Boston Red Sox Injury Updates: Aaron Cook

Boston Red Sox starter/long reliever Aaron Cook can run again and threw a bullpen session yesterday. The offseason acquisition had stitches removed from his left knee yesterday and will be ready for a rehab assignment soon. Once he comes back, likely a matter of week, Cook will probably be utilized as a long reliever for the Sox. On Thursday, Cook pitched in a three-inning, simulated game.

The former Colorado Rockies ace has pitched in just 2.2 innings this season, and ZiPS projects a 4.57 FIP from him this season. Aaron Cook was worth 1 WAR last year, as his 6.03 ERA was filled with bad luck (.345 BABIP). From 2006-2009, Cook was worth 13.6 WAR for the Rockies and was one of the best sinkerballers in baseball during that time span, even if he was overshadowed by fellow NL West sinkerballer and Arizona Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb. The interesting thing is that Webb is also a shell of his former self, but Cook is at least serviceable.

According to a tweet from Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, two doctors agreed that corner outfielder Cody Ross‘s left foot is not broken. X-Rays of the foot came up negative, which is great news for Red Sox fans who cannot afford to have another quality hitter in the OF go down. He might be able to avoid the DL, and he’ll probably return in a week.

The former World Series hero has been everything the Red Sox hoped for when they signed him, and he has exceeded his 1.5-2 WAR expectations thus far this year. ZiPS now has him on pace for a 2.5-3 WAR year, and Ross has been worth 1 WAR this year. Early on, it looks like his higher walk rate from last year was legit, but his strikeout rate is higher than usual. That might be a good thing, because Ross could be due for regression.

He is currently getting on base at a .349 clip, but he does have a .318 BABIP that is slightly high. Still, he has a 132 wRC+ and should maintain at least a 110 wRC+ this season. Ross’s previous career high with at least 75 games is 106. He is playing a little over his head, but Cody Ross will end up being a league-average player this year at worst.

Starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has, according to manager Bobby Valentine, pain in the side of his neck. He is still suffering from an elbow injury and has been making rehab start after rehab start, but Matsuzaka has been poor in all five rehab starts. His control has been described as “erratic” by Peter Abraham. The one-month rehab assignment is coming to a close for Dice-K, and there doesn’t seem to be any indication that Matsuzaka will be joining the rotation anytime soon; much less the MLB roster.

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