Reliever Tyler Thornburg tops the Red Sox’ list of concerns as the 2017 season approaches, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes. Thornburg has dealt with dead arm for most of Spring Training so far. The Red Sox gave up a fairly hefty package of talent that included infielder Travis Shaw and prospect Mauricio Dubon to get Thornburg, but so far Thornburg’s Red Sox tenure is off to a rough start — he misinterpreted the Red Sox’ prescribed offseason training regimen, according to Cafardo, and now will probably have to start the season on the disabled list. The Red Sox might end up missing longtime late-inning reliever Koji Uehara, who they allowed to depart for the Cubs. Cafardo notes that Thornburg could join a list of Red Sox relief trade acquisitions who disappointed due to injury, including Carson Smith, Joel Hanrahan and Andrew Bailey — although, of course, Hanrahan and Bailey weren’t acquired under the Red Sox’ current front office, and it’s way, way too early to write Thornburg off. Thornburg pitched an apparently successful bullpen session on Saturday. Here’s more from the AL East.
- Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson makes his Spring Training debut today playing DH against Minnesota, John Lott of the Athletic tweets. Donaldson suffered a calf injury near the start of Spring Training and has been out the past month. Donaldson’s return isn’t the only bit of good news for the Jays. Second baseman Devon Travis, who has missed time after having offseason knee surgery, also appears to be returning to health — Lott tweets that Travis expects to make his official spring debut later this week.
- One player whose injury prognosis isn’t so sunny is Rays reliever Brad Boxberger, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times notes (all Twitter links). Manager Kevin Cash says Boxberger’s lat injury isn’t improving as quickly as the team had anticipated, and that he’s unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. Boxberger struggled with an oblique injury during a poor 2016 season in which he posted a 4.81 ERA, 8.1 K/9 and 7.0 BB/9 in just 24 1/3 innings. His absence could create an opportunity for recent waiver claim Jumbo Diaz, who’s about to return to the Rays after pitching in the World Baseball Classic, according to Topkin.
Red sox pitching in trouble already ? And no big Papi to make up for it this year. Yikes.
Trader Dave might have to give up some more of the farm to get Major League ready pitching. Oh oh.
What are they putting in the BOS water? A rotation with 3 Cy winners and they’re already hurting for depth.
Pretty typical sky is falling clickbait from the local media. Their 4th and 5th starter were allstar last season. Their CY winner wasn’t.
Most teams need more than 5 starters to get through a season. Boston’s depth there is a legitimate question/worry.
Just because they have a nice 1-2-3 doesn’t mean they don’t need depth. Most teams spread the large majority of their innings among 8-9 different SPs. The Sox lack a dependable 4-5-6 and it could really hurt them down the stretch if any of the top 3 gets hurt for any extended period
Exactly. My point is the imbalance throughout the rotation. The top is so good, but the bottom is almost non-existent due to injuries and experience..
That could be said about most teams you aren’t going to trot and all-star out at all 5 rotation places.
The Red Sox 4-5-6 of Wright, Erod and Pom is pretty damn good. Erod especially has a lot of upside his slider looks to be much improved this spring and he has the chance to really be good this year. He was actually really good last year for the last half of the season after he got over his knee injury.
There is no reason to panic at this point it I still like the Red Sox rotation and with their offense probably being top 5 at least again and a what appears to be a fairly strong bullpen they will be just fine.
Are the Brewers the new Padres and hid injury problems with Thornburg from us
But Thornburg wasn’t hurt. He caused his own injury by not training properly
Jesus!
Could we just make one trade that works out??!
How do you “misinterpret” the Red Sox offseason training program?
They sent him a list of exercise to do, but he didn’t realize he had to do all of them every day, not just which ever ones he felt like.
mlbtraderumors.com/2017/03/east-notes-red-sox-brav…
Boston ruined their season by getting greedy and going after Sale. Instead of trying to rebuild and go after their weak points, they just tried to cover their tracks. Year hasn’t started and already down 3 starters, no relief and only a prayer that they’re infield stays healthy. They shouldn’t have pursued Sale. They should of ate this year. Attacked the free market and tackle their weaknesses from last year. They needed catching, middle relief and one more starter. Instead they threw what any promise they had in their farm and got an emotional starter. They should of put Bucholz in middle relief, got better relief and another starter like Alex Wood or tried for De Leon when LA put him up for grabs.
This is an accurate comment. The Red Sox misplayed their offseason and one could argue, the trade of Sale was unnecessary considering what they gave up. They should have signed EE. The problem is the Red Sox are another patchwork team and they’re still dealing with the Sandoval/Ramirez signings. Moreland will not cut it. Asking for a full season of Pedroia without injury is a tall order and you will most certainly see regression from Porcello. They’re lucky with a few younger guys, those that are working out, but the rest of the team is still patch work with very little depth. As far as I’m concerned, the AL East is wide open.
So Pomeranz hasn’t worked out, Abad hasn’t worked out, Smith had surgery, Pablo has stunk his first 2 years, Price wasn’t that great last year and is shelved… I’m still trying TJ understand why the sox haven’t notice they’ve gotten terrible returns for their trades lately? What has worked? Betts, Bradley, Bogaerts, you k ow those guys that came up in the sox system which is not semi depleted… thanks DD, next 2 years better be awesome because it’s gonna get rough when we can’t keep the young talent
Thornburgs arm was dead late last year in sept. sept. He was horrible that month. He has nasty stuff when healthy but he’s seen a ton of DL Time in milw. Happy the Brewers stole some prospects from the sox lol