The Red Sox are starting to get the kind of injury news that can change the feel of a season in a hurry. Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony and Trevor Story are all expected to be back sometime in the next few weeks, at minimum, and Boston is hoping that group can help set the table for October.
There’s another name in the mix too, even if the odds are still stacked against it: Tanner Houck. The 2024 All-Star is inching toward a rehab assignment, and while a return this season remains a long shot, he’s at least trending in the right direction.
As Peter Abraham wrote, “Tanner Houck said in spring training that his goal was to return from Tommy John surgery this season, even though the Sox thought it was unlikely. It still might be a long shot, but Houck is moving closer to a minor league rehabilitation assignment and could be a relief option before the year is out,”
Boston will need to judge Houck over the next few weeks based on how he looks. His 2024 season showed exactly why the Red Sox would welcome him back in any role: he made 30 starts and finished with a 3.12 ERA, putting together one of the best years in the rotation.
That All-Star season came with Houck working as a starter full time, but he’s been in the bullpen before. In 2022, he pitched in 32 games and made just four starts, giving Boston another possible route if he’s able to return before the year ends.
In Other News...
Garrett Crochets Rehab Just Changed Bostons Long-Term Outlook
Garrett Crochets rehab is starting to look more substantial, even if the Red Sox are still being patient with the left-hander. He has been on the injured list since April 25 with shoulder and lat issues, but he is now throwing out to 90 feet with intensity, a sign that his return-to-play process is moving forward after a long stretch away from game action.
The bigger twist for Boston arrived with the calendar, not the mound. On his 120th straight day on the injured list, a provision in Crochets six-year, $170 million deal kicked in, wiping out his opt-out after the 2030 season and adding a club option for 2032. If he does pitch again this year, the Red Sox are expecting that to come in a bullpen role, leaving the team to balance the immediate need for his arm with a contract that now carries even more long-term weight. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Roster Crunch Could Be About To Get Real
Roman Anthony is set to continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, keeping one of the Red Soxs most closely watched young players on the comeback track. Meanwhile, Trevor Story and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are both slated for evaluations Monday as the club tries to determine whether either is ready to return, adding another layer to a roster situation that has been building for days.
Chad Tracy said the team should have more information after its upcoming games, which means the picture could shift quickly depending on how those rehab checks go. For Boston, the interest is less about the rehab assignments themselves than what they might trigger next, since a few decisions could be coming in short order once the evaluations are complete. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Have A Bigger Chad Tracy Decision Waiting After This Run
Since Chad Tracy took over in April, the Red Sox have played well enough to make his status one of the quieter but more important storylines hanging over the rest of the season. He is still the interim manager for now, but the way Boston has responded to him has already pushed him to the front of the conversation about the clubs long-term direction, and he has earned a level of trust inside the clubhouse that managers do not build overnight.
The Red Sox are reportedly leaning toward giving Tracy the job full time before the 2027 season, though no final call has been made. For now, the club plans to let the season finish and then weigh his work as a whole, even as he has emerged as a leading AL Manager of the Year candidate and given Boston a much steadier footing than it had when he first stepped in. [Read more 🡒]