David Price

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price throws to the Minnesota Twins during a spring training game in Fort Myers on March 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

MLB Network's Jon Heyman mentioned on Twitter yesterday that a scout told him Oakland right-handed starter Sonny Gray is what the Red Sox "really need." But Heyman noted that Boston contacted the Athletics early in the offseason and he's not available.

Are the Red Sox starting pitching issues being overblown?

Any team, of course, could really use Gray as either its ace or a second ace. But is he or someone similar needed for the Red Sox to win the AL East in 2016?

Is the panic button being pushed simply because Eduardo Rodriguez will be on the DL to start the season with a non-arm injury?

Or is it being pushed because every starting pitcher behind ace David Price -- with the exception of Joe Kelly -- just hasn't pitched well this spring?

Kelly wasn't a shoo-in for the No. 5 spot in the Red Sox rotation at the start of camp but he's locked up a spot with a 1.38 ERA in four starts (two runs, 13 innings).

The rest of the rotation behind Price -- not as good:

Rick Porcello has a 12.00 ERA in three starts (9 innings, 12 runs). Clay Buchholz has a 6.75 ERA in two starts (5 1/3 innings, seven runs, four earned).

Henry Owens has a 6.97 ERA in four starts (10 1/3 innings, eight runs). Roenis Elias has a 6.23 ERA in three outings, two starts (8 2/3 innings, seven runs, six earned).

Steven Wright, the knuckleballer who is out of minor league options, was expected to earn one of the final two spots in Boston's bullpen to start 2016. But he might begin the year in the starting rotation with Rodriguez out. He's pitching well with a 2.79 ERA in three outings, two starts (9 2/3 innings, four runs, three earned).

The Sox can't afford to get off to another poor start in April. That's been well documented.

But the difference between this team and last year's: The Red Sox have Price, an ace and stopper who ends losing streaks and should take the pressure off all the other pitchers.

Sure, the Sox might need to add a starting pitcher later this season. But right now, with Price leading the way and a much deeper bullpen than the past two years, their rotation is strong enough heading into the season.

The Royals didn't have two starters the caliber of Price and Gray at the top of their rotation in 2015, and they won the World Series. You could make a strong case the Red Sox have a better rotation with a healthy Rodriguez than KC had last year when it won it all. For KC it all came down to its bullpen.