Veteran free-agent starter would be good candidate for battered Red Sox rotation

After losing top free-agent addition Lucas Giolito to injury, the Boston Red Sox's starting rotation is facing big questions ahead of Opening Day at Seattle on March 28. 

Due to the injury and a lackluster winter, the rotation seems to be worse than it was last season, which ended in a last-place AL East finish and a 78-84 record.

Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta and Kutter Crawford make up the first three spots in the rotation, but the team is still searching for two others to complete it. Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock and Cooper Criswell have spent spring training competing for a spot, but Boston still has the time to make another move. 

One free agent who could be a fit for Boston's rotation is veteran starter Mike Clevinger, who seeks a one-year deal before Opening Day, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

In 2023 with the Chicago White Sox, Clevinger went 9-9 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP through 24 starts. He also threw 131.1 innings, the second-highest total of his career. Through eight seasons, he has a career 3.45 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.

Adding another veteran alongside Pivetta could be beneficial for a rotation that has a young core. Bello, Whitlock, Houck, Crawford and Criswell have four years or less of experience in the majors. 

According to WEEI's Rob Bradford, Boston is one of Clevinger's "preferred landing spots." 

Signing Clevinger makes a lot of sense for the Red Sox. He is a cheap option who could support the back end of the rotation and would more than likely fall within the spending parameters leadership has given chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. 

Though he isn't on par with fellow free agents Jordan Montgomery or 2023 NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, Clevinger would make the most sense for both sides with Opening Day looming.