The Red Sox discussed the Jared Jones trade to the Pirates during winter meetings

Starting pitching has been a priority for the Red Sox this winter, and the club has actively responded to that need by trading Garrett crochet and sign them both Walker Buehler AND Patrick Sandoval. Several other starters have been on Boston’s radar during the offseason, including some talks with the Pirates at right-hander Jared Jones during the Winter Meetings, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.

The depth of the negotiations is unknown, or whether Boston’s interest was perhaps anything more than a due diligence check-in in case the crochet trade didn’t close. In an example of how teams consistently pursue multiple paths at once during an offseason, Speier notes that the Red Sox were also showing interest in the Mariners Luis Castello as a trade target along with Jones and Crochet, and also talking to free agents like Buehler, Nathan EovaldiAND Nick Pivetta.

Despite the additions to the rotation to date, one can probably assume that the Red Sox would still be interested in acquiring Jones, simply because every team would like to have a controllable 23-year-old pitcher coming off an impressive rookie season. Reports from earlier this month indicated that Pittsburgh was (somewhat surprisingly) open to the idea of ​​at least hearing offers for Jones, although this was before the Pirates addressed their rotation depth by moving Luis Ortiz to the Guardians for Spencer Horwitz.

Heading into the winter, it was widely believed that the Pirates would make a pitching-for-hitting trade, given the team’s need for offense and the number of available pitchers. Even with Ortiz now in Cleveland, the Buccos still have a projected Jones rotation, Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Bailey WaveringAND Johan Oviedoas well as several highly touted prospects in the minors who are knocking on the door for their MLB debuts.

Whether or not the Pirates will be willing to deal further from the pitching ranks remains to be seen, and in Jones’ case, it would certainly take a massive offer from Pittsburgh to even consider moving the right-hander. As for the Red Sox specifically, the Pirates would be justified in asking for any one Jarren Duran, Triston Casasor at least one of Boston’s “big three” prospects (Antonio Romano, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell) in exchange for Jones.

Casas’ name had already been mentioned in talks with the Mariners about Seattle’s young starting team, while Anthony, Mayer and Campbell are thought to be all but untouchable in trade discussions. Speier writes that none of that minor league trio were ever offered to the White Sox for Crochet, and “the White Sox understood that the Red Sox would not discuss” those players. However, it should be noted that the Big Three were initially the Big Four, but Kyle Teel he ended up being the prospect sent to Chicago to headline the Crochet trade package.

A successful exchange of young talent between the Pirates and Red Sox should not be ruled out entirely, as a deal would perfectly meet the dual needs of both clubs. That said, even if Skenes could be the only Pirates pitcher completely untouchable in trade talks, one can assume that Pittsburgh would explore moving any of its other arms before trying to deal Jones. If the Pirates were considering a trade closer to the top of their rotation, moving Keller and the $69.5 million remaining on his contract over the next four seasons would seem like the preferred option for the budget-conscious Bucs.