Drellich: Red Sox cannot let bullpen stand pat

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NEW YORK — Dave Dombrowski described his interest in a bullpen piece as “wait-and-see” based on his injured pitchers: Tyler Thornburg, Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz.

Waiting does not seem perilous. Eventual inaction, however, would.

Dombrowski has no certainties in his bullpen aside from Craig Kimbrel, who hasn’t been quite as dominant this year as he was a year ago. Addison Reed left via free agency, Carson Smith left via the dugout, and the Red Sox haven’t added an established presence in their wake.

Thornburg, Wright and Pomeranz all have situations that leave questions of recurrence, reliability, or both moving forward. 

“Those are three guys. Have got Wright and Pomeranz, if they both come back, they both can't start, somebody's going to slide back into the bullpen,” Dombrowski said Saturdayafternoon at Yankee Stadium. “We haven't been in that scenario."

(Exactly — that scenario hasn't happened, because people get hurt. Yet, Dombrowski is being mindful of a scenario where the Sox will have everyone healthy moving forward?)

"I do think our bullpen in the postseason is different, but also we have five starters, and then one of those guys is going to slide into the bullpen. So you have to be in a position that you have enough spots out there. 

“And our bullpen has been, we think, effective overall. Kimbrel of course has done a good job. [Joe] Kelly has been in a little bit of a streak here recently, but he's done a good job for us. [Matt] Barnes has pitched good, Workman's pitched well since he's been here, [Heath] Hembree — so we'll evaluate that. You have to be better than that [what we have now to make a trade worthwhile], and us willing to pay the price to be better than that. But I think that will be one that we'll continue to evaluate.”

Let’s say Thornburg returns to the Sox this week and looks good. Everyone shouldn't assume trouble is in the past. 

After thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, the Sox feel Thornburg can be a sustained contributor. Yet Dombrowski acknowledged his workload would have to be built up over time and that his velocity may not be consistent.

In other words, Dombrowski acknowledged the potential hazard in banking on Thornburg without adding an insurance policy.

"Our feelings from the medical staff would be, yes,” Dombrowski said of Thornburg’s staying power. “But I guess you never know. But he’s been through strong rehab, he’s thrown a lot. I think we’d be very careful with him, cautious with him as far as overusing him in the beginning. Because I think that, I think any player coming back after an extended period, be careful, we’ve talked about that situation. 

“But the medical staff still feels that he would be fine at this point, now. And Tyler says he feels very good right now. I think if he came back we’d be counting on, he’d be with us. Now can he maintain his velocity on a regular basis, the Christmas on his pitches? Only time will tell. But the feeling is generally, yes."

The phrase “time will tell” is a little troublesome considering the season is halfway gone.

Wright, meanwhile, is dealing with a knee situation similar to Dustin Pedroia’s. There’s unpredictability in how the knee will feel, even if Wright is soon activated from the disabled list.

"I think Steven Wright’s much closer from our gathering at this point than Pedey would be,” Dombrowski said. “And Pedey, because he’s been out for a while and he’s played very little, if it progresses [he] will have to go out on rehab at some point.” 

In the case of Pomeranz, he could fill a lefty swingman role very well in the postseason. But that would require the Pomeranz of 2016-17 to crop up. Manager Alex Cora thinks the time down could increase Pomeranz’s velocity upon return. But what if it doesn’t, and he remains ineffective?

Market forces may be what pushes a move to get a done, anyway — not health. Dombrowski painted a scene Saturday where sellers are ready to move.

"Talking to various clubs, there’s a lot more clubs motivated to do things quickly from a trading perspective if they get what they want, because I think some of them feel like there’s a lot of clubs looking to move players, and because they’re not in a race at this time,” Dombrowski. “But some of them have indicated, we’re prepared to move forward at any time. I think moreso than any time in my recent memory."

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