"No guarantees" Crochet pitches again this season - NBC Sports

What the report says

NBCSports.com reported, citing Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, that Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet may not return to a major league mound this season as he continues working back from a shoulder problem. The item said Healey characterized Crochet’s outlook as uncertain, with no assurance that he will pitch again this year.

According to the NBCSports.com summary, Crochet is roughly three months into his recovery. The Red Sox initially were not certain the issue would require an injured list stint, but the reported progression became more complicated: what was first described as shoulder inflammation later involved related problems in another part of the shoulder and was identified as a lat strain.

NBCSports.com said Crochet has expressed a goal of being available for Boston in the postseason, but the report cautioned that even that target is not secure. He has not yet been cleared to move forward, and once that happens, Healey reported he would still need a buildup comparable to spring training — about six weeks, and possibly more — before he could be ready for an MLB game.

The uncertainty matters for both the Red Sox and fantasy baseball managers. For Boston, Crochet’s status affects any late-season or postseason pitching plans. For fantasy players, NBCSports.com’s Eric Samulski wrote that managers in redraft leagues should probably move on if they have continued to reserve a roster spot for him.