Taylor (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor dealt with a back issue late last season and is tending to a low-back strain to begin the 2022 campaign. He'll be eligible to return April 15, but it's not yet clear whether or not he'll be game ready by that point.

Taylor (back) will not be ready for Opening Day, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

That means the Red Sox will be without one of their top setup men to begin the season. Taylor will be placed on the injured list in the coming days, while manager Alex Cora figures out the team's late-game options. The bullpen is heavy with lefties, so there are plenty of replacement relievers.

Taylor (back) and the Red Sox agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $1.025 million contract to avoid arbitration, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though Taylor's availability for the Red Sox's April 7 season opener against the Yankees remains in flux due to a disc issue that dates back to last year, he'll at least be on the books for 2022 now that he's come to terms with Boston. He was a key lefty reliever for the Red Sox in 2021, finishing with a 3.40 ERA (2.83 FIP) across 47.2 innings spanning 61 appearances.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Taylor is dealing with a minor back issue that could affect his availability for Opening Day, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor contended with a back injury late in the 2021 regular season, but he was reinstated from the injured list prior to the Red Sox's wild-card round series. Though he seemingly came out of the postseason without any setbacks, the back issue has apparently reared its head again while he's been throwing during the spring. The 29-year-old was an important bullpen arm for Boston in 2022, but the Red Sox are better equipped to handle a potential Taylor absence after adding two lefties to the bullpen this offseason in Jake Diekman and Matt Strahm.

Taylor (back) was activated off the injured list Tuesday and added to Boston's wild-card roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor missed the end of the regular season with a back issue, but it was evidently a fairly minor one. He'll give Boston a useful left-handed relief option, as he finished the year with a 3.40 ERA in 47.2 innings of work.

Taylor was placed on the 10-day injured list with a back injury Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The move was made retroactive to Sept. 23, so the earliest the reliever can return is Oct. 3, the final game of the season. Since returning from the COVID-19 list on Sept. 6, he's given up two runs while striking out six in five innings. Right-hander Eduard Bazardo was recalled from Triple-A Worcester.

Taylor recorded his first career save in Saturday's 9-8 extra-inning win over the White Sox, giving up a hit and striking out two in a scoreless 10th inning.

EDGE Analysis

Hansel Robles pitched the sixth inning and Garrett Whitlock the eighth and ninth Friday, while Adam Ottavino worked the night before, leaving closing duties to Taylor when the Red Sox pushed across a run in the top of the 10th. The southpaw hasn't been particularly sharp since coming off the COVID-19 list, giving up two runs in 2.2 innings across four appearances, but as the top left-hander in the bullpen he could potentially see another save chance or two down the stretch as part of Boston's high-leverage crew.

The Red Sox reinstated Taylor from the COVID-19-related injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Though he was deactivated Aug. 30, Taylor never tested positive for the virus and was thus eligible to return from the IL in less than 10 days. The Red Sox were comfortable with how Taylor looked from a conditioning standpoint while he played catch on the field earlier Monday, so he should be available out of the bullpen for the series opener.

Taylor was identified as a close contact for COVID-19 and must quarantine, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor spent a couple days on the virus-related injured list in the middle of August but didn't test positive for COVID-19. When he can rejoin the Red Sox will obviously depend on whether he produces a positive test this time around. Fellow relievers Matt Barnes and Martin Perez tested positive Monday.

The Red Sox reinstated Taylor from the COVID-19-related injured list ahead of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor was on the COVID-19 IL for only two days, an indication that he never tested positive for the virus and was instead deactivated for contact-tracing reasons. With the reliever having cleared all health and safety protocols in quick fashion, he should be available out of the bullpen for the twin bill. Through 48 appearances on the season, Taylor has posted a 3.23 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 51:20 in 39 innings.