Will Chris Sale be healthy whenever the MLB season begins? David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

MLB pushing back season start is good for Chris Sale, Red Sox

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 3/16/20

We knew the start of the Major League Baseball regular season was delayed for at least two weeks, but now we'll have to wait even longer to see the players return to the diamond.

MLB announced Monday that the season has been delayed at least eight weeks in order to comply with the CDC's recommendations of restricting events of more than 50-plus people.

Statement from Major League Baseball: pic.twitter.com/E5xPfMGOc0
— MLB (@MLB) March 16, 2020

How many teams can say they'll benefit from a delayed start to the season? Well, we know the Boston Red Sox definitely can.

After trading Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Alex Verdugo, the Red Sox find themselves in a bit of a predicament.

Boston's ace Chris Sale is dealing with a flexor strain in his elbow, and it was originally reported that he would not be ready for Opening Day. But with the season now delayed until at least May, Sale may be ready to take the mound after all.

Without Sale, the Red Sox's rotation was down to Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez and Ryan Weber, which isn't ideal for a team that struggled on the mound in 2019 and lost both Price and Rick Porcello during the offseason.

If Sale is ready to go when baseball returns, the Red Sox will be a much better team going forward.

Sale isn't the only one dealing with a nagging injury. Verdugo was set to miss Opening Day as well with a back injury, but he now could even be ready for the beginning of the season.

There's no clear timetable for Verdugo to return, but with ample time to rehab maybe he'll be ready to play a majority of games for the Sox in 2020.

More must-reads: