Red Sox Lose Another Pitcher To Injury; Should Club Consider Reunion To Bolster Bullpen?

The injuries already are piling up for Boston

The Boston Red Sox can't catch a break on the injury front. 

Boston dealt with a wide range of injuries in 2022 and it helped lead to the club's disappointing American League East last-place finish. The Red Sox entered spring training seemingly healthy -- aside from Trevor Story who is set to miss a big chunk of the 2023 campaign -- but already have been bitten by the injury bug.

The Red Sox have been faced with multiple injuries to pitchers and Opening Day isn't even here yet. The starting rotation has taken a hit with Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, and James Paxton all missing time at points. Lefty reliever Joely Rodriguez recently was diagnosed with an oblique strain. Now the latest pitcher to go down with injury is reliever Wyatt Mills, according to The Athletic's Chad Jennings.  

Short-term injuries are piling up on the Red Sox pitching staff.
Reliever Wyatt Mills is being shut down for several days with elbow inflammation. Like Whitlock, Bello, Paxton and Rodriguez, he isn't expected to miss a lot of time, but timing isn't great so close to Opening Day.

— Chad Jennings (@chadjennings22) March 23, 2023

While it's certainly positive that it sounds like Mills won't be out for long, the injuries already are stacking up for Boston. Rodriguez likely will be out for at least multiple weeks with a Grade-2 oblique strain, and with the addition of Mills' injury now, Boston's depth will be tested. 

Boston certainly has players in the minors that could help the club in the short term. Two names that have popped up are Ryan Sherriff and Oddanier Mosqueda if the Red Sox opted for an in-house option. 

If Boston wanted to make an addition to the bullpen to add more depth, there still are a few interesting names left on the market. Two players that could make sense are David Price and Garrett Richards. 

Both Price and Richards already have spent time in Boston. Price spent four seasons in Boston and helped lead the club to the 2018 World Series but was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade ahead of the 2020 campaign. His stint in Boston was a roller coaster, to say the least, but he compiled a 2.45 ERA for Los Angeles in 2022 across 40 appearances out of the bullpen and could be a much-needed left-handed option for the Red Sox.

Richards spent one season in Boston and it also was a roller coaster. He spent the 2021 season with the Red Sox and began the season as a starting pitcher and mightily struggled. He was returning to the mound after multiple injuries, but still, he struggled out of the gate. Eventually, he transitioned into a bullpen role, though, and became one of Boston's most dominant relievers by the end of the season. Richards had a 3.73 ERA across 19 relief appearances for Boston. 

While neither Price nor Richards would be a long-term option for Boston, both have experience with the club and could be another bullpen depth piece. The 2023 season hasn't even started yet and Boston's bullpen depth already is being tested, it wouldn't hurt to add more. 

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