Morning sports update
The Red Sox and Blake Snell: As the MLB offseason continues to take shape, the Red Sox wish to reshape the perception of the team not only on the diamond, but off of it as well.
After an 81-81 finish in 2024 — the team's fourth non-playoff season in five years — Boston appears desperate to reshape the roster this winter. Of course, within the wake of the fallout from chairman Tom Werner's now-infamous “full throttle” comment a yr ago (when he promised the team would spend money simply to get by without major additions), the Red Sox are also trying to change the narrative as well this front.
So far, Boston has been linked to the possibly historic bidding war for slugger Juan Soto and several other starting players.
The The latest news got here from reporter Ken Rosenthalwho noted that the Red Sox were meeting with 31-year-old left-hander Blake Snell.
Snell, who pitched for the Giants in 2024 and is currently a free agent, is a two-time Cy Young Award winner. Signing him can be an enormous boost to the Red Sox starting rotation. According to Rosenthal, he has also met with the World Series champion Dodgers and is anticipated to talk with the Blue Jays and Orioles.
“Much of the conversation with the Red Sox this offseason has revolved around courting Juan Soto, but a top starter is their greater need, and a left-handed hitter would be a better fit for their all-right-handed rotation,” Rosenthal noted.
Boston's current rotation includes Tanner Houck (3.12 ERA in 2024), Kutter Crawford (4.36 ERA), Brayan Bello (4.49 ERA), Nick Pivetta (4.14 ERA) and Lucas Giolito (who finished the season missed 2024 after surgery). All currently planned starters are right-handed, as Rosenthal emphasized.
In addition to Snell, the Red Sox could also sign experienced free agent starters like Max Fried or Corbin Burnes. Additionally, 23-year-old Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki offers one among the more interesting options.
Scores and schedules:
Tonight the Bruins begin the Joe Sacco era with a 7 p.m. clash against the Utah Hockey Club at TD Garden.
Additionally, the Celtics' 2024 championship can be honored in a ceremony on the White House today at 4:30 p.m
The Celtics will face the Wizards again tomorrow at 7 p.m
More from Boston.com:
The time Steve Smith Sr. almost ended up in New England: The former NFL wide receiver discussed the sliding doors moment with Julian Edelman.
On at the present time: In 2001, Bill Belichick selected to follow Tom Brady because the Patriots' starting quarterback over Drew Bledsoe.
While this looks like an obvious alternative today, it was (obviously) rather more controversial back then. Not only was Brady still a comparatively unknown player on the NFL level, but Bledsoe was just months away from signing a 10-year, $103 million contract.
Daily highlight: Hansel Emmanuel, a basketball player at Austin Peay, lost an arm at age six, but lost it anyway developed into a unprecedented talent on the basketball court.
He showed that with a thunderous dunk against Morehead State.
image credit : www.boston.com