Whitlock, Houck win final spots in Red Sox's rotation

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Starter? Reliever? Swingman?

For years, the debate has raged within the Red Sox about which roles best suit Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck. And they’ve both dabbled in various roles to varying degrees of success and struggles.

The two right-handers also happen to be best friends.

So it was somewhat fitting on Friday that manager Alex Cora named them the final two starters for the rotation entering the 2024 season.

When Lucas Giolito underwent surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow earlier this month, it opened up the opportunity for Whitlock and Houck to earn rotation spots. Otherwise, it would have been one or the other.

“I don't think there ever was going to be a fight about that [between us],” said Whitlock. “We’re too close of friends to let anything like that worry us. It’s huge. I don't think it's any shock when I say we're best friends. I bounce everything off him, he bounces stuff off me. It’s really neat when we're in that same position and get to attack lineups and go about things and really communicate and go about it the same way.”

Cooper Criswell was the other starter vying for a spot in a rotation that also includes Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta and Kutter Crawford. However, Criswell will start the season as a starter at Triple-A Worcester so he can continue to be stretched out in the event of an injury or lack of performance from someone else in the rotation.

“He did everything possible to make this team,” Cora said of Criswell. “It’s just that we feel we have to keep him stretched out. If he’s in the bullpen, we don’t know how we can accomplish that. We feel comfortable with the rotation. We feel comfortable with these guys. They’ve done an amazing job, all of them. They’ve thrown the ball well. I do believe, without making promises, that [Criswell] will contribute during the season.”

Collectively, Whitlock and Houck will set out to prove Cora’s decision was the right one.

“It’s a huge honor to be entrusted with that,” said Whitlock. “Obviously, I want to go out there and do real well with it. I'm just happy with how everything's going this spring and just want to continue the way things are going.”

Whitlock and Houck both didn’t perform up to expectations last season, but Cora provided a reminder that both pitchers were coming off significant surgeries from the prior offseason. Whitlock had a procedure on his right hip and Houck had back surgery.

“For a regular human being to go to work after those types of surgeries, it’s a grind,” Cora said. “For an elite athlete, it’s all about your body. It was tough for them last year, they were behind. They showed trends of being really, really good, and at one point they weren't good but we feel very comfortable with them.”

This is the youngest rotation the Red Sox have had in years, and it fits with the organization’s transparency in recent months that 2024 is a season to build around the young core.

“It means a lot,” Houck said. “I put in a lot of work in the offseason. Grinded. Changed some things up. Really pushed myself to get better each day. I said at the beginning of camp this is the best I have felt in a while. I think all of that work paid off. Obviously, I’m super thankful to [pitching coach Andrew] Bailey, AC and everybody who made the decision. We have an incredible group of guys in there. Just super blessed to have that opportunity to go out there and compete.”

• At heart of youth movement, Bello gets Opening Day nod

Though rumors persisted about the Sox making a run at lefty starter Jordan Montgomery, a deal has yet to come to fruition and at this point, it would be a major surprise if it does.

At 31 years old, Pivetta is the lone veteran in the rotation. Bello, Crawford, Whitlock and Houck are all between 24 and 27 years old. Cora doesn’t see that as a reason to put an exact ceiling on their innings.

“We see them as mature kids who have gone through the process,” Cora said. “They're stronger compared to last year. We believe four of our five have to prove it at this level. They have to be relentless and we'll do everything possible to put [them] in situations to be successful. And that starts from the training room to the weight room and everything that we have to do for them to be durable during the season.”

The ultimate success and durability of the unproven rotation will largely dictate if the Red Sox can be surprise contenders this season.

And for Houck and Whitlock in particular, this is a chance to put the starter-reliever debate to bed for good.

“I think this is their chance, to be honest with you. This is it,” said Cora. “Obviously Lucas got hurt, so it opened the window for one of those guys. And this is where we’re at. I’m very comfortable with it.”