Steven Wright Should Start the Year in the Rotation

(Photo Source: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America)

By: Tom Joyce

The pitching battle might just go past the mound for the Red Sox this spring.

With sophomore southpaw Eddie Rodriguez most likely slated to start the season on the Disabled List, the Red Sox need to start looking for a fill-in option until he is ready to pitch again.
Names thrown out to take Rodriguez' spot in the rotation include; Steven Wright, Henry Owens, Brian Johnson and Roenis Elias. Albeit the latter three are young lefties, like Rodriguez, the knuckleballer seems to be their best bet.

Either way, Wright is a near lock to make the team. The Red Sox seem to like him as a mop-up man -- since he can come out of the bullpen and eat innings. He is out of major league options, so it is either he makes the team or the Red Sox risk losing him to the waiver wire.

Last season, Wright went 3-4 with a 3.96 ERA in nine big league starts. He might not be a lights out pitcher, but he has really seemed to hold his own at the big league level these past three seasons. To start the year last season, Wright was the No. 6 starting pitcher on the depth chart.

Both Owens and Johnson are slated to start the season in the minors for a reason. Owens needs to improve upon his command while health is a concern for Johnson. The Red Sox have plenty of starting pitching depth at the moment, so they are trying to situate Elias in the bullpen since they are rather thin from the left side.

And 31-year-old lefty specialist Tommy Layne, who looks to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster, is just as much of a DFA candidate as he is a bullpen candidate. If anything goes awry there, Elias might have a bullpen opportunity in Boston -- provided he adjusts well to the new role.

Assuming Rodriguez' injury is not too severe, the starting spot would only be a part-time gig. The Red Sox have the likes of Heath Hembree, Matt Barnes and Noe Ramirez in terms of right-handed relievers with big league experience on their 40-man roster who could briefly fill in for Wright in the bullpen.

With likely DFA candidate Edwin Escobar still on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox could either give him a brief shot in the bigs before doing the inevitable. Or they could give Carlos Marmol a shot in the bullpen if his spring goes well.