Santana (foot) began playing in simulated games at the Red Sox's spring training site in Fort Myers, Fla. last week, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. "He's going through his progression. He's getting his at-bats. He's feeling good. And he's progressing well," manager Alex Cora said of Santana.

EDGE Analysis

Coming off September elbow surgery, Santana arrived at spring training with some limitations, but it was a right foot infection that was the main cause of him being sidelined for much of the Grapefruit League slate. Santana appears to have moved past the infection at this point, but he still may need a week or longer to fully ramp up again. Once the Red Sox are comfortable with his conditioning, they'll have to decide whether to add the veteran utility man to the 26-man active roster or release him and allow him to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Santana (foot) was cleared to resume baseball activities last week, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santana is expected to continue his rehab from a right foot infection at the Red Sox's alternate site for the foreseeable future while the organization evaluates him for a potential promotion to the majors. The 30-year-old has yet to resume participating in simulated games, so he'll likely need at least a couple more weeks to get back up to full speed.

Santana (foot) was moved to minor-league camp Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

It doesn't matter much exactly which camp Santana is assigned to at the moment, as he's been shut down following surgery to address an infection in his right foot. He's also still getting over September elbow surgery and was behind his teammates in camp due to not signing until early March, so he has a lot of work to do before he's back in game shape.

Santana (foot) cleared intake protocols at Red Sox camp but isn't close to participating in baseball activities, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old underwent surgery at the start of the week to address an infection in his right foot, and it will be more than a week before the stitches from the procedure are removed. Santana also hasn't been fully cleared from offseason elbow surgery and is poised to open the season on the injured list.

Manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Santana has been released from the hospital, but the veteran utility man will be out for at least two weeks before having stitches removed from his right foot, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santana had been in the hospital for the past few days with a foot infection that required a procedure. Once the stitches are removed, Santana will also have to clear COVID-19 intake testing before he can rejoin the Red Sox, so he's unlikely to return to the team prior to the end of spring training. Due to the time he missed with the infection in addition to the fact that he has yet to receive full clearance from last year's elbow surgery, Santana likely won't be ready to make his 2021 debut until the second half of April, if not later. Santana's absence would seemingly bode well for at least one of Christian Arroyo and Michael Chavis making the Red Sox's Opening Day roster as a second utility player behind Marwin Gonzalez.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Santana underwent a procedure Monday to address the infection in his foot, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santana checked into a hospital after discovering the infection over the weekend, but he was expected to be discharged within a couple days after receiving treatment. However, Cora indicated that Santana will likely end up being hospitalized until at least Thursday or Friday, and the skipper said it will be "a while" before the utility man rejoins the Red Sox for workouts. Even before the infection was found, Santana was facing an uphill battle to gain clearance for Opening Day while working back from the elbow surgery he required last September. Since Santana is attending camp as a non-roster invitee, the Red Sox won't have to place him on the injured list while they wait for him to make a full recovery.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Santana (elbow) will be in the hospital for two days after he was diagnosed with a foot infection, Sean McAdam of BostonSportsJournal.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though Santana will be treated with antibiotics and should be discharged from the hospital by the middle of the week, Cora said it would be "a while" before the utility man returns to game action, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Santana, who is attending camp as a non-roster invitee, was already considered unlikely to be ready for Opening Day while he works back from the modified Tommy John procedure he required last September, and the infection will only further set him back with his rehab program. Santana's shaky health could improve the odds of Michael Chavis, Jonathan Arauz or Yairo Munoz winning a bench role with the big club.

Santana (elbow) is scheduled to serve as a backup designated hitter Friday in the Red Sox's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boston will have a pair of rehabbing players man the DH spot Friday, as Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) will get two turns through the order before bowing out of the game in favor of Santana. While Santana's inclusion in the spring lineup is an indication that he's making good progress in his recovery from the modified Tommy John procedure he underwent in September, his availability for Opening Day is still in question. The Red Sox presumably wouldn't be keen on having Santana on the active roster if he's limited to DH duties only, so he'll likely need to prove that his elbow provides no complications in the field in order to break camp with the club.

Santana (elbow) could appear as a designated hitter during spring games, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boston manager Alex Cora said that once Santana is at 100 percent, he'll be able to help the team at all three base positions and in center field. The manager said they team will keep preaching plate discipline to him, as Santana has a penchant for chasing outside the zone. It appears Santana will open the season on injured list and could stay behind in Florida for extended spring training.

Santana (elbow) is still working his way through a throwing program and remains without a timeline to make his Grapefruit League debut, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santana is believed to be nearing the final stages of his recovery from the modified Tommy John surgery he required in early September, which was initially projected to sideline him for eight months. The 30-year-old -- who inked a minor-league deal with Boston last week -- remains optimistic that he'll be ready to go for Opening Day, but that probably won't be a realistic goal if he's unable to complete his throwing program by the end of spring training.