Chad Tracy, the Red Sox interim manager, blew up all the social media chatter today regarding Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer’s off-field conduct, hitting back with a definitive “zero” concerns. This isn’t just a casual dismissal, either. Tracy went on record to absolutely shut down the speculation, giving us the real scoop on what’s going on with these two.
Anthony’s Rehab: Not a Punishment, It’s Smart Strategy
You know how social media gets, right? Rumors flying around about how Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer conduct themselves away from the park. It all cranked up a notch when Anthony’s rehab got moved to Fort Myers, and everyone started wondering if it was some kind of punishment instead of just a crowded clubhouse situation. But Tracy, man, he’s having none of it. On WEEI, he laid it out: “Zero,” he said about any off-field concerns. “Not even remotely on my radar. Not something we’ve even talked about in here.” He’s been trying to tell everyone for days: “I want Roman healthy and I want Roman back. Roman’s a great baseball player. He’s a hell of a hitter. And he can help us. But, a hell of a hitter with two hands. Not with one.” Turns out, Anthony’s been battling a tricky hand injury since May, a torn ligament at the base of his finger. He hasn’t even started swinging yet! And that move to Florida? Tracy says it lets him “focus on that and do that and not feel like he’s here at Fenway, where he’s the center of attention, everybody’s going to him, asking all these questions.” So yeah, no punishment, just smart recovery strategy. He also confirmed, “He’s very focused on what he’s trying to do right now, but I have no concern over Roman and Marcelo or where they’re going.” Tracy’s always talking to Anthony, too, keeping tabs.
Mayer’s Status and Anthony’s Optimistic Outlook
Meanwhile, Mayer is battling his own issue: a stress fracture in his forearm. Good news is he was recently cleared to dry swing, which is a step! But no timeline for his return yet, which is tough. And for Anthony, people are actually asking if he’ll even play again this season. But Tracy? He’s surprisingly optimistic. “I do believe that,” he stated. “I’m not saying that’s going to happen, but I do believe that.” Why the confidence? Because his hand injury isn’t stopping him from everything else. He’s been running, throwing, and even playing defense. Tracy put it plainly: “if we get this thing to where it needs to be, it literally is just a matter of, we need a hitting progression, we gotta get him out on a rehab assignment. It’s not like he’s been sitting there completely inactive for two and a half months. That’s not the case.” That’s a huge relief, right?
So, no matter what social media tells you, it sounds like these guys are just focused on getting back on the field, not off-field drama. We’re still waiting on those return timelines, but knowing Anthony is already doing so much gives you hope he’ll be back swinging that bat with two hands before the season is over. It’s all about getting healthy for these two, and Tracy sounds like he’s got their backs.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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