The Red Sox have scratched lefty Eduardo Rodriguez from his Opening Day start due to a “dead arm,” manager Alex Cora announced to reporters this morning (Twitter links via MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo). Fellow veteran Nathan Eovaldi will instead take the mound for the season opener. At this point, the Sox are calling the move precautionary and aren’t even certain that Rodriguez will be placed on the injured list. He’ll throw a bullpen in the coming days, and the team will evaluate him once they see how his arm responds. It’s possible Rodriguez will simply just have his first start of the season pushed back, but there won’t be any clarity on the matter for a few days.
The 27-year-old Rodriguez did not pitch in 2020 after being diagnosed with Covid-19 and then developing a subsequent case of myocarditis — an enlargement of the heart — in the aftermath. Rodriguez not only appeared to be healthy for most of Spring Training but looked quite impressive, tossing 13 2/3 innings and holding opponents to four earned runs on 11 hits and two walks with 15 strikeouts. He’s slated to become a free agent after the 2021 season.
A couple more notes on the Red Sox…
- There have been no talks of an extension with Rafael Devers this spring, as the third baseman himself revealed this week (via Cotillo). Devers added that he’s very much open to discussing a deal, however. The 24-year-old is still controlled through the 2023 season, so there’s no immediate rush for the Red Sox to get him locked into a long-term deal. That said, he’s also reached the point of his career where he’s begun to build the financial safety net that removes some of a player’s incentive to take an early deal. Devers reached arbitration eligibility this winter and agreed to a one-year, $4.575MM contract for the 2021 season. So long as he remains healthy and approaches the .298/.348/.536 output he produced in 2019-20, he should be in for a sizable raise on that sum next winter as well.
- The Red Sox have informed Rule 5 Draft pick Garrett Whitlock that he has made the Opening Day roster, Cora also revealed in talking with reporters this morning (Twitter link via the Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham). That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given the outstanding spring that the right-hander has put together. Whitlock, an 18th-round pick of the rival Yankees in 2017, has pitched in four games with the Sox and tallied nine innings, allowing one run on eight hits and no walks with a dozen strikeouts. The 24-year-old is likely ticketed for the Boston bullpen to begin the season, but he’s worked almost exclusively as a starter in the Yankees’ system, so it’s possible he’ll eventually work out of the rotation in Boston — if he sticks on the roster for the long haul.
WTH hell is dead arm.
Edit-Just read about it, yeesh sounds rough hopefully E-Rod can get through it
It means Rodriguez will probably have a bad season.
We don’t know that yet, and probably won’t for the next few days. Could be as simple as missing his first start and hoping right back into the rotation after some rest and PT. Could be a few weeks, nobody knows.
He has not been what they thought they were getting in the Andrew Miller trade with the O’s in 2014.
Still a pretty bad trade. Rodriguez would have been their best pitcher by a long shot over the past 5 years.
Loved the trade then, love it now. Rodriguez’s under-performance has made it more palatable; not re-signing Miller in that off-season (and seeing Yanks get him) less so. No regrets.
He never looks like he does real conditioning, he’s young and soft still (may never change) from what I see.
Baseless claim. Jon Lester dealt with dead arm nearly every Spring Training. Rodriguez is adjusting to his routine – give it time.
Just building up strength and endurance.
He didn’t pitch last year, so he’s probably going to have a few skipped starts this season to not ruin his arm.
@Luc, not uncommon for pitchers to hit “dead arm” periods during Spring Training. Teams will often have the pitcher skip a start or work on the side. Usually doesn’t last long. Seems to be a side effect when pitchers are rebuilding arm strength after the winter off. Don’t hear about it as much as we used to, probably because pitchers train better year round now. Rodriguez not only missed a year, he couldn’t even work out for a long stretch, so this isn’t shocking. I suspect he’ll miss a start but nothing more if indeed this is a “standard” dead arm. They really do need a better term though. I remember being really concerned the first time I heard the expression when I was a kid.
I think it’s a valuable message from your body to take a break. It happens with your legs as well. Time off is key, then get back to it. Ignore the message and you just wait for something worse to happen.
I agree about the name. Maybe tired arm. Or heavy arm. The name does kind of describe how it feels.
Is it offensive? Dead arm I mean..
BIG SEXY waiting for Chaim Bloom’s phone call.
Been there, done that once before… If Porcello (also been there and done that) can be had cheap (minors deal) he could be an innings eater for them.
I’d consider Porcello….Of course, at this point I’d consider Funicello (Annette)….
