PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Joe Kelly, who pitched in intrasquad game Friday, came out of his appearance fine. Kelly has been hampered by bicep soreness in recent weeks and the Red Sox have held onto the possibility of starting Kelly on the disabled list and carrying eight relievers in the first week.
"His velocity was good yesterday, and he threw his secondary pitches,''said John Farrell. "That would put him on five days from [Friday].''
Farrell said that next appearance could come in a major league game or a minor league game. The latter would allow the Sox to keep open the possibility of backdating him for the DL at the start of the season.
"It's possible,'' said Farrell. "We keeping all the options open.''