The news that Boston Red Sox lefty Drew Pomeranz will make a stint on the disabled list may not be as concerning as it seems.
The last thing we wanted to hear this spring is that yet another Boston Red Sox pitcher is dealing with an injury. So when the team announced that Drew Pomeranz would begin the season on the disabled list, the natural reaction from fans was, “Not again!”
Fear not, Red Sox Nation. The news isn’t as bad as it seems.
Pomeranz will be placed on the disabled list with what the team is calling a left forearm flexor strain. While arm troubles for a pitcher always sound bad, in this case it may be more about roster manipulation.
Prior to today’s game, the #RedSox placed LHP Drew Pomeranz on the 10-day disabled list with a left forearm flexor strain. pic.twitter.com/XAZX73GOYL
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 30, 2017
Under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, players can now be placed on the disabled list for a 10-day period. This allows teams to call on reinforcements without having to wait a full two weeks to activate the injured player.
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By backdating his DL stint to today, Pomeranz will be eligible for activation on April 9. It’s no coincidence that this is the first time that the Red Sox will actually need a fifth starter, thanks to an off day on Tuesday. This means the team can carry an extra reliever in the bullpen through the first five games of the season until Pomeranz is needed in the rotation.
While the Red Sox open their season at Fenway Park on Monday, Pomeranz will stay behind in Fort Myers to pitch in a minor league game.
The 28-year old was delayed getting back on the mound this spring, as he was recovering from an experimental stem cell injection to alleviate elbow soreness that hindered his performance down the stretch last season. He’s been erratic in his four outings this spring, going 0-2 with an 8.25 ERA. Even if he’s deemed healthy, he still has some work to do to prove he’s ready for a spot in the Red Sox rotation.
Boston could certainly use him, considering they still have no idea when David Price will return. His absence leaves the Red Sox thinner on pitching depth than they anticipated. If all goes well in Pomeranz’ minor league start then he should be activated in time to start on April 9 against the Detroit Tigers.
If Pomeranz isn’t ready to go, his spot may be taken by Kyle Kendrick. The 32-year old has had a stellar spring, but he didn’t pitch in the big leagues last year and hasn’t been an effective starter at this level in at least a handful of years.
Is Pomeranz’ forearm a legitimate concern or merely a clever way to take advantage of a new rule? While I’m leaning toward the latter, we won’t know for sure until we see the results of his next start.