I’m fine with Porcello and would make the call if it would help. Forget the last couple of seasons. At worst. another garbage year is the final nail in the season. His upside though is the kind of pennant changing move that a surprising team needs. I’m not expecting a miracle season but would certainly be happy if he was an integral reason why the Sox surprised everyone.
@bobtillman…She tied in 2013 from complications related to MS. Contrary to rumors, it was unrelated to sun exposure or Skippy peanut butter.
I think her arm is dead, too, along with the rest of her
ANNETTE’S DEAD?????
Shucks. Next you’ll tell me Troy Donahue is gay……
Bob is infatuated with big sexy….lol
Funicello (Annette)….
Next you will suggest Bob Gibson …. ya is dead too
Big Sexy has a great rump….three of them actually.
Its worse when the rigor sets in 🙂
Yikes. E-Rod is just about the only bright spot in that rotation. Gonna be a long summer in the Bean…..
I really hope the best for the RedSuks and Wishlock. It seems like they’ve really cashed in on our leftovers. Good 4 them, and 4th place.
Redsucks, original. Heaven forbid a Yankee fan can just wish for good baseball.
Good one, Francis.
You would think NY has recently one a title or two.
Yankees one WS appearance since 2003…..lol
NYY fans think they are hot $hit ….lol
Francis.. As in the talking mule in the noted case..
To the point of the poster u were targeting.. I wonder if that wife beater is in the rotation in NY, seeing how flush they are in NY with so many viable options? Must be proud times to be able to sport a wife beater that they had to send to “time out” for an entire season.
Dam chill, your leftovers? They don’t really have anyone from the yanks.
Luc.. they have Eovaldi. Pretty sure that’s who he was referencing.
But does that really count? He was always a 4.00 ERA before so I don’t really think that as leftovers, I think leftovers as 3.00 ERA guy then 4.50 ERA. Leftovers are good to average or bad
Luc.. I’m just pointing out who I think he’s referring to.
I know. Thx for the info.
Whitlock Rule 5 is what he was joking about. Poor attempt at humor.
@Luc- are you sure about that? Smh Octavino, Wishlock, Frank German, and Nathan Eovaldi. So do your homework. The RedSuks are full of former Yankee leftovers right now.
I hope you’re 14 and not a grown man using slang like RedSucks lol
@secretsatan- I usually don’t speak to people who are so close to Satan. Then again how do you like Boston’s chances of winning this year? Will they cheat again? Figured you would know. Lol.
Ellsbury, Damon, Boggs list goes on and on
Just realized that. Should be the opposite Yankee players like taking the Sox leftovers LMAO
The ones that hurt the most was in 1979, Tiant and Watson. Steinbrenner normally got the players he wanted.
Happy to have “leftovers” Boggs and Damon. Elsbury, not so much.
Ellsbury was a real great signing for the NYY. He was VERY PRODUCTIVE for you those last few years…..lol
Cashman might regret keeping the likes of Abreu and Kriske over Whitlock. I’m glad he’s getting his opportunity.
Once Rager Clemens started gobbling the roids, the yankees were ALL over him. Shhhhhoooooopppp.
In 1967, it was Elston Howard. In 1975, it was Deron Johnson. In 1986, it was Don Baylor. When the Red Sox realized that yankee scraps don’t win WC’s, they decided to whip mo’s butt in front of the whole world and execute the greatest comeback in history.
What in the name of Manny Ramirez are you talking about?
You mean Ramiro Mendoza. And he did pitch in that historic series. So they did have a yankee scrap on the team after all. I stand corrected. But the butt kicking was very real and quite spectacular.
Let’s be honest. Howard doesn’t count, it’s so long ago. Even Baylor was 35 years ago. Moreover, Mike Easler was damn good too, the “hitman” before Mattingly. It was a lefty in Yankee Stadium for a righty in Fenway that was designed to be a win-win (poor man’s Williams-Joe D move). Johnson was a manager. If he had Yankee ties, I can’t recall but the Sox later brought in Houck. I still can’t forget seeing Tiant in pinstripes. Not having Sean the Babe play, that hurt the most.
Einstein
Unfortunately, this continues the list of injuries for E-ROD. I can see him not in a Red Sox uniform next year as someone will overpay him as a FA and take on the risk for someone that is seriously injury prone. ….sigh
No deal for Devers until the weight remains off, the # of errors significantly drops, the free swinging / strikeouts drop, and he establishes some consistency in his play. One year does not equate to a Red Sox (or any other team) for life. IMO
Then y’all better trade him this year as soon as he recovers some value. Read a sox fan give it to him before (maybe u) and it was pretty shocking initially. Yet I agree.
