Sep. 21: The Red Sox announced that they have officially placed Whitlock on the 15-day IL, with righty Connor Seabold recalled to take his place on the roster. Since Whitlock won’t be returning this year, the club can transfer him to the 60-day IL as soon as they need his spot on the 40-man roster.
Sep. 20: Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock will undergo surgery and won’t return for the rest of the season, reports Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe (Twitter links). Whitlock is expected to be ready for Spring Training. Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports that the procedure will be arthroscopic hip surgery for a right hip impingement.
Whitlock, 26, went on the injured list due to hip inflammation in June and ended up missing just over a month. The issue never really went away though, with Abraham reporting a few weeks ago on Whitlock’s ongoing struggles to continue. The Red Sox were in the Wild Card race for the first few months of the season but have faded recently and are now 10 games behind the Mariners for the final spot, with three clubs in between. Given that there’s just over two weeks remaining on the schedule, their chances of climbing back into the race have evaporated, making it fairly logical to stop pushing Whitlock and start worrying about next season.
Despite the ongoing injury and unfortunate ending, it’s been another successful season for Whitlock. After being selected from the Yankees in the 2020 Rule 5 draft, he stuck with Boston through all of last year, registering a 1.96 ERA over 73 1/3 innings, along with a 27.2% strikeout rate, 5.7% walk rate and 49.7% ground ball rate.
Just as the 2022 campaign was ramping up in April, he and the Sox agreed to a four-year, $18.75MM extension that also comes with a pair of club options, cementing him as a key piece of the team’s pitching staff. This year, Whitlock eventually earned himself a spot in the rotation, making nine starts. However, since going on the IL with the hip issue, he has only appeared as a reliever. Perhaps Whitlock could be considered for a rotation spot again next year, if the surgery goes well and he’s able to return to full strength. While pitching around the issue for most of the season, he still registered a 3.45 ERA over 78 1/3 innings along with a 26.4% strikeout rate, 4.8% walk rate and 40.8% ground ball rate.
So what’s the surgery or will it be a mystery until it happens somehow?
Arthroscopic hip surgery to repair a hip impingement according to the last paragraph of the article.
No reason to risk Whitlock by letting him finish the season. Get it out of the way now and let him get ready for next season
Rsox – Let’s hope they are not downplaying a more serious degenerative injury. When it comes to the hip, sometimes it could be career ending …. ask Albert Belle.
True. But since he was playing through it and being effective hopefully it isn’t anything too serious
Sucks, but he has been playing through injury for a while, so it’s better to be happening now than during next season
Hat tip to Whitlock for playing through the injury.
I presume that if the Sox were still in contention, he would have waited to have surgery. But I don’t know that for a fact.
I had a right hip impingement with a torn labrum. He definitely could pitch through the pain. It’s uncomfortable but not excruciating
“Given that there’s just over two weeks remaining on the schedule, their chances of climbing back into the race have evaporated…”
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Eliminated is more accurate.
No, his was better.
Whitlock should definitely be considered for the rotation next year. His swiss army knife role is more suited to a team with a good and deep rotation, which Boston is unlikely to have next year.
If you watched him, he was far more effective in a relief role. He was not only better but the team needed him in relief.
In 9 games started in 39 IP, he had a 4.15 ERA/3.60 FIP. That’s a #3 in the AL East. The rotation needs the innings.
Did you see how bad our bullpen was? There’s so many guys who could have been long relief for us (if they weren’t injured), and as good as those numbers are, Whitlock is sensational as a reliever.
pwndroia – Next year one of Houck or Whitlock needs to be in the pen with Schreiber and Barnes – who, BTW, has been looking really good.
I’d be fine with moving Houck to the rotation, keeping Strahm, and going after a good reliever like Ottavino.
But none of that will matter if Cora continues to mismanage the pitching staff.
Cora made a lot of mistakes but I’m not sure it’s mismanaging. The whole thing starts with who Bloom puts on the field.
Houck is a better choice for a starter IMO over Whitlock.
pwndroia – I agree, I’d rather have Houck in the rotation even though he was great as a reliever. I think they will have to watch Whitlock’s innings closely, which means keep him in relief.
I agree Whitlock should be in bullpen where he was most effective
Oh, I guess I should have watched him then. I will try that next time.
I’d keep him the BP. Theoretically, a starter is more valuable, but he was about our MVP in 2021 coming in with two-inning shutdowns. I think he would make a good SP, but a devastating multi-inning RP. If we want a huge BP, go after someone like Diaz, and keep Whitlock, Houck, Schreiber & Strahm in front of him.
