Houck is preparing as a starter but could be needed as a reliever if the Red Sox trade closer Kenley Jansen, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.
Houck will begin spring training on a starter's track, but he'll be one of seven pitchers with a chance of making the rotation. Those that lose out will head to the bullpen. Boston could eventually need a new closer, as Jansen's name has popped up in trade rumors the past week, and Houck gained experience in that role in 2022. The right-hander would prefer to start though, and he used the offseason to improve his arsenal by adding horizontal break to his slider, get more action on his sinker and tinker with his splitter, a pitch he threw only 11 percent of the time last year. In 21 starts last season, Houck went 6-10 with a 5.01 ERA and career-high 1.2 HR/9 over 106 innings.