Tampa Bay Rays closer Brad Boxberger will miss at least the next eight weeks after having surgery to repair a core muscle, manager Kevin Cash told reporters Friday. The Rays will implement a closer by committee approach until he is able to return, likely sometime in May. Boxberger, 27, led the AL with 41 saves in 2015 and was an All-Star for the first time.
That committee will be made up of Alex Colome and lefty Xavier Cedeno. Steven Geltz and Danny Farquhar could be in the mix as well.
The Rays renewed Boxberger’s contract at $519,200 for the 2016 season, a $2,200 pay cut from the $521,400 he earned last season.
“Obviously it’s a blow because he’s so valuable to our team, to our staff and especially at the back end of a game, but we have a number of guys that could try to fill that void for the first month of the year, and will have some opportunities that will present itself for some more bullpen arms. … We will not name a closer; we will close how it matches up and how we best see it fit and who is ready to pitch on each given night.” said Cash.
“It was very unique that it wasn’t really causing pain, it was just kind of a nag. But had we not got it fixed then it nags for a long time,” Cash said. “Talking to Box he was in good spirits; (it was) a very successful procedure he had.” added Cash.
[graphiq id=”gIqtSs8sQpD” title=”Alex Colome” width=”600″ height=”578″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/gIqtSs8sQpD” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/3129/Alex-Colome” link_text=”Alex Colome | PointAfter”]
