Cook Cooked Or Still Cooking? The Clock Ticks.

The speculation surrounding Aaron Cook’s fate with the Red Sox had built to a crescendo over the past two days. Pawtucket’s 33-year old former Rockies sinkerballer had been pressuring the Sox with a very solid season thus far in Pawtucket (3-0, 1.89 ERA and a team-leading 33.1 innings pitched).

Proving that it ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings, Red Sox management took it to the hilt Tuesday, pushing the Cook decision to very end of the line. Leading up to the decision, conjecture spanned the gamut from inserting him into the starting rotation to work in the bullpen in long relief. If they didn’t make a move, Cook could opt out of his deal with the Sox and strike a new bargain with another team, ostensibly in a starting rotation elsewhere.

The midnight deadline to promote Cook to the big club isn’t quite the final chapter in the saga. If Boston does nothing by midnight, Cook has 24-hours to request his release. If he requests his release, Boston management then has 48-hours to decide if they want to release Cook or promote him.

"The past two years in Boston have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can never have too many arms."

Promoting Cook presents a problem? Bring it on! You don’t want to get punched out of the rotation? Pitch better and continue to win your job. If not, step aside so the team can compete.

With no reported move as of midnight, the clock is still ticking.

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