Longoria, Ramos and more for the next coming of panda in San Fran ??
As terrible as yanks are gonna be – be best for redsox to dip into a full rebuild. They should unload boargarts too. I’m also a yuge sale fan. He’ll come back and be worth the annual and length on contract if sox want to unload him too. There’s a short list of pitchers you’d want to roll out in game 1 of a series than sale.
The Red Sox aren’t going to blow the whole thing up not going to happen.
They have some quality players coming I really like Downs, Duran and Casas they will be knocking on the door soon. Also like some of their young pitching it’s definitely a farm system on the rise.
Their is no reason to trade Devers or Bogey now is the time to see how Devers responds after the short season last year. I am coming around to the idea that Devers is never going to be consistent enough at third to be the third baseman. He really need to be looked at as a DH of the future. This is a make or break year defensively for Devers and I have my doubts that he can be consistent enough to remain at third. Dalbec is going to have to cut his K rate down at least below 35 preferably down to 30 or below but his power is for real. Offensively not worried about this team now and in the future.
The pitching is another story there are big decisions to be made this offseason and that is when Bloom will either or break it. I look at this offseason as the key. We will get a full 162 this year and a lot of decisions can be made as well as potential cash coming off the books. I think the future looks pretty bright in Red Sox land but I know I am in the minority.
I doubt you are in the minority. Most of the folks hoping for us to blow up the team are being completely unrealistic, We have real talent, some talent coming up and real money.
JoeBrady – Interesting perspective on blowing up the team. For me, it’s already blown up. To you, you are hoping it doesn’t happen. We are talking about the Mookie-less and Price-less (good play on words) Red Sox? Right? FYI…. they got blown=up when DD got fired, Bloom came aboard and they shipped their two best minority players to LAD for crap or should I say crap and an OF with potential and bad back that could flare up at any time.
Bloom is simply waiting for DD’s minor league stars to graduate and make him look not so foolish. Has anyone noticed how good Duran looks, or Dalbec? Heck, even Chavis is showing life. Mookie’s looking pretty damn good too and I bet Benny has a fine year. But hey who wants all that talent when you can have 35 minor league players added that might develop SOME DAY. After all, with a farm system that produced more successful MLB players in the last decade than any other it makes sense to hire a guy who specializes in improving the farm system!!
FYI… Months ago I mentioned how difficult this year would be on E-Rod because he didn’t follow the recommended recovery time from his heart condition. He was supposed to not work out for six months at a minimum. He was throwing before that time period was over. Is it any surprise he’s not feeling it right now? NOPE. He should have taken the first half of the year to start conditioning after a full six months of rest. If he had taken the time off he may have only pitched two months or possibly three but who cares the team sucks.
Let the guy try to bounce back from a severe condition!!. It’s not like at E-ROD’s age he’s going to lower his ERA from 3.80 or his WHIP from 1.30, he’s a #3 or #4 starter who fans have blown up to be a #1 SP out of desperation over Sale’s injury, Price’s injury and Eovaldi’s injury in 2019. The future is Houck and maybe Pivetta but not E-Rod. They should have seen the writing on the wall with his issues and recognized they needed to write off 2021 for him. A non-tender would have put $8M in ownership’s greedy hands. That’s the second year in a row that Bloom screwed up the non tender decisions. In 202o he pays for Mookie’s first two years of extension with JBJ salary and then in 2021 he pays for two more years of Mookie’s extension with E-Rod money. That only leaves 6 to 8 years left to cover!! With the time value of money, that’s nothing in 2020 dollars!!
JoeBrady, I do agree with you in that folks are still talking about blowing up the team because they apparently didn’t see or hear the massive explosion in 2020 but you are right, there is no need to deal anybody. Bloom is using the Friedman approach and is sitting on his hands and letting DD’s farm system provide him with new talent while the existing contracts run out. He’s hoarding high draft picks and hoping SOME DAY ownership will remove the purse strings. There is lots of leftover DD talent on the team but no new talent. Without new talent, you can’t replace the lost talent which is huge. That’s why 65 wins is realistic in 2021, especially when E-Rod misses most of the first half along with Sale. Also, don’t be shocked if after a long road trip some right fielder’s back goes out. At that point, with JD having a great year it might be time to cash in on his value in July, not as a rebuild just to maximize value for a grossly over=valued team. Don’t we all want ownership to make just a little more money while the team wins 65 games?
