Tag: 2023 season

Red Sox’ Jorge Alfaro has unique clause in contract that could make him available to all other teams later this month

Red Sox catcher Jorge Alfaro has a unique clause in his contract that could complicate his future with the club, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

Alfaro signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox in January that came with an invite to major-league spring training. It has since been revealed that the deal also comes with an “upward mobility” clause that would go into effect on March 25.

As noted by Cotillo, this differs from a standard opt-out. It instead allows Alfaro to secure a major-league opportunity elsewhere if the Red Sox are not willing to give him one. If Alfaro is not added to Boston’s 40-man roster by March 25, he can request to become available to all 29 other teams in hopes of landing a big-league job.

If another club is interested in Alfaro, the Red Sox would then have 72 hours to either add Alfaro to their own 40-man roster or allow him to switch teams. If no other club is interested in Alfaro at the time of his request, Boston would be able to keep the 29-year-old without committing a 40-man roster spot to him.

Alfaro will soon be leaving Red Sox camp in Fort Myers to play for Team Colombia in the World Baseball Classic. The Sincelejo native has appeared in two Grapefruit League games so far this spring and has gone 3-for-6 (.500) with one double and two strikeouts.

After deciding against signing or trading for a catcher on a major-league deal this winter, the Red Sox brought in Alfaro as a non-roster invitee. The right-handed hitter is currently competing with Reese McGuire and Connor Wong for a spot on the club’s Opening Day roster. Because Alfaro can play first base and serve as a designated hitter, Boston could very well carry all three backstops on its 26-man roster come March 30.

More likely than not, though, the Red Sox will elect to carry the left-handed hitting McGuire and one of Alfaro and Wong, who both hit from the right side of the plate. Wong, who suffered a left hamstring strain in Thursday’s 15-3 win over the Phillies, also has one minor-league option remaining, meaning he can be shuttled between Triple-A Worcester and Boston up to five times this season. The same cannot be said for Alfaro, who is out of options.

A veteran of seven major-league seasons between the Phillies, Marlins, and Padres, Alfaro possesses intriguing power, athleticism, arm strength, and speed. With San Diego last year, he ranked in the 97th percentile of all big-leaguers in max exit velocity (115.2 mph), the 96th percentile in average pop time to second base (1.89 second), and the 85th percentile in average sprint speed (28.7 feet per second), per Baseball Savant.

On the other side of the coin, though, Alfaro does own a rather high career strikeout rate of 34.1 percent to go along with a career walk rate of just 4.2 percent. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has also had his issues as a receiver after leading the National League in passed balls in each of the last two seasons.

Alfaro, who does not turn 30 until June, will have the next three-plus weeks to determine what his immediate future looks like. That being said, Wong’s status moving forward could impact his decision. Additionally, depending on how things play out in spring games (and in the World Baseball Classic) Alfaro could draw interest from catcher-needy teams who would be willing to guarantee him a roster spot. If that happens, the Red Sox would then have to decide to either add Alfaro to their own roster or let him go.

If Alfaro remains with Boston past March 25 without being added to the big-league roster, he would have the ability to opt out of his deal on June 1 and July 1 in order to test free agency. If Alfaro is in the majors with the Red Sox at some point this season, he would earn a base salary of $2 million.

(Picture of Jorge Alfaro: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox have No. 10 farm system in baseball, per Baseball America’s latest organizational rankings

According to Baseball America’s latest organizational talent rankings, the Red Sox have one of the top farm systems in baseball heading into the 2023 season.

Baseball America ranked the Red Sox 10th in its annual rankings. Each year, the publication “looks at the totality of a farm system’s talent, with an emphasis on top prospects but also factoring in the depth of the organization’s prospect ranks.”

As noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox have steadily climbed Baseball America’s organizational rankings since Chaim Bloom took over as the club’s chief baseball officer in October 2019. Bloom inherited a farm system that finished dead last (30th) in 2019. They were ranked 20th in both 2020 and 2021 before making the jump to No. 11 last year. This time around, the organization cracked the publication’s top-10.

