Red Sox reportedly met with free agent starter Blake Snell

The Red Sox and Blake Snell: As the MLB offseason continues to take shape, the Red Sox are aiming to reset not just the perception of the team on the diamond, but off of it, too.

Having finished 81-81 in 2024 — the team’s fourth non-playoff season in five years — Boston appears eager to retool the roster this winter. Of course, after the fallout of the now-infamous “full throttle” comment made by chairman Tom Werner a year ago (when he promised the team would spend, only to come away with no major additions), the Red Sox are also looking to change the narrative on that front as well.

So far, Boston has been linked with the potentially historic bidding war over slugger Juan Soto, and also a few starting pitchers.

The latest piece of news came from Athletic reporter Ken Rosenthal, who noted that the Red Sox met with 31-year-old lefty Blake Snell.

Snell, who pitched for the Giants in 2024 and is currently a free agent, is a two-time Cy Young Award winner. Signing him would be a huge boost to the Red Sox starting rotation. Per Rosenthal, he’s also met with the World Series champion Dodgers, and is set to speak with the Blue Jays and Orioles.

“Much of the talk with the Red Sox this offseason has revolved around their courtship of Juan Soto, but a top-of-the-rotation starter is their bigger need, and a left-hander would better fit their all-right-handed rotation,” Rosenthal noted.

Boston’s current rotation includes Tanner Houck (3.12 ERA in 2024), Kutter Crawford (4.36 ERA), Brayan Bello (4.49 ERA), Nick Pivetta (4.14 ERA), and Lucas Giolito (who missed the 2024 season after having surgery). All of the currently projected starters are right-handed pitchers, as Rosenthal pointed out.

Along with Snell, the Red Sox could also pursue veteran free agent starters like Max Fried or Corbin Burnes. In addition, 23-year-old Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki provides one of the more intriguing possibilities.

Scores and schedules:

Tonight, the Bruins begin the Joe Sacco era in a 7 p.m. clash with the Utah Hockey Club at TD Garden.

Also today, the Celtics’ 2024 championship will be honored at the White House in a ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

Tomorrow, the Celtics will be back in action against the Wizards at 7 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

The time Steve Smith Sr. almost ended up in New England: The former NFL wide receiver discussed the sliding doors moment with Julian Edelman.

On this day: In 2001, Bill Belichick opted to stick with Tom Brady as the Patriots’ starting quarterback over Drew Bledsoe.

While it might seem an obvious choice now, at the time it was (obviously) much more controversial. Not only was Brady still a relative unknown at an NFL level, but Bledsoe was only months removed from signing a 10-year contract worth $103 million.

Daily highlight: Hansel Emmanuel, a basketball player at Austin Peay, lost an arm at the age of six, but has nonetheless developed into an extraordinary talent on the basketball court.

He showed that off with a thunderous dunk against Morehead State.