Vaughn Grissom was already questionable for Opening Day, but Alex Cora offered an update this morning on the timeline for his second baseman’s return. “We’re talking mid-April probably, [or] late April,” the Red Sox manager told members of the media, including Ian Browne of MLB.com. Grissom has not yet appeared in a Grapefruit League game; he has been nursing a groin strain all spring.
Boston traded for Grissom in December, sending Chris Sale (and $17MM) to Atlanta to complete the exchange. The Red Sox were counting on the 23-year-old to be their everyday second baseman in 2024. Barring a significant setback, he can still fill that role, and if he returns in mid-April, he might only miss 15-20 games.
When news of Grissom’s injury first broke, Cora told Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe that Enmanuel Valdez would fill in at second base. Valdez started 44 games at the keystone for the Red Sox last season. He slashed a perfectly respectable .266/.311/.453 in 149 plate appearances, with eight doubles and six home runs. However, he took nearly 90% of his plate appearances with the platoon advantage and went 2-for-14 against left-handed pitching. Thus, Pablo Reyes is likely to grab some starts at second with a southpaw on the mound.
In pitching news from Red Sox camp, Cora told reporters (including Sean McAdam of MassLive) that Josh Winckowski is no longer in the running for the Opening Day rotation, and he will likely move to the bullpen to begin the season. As Browne points out, that leaves Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, and Cooper Criswell competing for the final two jobs on Boston’s starting staff. Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, and Kutter Crawford will hold down the top three spots.
Winckowski pitched well out of the bullpen last season, posting a 2.88 ERA in 84 1/3 innings of work. His 3.84 SIERA and 3.82 xERA were more good than great, but there is no denying he was an effective reliever, especially against left-handed opponents. The same cannot be said for his time as a starting pitcher the year before. Over 70 1/3 innings, Winckowski pitched to a 5.89 ERA, 4.84 xERA, and 4.82 SIERA, striking out a mere 44 batters while walking 27. Nonetheless, the 25-year-old told Rob Bradford of WEEI that he still considers himself a starting pitcher.
While Cora suggested Winckowski would likely fill a multi-inning role at the MLB level, he didn’t completely shut down the possibility that the righty could begin the season as a starter at Triple-A (per McAdam). “We still have got decisions to make,” said the skipper. “We’ll transition him now to the bullpen… and we’ll make decisions after that.”
Out of Houck, Whitlock, and Criswell, a trio of tall, 27-year-old right-handers, it seems like the former two have the edge over the latter. Houck and Whitlock have significantly more big league experience, and both were serviceable out of the rotation for Boston in 2023. Houck has a career 3.86 ERA in 252 innings, while Whitlock has a career 3.51 in 223 1/3 frames. Criswell has pitched well this spring, but it would be hard to argue he has done enough to edge out either of his more proven teammates.
Turning back to the bullpen, Cora mentioned an interesting name to Christopher Smith of MassLive: Cam Booser. Booser will turn 32 in May. He has spent time in the Twins, Diamondbacks, and Red Sox organizationx. He has never been selected to a 40-man roster, let alone pitched in the major leagues. Yet Booser was the first name the manager mentioned, pointing out his upper-90s fastball velocity and the way he has landed “offspeed pitches for strikes.”
That said, Cora was also clear to emphasize the value of experience. Brennan Bernardino, who already has a spot on the 40-man roster, made 55 appearances last year with a 3.20 ERA. Joely Rodríguez, a non-roster invitee, has pitched in 168 games over six big league seasons. Chris Murphy, another 40-man arm, found moderate success as a multi-inning reliever last season, tossing 47 2/3 frames over 20 appearances with the Red Sox. Cora brought up all three of their names in the same discussion, and it’s hard to imagine Booser beating out any of them for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Still, it’s becoming clear that Booser is a name to keep an eye on this season. He has given up just two runs in eight innings this spring, striking out eight and walking none.
Your last burner account got banned, Trev?
Stop making Bauer into some kind of martyr. He’s just a POS human who can throw a baseball. Let it go
And hasnt had a great pitching career either
BBTR, where George Floyd is a hero and Trevor Bauer is a villain …
Slap, why the comparison? Floyd is no hero but what happened to him was a tragedy/disgrace and stain on America
Dewey in the myopic world of extremists both can’t be true.
That doesn’t make him a hero. He was a garbage human being and people rever him as an icon.
If we can memorialize a garbage human being whose decisions led to the cops be called, then certainly we can allow our favorite team to sign a person who’s not guilty of any domestic violence without all of the disdain
Bauer uses sticky stuff. Also his lifestyle is risky, anything can happen.
Booser is a heck of a story. But I need someone to give my man Jamie Westbrook a shot this year.
I know it’s only spring training but I’ve been following the sox around everywhere since I saw the dominican series, except jetblue, and he has been a noticeable bright spot.
He’s already signed as the starting shortstop. Knuckleheads…lol.
Here’s a few things you could do. You could sign Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, What? Too soon.
Winckowski should be starting over Whitlock. Whitlock belongs in the pen and has been mediocre as a starter.
