Price set to undergo wrist surgery
ST. PETERSBURG -- The discomfort David Price has dealt with in his left wrist for months should be completely gone by Spring Training.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced Sunday that Price will have surgery on the problematic wrist on Thursday in Boston. Matt Liebman, a team physician and hand specialist, will perform the surgery.
A cyst developed in Price’s wrist at some point in July and his performance took an immediate downturn when he tried to pitch through it. He pitched just two innings for the Red Sox after Aug. 4.
From the start of the season through July 14, Price was arguably the team’s most dependable starter, going 7-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 17 starts. In his final five starts, he was 0-3 with a 9.47 ERA.
Despite the surgery, Price should be able to have a fairly normal offseason.
“I think we just want to get it over with and for him to start the offseason, quote unquote, the right way,” Cora said. “He can start taking care of himself, be ready for next year.”
The Red Sox and Price will know for sure about a more specific recovery time once he undergoes the surgery. Price deferred commenting to the media until after the operation.
“Obviously you never know, you might go in there and find something else, but as of now, everything seems like, take care of the cyst and he should be fine,” Cora said. “I don’t know what the recovery timetable is, obviously they’re going to talk in the next few days, but it seems like it’s something simple and he should be OK throughout the offseason.”
Benny back Monday; Mookie gets a day
Originally, Cora mentioned that Andrew Benintendi might return to the lineup Sunday after exiting Friday’s game with a left thumb contusion. But the manager decided to play it safe and give his left fielder one more day.
“He’s OK actually,” said Cora. “He’s going to hit outside today a little bit, so he should be OK for tomorrow.”
Mookie Betts returned from a week-long absence with left foot inflammation by playing the first two games of this series, but was out of the lineup on Sunday. He did not have a setback.
“He’s OK, but we already had it planned out,” said Cora. “He’s playing tomorrow, playing the outfield I believe. He moved well, he almost made that play in right field, he ran the bases well, so he’s good.”
Hernandez will branch out in Winter Ball
Marco Hernández already gives the Red Sox good versatility with the ability to play second, short and third. He will look to expand his horizons in Winter Ball, as Cora revealed Sunday that Hernandez will play some left field.
“He’s going to be introduced to left field. Actually I have to talk to the [Tigres del Licey] GM, I think it’s Junior Naboa if I’m not mistaken, the manager I know is Pedro Lopez,” said Cora. “I contacted them yesterday. Just for him to get a few games in left field. He’s athletic enough that I think we can move him around.”