I didn’t get the angst when they re-signed him.

He’s effective when healthy. As long as you don’t need him in an important role, I don’t really see a downside to having him on the roster.

If it's a choice between him and Lopez for the fifth starter role, fine. If he's in the bullpen that's when I get worried. He'll be sitting out there and they'll feel compelled to use him, regardless of whether or not he's been effective. If he doesn't work out as a fifth starter, they better send him down or cut him, not move him to the bullpen.

I think if he’s in the bullpen he’ll be a garbage time innings eater.

He wasn't used that way last year.

He wasn't used that way last year.

I think people will be pleasantly surprised by his performance as a #5. He won't wow anyone, but he'll get the job done and be a contributing factor towards the team's success. I think people forget he was actually decent when he wasn't pitching hurt.

If he gets injured, this all goes out the window, but if healthy, he'll surprise many.

He's been injured all the way back to college. I don't see how you can make a but for argument with his injuries as they are entirely part of his character by now. The injuries are permanent as well so he'll never be fully healthy. I agree he has had stretches of excellence.

I hope he can fill a 5th starter role, giving them 20-25 starts.

His last stretch of "excellence" would have been July-August of 2018, where he went 6-0 with a ERA under 2. In September 2018, he was 0-2 with a 9+ ERA. Since then, he has thrown a total of of 69 big league innings, as you alluded to with the injury history.

I would take the under on 20-25 starts for the rest of his career, let alone this season.

I'll give Lopez a small benefit of the doubt as he is younger and it appears to be more mental than physical with him. Rodon is toast at this point.

If on Opening Day, they are up 9-1 after six, who do you want to pitch the last three innings?

Rodon scratched tonight.

Goddammit

I'm calling it now. For the first time in years it looks like he is fully healthy. He's not going to be an ace or a Cy Young winner, but he is going to come into the 5th starter role and be to the 2021 Sox what Jon Garland was to the 2005 Sox.

Easy there, boys, this has never been about the talent. This is about holding up for a length of time to display that talent. And THAT hasn't changed.