“Slowly but surely, Boston’s system is improving,” Baseball America wrote. “The group isn’t deep, but it’s led by near-ready first baseman Triston Casas and talented shortstop Marcelo Mayer. Breakout prospect Ceddanne Rafaela and toolsy wunderkind Miguel Bleis add upside to the system, and Japanese import Masataka Yoshida gives Boston a plug-and-play outfielder for its new-look lineup.”

In January, the Red Sox landed five players on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list. Mayer is currently ranked 10th, Casas is ranked 28th, Rafaela is ranked 71st, Yoshida is ranked 87th, and Bleis is ranked 88th.

That Yoshida is considered by the publication to be a prospect is certainly interesting when you consider the fact that he is 29 years old, played in Japan for seven seasons, and signed a five-year, $90 million contract with Boston in December. Other experts within the industry, such as Keith Law of The Athletic, do not view Yoshida as a prospect even though he is a rookie with no major-league experience.

Taking that into consideration, though, Yoshida will likely graduate from his prospect status before long since he projects to be Boston’s starting left fielder. The same can be said for Triston Casas after the 23-year-old first baseman debuted last September. Right-hander Brayan Bello, who pitched 57 1/3 innings last season, has already graduated from his prospect status after exceeding his rookie limits in 2022.

Finishing in front of the Red Sox in this year’s preseason organizational rankings are the Orioles, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Guardians, Mets, Rays, Nationals, Reds, and Cardinals. Rounding out the top-15 are the Pirates, Rangers, Brewers, Rockies, and Yankees. The only other American League East team not yet mentioned, the Blue Jays, were ranked 17th.

(Picture of Wilyer Abreu, Matthew Lugo, and Ceddanne Rafaela: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox catcher Connor Wong suffers left hamstring strain; ‘It doesn’t look great right now,’ Alex Cora says

UPDATE: Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters (including MLB.com’s Ian Browne) on Friday that catcher Connor Wong has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring.

“We’ll see how it goes. I think treatment will determine what’s next,” Cora said of Wong’s prognosis. “We have to calm him down first and then we’ll know more throughout the week.”

—

Red Sox catcher Connor Wong suffered a strained left hamstring in the fifth inning of Thursday’s 15-3 win over the Phillies at JetBlue Park.

Wong entered the game in the top of the fifth as a defensive replacement for fellow backstop Jorge Alfaro. The right-handed hitter got one at-bat in the latter half of the frame, but he strained his left hamstring while trying to beat out a grounder to shortstop. He was then replaced at catcher by Elih Marrero in the sixth.

When speaking with reporters (including MLB.com’s Ian Browne) on Thursday afternoon, Red Sox manager Alex Cora indicated that Wong would undergo further testing and that the club would know more about the 26-year-old’s status on Friday.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Cora said. “He’s tight. It doesn’t look great right now, but hopefully we get better news tomorrow morning.”

Wong, who turns in 27 in May, is one of two catchers on Boston’s 40-man roster alongside Reese McGuire. Rather than go and out add a backstop to the major-league roster this winter, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom elected to sign Jorge Alfaro to a minor-league deal in January. Since both Wong and Alfaro hit from the right side of the plate, the two were expected to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster as a complement to the left-handed hitting McGuire.

While Wong has one minor-league option remaining, Alfaro does not. Furthermore, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reported on Thursday that Alfaro has an upward mobility clause in his contract that requires the Red Sox to either add him to their big-league roster by March 25 or let him go to another club that has interest in putting him on its 40-man roster.

Wong is coming off a 2022 season in which be batted .188/.273/.313 with three doubles, one home run, seven RBIs, eight runs scored, five walks, and 16 strikeouts in 27 games (56 plate appearances) with the Red Sox. He also threw out three of 21 base stealers from behind the plate.

As noted by Cotillo, Wong appeared to have an inside track on making Boston’s Opening Day roster coming into camp last month. If this strained left hamstring results in him missing a significant amount of time, that could complicate matters. In that scenario, Alfaro would be the favorite to make the roster in Wong’s place, though the 29-year-old will be away from the team for some time as he prepares to play for his native Colombia in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

If Wong only sustains a minor setback as a result of this injury, the Red Sox could still elect three catchers on their Opening Day roster since Alfaro offers some versatility as a designated hitter and as a first baseman.