Devers has a huge year ahead of him. His explosion was with the juiced ball and his defense remains lacking. If he wants a nice deal, he’ll get extended, if he’s looking for two way player top 3Bman dollars he’ll go year to year if he’s not moved.
loole – Spot on. Devers needs to extend himself now before he goes to DH and hope they split the difference in their offer and of course the home town discount. What do you pay a guy who can’t field and is an inconsistent hitter? It’s not Arenado money. Should be a lot closer to Middlebrook money!! I’m guessing the pitching staff would chip in on any deal that moves him to DH or to another team. I haven’t seen too many ST games but each time I do he’s responsible for a loss with his defense. Perez has Chavis drop a pop-up allowing runners that shouldn’t have been on base then Devers seals the deal by not making a routine play on a soft hit ball that a good HS 3B could have charged and thrown out the runner. With two outs, failing to deliver the routine play shows no error but it allow the next batter to homer and poof another win down the tubes. 3 games watched 5 not made plays that a HS 3B could make, no errors thanks to over generous score keeping and 3 losses and higher pitch counts for the pitchers along with double the base runners allowed and more earned runs. A pitcher’s nightmare EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I don’t like Boston but it’s tough to see what has happend to Rodriguez over the past year. I hope he can come back and perform to his ability.
E-Rod will rebound just fine from this. No worries at all. Boston would be smart to place him on the 10 day IL and make sure he gets the rest he needs to fully recover. They are going to need him healthy this year to have a chance.
To have a chance for what?
We need him to at least have a good chance to lock in last place!
A chance to give more L’s to the Yankees and watch them fight for a wildcard spot yet again.
To have a chance with your mom, sucka
@YankeesBleacherCreature- a chance for 4th place.
Idk how jays yanks or sox fans can be happy w their current rosters. They all have major weaknesses. I hate the season long bets bc ur money is tied up but whatever rays are paying prob looks pretty good !
Yup, for all the talk, the NYY and BJs each have one good SP. Unless I am missing something, the NYY have Cole, a 4.98 ERA, a 5.11 ERA, and two guys that combined for 1 inning last year. TO has Ryu, and I don’t even know who their #2 is? Ray? Shoemaker? Roark? Matz?
Joe, it’s going to be a long year with so many pitchers on all clubs. That’s what the season comes down to. Whose full staff stays healthiest and overall performs the best. So many teams have solid 1 – 9 lineups in the AL that it will come down to pitching.
JoeB – You know I trust everything you say but I’m thinking the Red Sox pitching staff doesn’t match up well with many, if any, teams in the AL.
Lets verify that statement:
NYY – COLE, KLUBER, Taillon, Montgomery and German
TOR – RYU, Ray, Roark, Matz and Pearson (Pearson likely to be #2 if healthy)
TB – GLASNOW, Yarborough, Wacha, Archer and Hill
BAL – Means, Harvey, Zimmerman, Kremer and Lopez
BOS – Eovaldi, Richards, Perez, Pivetta and the 3B hot dog vendor until E-Rod makes it back or Houck is allowed to be promoted after ensuring an additional year of control.
Yankees win the comparison easily, TB is second, TOR is third and if E-Rod can’t compete for months as expected and Houck stays in the minors until June to ensue his extra year then BOS might beat out Baltimore for fourth with a half year of Sale a half year of E-Rod and a half year of Houck..
But hey, you can argue the Red Sox have a break-even situation on the hitting side. Right? Don’t make me list the hitters because it will be more embarrassing than the pitchers. The Red Sox have 2 legitimate stars and Devers who soon might be a legitimate hitting star and a bunch of unknowns. TB is similar except their unknowns are better at hitting and scoring runs. The Yankee’s bench is better than many Red Sox starters. Toronto also dwarfs the Red Sox in hitting. Yep, 57 games against teams with far more talent and 19 games against BAL who the Red Sox might be able to beat 10 or 11 out of 19!! OUCH.
I’m not seeing where your optimism is coming from when you actually evaluate the talent. As a fan, you are entitled to believe in fantasies so I’m not knocking your viewpoint, I’m just saying it’s not going to happen. Top 5 draft pick in 2022 is on the horizon for Boston. Let’s hope Bloom doesn’t botch back to back high picks. Unlike closing deals on mega=stars, Bloom actually does have experience contributing to a team of experts on who to pick with a high draft choice. Finally, a skill where he has practical experience!!! I knew there had to be at least one!!.