You’re dreaming if you think Bloom will drop 90 million on a reliever
So going into the offseason, does the brass ask Whitlock to train as a starter or reliever?
YBC – i wouldn’t be surprised if that decision is made later in the offseason, and is based on need. If the Sox get enough rotation help, Whit stays in the pen.
If given the choice I’d rather move Whitlock to the rotation and keep Houck in the BP
Awful season for the Red Sox
A little late for that. It’s been obvious since July.
More like Garrett Hiplock
Does this mean he can be left off the 40 man roster and still be protected from the Rule 5 draft?
No, the 40-man stuff is just for this season. After the season is over, teams still have to put all of their players (including still injured ones) on to the 40-man if they want them protected. Then, after the Rule 5 (but before Opening Day) you then transfer guys back to 60 or 15-Day IL, if necessary.
Whitlock has a guaranteed major league contract with the Sox through 2026, with team options for ’27 and ’28. Rule 5 is not an issue.
Rule 5 is not an issue, but he needs to be put back on the 40-man along with all the other injured players over the offseason.
A lot of these guys are exaggerating the extent of their injuries just so they can start their vacations early.
Give me a break man if You think that u got problems the guy is goin under the knife
So you think people are saying, “I want a day off, somebody cut me open with a scalpel.!”
Just idiotic.
Anyone can fake a surgery. Doctors are on the take.
SliderWithCheese
A lot of these guys are exaggerating the extent of their injuries
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ROTFLMAO!
Seriously, every time I feel like I need a day at the race track, I schedule back surgery for that morning.
Not only that, to ensure I can drink a reasonable amount of beer, I tell the surgeon not to bother with anesthesia. That also saves me the copay.
Houch has more pitches than Whitlock as far as being groomed as a Starter. IMO Houch makes the better SP prospect than Whitlock…whom the latter is lights out in the pen & IMO our 8th inning or 6 out guy, if not the outright closer although Schreiber I would like closing as well. Regardless we need a revamp on the bullpen. I prefer 1 Free Agent SP (Degrom or Bassitt) 1 OF (Judge to gut NY for the next decade) & Sign Raffy. JD can go, Bogey too unless it is a reasonable (Story+AAVmoney/length deal) I love Wong/McGuire C fix! Sorry Vasquez thanks but gotta move on for your 8+ million. Please for the love of GOD find full time work for Christian Arroyo! As an everyday utility for resting 1b,2b,SS,3B & corner OF OR as the fulltime 2b if Story moves to SS. Lots of possibility depending on signings…(Raff DH, Bogey to 3rd, Story SS, Arroyo 2b)
Hoping for the 1b situation to work itself out…Hosmer, Casas, Dalbac-whom I don’t think is done…someone tell him to keep his head on the dam baseball vs. Pulling off & hitting air
Nice post. From what I’ve seen, Dalbec was going oppo more last year. Once he starts pulling off, he becomes suspect to outside pitching. Guys like that need to know they can leave the park no matter where they hit the ball.
Past that:
Yes on DeGrom
No on Judge (let someone else drive the price)
Yes to Raffy
Yes to McGuire/Wong
No to Arroyo (like him better as a premium bench player)
No on DeGrom. Too injury prone
No on Judge. Too much $$$$$$$$$$$$
Yes on Raffy
Yes to McGuire/Wong
Yes on Arroyo. To play 2nd.
No on Martinez. Unless he takes a pay cut.
No on Bogaerts. Unless he accepts $22.5M/yr. for the balance of his contract.
No on Casas. Needs more seasoning.
No on Pham.
Yes on former Met, Edwin Diaz, on multi-year deal
Yes on John Schribner
Yes on Josh Taylor
Yes on Matt Strahm
Yes on Pirate trade for David Bednar and Bryan Reynolds
Yes on Trevor Bauer @ 50% of contract if he wins his appeal.
Starting Rotation:
Wacha
Sale
Pivetta
Houck
Whitbeck
Bauer*
Do they play “Everybody Wong Chang Tonight” at Fenway?
Redsox need 2SPs, 1 or 2 OF, & a bullpen revamp. Otani fills 2 of those 5 needs. Adding Judge would gut NY regardless of what proapects we lost. DeGrom is available & Bassitt. The Redsox need to spend money & it isn’t on Bogey. Resigning Devers will fit. Trea Turner is you are thinking about the middle infield. Sign Arroyo for 7 years 16 million please…he is a full time talent.