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Boston Red Sox: Eduardo Rodriguez news is huge on multiple fronts

By Nick Stevens

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 29: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the second inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 29, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 29: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the second inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 29, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is on the mend.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez recently received some positive news after missing the 2020 season due to a scary heart condition. According to Ian Browne of MLB.com, Rodriguez has been cleared to resume very light workout activities within the next few weeks.

First and foremost, that is fantastic news. Rodriguez developed myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) as a result of contracting COVID-19 earlier this summer.

The otherwise healthy 27-year-old, Cy Young worthy pitcher went from preparing for his sixth major league season to recovering from a serious heart condition, but the latest reports on Rodriguez all point to the righty being in a position to resume a “normal” offseason workout program soon.

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The health of Rodriguez is the top priority moving forward, but if the Boston Red Sox can have one of their best players back on the mound in 2021, it provides a major boost to a starting rotation that has significantly struggled in 2020.

Entering the final weekend of the regular season, Boston’s starting rotation ranks dead last in the majors in Wins Above Replacement at 0.3 and owns a combined record of 11-22 with a 5.51 ERA and a league-high 1.58 WHIP. Only Detroit’s starting rotation has a higher team ERA (6.45).

It’s been a revolving door of arms for Boston in their attempt to find stability behind Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez, an exercise that has proven futile.

But there is a bit of optimism heading into 2021. Perez and Eovaldi should both be back in the rotation next year and rookie Tanner Houck has been impressive in his first two major league starts (0 ER, 3 H, 11 K in 11 IP).

Chris Sale (Tommy John surgery) has started throwing again and while he still has a long road ahead of him to fully recover, the Red Sox are excited to have him back throwing and looking good, all things considered.

Add in a healthy Eduardo Rodriguez and the Boston Red Sox have something cooking again. Rodriguez was 19-6 with a 3.81 ERA in 2019, logging 203 innings of work and finishing sixth in Cy Young voting. Next year will be the final year of arbitration-eligibility for Rodriguez, meaning an important season coming up in 2021 for Rodriguez, pending his health.

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For now, Rodriguez is cleared to begin his long road back to the mound and the Boston Red Sox can enter the offseason with a bit of hope surrounding their struggling starting rotation.

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