Allen Webster teased again Friday night with a four-hit performance over six innings, allowing two runs.
So will he be in the 2015 Red Sox rotation?
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No … not unless Boston’s decision-makers see something that we haven’t.
The Red Sox cannot afford to count on more teases heading into next year.
We’ve been teased enough.
If Felix Doubront ever puts it all together …
If Brandon Workman can translate his bullpen success into a starting role …
If Jackie Bradley Jr. starts to hit …
If Will Middlebrooks returns to form …
If Allen Webster harnesses his stuff …
Boston General Manager Ben Cherington has worked on the offense, so the Red Sox should not have to depend on Bradley and Middlebrooks rebounding from 2014.
And Doubront was jettisoned to the Cubs, along with his 6.07 ERA.
That leaves Workman and Webster, along with a bunch of other possibilities for the Red Sox rotation next year.
One likelihood is that Clay Buchholz, Joe Kelly and at least one new pitcher (say, a lefty who is now in Oakland?) will be atop the rotation.
Maybe (probably?) even two new pitchers.
But let’s say the Red Sox are going to go with young arms from their system. Let’s rank those youngsters, based on how they could impact the rotation in 2015:
1. Rubby De La Rosa has been the most consistent among the bunch over the longest period of time with a 4.01 ERA over 16 starts going into Saturday night’s game in Kansas City. De La Rosa has the stuff (electric 95 mph fastball and much-improved change-up) and has produced. Consistency might be an issue – but it is for all prospects when they reach the majors.
De La Rosa, 25, has a minor league option left for 2015.
2. Matt Barnes also features a swing-and-miss fastball, along with solid secondary pitches (change and curve). Heading into Saturday night, he had just three innings of major league experience (one game, three hits, no runs), so putting him in the rotation would be a gamble. But Barnes made 22 Triple-A starts and kept improving (2.16 ERA in August).
Barnes, 24, has minor league options through 2017.
3. Steven Wright is an obvious gamble because you never know what to expect from a knuckleball pitcher. Tim Wakefield had his up-and-downs with Boston but was a valuable innings-eater for several seasons. Wright was consistent in Pawtucket (3.41 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) and had success in two major league relief appearances (nine innings, one run, 10 strikeouts).
Wright, 30, has a minor league option for 2015.
4. Eduardo Rodriguez is the youngest of the group, but he does have 33 Double-A starts, and he looked very good in Portland (3-1, 0.96 ERA) after the Sox acquired him from Baltimore. With command of a 94 mph fastball and slider, Rodriguez has made one Triple-A start, in the playoffs (seven innings, two runs). He may not help Boston right away in 2015, but he could be an early call-up.
Rodriguez, 21, will likely be added to the 40-man roster this offseason, and has three years of minor league options remaining.
5. Webster remains intriguing because of his sinking fastball. But if the consistency is still not there by April of next year, maybe a move to the bullpen will be in order.
Webster, 24, has one more minor league option for 2015.
6. Anthony Ranaudo was the International League Pitcher of the Year (14-4, 2.61 ERA), but he needs to have great command or he gets hit hard. In five major league starts, he has a 5.40 ERA and has allowed eight home runs. More time in Pawtucket may be in order.
Ranaudo, 25, has two more years of minor league options remaining after this season.
7. Workman can help the Red Sox in 2015, but it appears that will mostly likely occur in the bullpen. Workman reached the majors in 2013 and was a clutch reliever in the postseason. This year, he is 1-9 with a 5.27 ERA (but a 2.84 ERA as a reliever).
Workman, 26, has two years of options after this year.
8. Henry Owens may be considered the No. 1 pitching prospect with the Red Sox, but there is no need to rush him. While Owens was the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year (14-4, 2.60), he is not an overpowering pitcher and his performance in eight Triple-A starts (3-2, 4.89) shows more polish could be applied.
Owens, 22, is not eligible for the Rule 5 draft until after next season, meaning the Red Sox don’t need to put him on the 40-man roster until then.
9. Brian Johnson is similar to Owens – a lefty with a sneaky fastball and a solid off-speed pitch. He finished second to Owens in Pitcher of the Year voting after posting a 1.75 ERA. He has made only one Triple-A start (six innings, two runs) and seems on the same track as Owens. Either could be a call-up during the 2015 season.
Johnson, 23, is like Owens in that the Red Sox don’t need to put him on the 40-man roster until after the 2015 season.
Of course, the possibility remains that any of the nine could be involved in a trade. It depends how bold Cherington plans to be.
The Red Sox have pitching prospects, and prospects can be teasingly good. But Boston is looking for more than a tease. The search is for dependability.
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