ATLANTA — With major league relievers getting record contracts — Andrew Miller’s four-year, $36 million pact with the Yankees last offseason made history as the largest non-closer free agent contract ever — the Red Sox have begun to react quicker in hopes of grooming their own bullpen studs rather than shell out top dollar in free agency.
While they’ve often kept most of their well-hyped minor league starters in the rotation all the way through, and most recently have failed to develop Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and Anthony Ranaudo into star-caliber pitchers, they’ve begun to identify those who might be better out of the bullpen earlier in the developmental phase.