Boston Massachusetts. Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell has to make a decision what to do with his current closer Koji Uehara, 39, who will be a free agent at the end of the current baseball season.
Farrell could have Uehara demoted from the closer role for the remainder of the 2014 baseball season or have him not pitch at all for the remaining 22 games the Red Sox have on their regular season schedule.
Uehara has five years of Major League Baseball experience pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox since he made his debut in the Major Leagues in 2009.
The Boston Red Sox who are the defending World Series champions will not making a run for the postseason in 2014 since they are in fifth place in the American League East.
Farrell said he will have a conversation with the closer about demoting him from the closer role or shut him down for the remainder of the current baseball season so Uehara can rest his weary pitching arm.
Uehara has one World Series ring as a member of the 2013 Boston Red Sox team that defeated the St Louis Cardinals 4-2 in a best of seven series.
Uehara’s recent performances as the Red Sox closer have not been up to the high standards the team expects from him. It remains to be seen if Uehara will be offered a new contract to pitch for the Red Sox in the 2015 baseball season, retire or play for another Major League Baseball team that will need a relief pitcher next year.
News sources: WEEI, NBC Sports, CBS Sports and ESPN Boston