In their pursuit to strengthen their pitching staff, the Boston Red Sox have expressed interest in right-handers Jakob Junis and Codi Heuer, according to a report by MassLive's Chris Cotillo.

Junis, a 31-year-old pitcher, defied expectations after being drafted in the 29th round by the Kansas City Royals in 2011. Since making his Major League debut in 2017, Junis has showcased versatility by alternating between the bullpen and rotation for both the Royals and the San Francisco Giants. Last season, he had a standout performance with the Giants, pitching to a 3.87 ERA and a 3.74 FIP in 86 innings of work. Notably, he achieved a career-high strikeout rate of 26.2% while demonstrating excellent control with a 5.7% walk rate.

However, it should be noted that Junis thrived in shorter appearances last season, with statistics showing that his effectiveness decreased when he pitched for longer durations. This could potentially make him an intriguing relief option for the Red Sox, especially if they part ways with closer Kenley Jansen before the start of the season.

Meanwhile, Codi Heuer would be a speculative addition by the Red Sox. The 27-year-old right-hander did not pitch in the majors in 2021 due to Tommy John surgery and a fractured elbow. Despite his injury setbacks, Heuer has displayed promise in his limited MLB appearances, sporting a solid 3.56 ERA and 3.66 FIP across 91 innings of work with both the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs. He particularly shone during the 2020 season, utilizing his upper-90s fastball and generating a 27.2% strikeout rate.

The Red Sox could view Heuer as a valuable addition to their bullpen if he is able to make a full recovery and regain his previous form.

On the other side, the Minnesota Twins find themselves in need of starting pitching depth after losing Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda, and Tyler Mahle to free agency. General Manager Thad Levine acknowledged the team's concern during a recent appearance on MLB Network Radio, stating that while they have confidence in their current five starters - Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Chris Paddack, and Louie Varland - the Twins are exploring trade and free agent markets for potential rotation reinforcements.

The addition of another starter would not only provide the Twins with important depth to protect against injuries but also create competition for the fifth-starter role, potentially allowing Varland to excel in a multi-inning relief role similar to his strong performance last season.

Several mid-level rotation options remain available in the market, including Michael Lorenzen, Mike Clevinger, and Hyun Jin Ryu, giving the Twins various avenues to explore in their search for pitching help.

Lastly, Texas Rangers fans received a promising update on the status of right-hander Jacob deGrom during the team's FanFest. Despite making just six starts in the 2023 season before undergoing Tommy John surgery, deGrom expressed optimism about his recovery, revealing that his arm feels good seven months after the procedure. He plans to resume throwing "sometime this spring," aligning with his previous comment in October about targeting a return to the Majors in August 2024.

The anticipation of having deGrom back on the mound is significant for the reigning World Series champions as the highly talented pitcher has been a force on the field. Over his last 108 starts since the 2018 season, deGrom has maintained an impressive 2.08 ERA, a 2.11 FIP, and has recorded an astounding 921 strikeouts in just 675 2/3 innings.

Overall, these developments illustrate the ongoing efforts by teams to address their pitching needs ahead of the upcoming season. As the offseason progresses, fans will eagerly anticipate the finalization of these potential acquisitions and their impact on their respective teams' performances.