The Boston Red Sox needed to address their starting rotation coming into this season, and they used the trade block and free agency to do so. Boston added Garrett Crochet in a huge trade and signed Walker Buehler away from the Los Angeles Dodgers. But Buehler has struggled, and injuries have piled up for the Red Sox, resulting in a few unproven rookies being given the ball early in the season. While the two rookies, Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins, haven’t been bad, the Red Sox likely don’t want these two in the postseason rotation.

Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker recently suggested the Red Sox could go after San Diego Padres starter Michael King because he would be much cheaper to trade for compared to his teammate Dylan Cease. “Especially if Walker Buehler’s production is any indication, more pitching will be needed for Boston,” Zucker wrote. “The team already made its big move for the rotation by landing Garrett Crochet and then giving him a $170 million extension, so the odds they go for another proven No. 1 or 2 starter are probably low.

“The Red Sox could be another candidate for Woodruff or even King because the cost, in terms of raw dollars and trade assets, for either is going to be less than with Cease.” King would be a huge upgrade to the rotation in Boston, and it likely wouldn’t break the bank for the Red Sox to go get him. Boston could likely package three solid prospects together to bring King to Fenway Park.

To make matters even better for Boston, the Red Sox would have the first chance to sign King to a new contract next offseason.