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Former Red Sox Pitcher Receives Devastating News After Cardinals Trade
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- Former Red Sox Pitcher Receives Devastating News After Cardinals Trade
Former Red Sox Pitcher Receives Devastating News After Cardinals Trade originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Hunter Dobbins will not get an immediate opportunity to prove the Boston Red Sox wrong for trading him. The former Red Sox right-hander underwent elbow surgery this week and is expected to miss approximately one year, creating serious doubt about his availability for much of the 2027 season.
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Dobbins experienced forearm tightness during his Aug. 21 start for the St. Louis Cardinals . The procedure addressed a ligament issue in the same elbow that required Tommy John surgery in 2021 while he was pitching at Texas Tech. The timing is brutal for a pitcher still attempting to establish himself as a dependable major league starter.
Hunter Dobbins Trade Now Carries More Complicated Context
Dobbins began his major league career with Boston and went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA across 13 appearances, including 11 starts. The Red Sox later included him in the offseason deal that brought Willson Contreras to Boston. Dobbins had shown promise with St. Louis , recording a 3-3 record and 3.67 ERA across 11 appearances. Eight of those outings were starts, and he had positioned himself as a potential member of the Cardinals' 2027 rotation.
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That competition now must wait. According to Reuters , the expected yearlong recovery could keep Dobbins out until late next summer. Rehabilitation setbacks or a cautious return plan could extend that timetable.
The news also adds another dimension to Boston's trade. Contreras was one of the Red Sox's most productive hitters before a left hamstring injury sent him to the injured list. His 26 home runs and .900 OPS gave Boston the established middle-of-the-order threat it expected to receive.
Dobbins represented the younger, controllable pitching talent St. Louis hoped could become a long-term starter. An injury does not determine the ultimate winner of a trade. Dobbins is only 27 and could still return as a productive pitcher. Boston also must evaluate the deal across the remaining years of Contreras' contract.
The immediate calculation has changed.
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The Red Sox received significant production from their primary acquisition. The Cardinals now must wait at least a year before learning whether Dobbins can become part of their rotation. For the pitcher, the only priority is another exhausting rehabilitation.
