John Farrell

Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell thinks the rotation needs to have five No. 1 pitchers.

(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell (now famously) said last spring that he thought he had five No. 1 starting pitchers.

Obviously that didn't turn out as planned. Boston fired pitching coach Juan Nieves just 28 games into 2015 as the Sox starting rotation had the second worst ERA in the majors (5.54) at that point in the season.

Here at the Winter Meetings on Tuesday, Farrell expressed the same sentiment he did last spring training when asked about his comfort in the Red Sox starting rotation behind ace David Price.

"There was so much made in spring training last year who's the ace, and I still firmly believe, and I won't back away from the comment that it takes five No. 1s," Farrell said. "The guy going to the mound that night is our No. 1 guy, and I will continue to have that kind of confidence in every starter that we have.

"I think with David's presence here and he being the leader and the focus of our rotation, I think guys have the opportunity to go out and perform naturally to their abilities," Farrell added.

Price, Eduardo Rodriguez, Clay Buchholz, Joe Kelly and Rick Porcello are projected to begin the year in the Red Sox starting rotation. Boston also has starters Henry Owens, Brian Johnson, Steven Wright and Roenis Elias.

Despite the depth, Boston has just two starters -- Price and Porcello -- who have ever pitched 200 or more innings in one major league season. And Porcello has done it only once (204 2/3 innings in 2014).

Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said he hopes Buchholz will pitch between 175-200 innings and Farrell thinks Price, Porcello and Buchholz all can reach 200 innings in 2016.

Farrell also was asked if he can be more aggressive pulling starters earlier in games, such as after five innings, because of having a deeper, stronger bullpen this year. The Red Sox bolstered the bullpen by acquiring Craig Kimbrel and Carson Smith.

Farrell said he can be aggressive if needed.

"What you still have to be careful of is how many innings is that bullpen going to pitch over the course of a full season?" Farrell said. "You're managing the bullpen for an entire year, not just a given night, but a healthy Clay Buchholz and a consistent one to go along with David Price and Rick Porcello and their innings capability, that all of a sudden gives us three very formidable guys who have the ability to pitch close to 200 innings in a given year.

"So we have the ability to have some length in that bullpen, depending who that 12th guy is, whether it's Steven Wright, any number of candidates for that spot. So we've got plenty of capability out there in addition to having power guys to finish innings off."