LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – James Russell missed nearly two weeks with a toe injury and hasn’t made his Grapefruit League debut. Also, the Braves added several starters this winter after saying early on that Russell might move from the bullpen to compete for a spot in the rotation.
But as unlikely as it now seems, Russell still hopes for a chance at a spot in the starting rotation.
“Yeah, absolutely,” said the left-hander, who threw 30 pitches in a live batting-practice session Tuesday and should make his spring debut by the end of the week.
His toe ached after throwing his first batting practice two weeks ago, but X-rays revealed no structural damage. Russell said he probably had a strained ligament, but that he’s ready to pitch now.
“My arm feels great, there’s no problems there,” he said. “I still think (starting) is the plan. I don’t know. They haven’t told me otherwise. I mean, I’ve got plenty of time to build up (innings to start).”
There are two spots available in the opening-day rotation, the unexpected second opening a resul of Mike Minor being shut down with inflammation in his rotator cuff. Minor could be back at some point in April if all goes well.
Early in the offseason, Braves officials mentioned David Hale and Russell as candidates for fifth starter. But that was before they signed or traded for a handful of other candidates including veteran left-handers Wandy Rodriguez and Eric Stults, prospects Mike Foltynewicz and Manny Banuelos, and former 19-game winner Chien-Ming Wang.
Hale was traded and Braves officials indicated Russell would be back in the bullpen. But as of Wednesday, Russell, who has six career starts in 338 major league appearances, said he had not been told he wouldn’t be starting. He avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $2.425 million contract for 2015 and can be a free agent after the season.
“If they give me the chance (at starting), I’ll snatch it up and do the best I can,” he said, adding that he did more offseason conditioning with starting in mind. “And I started throwing a little bit earlier than I have in the past and made sure I got off the mound before I came here. Last year I really didn’t get off the mound until I got down to spring training, and it worked out fine. I wanted to make sure this year I was taking it a little more serious.”
Russell had a 2.22 ERA in 24 1/3 innings over 22 games for the Braves after coming from the Cubs with Emilio Bonifacio in a July 31 trade. He limited the Phillies to two hits in four scoreless innings in an emergency start in the season finale at Philadelphia when Alex Wood was scratched with a strained forearm, Russell’s first start since 2011.
For the season, Russell had a 2.97 ERA, .215 opponents’ average and 42 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings. The Braves needed a lefty reliever at the trade deadline, and he was a bit of an unlikely choice given his “reverse splits” last season – he allowed a .165 average in 121 at-bats by right-handed batters, while lefties hit .284 in 88 at-bats.
For his career, Russell has a .241 opponents’ average and .280 OBP in 498 at-bats by lefties, and a .268 average and .333 OBP in 630 at-bats by right-handers.
