For the first couple of months of this season, it was the Red Sox' bullpen that proved to be their undoing.
The team lacked a closer, and the futile search for one proved to be a train wreck. Matt Barnes was unable to do the job he had done so well in the first half of 2021. Moreover, as the Sox struggled to find the best way to utilize both Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck, it seemed whatever role they chose for either, the alternative would have been better.
When Houck was ineligible for an early-season series in Toronto because of his vaccination status, the Sox pulled Whitlock out of the bullpen and into the rotation. The result? Whitlock was sorely missed in relief and didn't contribute much as a starter.
Now, as the Red Sox play out the final three-plus weeks of a hugely disappointing season, the bullpen has greatly improved and stands a potential strength of the team heading into next season.
Oh, the irony.
On Sunday, four relievers combined for four shutout innings, taking over after Rich Hill was lifted after five innings. John Schreiber, Matt Strahm, Whitlock and Barnes each contributed a scoreless inning. Together, the four pitchers allowed just one hit and one walk, preserving the 1-0 lead entrusted in them by Hill.
Schreiber has been one of the team's pleasant surprises -- a 27-year-old with just 29 games of prior big league experience, who, over the last few months, has evolved into a terrific high leverage set-up man. In 56 appearances, Schreiber has pitched to a tidy 2.04 ERA and compiled an 0.89 ERA. Due to some heavy usage in August when manager Alex Cora had few other options, Schreiber looked to have hit a wall only a few weeks ago. But given proper time to recover, he's been effective again this month.
Barnes, meanwhile, missed better than two months with a shoulder issue, but since returning, has pitched more like the Barnes who earned himself a two-year contract extension last season. Of his 16 outings since coming off the IL on Aug. 4, Barnes has been unscored upon in 13 of them. Following Sunday's game, Cora praised the reliever's rediscovered fastball, which, when combined with his overhand curve, gives him two potential plus pitches.
It's not yet clear that Barnes has earned the role of closer again, but his ERA of 2.45 in that stretch, at the very least, suggests that he's again a trustworthy option in the late innings. Even if Barnes isn't the guy to get the ball in the ninth inning again, he's made himself a viable high-leverage option.
There's some uncertainty going forward for both Whitlock and Houck when it comes to their health and how the best utilize them.
Whitlock has been hampered by a hip issue since mid-season, which has limited his availability. He's a powerful bullpen weapon, capable of providing multiple-inning outings while maintaining his dominance. But between his low innings total and monitoring his hip, the Sox have babied him for the second half. If he fills the same role next year, the hope is that the Sox will be able to use him more than twice a week.
As for Houck, he underwent surgery last week to address a bulging disc in his lower back. The expectation is that he'll be ready for the start of spring training.
There remains the possibility that the Sox could shift one of the two -- moving both would be unlikely -- to the rotation. But because both generally been more effective pitching in relief, the best bet would be to leave the duo in the bullpen.
Still, the quarter of Schreiber, Barnes, Whitlock and Houck is a solid foundation upon which to build, constituting more than half of the 2023 bullpen.
That would still mean some vacancies to fill.
If the idea is to have both Houck and Whitlock available as multiple innings guys, it would make sense to find an experienced close, either through trade or free agency. The team had inadequate depth for the ninth inning this season so that when Barnes proved incapable, the team had no other options, leading to innumerable blown saves in the early going.
Also, the team has gone from an embarrassment of lefthanded riches to just one: Matt Strahm. Strahm missed more than a month with a wrist injury, but has otherwise been solid. Strahm is one of more than a half-dozen players headed for free agency, but would not be an expensive re-sign. A modest raise with some additional term for security -- a two-year deal for $12 million or so? -- would be a wise investment.
Beyond that, the Sox could use some additional length, with Kutter Crawford and Connor Seabold as internal candidates. Zack Kelly has pitched well enough in his last few weeks to warrant a look next spring, at which point Frank German could compete for a spot.
All told, the Red Sox are in a position where the bullpen could be a strength in 2023 -- a scenario that would have seemed laughable only five months ago.