Who Replaces Connelly Early? One Red Sox Option Stands Out
Who Replaces Connelly Early? One Red Sox Option Stands Out
The Boston Red Sox are going to have to replace Connelly Early in the short term.Patrick McAvoy|
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Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox aren't going to have Connelly Early on the mound for at least the next two weeks after being placed on the Injured List on Tuesday due to left elbow inflammation.
Fortunately, the All-Star break is approaching quickly and the Red Sox will get a much-needed rest. But, there is still time left before that arrives. The Red Sox will play their last game before the All-Star break on July 12 against the New York Mets. Then, Boston will have a few days off before returning to action on July 17.
Hopefully, Early just ends up missing the 15-day minimum. Even if that happens, the Red Sox are going to have to fill in for Early for at least one or two starts. Who could be an option? Well, the two guys that make the most sense are either righty Brayan Bello down in Triple-A or lefty Patrick Sandoval, who is very close to getting activated off the Injured List.
When it comes to Bello, he doesn't seem like the most likely option of the two. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy didn't rule him out, but also didn't make it sound like the righty is coming back up yet, as transcribed by MLB.com's Ian Browne.
Who Will Replace Connelly Early?
"I think at the moment, it's about him continuing to take down starts, keep attacking the offspeed,” Tracy said. “And they're moving along nicely with him. For right now that's the case. But he's not out of play by any means. It’s not like, ‘Oh, he's not going to be here again.’ There's all kinds of things you can do with the rotation leading into the break. So we're still talking about Brayan, but right now he's taking on that start today and we're making progress there.”
Bello has made three starts down in Triple-A so far and has a 3.95 ERA to show for it. He'll make his fourth start with Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.
When it comes to Sandoval, he hasn't pitched in a big league game since 2024, but his rehab assignment is just about to expire. Sandoval is expected to make his final rehab start over the weekend and then will have to be activated with his 30-day rehab clock expiring. Since June 5, he has made five rehab starts and allowed four earned runs in 13 1/3 innings pitched (2.70 ERA). It has been reported that the expectation is that scouts around the league will be watching Sandoval's final rehab start closely, just in case Boston makes him available for a trade.
The most obvious option would be simply to slide Sandoval into the rotation. First and foremost, he's a lefty like Early. But more importantly, if there's even a chance that he could get traded this summer, he's going to need to get an opportunity to show clubs around the league what he can do in the majors after such a long lay-off. This would be the easiest way to do so without having to make another change. So, while these two are the options to watch, Sandoval should be the easy answer.
Published 39 minutes ago
PATRICK MCAVOYPatrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick received an MBA at Brandeis University. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Boston Red Sox On SI, please reach out to Scott Neville: [email protected]
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Exclusive | Phil Mickelson rejects allegation he showed nude selfie to woman, calls misconduct exposé ‘drive-by shooting’
Exclusive | Phil Mickelson rejects allegation he showed nude selfie to woman, calls misconduct exposé 'drive-by shooting'- US News
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Skip to main content Media exclusivePhil Mickelson rejects allegation he showed nude selfie to woman, calls misconduct exposé ‘drive-by shooting’
By Ariel Zilber Published July 1, 2026, 6:47 p.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on GooglePhil Mickelson is denying he was ever forced out of golf clubs and rejects claims that he showed a woman a nude photo of himself — accusing a golf writer of publishing an “anonymously sourced drive-by shooting.”
Representatives for the six-time major champion provided The Post with an exclusive statement accusing Skratch reporter Alan Shipnuck of relying on anonymous sources and factual distortions in his article.
Shipnuck’s investigation, published by Skratch last week, included claims by Ashley Perez, the then-wife of pro golfer Pat Perez, that Mickelson showed her an explicit photo of himself and propositioned her in 2015.
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The article also cited anonymous sources who alleged Mickelson’s departures from The Farms Golf Club, The Madison Club and The Bridges were tied to allegations of inappropriate advances toward women and other personal misconduct. Mickelson previously denied the allegations, with his attorney saying he had video evidence to refute accusations centered on Farms Golf Club in particular.
