Andrew Bailey Weighs In on Revamped Red Sox Pitching Staff

The Boston Red Sox have made it clear this winter: the road back to contention goes right through the mound. With pitching coach Andrew Bailey leading the overhaul, Boston has aggressively upgraded its staff and targeted specific pitcher profiles.

They’ve built a level of depth the organization just hasn’t had in years. From landing towering lefty Jake Bennett to adding Sonny Gray‘s steady presence and the upside of Johan Oviedo, the Red Sox are piecing together a staff designed to survive the grind of 162 games.

Red Sox Double Down on Pitching as Organizational Priority

Under Bailey, the Red Sox aren’t just tinkering with their rotation and bullpen anymore. The focus this offseason has been on adding multiple starters and boosting organizational depth so Boston isn’t left scrambling when injuries hit.

Bailey has been pretty candid about the plan: build a staff with layers. That means proven veterans at the top, upside arms in the middle, and enough options to mix and match as the season unfolds.

Size, Extension, and the New Prototype on the Mound

Bailey keeps coming back to the importance of size and extension in today’s pitching. Longer levers and a release point closer to the plate can make a 93 mph fastball look like 96, and that’s the edge Boston is after.

So Bailey’s excitement over 6-foot-6 left-hander Jake Bennett makes total sense. The Red Sox see Bennett as the prototype: tall, projectable, and able to turn physical traits into higher velocity and better performance as he matures.

Jake Bennett Trade: A Calculated Bet on a High-Floor Lefty

Getting Bennett cost the Red Sox a notable prospect: Luis Perales. Perales always intrigued scouts with his upside, but Boston chose what evaluators call a more “lower-risk, pitchable left-hander” in Bennett.

Scouts see Bennett as a mid-rotation or solid depth starter type. He’s not a classic ace, but he fits what Boston wants this winter—strike-throwing, durable, and able to handle meaningful innings.

Why Bennett Fits the Red Sox Model

From Bailey’s point of view, Bennett’s value is all about his mix of size, command, and pitchability. He doesn’t have to be flashy or headline-grabbing; he just needs to be reliable and adaptable, ready to slot in when the schedule gets wild or injuries stack up.

Bennett feels less like a luxury and more like a necessary piece for a team that’s serious about depth.

Johan Oviedo: Power Arm with Untapped Upside

Another intriguing addition is right-hander Johan Oviedo, whose stuff has always hinted at more than his results. Bailey really seems drawn to Oviedo’s fastball profile and strikeout ability, which could make him a real weapon if he irons things out.

Bailey says Oviedo needs to focus on two things: cutting down walks and sharpening his breaking ball. If he attacks the zone more and improves his secondary stuff, he could turn from a tantalizing arm into a legit rotation factor.

The Path Forward for Oviedo

Bailey’s plan isn’t complicated, but it’s demanding. Oviedo won’t need to reinvent himself; the focus is efficiency and execution.

With strikeout tools already in place, even small gains in control could make a big difference for his ERA and workload.

Sonny Gray’s Leadership and Reliability Anchor the Staff

At the top of this new-look staff is Sonny Gray, a pitcher Bailey highlights for his durability, leadership, and swing-and-miss stuff. Gray brings a veteran presence and a history of taking the ball every fifth day—just what a team in transition needs.

Bailey talks about working with Gray to refine the balance between limiting damage and controlling walks. Even established vets are making tweaks, and Gray’s willingness to evolve adds another layer to his value.

Balancing Aggression and Efficiency

For Gray, it’s about threading the needle: attack hitters enough to miss bats, but stay disciplined to avoid trouble. Bailey’s focus on that balance really echoes the team’s bigger philosophy—dominate the zone, but don’t get predictable.

Injury Updates: Crawford and Sandoval Take the Long View

The Red Sox are also watching the rehab trail, where Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval are working back. Both starters are moving through offseason throwing programs, but Bailey isn’t giving any return dates.

He’s stressing patience. The process will go from bullpen sessions, to live BP, and only then to games. Rushing either guy would go against the long-term stability they’re aiming for.

Managing the Rehab-to-Game Pipeline

Bailey’s conservative approach shows this staff is deep enough to handle early-season absences. With more arms ready, Boston can finally prioritize full recovery over quick fixes.

Depth, Flexibility, and the Challenge of Spring Training

Maybe Bailey’s most telling comment: he called Boston’s pitching depth “fantastic.” It’s not just about five starters anymore—it’s about having a whole system ready to support a contender for the long haul.

Bailey pointed out the club can now use:

Balancing Innings and Opportunities

With veterans like Gray, Garrett Crochet, and Brayan Bello in the mix, Bailey faces a tricky spring. Younger arms and rehabbing starters only add to the puzzle.

He admits that managing innings and opportunities in spring training will be a real challenge. Still, having too many pitching candidates? That’s a problem most coaches would love to have.

The message from Bailey and the Red Sox feels pretty clear: this season, Boston wants to compete with pitching, not just scrape by. For the first time in a while, they’ve actually got the depth to try it.

 
Here is the source article for this story: MLB Notebook: Andrew Bailey weighs in on revamped Red Sox pitching staff