Red Sox news: Boston gets roasted for signing of 'questionable' starter

The Red Sox secured a one-year deal with former Angels standout Garrett Richards, but the Boston faithful don't seem too fond of the signing.

The Boston Red Sox entered the offseason hoping to bolster the horrendous starting rotation they carried in 2019. Unfortunately for Red Sox fans, the team's solution isn't quite what they were expecting.

According to a report by ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Red Sox have agreed to a one-year contract with pitcher Garrett Richards for a stupefying $10 million. Considering that Richards has been a spot starter at best for both the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels over his career, the hefty price tag hasn't gone unnoticed by New England residents, who, unsurprisingly, have some thoughts.

Let's just say the Red Sox faithful don't sound too pleased.

Red Sox fans saying 11 million for kluber is too much but then sign Garrett Richard's for 10 is laughable.

— Chris H. 🇺🇸 (@ch42901) January 23, 2021

CHAIM BLOOM HAS NO CLUE!!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

— SLAM CENTRAL STATION (@SlamCentralNYY) January 23, 2021

While the Boston front office will likely counter that the deal represents a low-risk move given the single guaranteed year, many fans have pointed out that the Red Sox traded away superstar Mookie Betts to reset their luxury tax violation with the hope that they could then be more aggressive in free agency. Given the team's lack of aggression in filling out the rest of the roster with blockbuster acquisitions, the signing of Richards is just a tad bit disappointing.

Blockbuster moves like this wouldn’t have been possible if the Red Sox didn’t reset the cap by trading Mookie Betts https://t.co/hCDBpwYKv0

— Xanny DeVito (@trevorstweetss) January 23, 2021

Should Richards indeed be the final chess piece that the front office adds to their board in anticipation of the upcoming season, it would mean that Boston would employ a starting rotation of Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Tanner Houck, and Richards. With four out of the five having experienced injury concerns over the last several years, there are real concerns about the rotation's ability to provide an adequate return on investment.

While Garrett Richards may not have been on the Red Sox's wishlist to begin the offseason, part of their hopes for the 2021 season will now reside in his right arm.