(Picture of Connor Wong: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox ride grand slams from Christian Arroyo, Wilyer Abreu to 15-3 rout of Phillies

The Red Sox continued their winning ways on Thursday afternoon by blowing out the Phillies at JetBlue Park. Boston romped Philadelphia, 15-3, to improve to 4-0-2 in Grapefruit League play.

Matched up against left-hander Bailey Falter out of the gate, the Sox got out to an early 1-0 lead in their half of the second inning. Christian Arroyo got his productive day at the plate started by crushing a leadoff home run to deep right field.

An inning later, Phillies reliever Griff McGarry loaded the bases for the Red Sox with only one out in the third. Rob Refsnyder then drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Enrique Hernandez from third. Arroyo followed by depositing a towering bases-clearing grand slam well over the faux Green Monster in left field. The second baseman’s second homer of the day and second of the spring gave his side a commanding 6-0 lead.

Following another Phillies pitching change that saw Tayhor Lehman take over for McGarry immediately after the righty gave up that grand slam, the Sox struck again as Jorge Alfaro laced a one-out single to center field. Alfaro went from first to third on a Jarren Duran double, but was thrown out at home plate. Duran, however, advanced to third on the play and then scored on an RBI double off the bat of Ryan Fitzgerald to make it a 7-0 contest heading into the fourth.

To that point, the Red Sox had used two pitchers. Tanner Houck, who got the start in what was spring debut, did not allow any runs or hits. But the right-hander struggled with his command and walked four of the nine batters he faced. Though he did record two strikeouts, Houck was limited to just 1 2/3 innings of work as a result of needing 41 pitches (2o strikes) to get five outs.

Durbin Feltman took over for Houck in the top half of the second and escaped a bases-loaded jam by getting old friend Kyle Schwarber to ground out to Justin Turner at first. He then retired the side in order in the third before giving way to Ryan Brasier, who served up a solo shot to Kody Clemens, in the fourth. Zack Kelly ran into additional trouble in the fifth, as he surrendered back-to-back run-scoring hits to Darrick Hall and Jake Cave, trimming Boston’s lead down to four runs at 7-3.

After quieting down for two innings, the Red Sox lineup kicked things back into high gear in the sixth. Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Hernandez each drew walks off new Phillies reliever Andrew Baker. Rafael Devers then plated Duran and Abreu on a two-run double to center field before the pinch-running duo of Matthew Lugo and David Hamilton each scored on RBI groundouts from Daniel Palka and Ceddanne Rafaela.

In the bottom of the seventh, Boston put up another four-spot. Enmanuel Valdez drew a leadoff walk off Billy Sullivan and Elih Marrero and Marcus Wilson both reached base via a single and hit-by-pitch. With nowhere to put him, Abreu came through by clobbering yet another grand slam to deep right field to give the Red Sox a commanding 15-3 advantage.

Taking that sizable lead into the eighth, Matt Dermody put the finishing touches on his two scoreless frames out of the bullpen after Bryan Mata had already kept the Phillies off the board in the sixth. Taylor Broadway then slammed the door on Philadelphia in the ninth to secure the victory.

Other notable numbers:

Thursday’s contest between the Red Sox and Phillies took three hours and two minutes to complete, making it the longest game of the spring so far for Boston.

Devers, Turner, and Arroyo accounted for six of Boston’s 12 hits. Arroyo, Duran, and Abreu each scored two runs while Duran and Hernandez each drew two walks.

Wong leaves with hamstring injury

Connor Wong left Thursday’s game with a strained left hamstring. The 26-year-old replaced Alfaro behind the plate and got one at-bat in the fifth before being lifted for Marrero in the sixth inning. It’s unclear how Wong got injured but he is considered to be day-to-day.

