The Boston Red Sox have a lot of starting pitching after last season ended due to not having enough. Major credit goes out to Craig Breslow for turning things around as quickly as he did.
The downside is needing to make a tough decision by the time spring training ends in a few weeks. One of those decisions is for the last spot in the starting rotation. Boston insider Jen McCaffrey believes left-handed pitcher Payton Tolle will start the season in Triple-A Worcester.
“I think Tolle starts the year in Triple A to continue developing as a starter rather than slotting him into the bullpen,” McCaffrey wrote for The Athletic on Monday. “The Red Sox don’t feel strongly that they need another lefty alongside Jovani Moran (in addition to closer Aroldis Chapman). Manager Alex Cora has spoken at length about his right-handed relievers having the ability to get lefties out. The value of having Tolle (and Connelly Early) remain stretched out as starters for depth purposes, especially given how many starters the Red Sox traded this winter, is important. There will be an inevitable starter injury this season, and both Tolle and Early are next in line to be called up.”
McCaffrey noted that Johan Oviedo is a virtual lock for the last spot in the rotation, and the only way he doesn’t earn the spot is if he struggles mightily over the rest of spring training.
This doesn’t mean Tolle will never see the big leagues this season. As much as everyone doesn’t want to think about injuries, they will happen. When they do, Tolle will be one of the first pitchers to be called up. Boston still believes his long-term projection is for him to be a starting pitcher, and it would reportedly rather have him start in Worcester than be in the bullpen at the major leagues.
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