Breslow: Red Sox eyeing 'front of a rotation' starter this offseason

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is interested in making a big addition to the rotation this offseason.

"I don't think we're going to spend a ton of time trying to add a No. 4, a No. 5 starter," Breslow said at the GM meetings Monday, according to MassLive's Christopher Smith.

The Red Sox employed one of the top starters in baseball last season in Garrett Crochet. The left-hander finished the campaign with 255 strikeouts in 205 1/3 innings and is a finalist for the AL Cy Young.

Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, and Walker Buehler were the only Red Sox pitchers other than Crochet to make at least 12 starts last season. Buehler didn't finish the year with the Red Sox, and Giolito is a free agent after declining his contract option.

Breslow said he feels good about Boston's starting depth, but believes an upgrade near the top of the rotation is necessary. He said he'll consider free agency and trades.

"Particularly someone that we feel like can pitch alongside or slot in behind Garrett and start a playoff game for us," Breslow said.

"Last season, Bello played that role for a majority of the season. Lucas played that role for a majority of the season. Because of the depth that we've built up over the last couple of years, we feel pretty good about just overall starting pitching. Kind of maybe Nos. three-ish through 10-ish."

The Red Sox were connected to Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan at last season's trade deadline. There are also a number of high-end starters available in free agency such as Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, Ranger Suárez, Michael King, and Zac Gallen.