Chris Carpenter’s Injury & Vicente Padilla’s Desire to Stay With Red Sox

When Chris Carpenter was named as the primary player to be sent from Chicago to Boston for the long, drawn out Theo Epstein compensation, most Red Sox fans felt cheated.  Now the news gets worse regarding Carpenter as it was announced today that the reliever will undergo surgery to remove a bone spur in his throwing elbow, writes Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston.  It was not announced how long Carpenter will be out for and he was considered a long shot to make the big club out of spring training, but this still shouldn’t sit well with the Red Sox.  You can’t help but wonder if this was an underlying issue before Carpenter was dealt to Boston, something the Cubs knew about.  For the record, Carpenter only threw 1.2 innings this spring, signalling his elbow wasn’t right from the outset.

For anyone hoping that this could mean a opening to renegotiate with the Cubs, the Red Sox have not commented on that tweets Ian Browne.   Is anyone else feeling a little cheated…..again?

On the bright side of things, Vicente Padilla wants to play for the Red Sox, even if it means pitching out of the bullpen.  Rob Bradford of WEEI.com tweeted that Padilla expressed his desire to stay in Boston rather than join another club through an interpreter.  Once in competition for a starting rotation spot, Padilla was pulled from the running when he strained his hamstring, leaving the bullpen as his only option.  He’s pitched well for the Sox thus far in the spring and could provide some much needed depth as a reliever; an Alfredo Aceves type from last season.  One who can spot start as well as contribute with  middle to long relief.

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