The Red Sox made their first round of cuts Tuesday morning, and at least one name was no surprise.
Left-hander Henry Owens, whose struggles have been the talk of the Sox' spring-training camp, was one of six players shipped out. He, fellow left-hander Brian Johnson and right-hander Brandon Workman were optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket, while third baseman Rafael Devers, outfielder Junior Lake and catcher Jordan Procyshen were returned to minor-league camp for reassignment.
Barring several injuries to Red Sox starters, Owens wasn't going to start the season in Boston anyway. But he's been miserable so far in the exhibition season -- 0-3 in his three starts with a 15.95 ERA, an opponents' batting average of .382 and a WHIP of 3.41, 12 walks allowed in 7 1/3 innings -- and is now talking about tweaking his mechanics in an attempt to solve his command problems. That he was one of the first cuts indicates the Red Sox are concerned.
Manager John Farrell told reporters the three pitchers sent out "need work", and, via Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, said specifically of Owens: "He knows he's capable of more . . . He knows he needs to get better."
Also, Farrell said -- to no one's surprise -- David Price is likely to start the season on the disabled list. Price is still recovering from elbow and forearm issues that sidelined him earlier this month and has yet to throw off a mound. Until he does, the Red Sox can't begin to construct a timetable for his return.