The Red Sox have been linked to free agent pitchers Corey Kluber, Rich Hill, J.A. Happ and Jake Odorizzi. They missed out on Japanese hurler Kohei Arihara, who chose the Rangers. And they have signed one guy who could possibly be a part-time participant in the rotation, Matt Andriese.
That's all we have so far. But this week may give us a little more to talk about.
Coveted Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano has until 5 p.m. Thursday to choose his team. The Red Sox are in the mix. How much in the mix? That's what we don't know and are about to find out.
The 31-year-old Sugano is a legitimate difference-maker in any rotation, as his career 2.34 ERA in the NPB would suggest.
So, who are the Red Sox competition for the righty's services? Reports state that the Mets, Blue Jays and Giants are all in the mix. Sugano also has a fair amount of leverage thanks to his team in Japan.
While executives want to suggest that any one signing is going to jump-start this slowest of slow offseason, the Sugano decision should give it at least a nudge.
The Red Sox, for instance, would likely alter their approach with Hill, Odorizzi, Happ and Kluber (who is scheduled to workout for teams in two weeks) if Sugano is locked up with the team's rotation filled up.
A commitment from Sugano would also go a long way to changing the perception of the Red Sox' lot in life. Not only does the integration of the pitcher immediately put the Sox back into the postseason conversation, but it puts the organization back on the map when it comes to preferred landing spots.
As Chaim Bloom pointed out on WEEI, there are some elements of the equation that are out of the Red Sox' hands when it comes to decisions by players such as Sugano. But in this case it would certainly behoove Boston to put its absolute best foot forward.
"In different situations you will sometimes see, especially when the money amount is smaller, there are other factors that come into play more," Bloom said. "Players will sometimes take teams, or pick among similar offers, based on other factors that are important to them. Whenever we’re involved that type of situation we want to put our best foot forward and make sure we show a player how we can appeal to them. But people are different and everybody has different things that they like and they value. Money is part of that, but sometimes there are other factors that are part of that. I think historically there are certain types of player who are drawn to Boston and there are certain types of players who would rather play elsewhere. This place is not for everybody and you want to make sure the players we’re bringing here in those circumstances are guys who are going to thrive playing here and really want to be here."
Some other free agent pitchers who are still available include Trevor Bauer (who are likely out of the Red Sox' price range), Jose Quintana, James Paxton, Taijuan Walker and Garrett Richards.