The Boston Red Sox may lose their closer to the disabled list if his condition is more serious than we anticipate.
As practically all baseball fans know, July is known as “trade season” in Major League Baseball. In the weeks that build up to the July 30 trade deadline, contending teams are responsible for figuring out the weaknesses in their roster and attempting to fill these holes with assets from the selling teams across the league.
Almost every team in the league that sees themselves as contenders will address their bullpen. High-leverage relievers are some of the most sought-after components in July. That was notably the case in 2024. Relievers were among of the most expensive to trade for parts out of anybody.
With that in mind, it makes sense why the Boston Red Sox elected to acquire a few middle-tiered relievers, Luis Garcia and Lucas Sims, ahead of the trade deadline rather than mortgaging the farm and trying to acquire a pitcher like Tanner Scott. But their lack of high-leverage relievers could come back to hurt them following their most recent injury.
Red Sox may lose their closer at the worst possible time
The trade deadline has just gone, meaning teams are left with their roster, free agency and their own farm system in order to make their postseason push.
And the Boston Red Sox could be losing their closer just a day after the deadline expired.
During his most recent appearance, Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen appeared uncomfortable during a lengthy at-bat with Mariners deadline acquisition Randy Arozarena. Following a walk to the Mariners outfielder, Jansen received a visit from the catcher, a trainer and his manager. He continued in the game and completed his inning for Boston.
After the outing, the Red Sox manager didn’t offer the reporters with much of an update at all. It seems as though the team is still up in the air about how its closer is performing.
“He slipped on one of his pitches,” Cora told reporters, citing NESN. “He felt it in his lower back. We’ll see where we’re at Friday.”
Lower back ailments are nothing to toy with. A pitcher’s torso provides him with all the strength and stability to go through his delivery. If it’s not solid and healthy, it could be exceedingly painful and unsteady for the pitcher. It’s the kind of ailment that’s incredibly challenging to play through.
Jansen hasn’t been on the injured list at this point, but the prospect that he may land there in the near future is extremely real and it’s quite likely the worst time that this could be occurring. If this had happened a week earlier, Boston may have pursued a high-leverage reliever to assist back them. Luis Garcia and Lucas Sims are two solid players, but they may be forced into high-leverage duties if Jansen falls on the IL.