When last season ended the expectation around the game was that the Red Sox would add at least one starting pitcher, if not more, to bolster the rotation. Instead the club effectively swapped Lucas Giolito in for Chris Sale, and at this point it’s not clear if any other reinforcements are coming.

But as far as Red Sox manager Alex Cora is concerned, the biggest difference makers are already in the organization, and the time has come for them to step up.

“At the end of the day, the Whitlocks, the Crawfords, the Houcks, the Bellos, they have to take a step forward,” Cora said Friday night at Winter Weekend. “Regardless of it you sign the best pitcher in the world, they need to take a step forward.”

Garrett Whitlock, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck and Brayan Bello were all counted on to carry the Red Sox rotation last season, and while each had their moments they collectively weren’t able to get the job done. Bello was the most successful by far, leading the team in innings pitched (157) while posting a 4.24 ERA, and Crawford emerged as a reliable option every fifth day, but Whitlock and Houck each struggled with injuries and all four lacked consistency over the course of the season.

Even with some extenuating circumstances, Cora said they’ll need more from the group in 2024.

“Last year, I don’t want to say they took a step back because Tanner was trending in the right direction when he got hit and Whit was coming from a major surgery, so it was a grind for him,” Cora said. “Bello, I think he did well, Kutter was ok, but I believe these guys need to take a step forward.”

As it stands now, the Red Sox rotation is projected to feature Bello, Giolito, Nick Pivetta and Crawford, with Whitlock, Houck and Josh Winckowski battling for the final spot. If Bello is able to emerge as a top of the rotation anchor and any of Crawford, Whitlock or Houck are able to put together the kind of season Bello had last year, it could potentially elevate the club from a last-place also-ran into an actual contender.

Between Craig Breslow’s hire as chief baseball officer and the additions of Andrew Bailey as pitching coach, Justin Willard as director of pitching and Driveline Baseball founder Kyle Boddy as a special advisor, the Red Sox have made pitching development a top priority and Cora is confident those investments will pay off.

“On the pitching side I think we’re going to be a lot better,” said Cora, who declined to name an Opening Day starter. “It’s a different philosophy, one that’s a lot different than the last two or three years, and I think we’re going to take a step forward.”

As for the lineup, the Red Sox are rumored to still be in the mix for various power-hitting right-handed outfielders and designated hitters, but Cora said he’s comfortable with the group he has, suggesting that rookies like Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela could play big roles after their successful trial runs late last season.

“I think there are some good bats there that we saw at the end of last year and they’re going to have a chance to go out there and dominate the strike zone and hit the ball hard and run the bases the right way,” Cora said. “I’m very confident that offensively it’s going to be a different dynamic, more athletic, better baserunners, more energy, so we’re in a good spot.”