2 Pitchers the Sox Could Trade For

At some point the Red Sox will unload a number of existing players & prospects as one way to address their starting pitching needs. Here's a couple of guys in the top 20 for ERA this year that are flying under the radar as the play for smaller market teams. First, Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians. Kluber is 28 years old, 6'4", 215 pounds. He has come into his own this year for Francona's tribe with 244 strikeouts in 219 innings. He does not become a free agent until 2019 at age 32, so 4 years of control. Next is Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros. Kuechel is 26 years old, 6'3", 210 pounds & a lefty. His WHIP is 1.182 in 193 innings this year & he too is not a free agent until 2019, another 4 years of control. Why would Cleveland or Houston listen to offers on these young pitchers? Because we can offer them a 4-to-1 or 5-to-1 deal in return. Take your pick - Ranaudo, Barnes, Workman, Webster, Escobar, JBJ, Nava, Holt, Middlebrooks, Cecchini, Brentz, Lavarnway, Butler, even a Mookie Betts. We have plenty of spare parts to trade away. Even one of these guys would be a good pick-up as a 3rd pitcher to be added to the staff by way of trade if the free agency route doesn't pan out. A pitcher with an ERA under 4.00 next year should be able to win a lot of games for a 2015 Red Sox team, assuming a much-improved offense which should average 5 runs per game.