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Red Sox left-hander David Price might be heading for a rehab assignment “within the next two weeks or so” following a second successful bullpen session Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
Price, who has been on the disabled list the entire season after having his left elbow swell up following an outing in spring training on Feb. 28, threw off a mound Monday and did a long-toss session on Wednesday in which he threw 30 pitches. Heyman says Price “is said to have felt better” and may throw another bullpen session Saturday.
Price came into the year looking to bounce back from a disappointing first season with Boston after signing a seven-year, $217-million deal in the offseason. The former Cy Young winner and five-time All Star posted a 3.99 ERA — the highest ERA of his career since his rookie season when he had a 4.42 ERA — despite having a 17-9 record.
The Red Sox hope Price can return to form and join lefty Chris Sale and Rick Porcello in giving them a dynamic Big Three in the rotation. The Red Sox acquired Sale, a five-time All Star who has finished in the top six in the AL Cy Young voting in each of the last five years, in a trade with the White Sox. Porcello is the reigning AL Cy Young winner after going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 189 strikeouts — all career bests for him.