The righty was making strides toward regaining old form, but has hit a road block with this injury. But just how big is this road block? Possibly huge.
Boston Red Sox reliever Carson Smith is headed to the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder subluxation. Bobby Poyner has been recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.
According to NBC’s Evan Drelich, Smith’s injury is seeking a second opinion on his shoulder and may have seriously injured his arm.
Carson Smith hurt his arm throwing his glove in the dugout after he left the game yesterday. "It's unfortunate," Dave Dombrowski said. No timetable. Went for testing today, MRI, needs a second opinion: "It's got the potential of being a major injury."
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) May 15, 2018
If a pitcher hurts his shoulder by throwing his glove, his shoulder probably wasn’t all that strong to begin with.
Smith was finally finding his groove as a member of the Red Sox. He holds a 1-1 record with a 3.77 ERA in 14 1/3 innings pitched.
Smith missed all 2016 and most of 2017 recovering from Tommy John surgery. He was visioned as a seventh or eighth inning option for the Red Sox in 2018, but will now be shelved for at least 10 days with this shoulder injury.
The Red Sox already have bullpen problems and need to acquire at least one, if not two, high-leverage relievers moving forward.
However, if they lose Smith for the season, that changes everything. Behind Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly, who do they have that can be trusted in high leverage situations?
No one.
Can Tyler Thornburg help that? Yes.
But the Red Sox still need one or two options for the seventh inning with bullpen implosions like they’ve already shown. The Red Sox don’t need to make a panic move, but a couple of bullpen acquisitions must take place at the trade deadline if they’re to seriously contend come October.
Apparently, President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski doesn’t view the bullpen as an area of concern.
Dombrowski said the bullpen is not an area of concern.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) May 15, 2018
This is either a blatant lie or complete buffoonery. After watching Heath Hembree, Matt Barnes, Kimbrel and the rest of the bullpen implode against the Yankees in back to back games, the Red Sox then watched Brian Johnson give up an extra innings HR to the Blue Jays two days later.
Dombrowski is a smart guy and a talented liar. We’ve seen this card pulled before: Dombrowski says the team is set, then proceeds to sign or trade for said missing piece. There’s no chance he truly believes in the current bullpen to succeed in the playoffs.
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The bullpen should be Boston’s biggest concern for the season, and losing Smith further cements that notion. If Smith’s injury is serious, the Red Sox need to cut ties with the often injured righty and seek help elsewhere.