FORT MYERS, Fla. — Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz had outstanding seasons in 2016. Each man put together the best season of his career and was named an All-Star for the first time. Eduardo Rodriguez has proven to be one of the best young pitchers in the system with 13 wins and more than 228 big league innings logged at the age of 23.

As the second week of spring training begins, each man is also battling for a spot in the starting rotation for the Red Sox, a rotation highlighted by the Big Three – Chris Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello.

Call them the “Other Three.”

Pomeranz finally showed the promise that has surrounded him since he was drafted fifth overall in the 2010 amateur draft. He won 11 games and put up a 3.32 ERA. More importantly, he made a career-high 30 starts and didn’t pitch out of the bullpen until his final appearance of the year.

With six established starters in camp, I asked Pomeranz if he might get moved back to a relief role.

“I don’t think about the bullpen anymore,” said Pomeranz. “I did that before last year. Then I moved back to the rotation and had the best year of my career. So I’m sticking with that.”

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Of course, he doesn’t get to make the call. His manager does. And John Farrell has proven that he will do whatever makes the team the best it can be. That means if everyone’s healthy in April, Pomeranz will need to beat out Wright or Rodriguez for a spot.

Pomeranz posted an ERA of 4.59 with the Sox last season, more than two runs higher than the 2.47 he put up in the National League with the Padres. There were lingering rumors about an injury he dealt with, and he received a stem-cell injection this offseason that pushed back his spring.

Pomeranz and Wright both threw off a mound for the first time on Monday. Wright has dealt with a nagging shoulder injury that goes back to a freak base-running incident at Dodger Stadium last August. Suddenly, the All-Star was on the shelf, and we were left wondering if Farrell had made a mistake using Wright on the bases.

“I’ve done that thousands of times in my life,” said Wright. “It’s in the past. … If I was put in his situation I would have done the same thing.”

Wright said there is no benefit to being a knuckleballer when it comes to a shoulder injury. He might not “air it out” like traditional pitchers, but he believes the pitch calls for his mechanics to be on point. There is plenty of time for Wright to get himself in sync for the season ahead.

This winter Rodriguez tweaked an old knee injury from last summer. There doesn’t seem to be much concern about his ability to be ready for April. The bigger concern for E-Rod is that he has options remaining, and the Sox could send him to Pawtucket without losing him to another team.

Of the top six starters in camp, only Rodriguez has options remaining.

Pitchers rarely make it through spring, let alone a full season, without an injury. Chances are the Sox will need all six starters – and more – before too long. Right now, it’s a matter of jockeying for position. And with the Big Three standing at the front of the pack, the Other Three know they need to pitch well this spring to be where they want to be this summer.

Tom Caron is a studio host for the Red Sox broadcast on NESN. His column appears in the Portland Press Herald on Tuesdays.


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