Boston Red Sox Roster & Rumors: Boston to Pursue Free Agents Jon Lester, Andrew Miller
The Boston Red Sox are aiming to solidify their bullpen this offseason, and reports indicated that the club is interested in acquiring Andrew Miller and Jon Lester.
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington revealed that they are planning to talk to several free agents over the next several weeks, confirming that Miller is one of their top targets.
Miller, who is expected to draw the interest of several teams this offseason, played in 73 regular-season games last season where he posted a 2.02 ERA with 103 strikeouts.
"There's a number free agents that we will talk to," Cherington said via NESN. "It's probably safe to say he's one of them, but he's one of a number of free agents that we will talk to now in the quiet period of free agency -- these five days where you can start to have conversations."
Previous reports also suggested that Lester is also interested in returning to Boston despite the fact that the Red Sox traded him to the Oakland Athletics for Yoenis Cespedes before last season's trade deadline.
When asked about a possible reunion this offseason, Cherington confirmed that they are also planning to sit down with Lester this offseason to gauge his interest in returning to the Red Sox.
"He's a free agent and obviously we know him well and we hope we get a chance to talk to him," Cherington said of Lester. "I'm sure we'll get a chance to talk others, and I'm sure he'll talk to others. I think we just have to get into the offseason and see what comes of it. But I feel like the relationship is in place that will allow for a conversation, and then from there we'll have to see."
The Red Sox have already made a significant move this offseason, signing Koji Uehara to a contract extension. The 39-year-old closer reportedly agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal on Thursday.
Uehara became the Red Sox closer after Joel Hanrahan and Andrew Bailey both went down with an injury in June last year. Based on his performance, Cherington said that they are convinced that the Japanese right hander will continue to live up to expectations.
"You're really looking at a guy who has been one of the elite relievers in baseball for several years," Cherington said of Uehara via ESPN Boston. "And again, based on our evaluation at the end of the year and what he did, we did not see any reason why that can't continue."
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