Next up: Paxton takes the hill

The Red Sox will make the quick trip to Hammond Stadium on Friday afternoon to take on the Twins in the second game of the 2023 Chairman’s Cup. Veteran left-hander James Paxton will get the start for Boston opposite Minnesota right-hander Sonny Gray.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. eastern time. The game will be televised, but only on Bally Sports North.

(Picture of Christian Arroyo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Matt Barnes takes apparent shot at Chaim Bloom when reflecting on time with Red Sox: ‘That organization represents so much more than who’s currently running it’

Former Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes had the opportunity to watch his old team take on his new team in Grapefruit League action on Tuesday night. The Marlins right-hander decided against it.

Barnes pitched in Miami’s 4-3 win over the Astros on Monday. As such, the righty was not required to in attendance for Tuesday’s tilt against Boston. He instead left Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for his apartment after lunch, well before the Red Sox defeated the Marlins, 7-2, to remain unbeaten this spring.

It has now been a little over a month since the Red Sox designated Barnes for assignment and subsequently traded him to the Marlins for left-handed reliever Richard Bleier. At that time, the 32-year-old described the decision as “a complete blindside.”

Though four-plus weeks have passed since he was moved, Barnes told Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe that while he holds no grudge against the organization he spent the first 12 years of his professional career with, he does take issue with who is running the club at present.

“I’m not mad and I don’t have any animosity toward the Red Sox organization because that organization represents so much more than who’s currently running it,” Barnes said. “The people at the top were so great to me.”

According to Abraham, Barnes “mentioned being grateful” to Red Sox ownership, general manager Brian O’Halloran, and assistant general managers Eddie Romero and Raquel Ferreira. He did not make any mention of chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, however.

Bloom, of course, made the decision to give Barnes a two-year, $18.75 million contract extension in July 2021. At that point in time, Barnes was among the top relievers in the American League and had just been named to his first All-Star Game.

After posting a 2.61 ERA during the first half of the 2021 campaign, though, Barnes struggled to a 6.48 ERA in 22 appearances (16 2/3 innings) down the stretch. He only made Boston’s ALDS roster as an injury replacement that October and was left off the ALCS roster entirely.

Last year, Barnes got off a rough start in which he produced a 7.94 ERA in 20 games before hitting the injured list with right shoulder inflammation in early June. He returned to action two months later and ended his season on a strong note by forging a 1.59 ERA in his final 24 outings. The Red Sox, however, were convinced that those numbers did not reflect Barnes’ true performance.

“They told me I was lucky,” said Barnes. “Unfortunately, a lot of people in this game make decisions based on a spreadsheet.”

This appears to be another indirect shot at Bloom, who explained in January that while he holds Barnes in high regard, the decision to move on from him had more to do with giving other relievers in the organization — especially those who still have minor-league options — an extended look in 2023.

“This was not an easy move. But one that we felt was the right one,” Bloom told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) on Jan. 24. “It wasn’t anything bad about Matt, who I’m sure is going to continue to have success in his career. It was a reflection of where we thought we were and how we saw the pen coming together and what those other guys have a chance to do for us.”

Cotillo also reported on Tuesday that he was always told Bloom was one of Barnes’ “biggest fans (if not the biggest) in the organization. There was not a lot of surprise when it was Barnes who got the rare in-season extension.”

In trading Barnes to the Marlins, the Red Sox agreed to send Miami $5.5 million in cash considerations as part of the deal. Barnes, who turns 33 in June, can become a free agent for the first time next winter if his $8 million club option for 2024 is not picked up at the end of the year. He told Abraham that he is looking forward to a fresh start with a new team.

“It’s been great here so far. The guys are awesome; the staff is awesome,” Barnes said. “We have some really good talent on this team. I’ve seen that in a few weeks. As weird as it’s been, the adjustment has been pretty good. But it’s hard when you go from knowing everybody to knowing nobody.”

Following Tuesday’s exhibition contest in Jupiter, the Red Sox will not see the Marlins again until they host them in a three-game series from June 27-29. Barnes said he will save being “buddy-buddy” with his former teammates and coaches until he steps into Fenway Park as a visitor for the first time in his big-league career.

