Needless to say, the season has gotten of to a rough start in terms of injury news. Offering some hope, perhaps, Baseball America's J.J. Cooper writes (answering a reader question) that two-time Tommy John patients have a better track record of recovery than is perhaps commonly thought. Here's the latest on a few situations around the league that have (or could have had) hot stove implications:
- Rockies starter Brett Anderson is expected to be out for a lengthy stretch with a broken index finger, as he will need four to six weeks to recover before rehabbing, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com (via Twitter). The 26-year-old, who has had more than his share of injury troubles in recent campaigns, will undergo surgery to have pins inserted in the finger, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post (via Twitter). Anderson was a major offseason acquisition for the Rockies, coming over in exchange for one-time top prospect Drew Pomeranz, who has been working out of the pen for the Athletics this year. Fortunately for Colorado, the team appears to have enough in-house options to cover in the meantime.
- Rays starter Matt Moore played catch today as he and the team assess whether the young lefty can avoid Tommy John surgery, according to a report from Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "Actually [trainer Ron Porterfield] said he threw okay," said manager Joe Maddon, "but I'm waiting to hear back from him what the final analysis is. Nothing yet. [Porterfield] said he turned it loose a little bit too, so we'll see. That was probably a good test for him. The word pain was not used. [Porterfield] told me he actually threw the ball pretty good."
- For the Phillies, starter A.J. Burnett intends to pitch through a hernia, and the team will finally welcome back reliever Mike Adams from the DL in the coming days, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports. Adams was a major free agent addition last year, but threw only 25 innings of 3.96 ERA ball last year before going down to a labrum and rotator cuff tear. Adams' contract contains a $6MM club option for 2015 that would vest if he throws 60 innings this year, but that provision will be voided if he is not available on Opening Day next year because of the shoulder issues (since they arose before the end of the 2014 season).
- With the Yankees dealing with multiple injuries and uncertainty in the infield, the obvious question is whether the team will revisit the possibility of signing Stephen Drew. John Harper of the New York Daily News argues that the team should do just that, noting that Drew can upgrade up the middle this year while providing value in any future years he signs on for. But Wallace Mathews of ESPNNewYork.com reports cites a source who says that there is "no way" the team will sign Drew or fellow free agent Kendrys Morales.
- Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia got good news today, as he learned that his left wrist issues do not appear to be serious, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reported on Twitter. As fellow Herald reporter Scott Lauber reported later this afternoon, an MRI showed no structural damage that would warrant concern. The team has confirmed the reports while adding that closer Koji Uehara has no structural damage in his shoulder, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal tweets.
Brett Anderson is made of glass.
A Brett Anderson injury with lengthy recovery is like the sun shining in Phoenix.
I can’t understand why these reporters continue to insist that the Yankees need to or are going to sign Drew. It ain’t gonna happen. The Yankees have said that over and over. Beside Drew is NOT worth the draft choice or the money/years he is looking to make. Give it a break the Yankees and Drew are not going to hook up this season.
I don’t want to give up another draft pick, unless he is as good as “The Babe”. We already have nothing in the first 3 rounds (I think). We have that good a minor league? No, I didn’t think we did either! We need those draft picks!
We would be giving up the 55th overall pick.
And then fans wonder why we don’t have any top notch position players on the farm.
The Yankees gave up their 1st round pick and their 2 compensation picks. They get their first chance to pick in the second round the 55th overall pick.
True, thanks for the correction UYF!
Who says we need a anything other than a very very good glove man at SS?
We need someone with a good glove to take over until a couple of our younger farm hands can make their way to the Big Show.
Is only a late 2nd round pick. Would be better to bite it now than to lose your 1st round pick after next year if you only plan on shopping for a shortstop.
There is no reason to shop for a SS next year, because all the really good SS are tied up with good long contracts. The only way to get a good SS is with a trade not FA.
FA SS will mostly be around 30 years old and want a 8 to 10 year contract like Cano wanted and got, but not from the Yankees!