The Boston Red Sox have told pitcher Josh Winckowski that he will pitch out of the bullpen to start the season, despite his bid to win a starting rotation spot.

Per Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe on social media:

Cora said the decision was made to put Josh Winckowski in the bullpen.

Winckowski, who was acquired before the 2021 season in a trade for Andrew Benintendi, is 0-1 this spring with a 4.76 ERA. The hope has been that new Red Sox’ Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow and pitching coach Andrew Bailey could improve each pitcher on the staff, and that may happen for Winckowski, but it will be out of the ‘pen.

Winckowski is coming off an excellent year out of the bullpen for Boston, going 4-4 with a 2.88 ERA. He struck out 82 batters in 84.1 innings and was a reliable bridge option to closer Kenley Jansen and set-up man Chris Martin.

The decision to put Winckowski in the bullpen narrows the competition for the Red Sox’ starting rotation. In the wake of Lucas Giolito’s season-ending injury, it looks like Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta and Kutter Crawford are locks.

Then, two of three of Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck and Cooper Criswell are going to make the rotation.

Boston finished last in the American League East last season and is projected to finish there again this season, especially after the devastating loss of Giolito.

They open up the season on March 28 against the Seattle Mariners.

Readmore:

Red Sox announcer tries to fuel Yankees pessimism with new Alex Verdugo allegations.

Though Yankees offseason acquisition Alex Verdugo came over from the Red Sox holding a “caution” sign, he’s seemed to fit in nicely so far at camp, fulfilling Aaron Judge’s long-time vision.

WEEI announcer Will Flemming, apparently, has different ideas, holding his very own Boston Tea-Spilling Party over the airwaves of Wednesday’s Yankees-Red Sox exhibition.

Verdugo wasn’t very popular during his final season in Boston, though he was the emotional leader of the 2021 Red Sox underdog ALCS team (and don’t let any Bostonians tell you differently). He repeatedly clashed with Alex Cora over … let’s say, punctuality, leading to some benchings and an airing of grievances in the media (which is, as everyone knows, the healthiest way to handle these kinds of things).

According to Flemming on the broadcast, there are “already some rumblings of a lot of the stuff that hurt [Verdugo] in Boston, showing up behind schedule for things.” If so, those rumblings have only become public because of … you, my man!

Yankees having maturity issues with Alex Verdugo? Red Sox announcer strikes back?

No one has mentioned this at all, meaning if it is true, the Yankees have done a very good job of handling things internally, and a Red Sox announcer just spitefully aired their dirty laundry, opening the door to questioning.

Could also be fake! Classic Boston, though. “Oooh, were you trying to keep that under wraps? Oooopsie! Sorry, I’m a lil’ stinker.”

There’s a possibility that Verdugo doesn’t fit in New York, either, a clubhouse that has traditionally been less willing than Boston to let stars be stars and operate on their own crazy schedules (Manny Being Manny, anyone?). Aaron Judge targeted Verdugo for a reason, though, and clearly believes he can keep the talented left-handed hitter in line.

Bottom line? Don’t let Will Flemming’s offhanded comment bring you down. There are important MRIs being exchanged at Yankees camp anyway. No need to give Verdugo a brain scan, too.