“I know I was fortunate to play as long as I did in Boston,” he added. “But I’ve got some good years left in me. We have a lot of talent in this clubhouse and we’re here to win.”

(Picture of Matt Barnes: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Triston Casas and Enmanuel Valdez both homer, Corey Kluber tosses pair of scoreless innings in spring debut as Red Sox best Marlins, 7-2

Playing under the lights for the first time this spring in Jupiter, Fla., the Red Sox improved to 3-0-1 in Grapefruit League play on Tuesday night by taking care of business against the Marlins. Boston defeated Miami by a final score of 7-2 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Corey Kluber, who signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox in January, made his first start of the spring in this one. The veteran right-hander scattered two hits and zero walks to go along with one strikeout over two scoreless innings of work. He retired six of the eight batters he faced.

After stranding one runner in the bottom of the first, Kluber gave up a leadoff double to Avisail Garcia to begin things in the second. Garcia then moved up to third base on a fly out, but Kluber kept him there by getting both Joey Wendle and Jerar Encarnacion to ground out to second baseman Nick Sogard.

Of the 26 pitches Kluber threw on Tuesday, 18 went for strikes. The 36-year-old hurler mixed in his cutter, curveball, four-seam fastball, changeup, and sinker while sitting between 77 and 83 mph, per Baseball Savant. He also induced one swing-and-miss.

Shortly after Kluber’s night came to an end, the Red Sox drew first blood in their half of the third. Greg Allen reached base via a one-out double off Marlins reliever JT Chargois. He then scored from second on a groundball RBI single off the bat of Triston Casas.

Boston extended its early lead an inning later. With no outs and runners at second and third following a Rob Refsnyder walk and Jorge Alfaro ground-rule double, Connor Wong plated Refsnyder from third with a run-scoring groundout to third base.

Following scoreless frames out of the bullpen from left-handers Ryan Sherriff and Oddanier Mosqueda. The Allen-Casas combination struck again in the fifth. After Allen led off with a double, Casas promptly crushed a 374-foot two-run home run to deep right field off lefty Dax Fulton. Casas’ first big fly of the spring had an exit velocity of over 103 mph. It also gave the Red Sox a 4-0 lead.

Norwith Gudino took over for Mosqueda and retired the side in order to end the fifth. The sixth inning was far more eventful. In the top half, Ryan Fitzgerald came through with a two-out, two-run double that scored both Enmanuel Valdez and Narciso Crook. In the bottom half, the Marlins got both of those runs back when non-roster invitee Jake Faria allowed Jake Magnum to score on a wild pitch before serving up a 362-foot solo shot to Garcia.

Brendan Nail was responsible for the seventh inning. The southpaw needed just 13 pitches (10 strikes) to punch out two of the three Miami hitters he faced. In the eighth, Valdez greeted new Marlins reliever Jefry Van by cranking a 379-foot leadoff home run to right field. The 24-year-old’s first long ball of the spring put Boston up by five runs going into the latter half of the frame.

Former Marlin Sterling Sharp then put up a zero in the eighth before Cody Scroggins worked his way around a leadoff walk in an otherwise clean ninth inning to secure a 7-2 victory for the Red Sox.

Tuesday’s contest, which took two hours and 21 minutes to complete, marked the first time the Red Sox had beaten the Marlins in a spring training game since March 24, 2012.

Other notable numbers:

Allen went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot on Tuesday. Bobby Dalbec also went 1-for-3 with a double out of the three-hole.

Fitzgerald, who pinch-hit for Dalbec, went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. His first double had an exit velocity of 103.5 mph while his second double left his bat at a blistering 105.2 mph.

Next up: Second leg of road trip

The Red Sox will head to West Palm Beach to take on the reigning World Series champion Astros on Wednesday afternoon. Lefty Richard Bleier will serve as an opener for Boston while rookie righty Hunter Brown will get the start for Houston.

First pitch from The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. eastern tine. The game will not be televised.

