Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh opts out of 2020 MLB season

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.