LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Red Sox manager John Farrell expects Dustin Pedroia, Clay Buchholz and Andrew Miller to be ready for the start of spring training.
Pedroia had surgery on his left thumb in November and Farrell said his feisty second baseman had the pin taken out last week. Farrell said Monday at baseball's winter meetings that even if Pedroia isn't set to play in early exhibition games, he'll get "ample at-bats."
Buchholz pitched through neck and shoulder problems during much of the season, including his Game 4 start against the Cardinals in the World Series. Farrell said the righty has started his offseason strengthening program and has not felt any discomfort.
Farrell is excited for Miller to return to the bullpen. The left-hander missed the second half of the season because of an injured left foot after establishing himself as a key late-inning pitcher.