(Picture of Corey Kluber: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Alex Verdugo, Jarren Duran team up, bring in mariachi band to perform as part of presentation on Mexico

Red Sox outfielders Alex Verdugo and Jarren Duran will soon be heading out to Arizona to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. To mark the occasion, manager Alex Cora instructed the pair to give a presentation on the country to the rest of their teammates on Monday.

As part of that presentation, a five-piece mariachi band performed inside the clubhouse and later on while players stretched and played catch on the field. They even played Verdugo’s walk-up song, “Volver, Volver” by Vicente Fernandez.

Verdugo, whose father Joe is from Mexico, took charge of the assignment. The 26-year-old put together an informational poster board that included facts about the country’s history, the origins of its flag, and some of its most accomplished baseball stars like Fernando Valenzuela and Vinny Castilla.

“It was on, I think Friday, when we got hit with it,” Verdugo told reporters (including MLB.com’s Ian Browne) on Monday. “AC had a meeting and at the end of it, asked me and Duran to do a presentation on Mexico. I just got the ball rolling and obviously I knew I had to make a poster with some facts on it. But I think the big thing that kind of got everybody excited was having the mariachi band here.”

Verdugo was then asked how one goes about finding a mariachi band in southwest Florida?

“Google. You just Google them and we found them,” Verdugo said of the group, Mariachi Villa de Guadalupe. “They were out of Cape Coral. They were able to drive out here and help me out. It was great. They were great, honestly. I was a little nervous, obviously being in Fort Myers and I was like, ‘I hope they’re good,’ you know what I mean? But they were great and it came out really good.”

Verdugo said he began working on the poster following Sunday’s 7-6 Grapefruit League win over the Rays at JetBlue Park. While most veteran players will head home as soon as they are subbed out during spring games, Verdugo — who played the first five innings on Sunday — remained at the Fenway South complex well into the evening.

“I didn’t leave here until 6 p.m.,” said Verdugo. “I was taking advantage of the printers and everything that they have here. It was hard work, but it felt good and it was rewarding to kind of see the guys, the clubhouse, everybody, just really enjoy it. It was fun.”

Though he certainly does not lack confidence on the field, Verdugo did acknowledge that he felt some angst building up before and during the oral part of the presentation.

“Yeah, I felt so nervous. I don’t usually mind talking in front of the group if it’s all just jokes and fun. But as soon as I had to be a little bit serious, my heart was racing,” he said. “I was more nervous there than I was in the postseason or any type of baseball atmosphere.”

Verdugo, who was acquired from the Dodgers in the infamous Mookie Betts trade three years ago, is preparing for his fourth season with the Red Sox. Despite the fact that he is still two-plus months shy of turning 27, he is already the fourth-longest tenured player on the team behind only Chris Sale, Rafael Devers, and Ryan Brasier.

“Dugie, he’s been here since ’20,” Cora said. “He’s an important part of what we’re trying to accomplish and you see what he’s done physically and where he’s at.”

Duran, meanwhile, undertook a supporting role in the presentation before going 2-for-2 with a double and home run in Monday’s 4-1 win victory over the Twins to kick off the 2023 Chairman’s Cup. Like Verdugo, the 26-year-old Duran’s father, Octavio, hails from Mexico.

“We did our part. [Verdugo] did a lot of the research,” said Duran. “I just had a little acting skit going. I was doing some acting on the side.”

Regarding Duran and the presentation as a whole, Cora remarked: “Obviously Jarren is a kid that we appreciate and we expect a lot from him. And just for them to step up and be [out of their comfort zone] doing this [was good]. They did their research. And it was actually a great day for us in the clubhouse.”

Based on photos posted on the Red Sox’ social media accounts, it appears as though some of the more established veterans on the team, such as Kiké Hernández, Justin Turner, and Corey Kluber, enjoyed the show.

“That’s what it’s all about, right?” Cora said, via The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham. “I know [people] are questioning the clubhouse and leadership and what we’re doing there. We’re going to do stuff to get to where we’re supposed to.”

With Monday’s team-building exercise in the books as a rousing success, Cora indicated that one of the club’s other WBC participants could give a similar kind of presentation some time next week.

