Red Sox manager John Farrell said on Tuesday that starter David Price will almost certainly begin the regular season the disabled list, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports. The news isn’t surprising as Price is dealing with elbow discomfort, but he and the team at least recently received good news that he could rest the elbow, avoiding a surgical procedure which would have cut into most or all of his season.
Price, 31, signed a seven-year, $217 million contract with the Red Sox in December 2015. It certainly hasn’t gone well thus far as Price put up a 3.99 ERA in 35 starts last season, his highest mark since 2009 as a 23-year-old. The lefty did carry a 228/50 K/BB ratio while throwing a major league-best 230 innings.
Eduardo Rodriguez will likely slot into the starting rotation while Price is out. Henry Owens also remains an option in the event Rodriguez doesn’t pitch well.
