Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh opts out of 2020 MLB season

Boston Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh joins the list of MLB players who’ve opted out of the 2020 season

The Red Sox rotation took a hit on Sunday, as starter Collin McHugh, who was expected to compete for a back of the rotation spot, has opted out of the season entirely. McHugh, citing the obvious COVID-19 concerns as well as his lingering elbow injury, will hope to come back stronger in 2021.

McHugh spent the last six seasons with the Houston Astros, and was a member of their 2017 World Series-winning team. With the Red Sox, he was viewed as a rotation arm or a long-relief pitcher out of the bullpen. Given the trade of David Price and Chris Sale’s Tommy John surgery, Boston’s rotation can ill afford similar absences.

Collin McHugh opting out is a decent hit to the Red Sox rotation

McHugh hasn’t had a tremendous major league impact since 2016, when he went 13-10 with a 4.32 ERA. Since then, he’s progressed as a bullpen arm and spot starter when called upon. Boston’s starting rotation currently consists of the likes of Eduardo Rodiguez, Martin Perez and Nathan Eovaldi, and the latter two spots are a major question mark. McHugh was likely to start the season on the IL, thus making his initial impact minimal at best.

Ryan Weber, a 29-year-old righty who went 2-4 last season, is also listed as a starting option on the Sox team website, so Ron Roenicke and Co. will likely give him a more significant look as the season nears next week.

If the Sox are to compete in a crowded AL East, they’ll need to solve their pitching woes, and fast.

Next. MLB’s new COVID-19 testing results delivers some good news. dark