The Boston Red Sox Friday, March 27, 2020 * The Boston Globe The Red Sox owe us some answers on Chris Sale’s surgery Dan Shaughnessy The Red Sox’ refusal to disclose anything about Chris Sale’s elective elbow surgery in the middle of a national medical-supply shortage is unacceptable. New York Mets righthander Noah Syndergaard was scheduled for Tommy John surgery Thursday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Mets said that team doctor David Altchek would perform the surgery, even though the Florida governor has barred nonessential elective medical procedures in the state. Doctors in Florida are empowered to determine what is essential, and a Mets official told the Wall Street Journal, "This condition fits within the essential surgery guidelines.'' Last Thursday, the Red Sox announced that Sale, who is in the first year of a five-year, $145 million contract extension, would require Tommy John surgery. When Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom was asked about nonessential surgeries being put on hold in the middle of a pandemic, he acknowledged that he considered Sale’s surgery elective. "Obviously something we’re mindful of,'' said Bloom. "No. 1, the difficulty generally surrounding elective surgeries with what our country is going through and also making sure that we’re doing this in a way that doesn’t put any extra burden on the public health system.'' Given the sensitivity of Bloom’s comment, it is difficult to understand why the Red Sox aren’t saying anything now. They won’t say whether the surgery has been performed. They won’t say whether it has been scheduled or postponed. On Wednesday, the Globe contacted Bloom, Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy, and vice president of media relations Kevin Gregg, and all issued no comment. It’s an unfortunate response while we are in the middle of a global pandemic, with surgical supplies limited and citizens sensitive to the notion of rich and powerful folks receiving preferential medical treatment. The Sox are a private company but very much a public trust. Accountability has not been a trademark of the ball club in recent years, but this is a lot different than ownership disappearing for two weeks after firing Dave Dombrowski. This is far worse. Sox fans have a right to know what’s going on with Sale — then make their own judgments. Did the Sox go ahead and do the surgery? Are they waiting? Will they tell us when or where the surgery is scheduled, as the Mets did with Syndergaard? Where is Red Sox leadership? It’s a decision that impacts Sale’s career and the Sox’ prospects for the next few seasons. Sports fans are mindful that waiting on a star pitcher’s elbow surgery is not in the competitive interest of the ball club. But what the Red Sox do regarding Sale also speaks to the highly sensitive topic of special treatment for professional athletes. Many Americans were upset with the instant availability of coronavirus testing for NBA players and teams in the early days of America’s emergency. Transparency regarding Sale’s surgery is not a medical privacy (HIPAA) issue. The team has already announced Sale’s condition. We know exactly what Tommy John surgery means. The Red Sox delayed the surgery last August, hoping for a non-surgical recovery. They delayed again at the beginning of March when Sale experienced pain while throwing. In the middle of a pandemic, does it need to be done now? Please, let’s not have any headstands from doctors trying to tell us that Sale’s procedure is "essential.'' Bloom’s remarks from last week are clear. The Red Sox have acknowledged that this is elective surgery. If the Sox postponed the procedure in the spirit of not putting any extra burden on the public health system, it would color the franchise as sensitive, fair, and willing to sacrifice baseball success for the greater good. If the Sox went ahead and did the procedure, there might be some blowback, though some fans no doubt would understand. "No comment" is simply weak and unacceptable. I’m not a fan of the Mets’ plan to go ahead with surgery on Syndergaard, but at least they didn’t hide. Mitch Moreland ready to lead on the field and in the clubhouse for Red Sox Julian McWilliams Note: During the MLB shutdown, the Globe will revisit its offseason “Around the Horn” series of position- by-position looks at the Red Sox to update with what we learned in spring training. Today: First base. The presumption was that Mitch Moreland wouldn’t be back with the Red Sox this season. He was a pending free agent who had endured his share of injuries throughout last year. As a result, the then 33-year- old Moreland only accumulated 298 plate appearances. Additionally, the Sox were under a new program led by Chaim Bloom, who came from the Tampa Bay Rays, an organization known for pursuing cheap, controllable talent instead of veterans. However, just before the start of spring training, the Sox and Moreland agreed to a one-year deal. “This guy has a track record,” Bloom said at the time. “What’s under the surface and what’s under the hood gives us the confidence that he could do damage in a lineup.” When Moreland is on the field, he’s an effective ballplayer. “That’s always been my thing if I can continue to stay on the field, it will be better for me and better for the team,” Moreland said back in February. “I got a lot of work done in the offseason, trying to get my body in a good place and, obviously, I’m not getting any younger, so as the miles start adding up, you have to figure out different ways to keep yourself ready.” Last year, he returned from the injured list in late July and hit .279 with an .811 OPS in 161 plate appearances. He can pick it at first, too, and is still nimble around the bag despite his age and injury history. This spring, the Sox could have gone with their top prospect Bobby Dalbec at first base, a guy Bloom looked forward to seeing play. Bloom didn’t rule out Dalbec possibly making the Opening Day roster. “He’s obviously a huge part of our future,” Bloom said. “I’m personally excited to get an up-close look at him and get to know him. We’re hoping he comes into spring training ready to impress.” But once Dalbec was optioned at the end of the shortened spring, it was clear Moreland was the Red Sox’ guy since Day 1. The Sox will need Moreland more than ever and perhaps his largest task might not be on the field but in the clubhouse. There are other leaders and veterans in there, but Moreland is, essentially, the adult in the room. The team has gone through a makeover. Mookie Betts and David Price are in Los Angeles. Brock Holt is in Milwaukee. Alex Cora is out as manager and most likely facing a ban of some sort for his part in the sign-stealing scandal. They lost Chris Sale for the season because of Tommy John surgery. Moreland, as much as he can, has to be that calming presence as the Red Sox try to survive this makeover and injuries to the current roster. “Maybe [my role changes] a little,” Moreland said. “I’m older. Definitely with [Price] and Mookie that’s a tough loss for sure. We still got a great team. Those two guys, they’re not replaceable. They’re great ballplayers. At the same time, we’re going to be fine and looking forward to getting back out there.” Getting back out there, of course, will have the wait. Baseball, like the rest of the world, is in the thick of a pandemic. Everything is shut down indefinitely, including a season in which the odds of the Red Sox making the playoffs appear slim. You would never know that when you hear Moreland speak, though. He has the confidence, better yet, the assurance that everything will be OK. Moreland got only one plate appearance this spring after he was removed against the Atlanta Braves due to right hamstring tightness. Afterward, Moreland said he was fine, but you couldn’t help but wonder if this would be his fate in 2020, too. The Sox have some depth there. They have Dalbec waiting in the minors. Michael Chavis filled in nicely for Moreland last season. They could platoon that position if need be. But this year might be more or less about presence than production, even though Moreland is more than capable of the latter. “I try to tell myself,” Moreland explained, “we play 162 games and I’m going to be ready to play 162 days. That’s what I’m telling myself whether I’m coming off the bench or getting two at-bats or playing the whole game. Whatever they need me to do. That’s always been my mindset.” Despite coronavirus shutdown, players will retain service time in agreement with MLB Alex Speier While the anticipated start of the 2020 season came and went without games played as baseball remained shuttered amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association came to an agreement on Thursday about the economic rules that will govern a shortened season. According to multiple industry sources, the league and its players reached an agreement that is expected to be finalized and announced on Friday.