DONE DEAL: Red Sox rotation now rivals Yankees’ after another key man left Orioles in free agency while a Cy Young winner in 2021 signed a long-term deal with

In 2024, the Boston Red Sox’s starting rotation and the Baltimore Orioles’ were nearly identical in performance. Their rotation ERAs (3.81 vs. 3.77), WHIPs (1.19 vs. 1.24), and home runs allowed (109 vs. 111) were remarkably close. The main distinction was Baltimore’s clear advantage in having an ace to anchor their staff.

Unlike the Orioles, the Red Sox lacked a Cy Young-caliber pitcher last season, which led many fans to view Baltimore’s rotation as superior, thanks largely to Corbin Burnes. However, with Burnes — the 2021 Cy Young winner — now signed to a long-term deal with the Diamondbacks and officially out of the AL East, Baltimore’s staff doesn’t look as formidable. Does this shift the balance of power in Boston’s favor?

While the Orioles part ways with Burnes, the Red Sox have bolstered their rotation by adding left-handers Garrett Crochet and Patrick Sandoval, as well as right-hander Walker Buehler, fresh off a World Series triumph against the Yankees.

These additions join 2024 All-Star Tanner Houck and promising young talent Brayan Bello to form a rotation with strong potential. If Buehler can regain his peak form and Sandoval fully recovers from Tommy John surgery, Boston’s rotation could be dominant. Even if those two struggle, a three-game series led by Crochet, Houck, and Bello would still be a tough challenge for any opponent.

Red Sox have second best rotation in the AL East after Orioles lose out on Corbin Burnes to Diamondbacks

On Baltimore’s side, they’ll rely on Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez to anchor their rotation—a formidable one-two punch by any standard. However, beyond those two, the rotation begins to thin out. The middle of Baltimore’s staff doesn’t quite measure up to Boston’s, which boasts Dean Kremer and Trevor Rogers as solid options.

Are the Orioles finished shaping their 2025 roster? Likely not. They’ve been linked to Dylan Cease in trade rumors, but acquiring him would come at a steep cost. If Baltimore does manage to land Cease, it would significantly close the gap with Boston’s rotation.

For now, though, the Red Sox clearly enter the 2025 season with the stronger starting pitching staff. Considering Boston finished 10 games behind Baltimore in the 2024 standings, any edge heading into the new season is a promising sign for improving their position in the division race.