Here are the pitchers that appear to be ready, or close to being ready, for the majors (i.e., by the end of 2015 perhaps), and what they've done this year (this list includes some guys who have pitched for the Sox this year):
Workman (age 25)
Bos (AL) - 52.1 ip, 4.13 era, 1.19 whip, 7.1 k/9
Paw (AAA) - 54.2 ip, 4.45 era, 1.34 whip, 8.1 k/9
DeLaRosa (age 25)
Bos (AL) - 48.1 ip, 3.54 era, 1.22 whip, 6.7 k/9
Paw (AAA) - 60.0 ip, 3.45 era, 1.25 whip, 8.6 k/9
Ranaudo (age 24)
Paw (AAA) - 119.1 ip, 2.41 era, 1.15 whip, 7.5 k/9
Barnes (age 24)
Paw (AAA) - 81.0 ip, 4.89 era, 1.54 whip, 6.6 k/9
Webster (age 24)
Paw (AAA) - 122.0 ip, 3.10 era, 1.24 whip, 7.4 k/9
Owens (age 21)
Por (AA) - 116.0 ip, 2.56 era, 1.10 whip, 9.5 k/9
Johnson (age 23)
Sal (A) - 25.2 ip, 3.86 era, 1.17 whip, 11.6 k/9
Por (AA) - 84.2 ip, 2.13 era, 1.09 whip, 7.9 k/9
Escobar (age 21)
Fresno (AAA) - 111.0 ip, 5.11 era, 1.49 whip, 7.8 k/9
To me, the most MLB-ready guys are clearly Workman and RDLR, since both have actually been effective in the majors this season (and Workman, last season as well). Ranaudo and Webster absolutely deserve a legit shot at some point soon. Owens needs to dominate AAA but he's very much on the fast track. And Johnson looks like a gem as well, but needs more time. Maybe by 2016 he's in the Red Sox rotation. Who knows. Escobar looks like a possibility to be a back-end guy within a couple of years.
Barnes has been the big disappointment, but he still has a lot of ability. I'd be inclined to move him in a trade for a bat.
But still, that's a LOT of quality young pitching very close to MLB-ready. They can't keep them all, I don't think. This doesn't even take into consideration the fact that they still have Buchholz and Doubront under contract for a while longer.
Workman (age 25)
Bos (AL) - 52.1 ip, 4.13 era, 1.19 whip, 7.1 k/9
Paw (AAA) - 54.2 ip, 4.45 era, 1.34 whip, 8.1 k/9
DeLaRosa (age 25)
Bos (AL) - 48.1 ip, 3.54 era, 1.22 whip, 6.7 k/9
Paw (AAA) - 60.0 ip, 3.45 era, 1.25 whip, 8.6 k/9
Ranaudo (age 24)
Paw (AAA) - 119.1 ip, 2.41 era, 1.15 whip, 7.5 k/9
Barnes (age 24)
Paw (AAA) - 81.0 ip, 4.89 era, 1.54 whip, 6.6 k/9
Webster (age 24)
Paw (AAA) - 122.0 ip, 3.10 era, 1.24 whip, 7.4 k/9
Owens (age 21)
Por (AA) - 116.0 ip, 2.56 era, 1.10 whip, 9.5 k/9
Johnson (age 23)
Sal (A) - 25.2 ip, 3.86 era, 1.17 whip, 11.6 k/9
Por (AA) - 84.2 ip, 2.13 era, 1.09 whip, 7.9 k/9
Escobar (age 21)
Fresno (AAA) - 111.0 ip, 5.11 era, 1.49 whip, 7.8 k/9
To me, the most MLB-ready guys are clearly Workman and RDLR, since both have actually been effective in the majors this season (and Workman, last season as well). Ranaudo and Webster absolutely deserve a legit shot at some point soon. Owens needs to dominate AAA but he's very much on the fast track. And Johnson looks like a gem as well, but needs more time. Maybe by 2016 he's in the Red Sox rotation. Who knows. Escobar looks like a possibility to be a back-end guy within a couple of years.
Barnes has been the big disappointment, but he still has a lot of ability. I'd be inclined to move him in a trade for a bat.
But still, that's a LOT of quality young pitching very close to MLB-ready. They can't keep them all, I don't think. This doesn't even take into consideration the fact that they still have Buchholz and Doubront under contract for a while longer.