The Boston Red Sox would love to have Justin Slaten back in the mix, but the latest injury update makes it clear that won’t be happening anytime soon.
Slaten is currently on the IL with an elbow issue, and it has now been 18 days since he was placed there. The bigger problem for Boston is that his return still doesn’t look close. He’s dealing with elbow soreness, and Chad Tracy said the team has no intention of pushing him ahead before the symptoms are fully gone.
“Until we feel like there’s complete resolution of symptoms, we’re not going to ramp him up,” Tracy said of Slaten, per the Globe.
It’s another frustrating blow for a Red Sox club that has already spent much of the season battling injuries. That lack of health has been part of the reason Boston has struggled at times, even though the talent on the roster suggests a much stronger team when everyone is available.
This is the second injury setback Slaten has dealt with this year. Still, when he’s been on the mound, he’s given Boston real value. He made his debut in 2024 and put up a 2.93 ERA across 55.1 innings last season.
This year, the 28-year-old has logged a 3.03 FIP in 31.1 innings, which is exactly why the Red Sox would like to get him back. If he can get healthy, he has the kind of profile that could matter for Boston’s bullpen down the stretch and into October.
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