Brendan Rodgers' release from the Red Sox proved to be nothing more than a bit of administrative business, and that should be good news to all involved.
Rodgers, the former Gold Glove-winning second baseman of the Colorado Rockies, was released from his minor-league contract on Tuesday, following shoulder surgery that will cost him most, if not all, of the current season. However, Rodgers was officially back in the Red Sox organization, signing a new minor-league deal on Friday, per the official transactions log.
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Importantly, it will now be a two-year minors deal for Rodgers and the Red Sox, as first reported by Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects. This enables Rodgers to get a fresh start with the Sox when spring training arrives next year, even if he's unable to play a single game at the minor- or major-league level this year.
Rodgers' injury occurred just days into spring training games, as he tore his labrum diving for a ground ball on Feb. 25. He underwent surgery in the first week of March to repair that labrum and remove bone chips. Famed specialist Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery.
Early in the spring, it appeared that Rodgers would be among the options for the Red Sox to stand in for Romy Gonzalez, who had a lingering shoulder issue of his own that resulted in another early March surgery. Gonzalez, however, is expected to be able to return sometime reasonably far in advance of the All-Star break.
The 29-year-old Rodgers has plenty to prove if he wants to reclaim a regular role on a major league roster, especially on a loaded team like Boston. But this deal gives him the peace of mind to get his rehab done right while avoiding any uncertainty about which team his next opportunity will come from.