Alex Cora Sends Johan Oviedo Message After Red Sox Put Him In Bullpen
The Boston Red Sox acquired Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason, and he is starting the season in the bullpen.
Alex Cora Sends Johan Oviedo Message After Red Sox Put Him In Bullpen originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Boston Red Sox acquired Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason.
He was expected to earn the final rotation spot, but the team is deciding to start him in the bullpen, allowing Connelly Early to get a shot in the rotation to start the year. While Oviedo not earning a starting job may be seen as a disappointment, he is not locked into a bullpen role. Alex Cora explained what went into the decision to start Oviedo in the bullpen and when he could actually make his Red Sox debut.
“(Having Oviedo in the bullpen) is about length and where we’re at with Ranger,” Cora said, per The Boston Globe's Alex Speier. “I think it makes sense to have him there, and whenever we deploy him, we deploy him. We’re kind of targeting Monday in Houston (for Oviedo, when Suarez is scheduled to start), but you never know what can happen before that.
” The Red Sox will reassess Oviedo's role after two turns through the rotation, hoping Suarez is stretched out for a full workload by then. However, in the meantime, Oviedo will be needed as a piggyback option. While the plan is to keep him paired with Suarez, he may be needed earlier if Early struggles against the Cincinnati Reds.