Whitlock is cheaper as a SP compared to signing a SP, or, what winc may go up to through arb as a SP instead of an RP.
Unfortunately that may play a role in the calculus.
Winning isn’t exactly the priority these days.
Yastrzemski, Williams, Ortiz, Bauer, Pedro.
Why Whitlock over Winckowski as a starter? Whitlock has been mediocre as a starter but brilliant in the bullpen. Don’t get the logic in this.
Trevor Bauer Nucklehead lol. And the other guy having a conversation with himself I can’t believe these moronic comments
Who’s Leo Morgenstein?
Sadly, i hate the idea of Whitlock starting as the bullpen is much better with him in it.
Maybe they’ll find a waiver claim or someone who gets cut by another team but it looks like this is the group they are going to roll with
I do realize that spring training doesn’t count. Yet Boston seems to be holding their own. I’m not expecting them to run away with the division, but they could be better than the prognosticators say.
What kind of Crack are you smoking? Bauer is BLACK BALLED!!!
Does anyone know why Richard Fitz wasn’t invited to spring training? He’s their #11 prospect in the system and is probably their top AA-AAA option to be called up for a spot start this year or at least for middle relief. He was apparently selected to the spring breakout roster so it sounds like he is healthy. I can’t figure out why a 24 year old highly-ranked prospect who pitched in AA for the Yankees last year and won Eastern League pitcher of the year was not invited to spring training. Inquiring minds want to know.
Fitts is 24 years old but only has some 250 professional minor league innings.
Dorothy: Good question. Right now, Fitts only has two pitches (fastball, slider). He needs to develop a third pitch if he is going to be a MLB starter. He is better off staying in the minors and working on that.
I can’t figure out why a 24 year old highly-ranked prospect who pitched in AA for the Yankees last year
====================
Not highly ranked-FG has him as a 40 F V.
He hasn’t hit AAA yet.
There are time-honored processes for MLB prospects.
The Red Sox did not have enough innings for the eight starters (Bello, Pivetta, Crawford, Hock, Whitlock, Crisswell, Giolito, and Winckowski) that opened camp, so Gambrel, Fitts, and Walter (after being sent down) are being ‘stretched out’ in minor league camp.
Trevor is over rated…pass
Juggy. I said it tongue in cheek. That said there is zero chance this ownership ever spends a dime on Bauer with his alleged past. Drug users ok. Cheaters ok. Bauer? No way.
Love the youth and more on the way. You can have those bloated contracts that hold you back for years. 87 wins
87 wins? In 200 games counting Spring Training and it’s probable.
He would be run out of town on the first train by those Leninist freaks in Boston.
Dude deserves a second chance, I’ve seen worse and they still got to play
Be that as it may hes not good enough to warrent the blowback any second chance would incur…2.5 good seasons in 10 just doesnt cut it
Fine. You hire him. You like him so much.
What are you crybabies gonna say if the Red Sox have a good season and make the playoffs? “Oh, I knew it all along, I was just joking.”
Honestly, blow your nose and let the season begin. Good lord.
Hayzee – It still amazes me how many here call 2021 a “fluke”.
There was a lot of talent leftover from 2018, nobody should have been surprised at the 2021 success. Screw the Pythags, they are usually wrong.
Completely agreed. And while 2021 wasn’t exactly a fluke, it was still a different team than the 2018 one, so please don’t just use that excuse. We had some guys from 2018, but a lot was different and we barely got into the postseason. We were terrible in 2020.
And @Fever, if I recall, you were complaining back then about the team as well. Some things never change and some of you fans just want attention from being negative and complaining.
When you finish last in 20 (short season so if alone it would be excusable), 22 and 23, how can you not look at 21 as a fluke? It was and while all teams have streaks, Hernandez on fire and Renfroe on fire were fluky for those key stretches.
Time to buck up for Clevinger…
I agree, Clevinger would be a great fit and a pretty cheap addition.
Henry mandate: clear payroll first…
Dewey – John Henry has also signed a couple players found guilty of domestic violence.
I hear Pittsburgh or Cleveland are in the market for women beaters, ummm I mean Trevor Bauer. Just ask DeShaun Watson or Ben Roethlisberger. I’m surprised the Lakers kept Kobe, wait he was found innocent. Oh Baltimore they kept a murderer playing in Ray Lewis, oh my bad he was found innocent again. Bauer was only found guilty of enjoying sexual asphyxiation and it was consensual. This Bauer hate is moronic, he did not give that woman the Ray Rice treatment, she really did ask for it. Of course it was to set him up just like other women have done to athletes in the past. They sign a NDA to never talk about it again and get a bag i.e. see DeShaun Watson.
Yeahhhhhhh!!! My man Braiser!!!! Oh… wait Booser????? Yeahhhhhhh!!! My man Booser!!! Close enough!!!! 70- 71 only cause they are gonna retire Brais # 70!!!
Voice of Reason
Like the Red Sox need another pitcher who chokes under pressure
Dont forget about Domingo German. A baseball player precedent.
