The Red Sox didn’t have any COVID-19 issues for all of 2020, if you don’t include Eduardo Rodriguez’s heart issue. In 2021 however, Boston has had several coaches test positive for the virus. Now, three players have tested positive.

It was announced Saturday that Kiké Hernandez tested positive for COVID. Sunday, Christian Arroyo tested positive after being listed as a close contact to Hernandez on Saturday, and Monday, before their four-game set versus the Rays it only got worse as manager Alex Cora announced Martin Perez had tested positive for the virus.

“Martin tested positive,” Cora announced. “We found out not too long ago so we’re going through the process — protocol, close contact, people getting tested, and everything else.”

It’s not the most ideal time for Boston not to have two of their best players and a lefty arm, as they take on Tampa Bay in one of, if not the most important series of the season.

With three players who have been on the roster the entire season, barring injury, the Sox will have some decisions to make on who to call up. Both Jonathan Arauz and Yairo Munoz were recalled, but they’ll have to make another decision on who to send up with Perez being out.

“We’re going through the whole thing,” said Cora. “We have to be patient. There’s a taxi squad here, they have to get tested. We gotta go through a lot, and then we’ll decide who we’re gonna have.”

Note that, Ryan Brasier is with the team in Tampa Bay. He won’t be activated until tomorrow, which could mean the Sox could hold off on making a move until they activate Brasier.

(Photo By Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)