Red Sox’s Alex Cora Gives More Bad News On Tanner Houck

Tanner Houck has been shut down indefinitely by the Boston Red Sox.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed the news prior to the start of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, according to The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey.

“We gotta go to step one, I guess,” Cora said.

Houck reportedly suffered a recurrence of flexor soreness, but won’t need surgery. The Red Sox are likely hoping that by shutting him down — and all but ending his season — the issue will dissipate enough to allow him to have a normal offseason.

Houck, 29, will be glad to get as far away from this campaign as possible, as he posted an 8.04 ERA across 43 2/3 innings in 2025. Boston was hoping things would improve after a long-term stint on the injured list, but he returned to post a 5.74 ERA with 15 strikeouts across five rehab outings with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester.

No, that isn’t very good, in case you were wondering.

The Red Sox ultimately placed him back on the injured list on Saturday, with an in-season return all now but out of the question.