Breslow: 'It's been a challenge' to improve Red Sox rotation

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow admitted that upgrading his team's starting rotation this offseason has been hard.

"I know at this point it sounds like kind of empty words to say we're engaged in every path and trying to pursue every opportunity, but it's true that we are, and they don't always work out," Breslow said Tuesday, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. "It's been a challenge. I think a lot of teams are seeing that. Starting pitching is highly, highly desirable."

The Red Sox landed veteran right-hander Lucas Giolito in free agency this winter. However, the club missed out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga after reportedly making an effort to land the Japanese stars. The team also traded often-injured longtime ace Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves.

Meanwhile, club chairman Tom Werner walked back his comments after saying Boston would go "full throttle" this offseason to improve after hiring Breslow in early November.

"Maybe that wasn't the most artful way of saying what I wanted to say," Werner said, according to Sean McAdam of MassLive. "Which is that we're going to be pressing all levers to improve the team. In the end, nobody's happy with our performance the last few years. Some years, we go after somebody who is about to be a free agent, or was a free agent, as it pertains to Trevor Story or (Rafael) Devers."

The Red Sox rotation is currently projected to include Giolito, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and Nick Pivetta. The trio of Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, and Josh Winckowski could also start.

Boston finished last in the AL East in three out of the last four seasons.