Red Sox Star Dealing With Injury Putting Availability For Opening Day At Risk

Boston could be without the services of one of its stars on Opening Day

The Boston Red Sox already are dealing with a handful of injuries.

Opening Day is under two weeks away and the Red Sox aren't at full strength. Boston lost its top free-agent addition for the season as Lucas Giolito suffered an elbow injury.

The Red Sox have been dealing with a plethora of other injuries already and one player who reportedly is "running out of time" to be ready for Opening Day is star closer Kenley Jansen, according to the Boston Globe's Alex Speier.

"Kenley Jansen won’t pitch today," Speier said. "He still has back tightness. (Alex Cora): 'He’s running out of time.' Team still hopes he can pitch tomorrow, but clearly now a question of whether he’s ready for Opening Day. 'We still have time, but we’re running out of time.'"

Jansen had a roller coaster of an offseason, to say the least. The four-time All-Star has been in trade rumors over the last few months but still is with Boston. He was great for the Red Sox last season and was the team's lone All-Star, but he is expensive.

Boston reportedly is looking to cut salary and Jansen made sense as a trade candidate because he is set to earn $16 million in 2024. 

He was slow to begin Spring Training and now the fact that he is dealing with back tightness could put his availability for Opening Day at risk. Boston ultimately held on to Jansen but there have been rumblings that a deal could come together around the trade deadline. 

If the 36-year-old deals with injuries throughout the season and struggles, though, Boston may end up in a tough spot.

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