McAdam: Uncertainty surrounds rotation as season winds down

Things can always get worse.

That, it would seem, is the lesson to be learned from the news Wednesday afternoon that the Red Sox, who already are without Chris Sale, were officially shutting down David Price for the remainder of the season.

It seemed bad enough that the Red Sox have committed $241 million to two pitchers coming off disappointing seasons.

So what could be worse?

How about owing $241 million to two pitchers who ended the season physically unable to pitch at the end of the season?

That's how.

Technically, that might not be entirely accurate since Alex Cora noted yesterday that the Sox contemplated having Price pitch out of the bullpen in the final 10 days -- the way he did for the final month of the 2017 season, when there was insufficient time to build back arm strength for starting assignments.

"But where we're at and obviously how important he is, it's better off (to be) moving forward and getting ready,'' said Cora. "When you can't perform that way you want to, it's obviously frustrating. If it's up to him, he'd be throwing fastballs out there and trying to complete. But we took it away because we feel that it's not conducive to something positive for the player. And he knows that this is the best way to start the offseason and then get him ready. And he'll be ready (in spring training).

"Talking to David, he could pitch. But what's the point of using him right now?''

But Cora went on to note that he didn't believe that Price could suitably throw his changeup or cutter due to the wrist cyst that has now sidelined Price twice in the final two months.  So, yes, Price could have pitched; but no, he wasn't going to be effective.



Further, Cora wouldn't rule out the doctors looking to see if Price's carpal tunnel issues might also require some attention this off-season.

"If there's something else, we'll take care of that,'' Cora said. "Whatever they have to do to get him right, they'll do it. We (already) have the situation with the cyst, why not check everything out?"

Sale, meanwhile, continues to rehab in Fort Myers at the team's spring training complex and will meet the team in St. Petersburg when they begin a four-game series at Tropicana Field Friday.

Cora said that is showing positive signs in his rehab and the Sox are confident about his health going forward.

But no matter what the Red Sox say, he's the unavoidable facts: they're going to pay $57 million combined to two pitchers next year who, combined, will have pitched two innings (both by Price) after Aug. 13 of this season.

If that's not unsettling, then what is?

"I mean, it always is,'' acknowledged Cora. "But we feel like in Chris's situation, there's a lot of positives going on with his rehab as far as testing and all that. The throwing program will start whenever the throwing program starts, but we do feel like he's made strides with all the testing that he's been going through in Fort Myers.

"We do feel this situation with David is something minor. Yeah, there's always question marks and let's see how he goes. But at the same time, there's a lot of positives that we feel. There's not too many red flags, or (a feeling that), 'Oh, we're not going to be able to count on these guys next year.'

"It's not the best-case scenario. But at the same time, we do feel, with everything we have information-wise, we should be OK.''

And perhaps they will be. But should be OK is far from any sort of guarantee. That's just the nature of attempting to keep pitchers 30 years of age and older healthy and productive.

The Red Sox can be positive about their current paths and say that all the tests and side sessions are encouraging. But the real test will come next spring when Sale and Price have to face hitters -- even if it's just a Grapefruit League setting.

How will they bounce back from throwing every five days? And more tellingly, how will they do once the grind of the regular season gets underway. Recall that the big issue with Sale last year was not his elbow, but rather, his shoulder, which sidelined him for much of the final two months.

It's the same with Price, who's had elbow and forearm concerns in past seasons, but was sidelined by wrist troubles in the second half.

That's a reminder of the pitfalls that come with aging pitchers.

Expensive aging pitchers at that.

The same team which came into 2019 banking on its starting rotation heads toward 2020 with more -- not fewer -- question marks surrounding that rotation.