The Red Sox appear like they dodged a bullet with each Trevor Story and Matt Strahm.
Story and Strahm left Tuesday night time’s loss towards the Rays with accidents, however X-rays on Wednesday for each gamers got here again damaging. Story suffered a proper hand contusion after being hit by a pitch within the fifth inning, whereas Strahm suffered a left wrist contusion after getting hit by a comebacker within the sixth.
The workforce hopes neither will want a stint on the injured listing. Story was out of Wednesday’s lineup and Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora mentioned on WEEI’s “Merloni, Fauria & Mego” that the second baseman will most likely be out Thursday earlier than hopefully being obtainable for Friday’s opener towards the Yankees.
Story instructed reporters in Tampa that he’s nonetheless sore. An prolonged absence for Story would put the Red Sox in a troublesome scenario at second base, the place Jeter Downs – who performed properly in reduction on Tuesday – began on Wednesday and certain will till Story returns. Their different second base choices, Christian Arroyo and Kiké Hernandez, are nonetheless on the IL.
Strahm’s harm got here on an unlucky play for the Red Sox. After being hit by the comebacker, the pitcher threw the ball away attempting to get the runner out at first, which allowed the game-tying run to attain. Then, first baseman Franchy Cordero’s throw house to Christian Vazquez acquired away to permit the go-ahead run to attain. The Red Sox misplaced 3-2.
“After he got the X-rays he texted me, ‘I’m actually more upset about the lack of the awareness on that play,’” Cora mentioned on WEEI.
Henry opens up on Bogaerts, Devers
The Red Sox futures of Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers stay simply as unsure after John Henry’s current feedback. In a narrative revealed Wednesday by the Globe, the Red Sox principal proprietor mentioned the membership hopes to achieve a take care of their homegrown stars however left open the actual risk that they received’t have the ability to hold one or each of them as he cited previous conditions.
“It takes two to make a deal,” Henry instructed the Globe. “I believe it’s clear each of them need to be right here. We need them right here. We made efforts previously to attempt to signal gamers that we weren’t capable of signal. It’s not one hundred pc our fault once we don’t find yourself signing a participant. We’ve signed gamers the place it’s actually labored out. We’ve signed others that, it’s our job to attempt to signal the fitting gamers. Frankly, during the last 20 years, we haven’t performed it [every time], so we’ve needed to break groups up.
“The key thing I think with a long-term deal is to make it with the right players. For us at this point, both Raffy and Xander are two players we would love to have. In Xander’s case, it could be till the end of his career. But players have rights and you have to respect that.”
Bogaerts can decide out of his team-friendly contract after this season, however he and the Red Sox appear to be far aside in negotiations for an extension. The membership reportedly provided the shortstop – who has three years and $60 million remaining on his present deal – only one extra yr at $30 million.
Devers, in the meantime, doesn’t grow to be a free agent till after the 2023 season. But contract talks haven’t appeared to return near an settlement because the 25-year-old seeks a long-term extension.
“That’s not entirely up to me but I don’t know any other team,” Devers mentioned final week when requested if he thinks he’ll keep in Boston. “I love this city, I love my teammates, I love the coaches. I don’t know any other team, so of course I would love to be here but at the end of the day, it’s not in my hands.”
Need for protection
The Aug. 2 commerce deadline is quickly approaching, and the Red Sox have a number of wants to handle, notably at first base and within the bullpen.
What does Cora suppose they should add? Whatever it’s, the supervisor desires to see a deal with protection.
“I think we have to get back to playing better defense,” Cora mentioned on WEEI. “Kiké’s banged up, he’s going to be out for a while, but whatever personnel we have, we have to be better defensively. We’ve been playing sloppy defense for the last 10-12 days. I know we have a lot of moving parts, a lot of new guys on the roster. But whatever we do, we gotta play better defensively.”
Odds & ends
Garrett Whitlock, who pitched two shutout innings in Portland on Tuesday, is anticipated to return for this weekend’s Yankees collection. … J.D. Martinez returned to the lineup Wednesday after lacking Tuesday’s loss with a sore again. … Kevin Plawecki returned from the COVID-19-related injured listing on Wednesday. Connor Wong was optioned again to Worcester … Cora instructed reporters in Tampa that Rich Hill (knee) will throw a bullpen Thursday, and Michael Wacha (arm) may have one on Saturday. … Matt Barnes (shoulder), who’s been out since early June, was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Former Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi is one among 10 Royals gamers who aren’t vaccinated towards COVID-19 and due to this fact ineligible to journey to Toronto for this weekend’s collection towards the Blue Jays.
Source: www.bostonherald.com