SARASOTA, Fla. — Could the Red Sox survive the catastrophe of losing David Price for the season, if that should be his plight after Dr. James Andrews renders a second opinion on the lefthander’s sore elbow?
On the surface, losing your $31 million pitcher would be, in President Trump’s words, “a total disaster.’’ It could be a built-in excuse to write off the season. But that doesn’t have to be the case with the Red Sox.
Think of it this way: The Red Sox lost a hitter who produced 38 home runs, 127 RBIs, a league-high 48 doubles, and the highest OPS in baseball last season. His name was David Ortiz. They brought in a platoon player in Mitch Moreland. But what they’re saying is that the other guys in the lineup need to pick up the slack.
Ortiz, of course, was an everyday player, impacting many games. Price led the league with 35 starts last year. Tough to lose both, if that’s the case. But that’s why the Red Sox had six starters for five spots. They prepared for the possible scenario that someone would get hurt. Sure enough, early March, someone got hurt.
They are better equipped than most teams to absorb such a loss, so don’t go betting your money on the Blue Jays or Orioles just yet
“I saw a guy yesterday [Henry Owens],’’ said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “They have them coming out of their ears.
“[Chris] Tillman is as important to us as [Price] is to them. I don’t know what’s going on over there, but they’re loaded with guys.’’
Tillman is starting to work his way back from a right shoulder injury that the Orioles thought was worse earlier in camp than it is now. The Red Sox should hope the news on Price is that encouraging.
In some corners, there’s panic that Price has an elbow injury that could require Tommy John surgery. And we use the word “could,’’ though most second-opinion trips to Andrews wind up in surgery.
So you tend to expect the worst, and if, like Tillman, you get a better prognosis, you simply exhale.
Without Price, the Red Sox would still have a solid five-man rotation. It still has a Cy Young winner (Rick Porcello) and a five-time All-Star (Chris Sale). Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz were All-Stars last year.
More than ever, 1-5 would have to do their jobs. They all have talent.
This also could be a great opportunity for depth guys such as Owens, Brian Johnson, Roenis Elias, and veteran Kyle Kendrick.
There’s another thing the Red Sox could do.
Yes, they want to stay under the luxury tax, but would they do so at the expense of not filling a big void if some of the other starters don’t maximize their opportunity?
Do they start getting interested in White Sox lefty Jose Quintana, who is there for the taking? This would require a hit to their farm system, because the package that Chicago is seeking is close to what the Red Sox gave up for Sale. The White Sox would love a catcher in any deal, so Blake Swihart could be in play.
Dave Dombrowski is never one to sit back and allow a deficiency to percolate long. If Price is out, the prudent thing might be to wait and see how the first part of the season goes, and if things aren’t to his liking, then pounce on Quintana.
This Red Sox team was built to win now. Sure, they have a younger positional core, but they built their pitching staff with a window. That window is now, and there’s no way to get around that.
If the absence of Price is enough to cost them the division, then they were not as deep as we thought they were.
He went 17-9 last year and pitched deep into games. How do you make that up?
Eduardo Rodriguez would have to take the next step to elite level. He should be getting there at this stage in his career — if he’s going to get there.
The opportunity is also there for Owens, who continues to struggle in spring training. If he is ever to get it together, now would be the time. Ditto for Johnson, who suffered from anxiety issues last season. He seems to be over them, and now he needs to show the promise that the organization saw in him for so long.
“Our guys right now, the five starters in addition to David, remain healthy,’’ Dombrowski said. “I think there’s five as good starters as you’ll find anywhere as a combination.
“We’re still looking for some of our other guys here in camp to establish themselves, we’re just getting started with camp, guys like Brian Johnson, Henry Owens, Roenis Elias, Hector Velazquez, Kendrick, so that gives us a little bit more depth.’’
If those names don’t wow or elicit confidence, that’s perfectly understandable. But sometimes the no-names surprise you. Sometimes something clicks and they finally get it.
The Sox are hoping that moment comes for Owens and Johnson. Maybe the recently signed Velazquez, who was impressive in his first start after a long career in the Mexican League, can step in.
On paper, the Red Sox had the best rotation in baseball. Without Price, it wouldn’t look as ferocious, but as I’m always reminded, the games are played on the field, not on paper.
“I’ll tell you right now,’’ said Showalter. “Facing Porcello, Sale, Wright, Pomeranz, and Eddie Rodriguez is pretty tough. Ask our hitters.
“This happens to a lot of teams. You have to play the games, and I’ll bet the Red Sox play them really well.’’
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.