Shipnuck’s article alleged that Mickelson’s departure from The Farms Golf Club “seems to be part of a larger pattern,” pointing to what it described as his “abrupt departures” from The Madison Club and The Bridges.
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Citing anonymous sources, Shipnuck’s story suggested the exits were tied to Mickelson’s personal conduct and left readers with the impression he had been forced out of multiple private clubs.
Shipnuck’s investigation also delved into Mickelson’s marriage, citing anonymous sources who speculated that his wife, Amy, played a role in his departures from the exclusive golf clubs.
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The article also pointed to the family’s use of Apple’s “Find My” location-sharing feature, suggesting it reflected strain in the couple’s relationship.
The investigation by Shipnuck cited anonymous sources who alleged Mickelson paid club employees to hold onto his cellphone while he met with other women, an arrangement the article suggested was intended to conceal his whereabouts.
Mickelson’s representatives called that portrayal “false,” saying Amy Mickelson “is not a public figure” who “did not choose this spotlight” and that “there was no legitimate journalistic reason to drag her into it.”
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Mickelson’s statement accused Shipnuck of allowing anonymous sources to speculate about the couple’s marriage and Amy Mickelson’s motives “they had no firsthand knowledge of” and said the article wrongly portrayed the family’s use of Apple’s “Find My” feature as “something sinister” when it was simply “an ordinary ‘Find My’ family feature, used by millions of families every day.”
“Mr. Mickelson has never been expelled from a golf club. His membership has never been revoked by a golf club,” Mickelson’s reps told The Post.
“Those decisions were his alone.”
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The statement also called “false” any suggestion that Mickelson’s wife, Amy, orchestrated his departures from golf clubs, saying Shipnuck relied on anonymous sources to speculate about her role without firsthand knowledge.
Mickelson’s representatives also disputed Shipnuck’s handling of Perez’s allegation that he showed her an explicit photo of himself, arguing the story omitted what they called a key detail from a later apology call.
According to the statement, Mickelson immediately challenged the characterization of the image by asking, “You mean topless?”
The statement argued that “Mr. Mickelson’s willingness to apologize for his conduct should not be misconstrued as an admission of every allegation made against him.”
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More broadly, Mickelson’s representatives accused Shipnuck of elevating “anonymous speculation” over firsthand reporting and using “implication” where “facts fall short.”
The statement also argued Skratch failed to disclose what it described as the publication’s longstanding relationship with the PGA Tour — a connection Mickelson’s camp said readers should have known about given that the story centered on one of the tour’s highest-profile defectors to LIV Golf.
According to the statement, Skratch was created as a PGA Tour-owned media brand before being folded into Pro Shop in 2024 as part of a transaction in which the PGA Tour retained a minority ownership stake and became a strategic partner.
“None of those relationships mean Skratch cannot report independently,” the statement said.
“They do, however, create a corporate relationship that reasonable readers may consider relevant when evaluating an extensive investigation into Phil Mickelson, one of the most consequential players ever to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.”
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The statement from Mickelson concluded by accusing Shipnuck of prioritizing “a compelling, click-bait narrative over an accurate one.”
“Credibility is not earned by publishing the most provocative narrative,” it said.
“It is earned through transparency, verification, and a clear distinction between fact, inference, and speculation.”
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Ben Boskovich, editor-in-chief of Skratch, rejected all of Mickelson’s claims, telling The Post that the golf publication offered the former Masters champion, his wife and his attorney an opportunity to comment on the claims three days before the article was published last week.
“It’s bizarre that [Mickelson lawyer] Tom Clare is now challenging our reporting through The New York Post,” Boskovich said in a statement.
“Skratch Golf stands by its reporting.”
He also said Skratch’s affiliation with the PGA has been well known in the sports world since 2024.
The Post has sought comment from Ashley Perez.
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