MLB injury roundup: Dustin Pedroia, Clay Buchholz making progress

A pair of Red Sox stars are progressing well from injuries and a Dodgers outfielder who could be traded is doing the same.

by Bryan Kilpatrick

Dec 11, 2013, 1:45 AM UTC

Tom Szczerbowski

Pedroia should be ready for Spring Training

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia's surgically repaired left thumb is healing well and the 30-year-old All-Star is expected to return to action when pitchers and catchers report in February, according to manager John Farrell (via the Red Sox official Twitter account):

Farrell on Pedroia: "All signs point to him being ready to go for Spring Training."
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) December 9, 2013

Pedroia suffered a torn ligament in his thumb during Boston's season-opening series against the Yankees in April but opted to play through the injury. Despite the pain sapping his power to the point where he failed to finish with double-digit home runs for the first time since 2007, Pedroia hit .301/.372/.415 and won a Gold Glove in 2013.

More: Over the Monster (Red Sox) True Blue LA (Dodgers)

Ethier won’t undergo ankle surgery

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is no longer bothered by the lower leg injury that cost him the final two weeks of the season and the playoffs, general manager Ned Coletti told the Orange County Register's Bill Plunkett:

#Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said rest took care of ankle-lower leg issue that plagued Andre Ethier over final month of season and into playoffs
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) December 11, 2013

Ethier won’t need to undergo surgery, which might increase his trade value. The Dodgers have toyed around with the idea of dealing the 31-year-old veteran who hit .272/.360/.423 in 2013, the first year of a five-year, $85 million deal.

Buchholz making progress

Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz is recovering nicely from shoulder and neck injuries that persisted all the way through Game 4 of the World Series, manager John Farrell said on Monday (via WEEI):

John Farrell at winter meetings: No ‘physical discomfort’ for Clay Buchholz http://t.co/0ih9Dl4CD6
— WEEI (@WEEI) December 9, 2013

Buchholz has resumed his usual offseason workout regimen, Farrell noted, adding that he will be counted on to provide significant innings. The 29-year-old right-hander went 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 108⅓ innings spanning 16 starts in 2013.