Tanner Houck has long been open about wanting to sign with the Boston Red Sox long-term, but the team has yet to approach the 28-year-old pitcher about a deal.

But manager Alex Cora picked top offseason acquisition Garrett Crochet to be the 2025 Opening Day starter. Houck, who will start the second game of the season, made the decision easy for Cora. “Talked to Tanner. He was our best starter last year. He was an All-Star,” Cora said Saturday. “He just said, ‘Give me the ball whenever.’”