Alex Rios‘ career with the Rangers could be over. The outfielder has a bruised right thumb, and MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports that Rios has decided it would be better to simply not play, since the thumb has not gotten better and risks infection. The Rangers are expected to decline Rios’ $13.5MM option this offseason and pay his $1MM buyout, which means that his next big-league plate appearance could come with another team. In Rios’ absence, Sullivan writes, the Rangers will likely move Shin-Soo Choo from left field to right and spend their savings on pitchers. Here’s more from the American League.
- The Orioles have officially announced the signing of Cuban pitcher Lazaro Leyva. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported the signing in September, although Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun reported earlier this weekend that the two sides were still in the process of finalizing the signing. The deal is reportedly for $725K.
- Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka made a successful first start on Sunday after missing two months with an elbow injury, allowing one run while striking out four and walking none in 5 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays. He says that his elbow feels good and that he does not think he needs Tommy John surgery, Brendan Kuty of NJ.com reports. “It’s pain-free,” Tanaka says, adding that he rarely thinks about the injury. A strong full season from Tanaka would, clearly, provide a huge boost for the Yankees in 2015 — he’s been one of the best pitchers in the American League this year when he’s been healthy.
Tanaka was missing a couple of mph on his FF, slider and split, and threw the split marginally less, and the slider significantly less than his previous starts. Threw quite a bit more CB than usual. Not sure the change in repertoire was just random or anything to do with the elbow.
Be interesting if his velo increases next start and if he throws the slider more
I guess the only one who really knows is Tanaka, maybe he was just mixing it up a bit because it was his 3rd time facing Toronto
A few mph after the long layoff isn’t unusual.
He’s probably needing to get stretched out again. That said, if something is wrong, the unexplained velocity loss would be dramatic and lingering through a few starts, possibly appearing with pain too. There’s not enough starts in the year left to figure it out.
That’s also the big upside of him being young, he’s likely to heal a lot faster, and more completely than say Sabathia will from his injury. Time will tell though.
Well, Tanaka hasn’t had surgery.