Assessing Breslow’s track record with pitchers after Suarez signing originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
After failing to re-sign Alex Bregman in free agency, Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow turned to the starting pitching market for his first big-league signing of the offseason.
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The Red Sox signed former Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez to a reported five-year, $130 million contract on Wednesday. The 30-year-old posted a 3.20 ERA over 26 starts last season and profiles as a No. 2 starter behind ace Garrett Crochet.
Breslow also acquired right-handers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo earlier via trades in the offseason. The Crochet-Suarez 1-2 punch, followed by Gray, Oviedo, Brayan Bello, and several high-upside depth pieces, arguably gives Boston one of the best starting rotations in baseball for 2026.
While Breslow has undoubtedly struggled to add impactful position players, the former MLB relief pitcher has aggressively added arms since replacing Chaim Bloom as Red Sox CBO in 2023. That has especially been the case in the MLB Draft, where 29 of his 41 draft picks have been pitchers — including 15 of the club’s 21 picks in the 2025 draft.
Below, we’ll take a deeper dive into Breslow’s track record with the pitchers he has added via free agency, trade, and the draft.
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* = no longer with organization
Free-agent signings
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Liam Hendriks, RP* (free agent)
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Cooper Criswell, SP/RP* (claimed on waivers by NYM)
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Lucas Giolito, SP* (free agent)
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Justin Wilson, RP* (free agent)
Suarez’s five-year deal is by far the biggest commitment the Red Sox have made to a free-agent starting pitcher since the Dave Dombrowski era. Otherwise, the Bloom and Breslow-led front offices have primarily handed out short-term deals for high-upside pitchers with injury histories. Giolito and Sandoval fall into that category for Breslow.
The Red Sox got one solid season out of Giolito, and Sandoval has yet to take the mound in a Red Sox uniform as he spent 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery. As for free-agent relievers, Breslow can hang his hat on last offseason’s signing of veteran closer Aroldis Chapman. It was a scrutinized move with the 37-year-old coming off a rough year in Pittsburgh, but he bounced back to become MLB’s most dominant closer in 2025.
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Criswell served as a solid swingman during his two years in Boston. Wilson exceeded expectations as one of the Red Sox’ most reliable relievers last season.
Trade acquisitions
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Isaiah Campbell, RP* (signed minors deal with ARI)
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Richard Fitts, SP* (traded to STL for Sonny Gray)
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Lucas Sims, RP* (free agent)
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Luis Garcia, RP* (free agent)
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Steven Matz, SP/RP* (signed w/ TBR as free agent)
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Dustin May, SP* (signed w/ STL as free agent)
Breslow has preferred the trade market to free agency over his three years as Red Sox CBO. Outside of ace Garrett Crochet, the pitchers he has acquired via trade largely haven’t panned out.
Campbell was one of Breslow’s first trade acquisitions, and the right-hander amassed an 11.30 ERA over 14 appearances out of Boston’s bullpen. Weissert and Slaten have been solid, albeit unspectacular, relief options.
The 2024 trade deadline was a disaster for Breslow and Co. Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia were supposed to bolster the bullpen for a potential postseason run, but both were abysmal in their brief stints with Boston.
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Richard Fitts showed some potential during his brief stint with the club before being sent to the St. Louis Cardinals in this winter’s Sonny Gray trade. Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks, both acquired from the San Francisco Giants in the Rafael Devers blockbuster, have been non-factors with the Red Sox thus far. Harrison was sent to Triple-A, while Hicks was a liability out of Boston’s pen in 2025.
Breslow added veterans Steven Matz and Dustin May before the 2025 trade deadline. May struggled across six outings with the club, though Matz proved to be a reliable relief option. Both have since left the club in free agency.
The Red Sox will hope the Gray and Oviedo additions put an end to Breslow’s lackluster streak of trade acquisitions.
Drafted players (Top 30 prospects)
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Brandon Clarke* (traded to STL for Sonny Gray)
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Yhoiker Fajardo* (traded to STL for Willson Contreras)
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Breslow has gone all-in on pitching in his first three drafts with the Red Sox. Left-hander Payton Tolle (No. 1 in org, per SoxProspects.com) and right-hander Kyson Witherspoon (No. 4) enter 2026 as two of the most exciting pitching prospects in the sport.
Brandon Clarke and Yhoiker Fajardo were used to acquire Gray and first baseman Willson Contreras in separate deals with St. Louis this offseason.
David Sandlin remains a top-10 prospect in Boston’s system. Eyanson, Phillips, and Cason are lesser-known pitching prospects drafted by Breslow and currently ranked inside the top 30.
