3 Free Agent Pitchers Red Sox Should Sign to Battle for 5th Starter Role

The Boston Red Sox have a clear need for a fifth starting pitcher after sending David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This trade came later in the offseason at a time when plenty of free agent pitchers already found new homes. Yet there are a still a few names on the market that stand out as options for the Red Sox to at least bring in and compete for a starting spot.

3. Ervin Santana

Ervin Santana began 2019 with the Chicago White Sox. / Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Ervin Santana was an All-Star in 2017 with the Minnesota Twins before injuries held him out for most of 2018. He then struggled mightily in three starts with the Chicago White Sox in 2019 before being released. Santana is 37 and has a career ERA of 4.09 across an impressive 15 seasons in the bigs. The Red Sox can bring him in on a minor-league deal with no risk attached and hope he is able return to his past form.

2. Matt Harvey

Matt Harvey struggled with the Los Angeles Angels. / Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

Matt Harvey is only 30 years old, yet his heyday seems like a generation ago. He was an All-Star in 2013 before undergoing Tommy John surgery after the season. He then bounced back with a 2.71 ERA and helped lead the Mets to the World Series in 2015. Since then, he's been nothing short of a disaster, having rough stints in Cincinnati and Los Angeles. He had a 7.09 ERA in 12 starts with the Angels last season before being released in July, and hasn't made a big-league appearance since. No one should expect Harvey to return to his All-Star levels, but if he can replicate even a fraction of his past success he'd be a nice fit in the back-end of Boston's rotation.

1. Aaron Sanchez

Former Toronto Blue Jays SP Aaron Sanchez / Mark Blinch/Getty Images

Aaron Sanchez could be a viable fit for the Red Sox considering he has spent most of his career in the AL East and is still just 27 years old. After a sensational All-Star season in 2016, Sanchez has been unable to back up that success, logging ERAs of 4.25, 4.89 and 5.89 in the years following. A 3-14 first-half record saw the Jays deal him to Houston, and he was non-tendered this winter. Despite only having one solid season of production under his belt, Sanchez's upside is as high as any other remaining free agent pitcher.