter? Could Boston move a bullpen piece into the rotation? It’s certainly possible. As Chad Jennings of The Athletic pointed out in this article (subscription required), Garrett Whitlock was a force out of the Boston bullpen in his rookie season (1.96 ERA, 1.105 WHIP in 46 appearances in 2021), but started 38 of the 42 games he played in the minors. Could a move into the rotation in 2022 be a possibility?

The Red Sox could also certainly go after a starter in free agency, but the need for Boston to acquire someone to lead the rotation rather than fit into the back end of it may allow for the Red Sox to use money to boost other parts of the team as well.

Next. Will Kyle Schwarber return to the Red Sox?. dark

Boston has options to replace Rodriguez in the rotation. It’s a matter of how big they’re willing to go outside of the organization to fill the need or if they will rely on those pitchers who made the marks with the team in 2021.

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