I agree the hate for Trevor is really pathetic.. i DO NOT CONDONE WOMEN BEATERS .. they were consensual
Fever, who and when?
Boston, we truly don’t know but MLB must have more than what’s been published.
Dewey – Familia was signed 5 years after his suspension, and Wright was re-signed a year after his suspension.
Insane – I will be relying on CBD to feel good this season.
Of course I mean Casas, Bello and Duran ;o)
Somebody forgot to change accounts lol
This is so sad man.
Dumb Sportsball Fan trope 1: make sure to name-check teams in 2, 3, 4 different sports. Murica!
Connor Wong looks really good at the plate in spring training. Normally I wouldn’t give two shi** about spring training but he’s noticeably not chasing the slider off the plate and hammering mistakes in the zone. Story is doing the same thing he’s laying off that slider. I would rather see those two strike out looking at a slider that clips the corner then chase the slider off the plate it was deadly for both last year.
He’s NOT hammering mistakes in the zone?
—-Watch your modifiers and placement, people!
Bruin1012 – It’s spring training. That can’t be said enough times. See where they are after the West Coast trip and lets see if they survive with a .500 record after the first 10 games. Absolutely no need for optimism with regard to a back-up catcher and a grossly over paid SS.
The youngsters who need to take a step up are guys to be excited about and Teel the future catcher.
Troll have you ever heard of guys taking a step forward. I just like the way he looks in spring training he’s laying off the slider. Its possible the guy takes a big step forward last year was his first full season I know you hate him and would rather see him and the Red Sox fail then anything coming to fruition by Bloom but I like what I see it’s the approach he looks good in spring training.
Bruin1012 – So I won’t belabor the point too much but you told EVERYONE how Abreu was the man and Rafaela sucked at hitting. How did that turn out? You said Houck needs to be in the bullpen because he doesn’t have the pitches to be a starter? How did that turn out?
I’m starting to think you could be a weather vane for who will do the opposite of what you say!!!.
FYI… I haven’t moved off the idea that Wong is a career back-up since the day we got him and Story has had tow years to find his form. Maybe it’s not going to happen.
I hope your observations don’t jinx Story but there is a long track record of that happening and as far as Wong goes he’s a 60 to 100 OPS+ career hitter. Teel needs to show up asap.
I said no such thing about Rafaela I said Abreu plays right field and Rafaela plays center and guess what I am probably correct. I said Houck’s needs to develop a third pitch to really be effective as a starter and he has to get through the lineup more than twice to be an effective starter and those are true.
You are classic Abreu has had poor start to spring training but is starting to heat up and according to you he’s terrible after 25 at bats but when Wong is hitting .500 after 25 at bats that’s just spring training. You skew facts all the time trying to weave it to your narrative and then you flat out lie what someone else says. As usual you’re wrong but being a legend in your own mind doesn’t let you see it. You don’t even watch games you just make stuff up it’s funny actually you look at a stat page and spout nonsense.
As always, thanks Fever. Differences without knowing more is Wright was in-house so they knew him better and Familia was many years removed and possibly a one time incident.
So many Sox insiders here in the comments section.
I agree as well. We really should start a softball league so we can sign him ourselves.
I couldn’t agree more. I really am proud of myself. Sign Trevor Rabin now.
Why? Why me, Lord?
The Cooper Criswell era has begun. NOOOOO!!!
wbz41 – Yeah you can’t put the insiders as writer or the articles might have content so we try to get the insiders to come up with lots of perspectives about how things are going despite no games being played. That way, you can’t be wrong since NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
Thank goodness there is a mute button on this website. Every comments section is the same -_-
If love if they’d Just sign Lorenzen or Clevinger and have 2 Very Quality multi inning bullpen arms with 3 of Whitlock, Houck and Wink. Bullpen could be a Major weapon.
And Felipe Vázquez, right?
It’s seriously gotta be something along those lines …
Consenual according to trevor
Sox shouldn’t sign anyone at this point. It’s another .500 club. The window to truly upgrade the rotation is long past closed. Just let loose the youth movement and see where it lands. I am actually far more excited this year about watching the kids than anything else.
Save the money, at the very least to keep under the threshold. Then, if the youth movement shows some promise by the deadline, spend for a wild card run.
No matter what, move Yoshi at the deadline for any 3rd baseman not named Devers and move Devers to DH. Also, move any short term $$ contract for more pitching prospects.
Just my take, but if the young guys perform and the Houke take the final step forward, we could be looking at an 87 win win season.
Consensual according to the law, you don’t think those cops would of loved to throw Bauer in jail? Man the way they automatically think the man is the devil in domestic disputes if there was any validity at all, he’d be in jail. The law protects women mercilessly in this society even when they scheming and don’t deserve it. Trust me he had to prove it was consensual in order to be free. Same situation with Watson, the Houston DA wanted to jail him but couldn’t because what he did wasn’t criminal.
“A trio of tall, 27-year-old right-handers” should be between em dashes for clarity, not commas.