The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Price’s back — in Boston bullpen
Red Sox will use ex-starter in role for multiple innings.
Boston Red Sox lefthander David Price (left elbow inflammation) was activated off the 10-day disabled list Thursday and will pitch out of the bullpen for the rest of the regular seasons and playoffs.
Price (5-3, 3.82 ERA in 11 starts), who did not pitch in Thursday’s 6-2 victory over the Oakland A’s, had been sidelined since July 28. Boston manager John Farrell said the plan is for Price to work multiple-inning situations out of the bullpen.
“I think there will be some spots that will emerge naturally,” Farrell said.
Tigers: In a 5-3 loss Wednesday at Cleveland, Detroit let out some frustration in the third inning, and it led to the ejection of catcher
James McCann and manager Brad Ausmus. The Indians’ Jay Bruce drew a walk, which prompted McCann to have some words with home-plate umpire Quinn Wolcott. Other Tigers players a few times this series have also shared their displeasure after a called third strike.
McCann was quickly tossed, followed by Ausmus, who had to hold his
catcher back. A few pitches later, catcher John Hicks, who replaced McCann, missed a pitch from Tigers starter Buck Farmer. The pitch struck Wolcott square in the upper chest area. He was down for a few moments but remained in the game.
Indians: Reliever Andrew Miller (4-3, 1.65 ERA, two saves) was activated from the DL after recovering from knee tendinitis during the past three weeks.
Reds: Second baseman Scooter Gennett, who left Tuesday’s game with left hand inflammation, was not in the lineup for the second straight day and is considered day to day.
League looking for approval of Marlins sale soon: Major League Baseball hopes to hold a special meeting before November to vote on approving the sale of the Miami Marlins to a group headed by venture capitalist Bruce Sherman that includes former New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter.
The next scheduled owners’ meeting is Nov. 15-16 at Orlando, Florida.
Commissioner says MLB can be patient on Japanese star: Major League Baseball is willing to wait two years for Shohei Otani if the young Japanese star decides the sport’s new labor contract limits his value to an unacceptable level.
“Otani is a great player. We’re always interested in having great players in Major League Baseball,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said.
As part of the collective bargaining agreement, the dividing line for international amateurs and professionals was changed from age 23 with five professional seasons to 25 with six seasons. Because of that, Otani would be subject to signing bonus pools that limit bonuses.
A 23-year-old right-handed pitcher and outfielder, and reigning MVP of the Pacific League, as a professional Otani likely would command more than the current record for a Japanese player, set by pitcher Masahiro Tanaka with a $155 million, seven-year deal from the New York Yankees before the 2014 season.
Multiple reports in Japanese media said Otani is likely to leave Japan and sign with an MLB team after this season.