Red Sox get good news on virus test
Just days before the Red Sox were told they would have to open their season without their closer — and possibly other players — the team got good news.
Saturday, the team revealed that reliever Matt Barnes had tested positive for the coronavirus and would need to isolate for at least 10 days. The test result led to eight others in Boston’s organization being placed in COVID protocol as well.
But Monday night, the team learned that Barnes’ test result was a “noninfectious positive” and he and his teammates were cleared to return.
“I’m just happy that he’s going to be back with us,” manager Alex Cora told MLB.com. “And it seems like we’re going to be at full strength in a few days.”
⏩ Tigers pitching coach Chris Fetter is quarantining after testing positive for the coronavirus, MLB.com reported. No other team personnel have tested positive.
Jimenez has surgery: White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez had surgery to repair a ruptured left pectoral tendon.
Jimenez was hurt last week in a Cactus League game while trying to make a leaping grab at the wall on A’s catcher Sean Murphy’s home run.
“There’s a chance, certainly, that he beats that traditional time frame for this type of injury of five to six months,” Chicago general manager Rick Hahn said of Jimenez. “But quite candidly, no one’s going to know that for at least 12 weeks until he’s completed the healing process and the rehabilitation side of this injury.”
Injury report: Rays first baseman JiMan Choi will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is expected to be sidelined at least three weeks, the team said. With Choi out, Yoshi Tsutsugo, Yandy Diaz and Mike Brousseau figure to share playing time at first base for Tampa Bay . ... Braves righthander Mike Soroka surrendered a homer while working two innings in a Grapefruit League game in his 2021 debut, a big step in his return from a torn Achilles tendon. It was his first appearance against an opposing team since his injury on Aug. 3, 2020. Soroka will begin the season on the injured list, but the team hopes he may be able to join the rotation before the end of April . ... Outfielder Shogo Akiyama (hamstring) and pitchers Sonny Gray (back) and Michael Lorenzen (shoulder strain) will miss the Reds’ opener Thursday but aren’t expected to be sidelined too long after that.
Roster news: The White Sox announced that Maria CarrilloSanta Rosa and Cal alum Andrew Vaughn, a firstround pick in 2019, will be on their seasonopening roster. Additionally, lefthander Nik Turley — who began spring training with the A’s — was designated for assignment by the White Sox, who also released former A’s catcher Jonathan Lucroy . ... The Tigers sent former A’s infielder Renato Nuñez to their alternate team site . ... The Brewers sent former Giants reliever Ray Black to their alternate team site . ... The Phillies added former A’s outfielder Matt Joyce, who had been in camp on a minorleague contract, to their roster.