“We’ve got a few guys who are going to the tournament,” said Cora. “I’ll probably tell Kiké to do something to talk about Puerto Rico, so we’ll see.”

(Picture of Alex Verdugo and Jarren Duran: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Garrett Whitlock may not be ready for Opening Day, Alex Cora says

Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock may not be ready for the start of the season, manager Alex Cora indicated to reporters (including MLB.com’s Ian Browne) on Monday.

Having undergone right hip surgery in September, Whitlock came into camp this spring still in rehab mode. While the 26-year-old has been throwing bullpens like the club’s other pitchers in Fort Myers, he has not yet been cleared to face live hitters or participate in fielding practice, which requires additional movement.

Because the Red Sox are still waiting for that clearance, Cora admitted that Whitlock could have to start the season on the injured list if he is not ready for Opening Day against the Orioles on March 30.

“His next bullpen is up and down again. He’s throwing the ball well, he’s moving well. Not yet doing PFPs. We’re not concerned. We’ve got a plan,” Cora said. “We’ll see where we’re at in the upcoming weeks. If he’s ready for Opening Day, he’s ready. But if he’s not, he’s not going to lose too much time. If he’s not there [for Opening Day], it’s not because he’s hurt or whatever. It’s just the progression of where we’re at, especially moving around.”

In addition to Whitlock, the Red Sox have six other candidates vying for five starting rotation spots this spring in Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, Nick Pivetta, James Paxton, Brayan Bello, and Tanner Houck. So, if Whitlock were to miss a few starts to begin the season, they at least have some insurance there.

Though Whitlock has primarily been used out of the bullpen in his first two big-league seasons, the Red Sox have remained adamant that they want the righty to become a full-time starter in 2023. The four-year, $18.75 million contract extension he signed last April that includes significant incentive clauses based on the number of innings he pitches reflects that notion.

Whitlock is not the only Boston starter whose progress has been slowed since camp began earlier this month. Bello was shut down on February 17 due to forearm tightness, but has since been cleared to throw off a mound again. Pivetta has been on the mend following a recent bout with COVID-19 and bowed out of pitching for Canada in the World Baseball Classic as a result.

While the status of those three will remain in question until they can get into games, Kluber will make his spring debut against the Marlins in Jupiter on Tuesday. Houck and Paxton are scheduled to start on Thursday and Friday while Sale is getting close to game action after facing hitters for the first time this year over the weekend.

(Picture of Garrett Whitlock: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Jarren Duran homers, Kutter Crawford tosses two scoreless innings as Red Sox top Twins, 4-1, in first meeting of spring

The Red Sox improved to 2-0-1 in Grapefruit League on Monday afternoon by taking down the Twins in Game 1 of the 2023 Chairman’s Cup. Boston defeated Minnesota by a final score of 4-1 at JetBlue Park.

Kutter Crawford, making his first start of the spring, provided the Sox with two scoreless innings out of the gate. The right-hander gave up two hits and no walks to go along with a pair of strikeouts in the process of retiring six of the eight batters he faced.

Both of those hits came in the top of the second. But Crawford escaped any further damage by getting Austin Martin to ground out to Enrique Hernandez deep in the hole at shortstop. Hernandez, in turn, made an impressive crossbody throw to Justin Turner over at first base to record the out.

In relief of Crawford, fellow righty Durbin Feltman received the first call out of the Boston bullpen. Feltman faced the minimum in the third despite giving up a one-out single to Max Kepler. Kepler attempted to steal second base while Ryan Jeffers was at the plate, but he was instead gunned down by Reese McGuire as part of an inning-ending strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play.

After Chase Shugart and Taylor Broadway each put up zeroes in their respective innings of work, the Red Sox got on the board in their half of the fifth. Jarren Duran, who had already doubled in the third inning, led things off by clubbing his first home run of the spring over the faux Green Monster in left field.

The Twins, however, quickly got that run back in the following inning. After putting runners on the corners with one out in the sixth, minor-league Rule 5 pickup Joe Jacques allowed Kyle Farmer to score from third on an RBI groundout off the bat of Trevor Larnach to pull Minnesota back even with Boston at 1-1.

