And the team would have needed to use a position player to pitch on Monday night, if the game went to extra innings.
On his weekly radio spot with WEEI, Alex Cora mentioned that “Craig and the group, they’re working hard”, as well as an expectation that the team will improve at the trade deadline. (Tom Carroll, WEEI)
Rob Refsnyder stated that the players are more prepared this year for a trade, having already been through the Rafael Devers trade experience.
“This is the most prepared the team has been, in my opinion, going into the deadline of knowing some of those moves might be made.”
Although there doesn’t seem to be anything close, Sean McAdam notes that the Red Sox asked the Miami Marlins not to move Sandy Alcantara without checking back in with them first. It sounds like starting pitching prices could be astronomical thus far, and it will be interesting to see if that asking price comes down prior to Thursday evening. He also mentions that Christian Vazquez would be welcomed back as a possible back-up catcher improvement and “wouldn’t cost much.” (Sean McAdam, Mass Live)
The Sox’ new on-base celebration imitates a plane’s wings going up and down, in reference to their wildly turbulent flight to Minnesota. With numerous players vomiting on the plane, Garrett Whitlock was so sick that he missed Monday night’s game. (Chris Cotillo, Mass Live)
If the Red Sox vs. Twins game had gone to extra innings on Monday night, Alex Cora said that the Red Sox would have needed to use a position player to pitch in the tenth inning. Between injury, flight sickness, recent bullpen usage, and more, the thought of using a position player that early is hard to fathom. As it was, Jordan Hicks had two hours between warming up twice, due to the rain delay, and found himself in an uncomfortable situation in the ninth inning. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
While Cora said that there are no updates on Tanner Houck or Marcelo Mayer, Justin Slaten “touched the rubber” on Tuesday. He played catch but did not yet throw a bullpen and “felt good.” (Chris Cotillo, Mass Live)