The Red Sox announced some very welcome news on lefty David Price, who was being evaluated for a worrying elbow injury. As Rob Bradford of WEEI.com was among those to report on Twitter, manager John Farrell says that Price is not expected to require surgery or other invasive treatments. Instead, he will be shut down for seven to ten days of treatment before being reevaluated.
It’s not immediately clear how soon Price can be expected back on the mound. The injury has been diagnosed as a strain, per Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald (via Twitter), which presumably could have a wide variance in recovery process and timing. Clearly, though, the news comes as a relief to a Boston organization that has much at stake in Price’s left arm — this season and beyond.
Alarm bells rang yesterday when the Sox told reporters they were sending Price to be examined by elbow experts Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Neal ElAttrache. That decision showed that the team had real concern, and raised the specter of a season-ending surgery. Those two physicians, after all, are among the foremost practitioners of the Tommy John procedure. While a visit to their offices often precedes a TJ procedure, though, that’s not always the case.
In Price’s situation, it seems, other treatment outcomes were also seen as being on the table. Ferrell noted that the veteran southpaw won’t need an injection, which perhaps would have represented an alternative. As it turns out, the news represents a best-case scenario.
Unfortunately, even with that good news, it seems as if Price may fall behind a bit. Unless, perhaps, he’s cleared for a full resumption of this throwing program at the earliest opportunity, Price may need to spend at least a bit of time on the DL to start the season. That wouldn’t be particularly problematic were it not for the fact that Boston is facing similar timing questions already with pitchers such as Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz, though perhaps a fill-in or even an outside addition could help bridge the gap if the need arises.
Lego4365
Phew
dlevin11
Double Phew
landt143
Phewwwwwww!!!
Priggs89
All the prayers must have worked.
Pedro Cerrano's Voodoo
Lol yes
GeauxRangers
Hahahahaha
Connorsoxfan
Nice
cgallant
Great news. Even without him I think the bosox have the best rotation in the AL east.
mahoney
Except for the team that actually had the best rotation in the ALE last year, of course.
lowtalker1
How’d that rotation do in the first round of the playoffs?
mahoney
They won the Wild Card and their first round series, so well enough I suppose.
lowtalker1
Did the win the first round?
I’m pretty sure they got their butts kicked by the Indians
lowtalker1
What wild card game? They won the ale
mahoney
You’ve got that Cleveland part correct, but I’m pretty sure that was in the Championship Series, pal.
lowtalker1
Nope. Championship series was against the jays bud
mahoney
…and the Jays had the best rotation in the ALE last season.
There you go! You’re catching on.
PBABowler27
Yeah, but the Blue Jays didn’t add Chris Sale…
lowtalker1
Oh your a jays fan?
Thought you were a blow sox fan
mahoney
But that doesn’t change the fact that they had the best rotation in the ALE last season, which was my point.
The Red Sox’ rotation, without Price, is most likely not better than the Jays’ or Rays’ rotations, on a whole, especially if a guy like Cobb returns to form.
bigpapijuicer
Blue Jays rotation will regress to average this year.
LASTSON86
You did not just say that without Price, the Rays rotation would be better than the Red Sox. That would be an idiotic statement
George
The Jays beat Baltimore in the WC. Boston got swept by Cleveland.
George
Nope. Boston lost the ALDS 0-3, and Cleveland went on to beat The Jays 4-1 in the ALCS..
patborders92
You are correct the Jays didn’t add Sale but the jays are now RA D free so it’s a push
Pedro Cerrano's Voodoo
I’m a Sox fan and I agree that the Jays had a better rotation last year. Who knows, they may have a better rotation this year.
Travis’ Wood
Without Price the Sox staff is nowhere near as good as Tampa’s or Toronto’s. Even with Price I’m not sure it’s as good as either of those considering the Red Sox inexplicable lack of depth.
mike244
With price, the redsox rotation is by far the best in the ale and it’s not even close. They have 3 TOR starters and 6 average or better starters.
