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Boston Red Sox middle infielder Jose Peraza could be the favorite to start the 2020 season as the everyday second baseman, in the opinion of The Boston Globe's Julian McWilliams. It would definitely be nice for those seeking stolen bases late in mixed league drafts. However, let us remind you that we don't even have an idea yet when the regular season will begin, and Peraza must produce in order to avoid losing playing time at the keystone to Michael Chavis. Chavis might not have the glove or the speed, but he can hit for more power and can also play first base. Peraza, 26 at the end of April, is ranked just outside RotoBaller's top 400 players, but he'll see a bit more of a bump if it turns out that he'll be playing regularly to begin the 2020 campaign.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh (elbow) still has not resumed throwing but is progressing nicely. The Red Sox are playing it safe with McHugh with the start of the 2020 regular season likely delayed until June or July in a best-case scenario. The veteran right-hander was successful as both a starter and reliever in his six seasons with the Astros. He struggled to a 4.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 35 outings (eight starts) last season, but McHugh had a career-low 1.99 ERA and 11.7 K/9 in 58 relief appearances for the 'Stros in 2018. He's likely to see time as both a starter and reliever in 2020 with Boston, and he can be of use as a streamer to those in deep mixed and AL-only leagues if he's making starts for his new club. Given the extra time before the start of the season, McHugh should be ready to go for Opening Day, and his chances of seeing starts went up with Chris Sale (elbow) needing Tommy John surgery.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery last Thursday. It was already announced more than a week ago that Sale would need elbow reconstruction and miss the entire 2020 season, if there even is a season, but he didn't have the operation until late last week. The hard-throwing left-hander will also miss a good chunk of the first half of the 2021 season as well. The 31-year-old has elite swing-and-miss stuff, but his 2019 season was also a disappointment because of arm issues, and he had a weak 4.40 ERA while still managing 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings. It's fair to wonder if he'll be as dominating when he returns next season, but we wouldn't bet against the seven-time All-Star. Hopefully you had your draft after we learned that he'd miss all of 2020.
Boston Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said that pitchers Ryan Weber and Brian Johnson are rotation candidates to join Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez now that Chris Sale (elbow) needs Tommy John surgery. Johnson, a lefty, has made 25 starts for the BoSox over the last three years, but he posted an ERA just above 6.00 with a weak 6.9 K/9 in 40 1/3 innings, including seven starts, in 2019. Weber has made 11 starts in his five-year career with the Braves, Mariners, Rays and Red Sox, and he had a weak 5.09 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 40 2/3 innings for Boston last year. At best, both of these pitchers will be candidate for depth in AL-only leagues if they're forced into Boston's starting rotation whenever the regular season starts.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (elbow) will undergo Tommy John Surgery, according to the Red Sox. The 30-year-old was hoping to avoid the possibility of going down this route, but multiple setbacks during the spring have forced the left-hander to come to the decision to have surgery. Sale could be safely dropped in standard re-draft formats, while owners in dynasty leagues could hope to see the left-hander back in action at some point in 2021. Hopefully your league hasn't had its draft yet, as Sale was still going in the early rounds as a low-end fantasy ace with risk before this news.