Red Sox News & Links: Welcome Back, Don

Red Sox News & Links: Welcome Back, Don

Breaking news: Rafael Devers is good. But Jose Ramirez is also really good, and he’ll likely be the starting third baseman for the American League in a couple of weeks. Frankly, Devers doesn’t seem to concerned about the All-Star Game either way. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)

If he keeps hitting first inning home runs he’ll certainly help his All-Star case. But the homer he hit yesterday wasn’t just off any old pitcher, it was off Matt Waldron, a knuckleballer who considered Tim Wakefield a mentor. Pitching at Fenway was an emotional experience for the San Diego Padre. (Greg Dudek, NESN)

Even before meeting Wakefield as a pro, the Red Sox legend was influential for Waldron, who used to play as Tim Wakefield as a video gamer when he was a kid. (Trevor Haas, Boston.com)

But Waldron was hardly the only person facing swirling emotions this weekend. Don Orsillo also returned to Fenway Park for just the second time since being fired by FSG. He said it felt like returning to his childhood home. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)

On a much smaller scale, yesterday also marked the return of Josh Winckowski . . . but just to the starting rotation, not, as in Orsillo’s case, to a place where he became a fan icon. He pitched well as the Sox salvaged the series, prompting Rafael Devers to call him one of the best pitchers on the team. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)

I’m not sure I agree with Raffy’s take on Winckowski’s qualitative value to the Sox, but as a guy who can either step into the rotation or slide in the bullpen, he is a very important part of the pitching staff. And that pitching staff could potentially get a major addition soon in the form of Liam Hendriks. (Conor Roche, Boston.com)

But hopefully Hendriks won’t be the only mid-season addition. The Red Sox have put themselves in position to buy at the trade deadline this year — and doing so may be important for keeping Alex Cora around after his contract runs out at the end of the season. (Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic)