Clubhouse drama compounds recent slump

SEATTLE – As if their dispiriting play (5-7 since the All-Star break) and shrinking lead in the standings weren’t enough of a concern for the Red Sox, the foundering club now finds itself unable to shake off a month-old off-the-field controversy.

A confrontation on the team’s charter flight between pitcher David Price and Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, now a broadcaster working for the team-owned network, thought to be over with, surfaced again two days ago when additional details of the incident surfaced in the Boston Globe, casting Price again in a poor light and leading to speculation that the club has internal issues when it comes to focus and leadership.

In the media, among the fan base and throughout the industry, the Red Sox’ “brand’’ has been sullied, and if that doesn’t have the full attention of everyone in the organization from top to bottom, it certainly should.

Manager John Farrell was asked about the incident in his pre-game meeting with reporters prior to the series opener here Monday, and it became the focal point of Farrell’s weekly interview on WEEI Tuesday afternoon.

On Monday and again Tuesday, Farrell attempted to downplay the issue, maintaining repeatedly that the team had “moved on.’’ But try as he might to put the matter in his team’s rearview mirror, the topic won’t recede.

Instead, it’s seen as evidence by some that the team is dysfunctional. And the timing – with the offense slumping mightily and the attendant anxiety typically associated with the approaching trade deadline – couldn’t be worse.