Red Sox Eyeing Former Orioles All-Star John Means

It appears that Corbin Burnes isn't the only former Orioles All-Star on the radar of the Boston Red Sox. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Boston has had discussions with free agent starter John Means. Means' once-promising career has been hampered by injuries over the past three years, most recently undergoing his second Tommy John procedure this past May, sidelining him for most of the 2025 season.

Drafted in the 11th round in 2014, John Means was never considered a top prospect. Despite this, he consistently performed well in the minor leagues, earning a spot on Baltimore’s Opening Day roster in 2019. After three strong bullpen appearances, he made his first big league start in mid-April and thrived in the rotation. Means was named an All-Star that summer and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting that fall.

From 2019 to 2021, Means made 67 appearances (63 starts) with a 3.73 ERA and a 4.48 SIERA in 345 1/3 innings. While not dominant, as he struggled to miss bats or induce groundballs consistently, his excellent control (walking just 5.1% of batters) and ability to average over 5 innings per start made him a reliable pitcher. For a team like the Orioles, who were at the bottom of the standings, Means' performance was invaluable.

As the Red Sox consider bolstering their pitching roster, Means could offer significant value if he can return to his pre-injury form. While the road to recovery is long, and his return might not be immediate, his past performance suggests he could be a solid addition to Boston’s rotation in the future.