Injuries & Moves: Dom Smith signed; Yoshida to IL
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LATEST NEWS
May 1: 1B/DH Dominic Smith signed to one-year deal, added to 26-man roster; Masataka Yoshida placed on 10-day injured list retroactive to April 29 (jammed left hand)
The ever-evolving roster for the Red Sox added another new face on Wednesday, as Smith was signed to a one-year contract after opting out of his Minor League deal with the Rays. Red Sox manager Alex Cora wasted no time putting Smith in the mix, as he batted seventh and started at first base on Wednesday.
Smith filled the roster spot vacated by Yoshida. While the Red Sox awaited the results of an MRI the DH underwent on Wednesday afternoon, the club placed him on the injured list prior to the game. The left-handed hitter jammed his left hand in Sunday night's game, and Cora said it was still swollen as of Wednesday. Yoshida has a line of .275/.348/.388 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 80 at-bats.
May 1: 2B Vaughn Grissom could debut for Sox on Friday
Grissom's long-awaited debut for the Red Sox could happen on Friday when the club opens a three-game series in Minneapolis against the Twins. The original expectation was for Grissom to be activated from the injured list on Tuesday, but plans changed when he got the flu.
"The goal is for Vaughn to be with us Friday," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "He'll come in, work out with us, see where we're at. If it's Friday, it's Friday. If not, we'll push it back but he feels better."
May 1: INF Zack Short acquired from Mets for cash
Short, 28, was designated for assignment by New York on Friday after making 10 appearances this year, including three starts at third base. He owns a career .570 OPS with 13 home runs and eight steals in 189 MLB games. He brings a versatile utility presence with experience at second base, third base, shortstop and even six games in the outfield. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Short is likely to be activated and in the starting lineup on Thursday.
May 1: 1B Garrett Cooper (right wrist contusion) feeling better
A day after getting smoked on the right wrist by a pitch and exiting his first game with the Red Sox early, Cooper was feeling better on Wednesday. With Triston Casas on the 60-day injured list with torn cartilage in his left ribcage, Boston acquired Cooper as the primary first baseman for the next few weeks.
"Stiff," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Cooper. "But he's fine. If we need him today, he'll play."
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
2B Vaughn Grissom (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: May 3
The latest target for Grissom is to play his first game with the Red Sox on May 3, when the club opens a three-game series in Minneapolis. Grissom was expected to debut for the Red Sox on April 30, but those plans changed when the second baseman came down with the flu. Grissom went 4-for-4 for Triple-A Worcester on April 28. (Last updated: May 1)
RHP Nick Pivetta (right elbow flexor strain)
Expected return: May 7 at earliest
Pivetta will throw a Minor League rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on May 2. After Pivetta was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow, the Red Sox placed the righty on the injured list, retroactive to April 6. He is expected to need just one rehab start and could pitch for the Red Sox during their two-game series in Atlanta on May 7-8. (Last updated: May 1)
RHP Brayan Bello (right lat strain)
Expected return: May 12 or thereabouts
Bello threw a bullpen session at Fenway Park on April 30 and will progress to batting practice in the next couple of days. He could throw in a Minor League rehab start as soon as May 7 and start for the Red Sox in the May 12 series finale against the Nationals or in the series after that against the Rays. Bello was placed on the injured list on April 24, retroactive to April 21. (Last updated: May 1)
INF/OF Romy Gonzalez (left wrist sprain)
Expected return: Soon
Gonzalez could start a Minor League rehab assignment before this week's end and be back on Boston's roster at some point during the upcoming road trip to Minnesota and Atlanta from May 3-8. (Last updated: May 1)
RHP Isaiah Campbell (right shoulder impingement)
Expected return: TBD
The reliever was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 12 with a right shoulder impingement. He is feeling better but has yet to throw off the mound.
"Just playing catch, long tossing, and feeling better," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "[April 30], he said that it was his best day out of the whole last two or three weeks." (Last updated: May 1)
RHP Bryan Mata (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: May or June
It has been slow going for Mata since he suffered a right hamstring strain early in Spring Training. But Mata was closing in on throwing live batting practice, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said on May 1. Mata is out of options, meaning he needs to be placed on the Major League roster once he is healthy to avoid being designated for assignment . (Last updated: May 1)
RHP Garrett Whitlock (left oblique strain)
Expected return: Some point in May
Whitlock still is waiting for all of the symptoms of his injury to subside. Until that happens, he will only throw off flat ground. The key step will be when he feels well enough to throw off the mound. The righty had a 1-0 record and a 1.96 ERA in four starts before the injury. (Last updated: April 26)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
1B Triston Casas (torn cartilage in left rib cage)
Expected return: No earlier than June 21
Casas suffered torn cartilage in his left rib cage fouling off a 3-1 pitch on April 20, and he is going to miss a significant portion of time. Doctors told Casas the injury could take anywhere from three to nine weeks to fully heal. Casas had one of the best starts offensively for the Red Sox this season, hitting three doubles and six homers with a .857 OPS in 22 games. He was moved to the 60-day IL on April 27. (Last updated: April 27)
SS Trevor Story (dislocated left shoulder)
Expected return: 2025
Story underwent surgery on April 12. According to a statement from the Red Sox, Story "underwent a successful arthroscopic repair of the posterior labrum, with an open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture of the glenoid rim. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache."
Story won't play again until next season. Story dislocated his shoulder diving for a ball on April 5 in Anaheim. He was transferred from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL on April 19. (Last updated: April 19)
LHP Chris Murphy (left UCL)
Expected Return: 2025
Murphy, who came up as a starter before being converted into a multi-inning reliever last season, underwent successful reconstruction of the left ulnar collateral ligament (elbow). Dr. Keith Meister performed the surgery at Texas Metroplex Institute for Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery in Arlington. (Last updated: April 10)
RHP Liam Hendriks (right UCL surgery)
Expected return: Late July/early August
After signing with the Red Sox in February, Hendriks said his goal of coming back from Tommy John surgery would be right around the July 30 Trade Deadline. In Hendricks, who is also signed for next season, Boston will get a reliever who has been dominant in the past. It will be interesting to see how he is utilized in a bullpen that also includes Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen, though both of those pitchers have expiring contracts at the end of the season. (Last updated: March 28)
RHP Lucas Giolito (right UCL surgery)
Expected Return: 2025
Giolito was moved to the 60-day injured list on March 24. He underwent surgery to repair his right elbow ulnar collateral ligament on March 12 after two Grapefruit League starts (4 1/3 innings). (Last updated: March 24)