Barnes, Perez test positive for COVID
The Red Sox were without four important members of their squad when they began a crucial series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Closer Matt Barnes and starter Martin Perez tested positive for COVID-19 and were placed on the COVIDrelated injury list. They join Kiké Hernandez and Christian Arroyo, who are also on the COVID list.
“We found out not too long ago,” manager Alex Cora said on Monday afternoon. “We’re going through a process, through protocol, close contact, people getting tested and everything else. We’ll leave it at that, I guess.”
The Sox weren’t sure who else might be missing, depending who was in close contact with Barnes and Perez.
“We’re going through the whole thing,” Cora said. “We have to be patient. There is a taxi squad here. They have to get tested. We have to go through a lot and then we’ll decide who we’re going to add.”
Cora said anyone in contact with Perez and Barnes will also go through the process, but there’s a different timetable for a return depending on if the player is vaccinated.
In the fifth inning of the Sox’ 6-1 loss to the Rays, Cora found out that lefty Josh Taylor was a close contact and had to leave the bullpen to quarantine. Cora managed the game one pitcher short.
First-base coach Tom Goodwin was deemed a close contact and will also need to quarantine, while coach Ramon Vazquez tested positive.
“It is what it is,” Cora said. “It’s part of life. I’ve been saying it all along. It’s not easy. But it’s not only happening here, it’s happening all over the world. That’s the way I see it. I’m just glad the people who tested positive feel OK. they’re going to be OK. On the professional side of it, we just have to keep grinding. Nobody is going to stop the tournament because we have X amount of cases and X amount of guys in close contact. They’re not going to stop this. We went through that early in the season but not now. They’re not going to do that.”
Desperate for healthy bodies, the Sox recalled Phillips Valdez from Triple-A Worcester and selected right-handed pitcher Raynel Espinal from Worcester. Espinal, 29, has never before been on an active major league roster. In 16 starts with the WooSox, he’s 9-4 with a 3.74 ERA and a .203 opponent batting average. The Dominican Republic native was a minor league Rule 5 pick from the Yankees in 2019.
To add more depth, the Sox also acquired right-hander Brad Peacock from the Indians for cash considerations.
The 33-year-old joined the Sox in Tampa but wasn’t added to the roster in time. He could presumably start tonight, though the Sox haven’t named a starter yet for that game. Peacock last pitched in the majors in 2020 with the Astros. He’s been with Triple-A Columbus while in the Indians’ organization and has gone 0-4 with a 7.68 ERA in 11 games.
There’s no starter for tonight, but Chris Sale will pitch Wednesday, Eduardo Rodriguez on Thursday, Nate Eovaldi on Friday and Tanner Houck on Saturday.
Renfroe close
Hunter Renfroe has rejoined the team in Tampa after grieving the death of his father but was not ready to play on Monday.
“He went outside the tier so now we have to bring him back,” Cora said. “He needs to go through the whole process. Not sure if he will be allowed to join us today, but hopefully, worst-case scenario, he will be with us Tuesday.”
Danny Santana could rejoin the Red Sox this week. Same for Ryan Brasier. Brasier is in Tampa and Santana is still rehabbing in Double-A Portland.
The others with COVID are still hurting, Cora said.
“They’re feeling OK,” he said. “Obviously it’s not perfect but you’ve got to deal with it.”
Staying realistic
With 30 games remaining, the Sox are unlikely to catch the Rays, but Cora likes his team’s attitude .
“They’ve done an amazing job lately, right, to separate
themselves from us,” Cora said of the Rays.
“So it’s still here because we have seven games against them but at the same time you have to be realistic. You have to start playing better baseball for that to happen. We’ll take it day by day.
“... It’s a reminder that we better stay in the present instead of looking back or looking at the future. Show up today, play a good game, win a game and if we can do that for four days straight, you can ask me that question again on Friday.”