That stalemate did not last long, though. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, the pinch-hitting Bobby Dalbec laced a hard-hit double to left field off Simeon-Woods Richardson. Enmanuel Valdez and Caleb Hamilton followed by taking ball four to fill the bases for Ceddanne Rafaela, who — in the place of Duran — plated Dalbec with a seeing-eye single through the left side of the infield. Greg Allen then provided some insurance by driving in Valdez with a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-1 game in favor of the Sox.

Left-handers Cam Booser and Brendan Cellucci each kept the Twins off the board in the top half of the seventh and eighth innings. In the latter half of the eighth, Hamilton reached base via a one-out double. He then scored all the way from second when Rafaela lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center field. Minnesota showed very little urgency in getting the ball back to the infield, which allowed Hamilton to accomplish the rare feat.

Taking a newfound 4-1 lead into the ninth, Jake Thompson closed things out for Boston to record his first save of the spring and secure a three-run victory. All told, Monday’s contest took a swift two hours and 24 hours to complete.

Other notable numbers:

Duran, who went 2-for-2 with two extra-base hits, is now batting .330/.378/.592 with five homers and 11 RBIs in 54 career Grapefruit League games dating back to 2019.

Alex Verdugo also recorded two hits on Monday. The left-handed hitter has kicked off his spring by going 4-for-5 (.800) in his first two Grapefruit League games of the year.

Next up: Kluber makes his 2023 debut

The Red Sox will hit the road and head to the east coast of Florida for their next two games. They will be taking on the Marlins in Jupiter on Tuesday evening. Veteran right-hander Corey Kluber is slated to make his first start for Boston opposite Miami left-hander Trevor Rogers.

First pitch from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. eastern time on NESN+ and MLB Network.

(Picture of Jarren Duran: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Brayan Bello throws off mound for first time since being shut down earlier this month

For the first time since being shut down with forearm tightness earlier this month, Red Sox starter Brayan Bello threw off a mound at the Fenway South complex on Sunday.

As part of a 20-pitch bullpen with pitching coach Dave Bush looking on, Bello threw strictly fastballs and changeups. The right-hander told reporters (including MLB.com’s Ian Browne) that he did not feel any discomfort and will feature all of his pitches in his next side session.

“I feel good. I’m pushing myself to be ready for Opening Day,” Bello said through a translator, via The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham. “In the beginning I was worried because I didn’t know what it was, but I’m fine now.”

After debuting for the Red Sox last July and posting a 4.71 ERA (2.94 FIP) with 55 strikeouts to 27 walks over 13 outings (11 starts, 57 1/3 innings) as a rookie, Bello came into camp this spring with the hopes of competing for a spot in Boston’s Opening Day starting rotation. But the 23-year-old hurler was shut down on February 17 due to experiencing soreness in his right forearm.

Following a brief hiatus, Bello resumed throwing on flat ground last Monday. Shortly thereafter, he told MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith that he was optimistic he would be able to avoid the injured list and would be ready for the start of the 2023 season.

“Of course I’m ready,” Bello said through translator Carlos Villoria Benitez. “The (tightness) that set me back, it wasn’t that much of a time. So for me, I’m ready, hopefully, to be the No. 5 starter in that rotation.”

Although he has graduated from his prospect status, Bello — who turns 24 in May — is still considered to be the top young pitching talent in the Red Sox organization. He is one of seven candidates competing for a spot in Boston’s five-man rotation to begin the year. The other six starters are Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, Nick Pivetta, James Paxton, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck.

“I feel way better than last year. I feel more prepared,” said Bello. “I know I’m competing with other pitchers for a spot in the starting rotation. For me, that’s my goal. My goal is to try to make the team out of camp as a starter.”

If Bello does not experience any setbacks following Sunday’s bullpen and his next side session, the next step will presumably be for him to face live hitters. The Red Sox, of course, will exercise caution and patience. One would have to assume that the club would need to see how Bello fares in competitive action (i.e. in Grapefruit League Games) before determining if he will indeed be ready for Opening Day or not.

(Picture of Brayan Bello: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)