The Boston Red Sox are focused on adding starting pitching and could prefer trading for one rather than signing one, according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden. Tarik Skubal could be a target given his contract situation.

Skubal and the Detroit Tigers reportedly are far apart in contract negotiations. He is slated to be a free agent after next season, and if the Tigers do not envision a deal getting done, a trade would make plenty of sense. Plenty of teams would be interested, and according to ESPN’s Buster Olney , the Red Sox could be in a solid position to get him.

“The Red Sox are well-positioned to make a run at Skubal, if they want,” Olney wrote. “The only sure thing in this situation, it seems, is that Skubal will not sign a long-term deal with Detroit before he reaches free agency

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