Their “lack or depth” is quite misleading Elias/Johnson/Owens are their 7/8/9 starters. Not their 5/6 starters
chesteraarthur
Average starters are ~2 war pitchers, who are there 6 additinal 2+ win starters?
mike244
Price, sale, porcello, Pomeranz, Erod, and wright all are projected for better than league average performance, and outside Erod) were all above average last season.
chesteraarthur
you said 3 tor AND 6 average or better. That implies that they have 6 in addition to the 3 TOR when I read it.
That said, neither Erod nor Steven Wright are projected as above league average starters unless you are prorating their production to 200ish innings (which shouldn’t be done with those two and their injuies.)
differentbears
Isn’t every Blue Jays starting pitcher a TOR starter?
I’ll show myself out.
lowtalker1
Price? Dude they got the lefty from Chicago better than price. Best lefty in the al
Ironman_4life
Just my opinion but id take sale over kershaw.
ghost of harambe
He said in ath AL… kershaw is in the NL
ghost of harambe
Nvr mind. I read your comment wrong
thegreatcerealfamine
OMFG!
san888
I agree.
lowtalker1
I would too
But at the same time I’d take kershaw
Sale is good but kershaw is good and nasty
Priggs89
You haven’t seen Sale’s slider if you don’t think he’s nasty too.
That being said, I’d take a healthy Kershaw before Sale. Sale would be right there for my second option though.
Tigersin2020
As a tigers fan, that’s Dave Dombrowski style. A rock solid 25 man roster but a pathetic 40 man roster
LASTSON86
Whatever you’re smoking, it must be some good weed
landt143
Agree
lowtalker1
Let’s see what happens in 7-10 days
50/50 shot says he still needs the surgery
beajd27
Exactly what I was thinking. They said it would be reevaluated in 7-10 days. That’s probably for the fluid buildup to disappear so they can get a clear look, since the reason for the second opinion in the first place was because the MRI was unclear due to said fluid.
yankees500
Don’t get your hopes up too high. In 10 days he could very well not see any improvement and need TJS.
Fisk27
Shouldn’t you be more worried about CC’s belt size
lowtalker1
Who wears a bigger belt cc or Sandoval ?
I know cc went to rehab so it’s possibly he isn’t as fat anymore
I’m sure by the all star break sandovels belt will be larger
rocky7
Fisk27
Typical acrimonious comment from a Bosox fan….yankees500 was only stating the obvious which is a real possibility whether you like it or not. It was a good point and fair in all ways.
And, I can’t think of a funnier image than Panda swinging at a pitch and actually breaking his belt….and it wasn’t due to his 6 pack DUDE!
thegreatcerealfamine
Typical Red Sox fan..oblivious to reality so deflect and if that doesn’t work try and deflect some more.
start_wearing_purple
Look, they’re clearly trying to pick fights with each other like grade schoolers on a playground. Stay out of it, you;re just making it worse.
MB923
Exactly.
yanks02026
At least CC could pitch in big games and helped a team win a World Series.
MB923
Lol. You do know Sandoval has won 3 WS and has been a WS MVP right?
24TheKid
None for the Red Sox, I don’t even think he’s really helped them win many regular season games. But how has Price done for you in the playoffs?
customcrown
That’s what they said about the KD situation. lol
Ironman_4life
This is not the news i expected
Sincerely , Orioles fan
yanks2009
Don’t worry about it.. by the middle of the season he will go down… that is for sure!! Sorry sucks!!
Kayrall
I’m glad guys like you still exist. It’s felt like the mindless rivalries have been going the way of the dodo for the past several years.
kehoet83
Hurray for baseball’s sake!
Armaday
Elbow injuries could be a major burden. Just because it doesn’t require surgery, doesn’t mean he is okay!
22222pete
So whats the diagnosis? I remember Dr Andrews saying he could not make an evaluation if there is too much swelling. I suspect the 7-10 days is just for the swelling to go down and they take another look. Not out of the woods yet Red Sox fans
yanks2009
The diagnosis is that he will suck thru the end of his contract!!!!
patborders92
So he was diagnosed with CC syndrome? The Red Sox should be proactive and check him into the Betty Ford Clinic
Rob66
They just need to take it slow enough for it to heal. Better to miss a few starts early than a whole lot more later on in the year.
TMoneyDogVIP
Great news