Apparently Red Sox Nation has healed enough since 2003 to let a man named Grady back into its good graces (the three World Series titles since then can't hurt). The former Cleveland center fielder hasn't played in the majors since 2011, but for the first few years of his career he was pretty durable.
Then in 2008, the injuries started. First it was a minor thing - a sprained ankle - but the very next season Sizemore had to skip the World Baseball Classic because of a groin issue, then needed elbow surgery and finally hernia surgery.
But the troubles weren't over, as Sizemore would be able to play just 33 games in 2010 before leaving the team to get knee surgery. In 2011, he played 71 games, missing time to knee problems and additional surgery on the old sports hernia.
Sizemore signed with Cleveland for $5 million in 2012, but needed back surgery during Spring Training, and didn't make it to the field all year. Last year, Sizemore had no takers for his services, despite remaining a free agent all season.
The Red Sox have now signed the injury-prone lefty to an incentive-laden one year contract worth a minimum of $750,000. As a veteran and former Gold Glove center fielder, Sizemore should be a good person to have around as the Sox try to get Jackie Bradley Jr. comfortable in the full time role. Hopefully the significant time away from the everyday grind of baseball will have returned Sizemore's body to a modicum of health.
