Ranking the top 10 MLB free-agent starting pitchers

With Eduardo Rodriguez headed to the Detroit Tigers, the Boston Red Sox should be in the market for his replacement.

Fortunately for them, there are a number of intriguing options in this year's free-agent class. The talented bunch is headlined by future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer and likely 2021 American League Cy Young award winner Robbie Ray, but there are plenty of other names worth considering in between.

More free-agent rankings: C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | RP

Here are the top 10 starting pitchers available for Boston if it looks to bolster its rotation via free agency.

10. Steven Matz, RHP

Age: 30

2021 stats: 14-7, 3.82 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 43 BB, 144 SO

Matz bounced back from a disastrous final season with the New York Mets to be a solid piece for the Toronto Blue Jays. If he can double down on that success in 2022, he'll be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter for whichever team picks him up.

UPDATE (Nov. 24): Matz has agreed to a four-year, $44 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

9. Jon Gray, RHP

Age: 30

2021 stats: 8-12, 4.59 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 58 BB, 157 SO

Gray's numbers, like those of most Rockies hurlers, are inflated from playing at Coors Field. He was solid in 2021 for a Colorado team that didn't have a whole lot to play for. His consistent strikeout rate of 9.0 K/9 and above throughout his career should attract plenty of suitors.

UPDATE (Nov. 28): Gray is joining the Texas Rangers on a four-year, $56 million deal, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

8. Justin Verlander, RHP

Age: 39

2021 stats: Missed season after Tommy John surgery

It's impossible to predict how any player will fare after returning from Tommy John surgery, never mind a 39-year-old with multiple Cy Young awards on his resume. Verlander's track record speaks for itself and that'll be enough for a team to look past the obvious concerns at this point in his Hall-of-Fame career.

UPDATE (Nov. 17): Verlander is re-signing with the Houston Astros on a one-year, $25 million contract, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

7. Noah Syndergaard, RHP

Age: 29

2021 stats: 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 0 BB, 2 SO (2.0 IP due to injury)

Syndergaard has more question marks than any other pitcher on the market, but he might also have the highest upside of the bunch. "Thor" was shut down for all of 2020 and pretty much all of the 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery and multiple setbacks in recovery. He's one of the game's best starters when healthy, but signing him comes with a fair share of risk.

UPDATE (Nov. 16): Syndergaard is heading to the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year, $21 million deal, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports.

6. Carlos Rodon, LHP

Age: 29

2021 stats: 13-5, 2.37 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 36 BB, 185 SO

Rodon's no-hitter was the highlight of his 2021 season, but it was an incredible comeback year from beginning to end for the 29-year-old righty. There are obvious questions about whether he can duplicate that success, as well as his health, but Rodon will be one of the most coveted arms available.

5. Clayton Kershaw, LHP

Age: 34

2021 stats: 10-8, 3.55 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 21 BB, 144 SO

Kershaw isn't the virtually unhittable pitcher he once was, but he's still among the game's best. At least, when he's healthy. The future Hall of Famer missed the postseason due to forearm/elbow injuries and has battled back injuries over the years. While he's sure to get plenty of offers in free agency, it'd be surprising to see him move on from L.A.

4. Kevin Gausman, RHP

Age: 31

2021 stats: 14-6, 2.81 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 50 BB, 227 SO

Gausman is a huge reason why the Giants exceeded expectations and earned an NL West title in 2021. The veteran right-hander posted career bests in every meaningful statistic and earned his first All-Star nod. That said, teams may be skeptical of paying Gausman big money as his stellar campaign was an outlier.

UPDATE (Nov. 28): Gausman is headed to the Toronto Blue Jays on a five-year deal, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

3. Marcus Stroman, RHP

Age: 30

2021 stats: 10-13, 3.02 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 44 BB, 158 SO

After opting out of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Stroman returned in 2021 to have possibly the best season of his MLB career. The 5-foot-7 right-hander started a league-high 33 games and posted a career-best WHIP. He'll be a hot commodity after impressing in Queens.

UPDATE (Dec. 1): Stroman is joining the Chicago Cubs, he announced on Twitter.

2. Max Scherzer, RHP

Age: 37

2021 stats: 15-4, 2.46 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 36 BB, 236 SO

The only factor preventing Scherzer from topping this list is his age. Otherwise, there's really nothing you can knock the three-time Cy Young award winner for. He was incredible after joining the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline, posting a 7-0 record with a 1.98 ERA in 11 starts. It wouldn't be surprising to see L.A. bring the veteran righty back to be their ace in 2022.

UPDATE (Nov. 29): Scherzer is joining the New York Mets on a three-year, $130 million megadeal, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reports.

1. Robbie Ray, LHP

Age: 30

2021 stats: 13-7, 2.84 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 52 BB, 248 SO

This year's likely AL Cy Young award winner is set up for a huge payday this winter. Ray signed a one-year "prove it" deal with the Blue Jays last offseason and it paid off as he enjoyed a sensational 2021 campaign. The question, of course, is whether he'll regress to the mean next season.

UPDATE (Nov. 29): The Seattle Mariners have won the Ray sweepstakes, agreeing to a five-year, $115 million contract with the star left-hander, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.