Angels right-hander Nick Tropeano has been diagnosed with a medium- to high-grade tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, the team informed reporters (Twitter link via Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times). While he’s headed for a second opinion, Tommy John surgery is the likely outcome. While he could potentially aim for the same stem-cell treatment that teammates Andrew Heaney and Garrett Richards have utilized — Heaney has been ticketed for Tommy John surgery in spite of said alternative — MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez notes (links to Twitter) that doing so would mean that Tropeano’s recovery would linger well into the 2018 season if he attempts the treatment and ultimately finds it unsuccessful.
[Related: Updated Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Depth Chart]
For the Angels, the highly likely loss of Tropeano adds to what has been a nearly unprecedented deluge of pitching injuries. The Halos have now lost Richards, Heaney and Tropeano to UCL tears, while left-hander C.J. Wilson will not pitch this season due to shoulder surgery. Further complicating matters for the Halos has been Jered Weaver’s significant dip in velocity, as the former ace has limped to a 5.02 ERA in 107 2/3 innings this season with a fastball that sits in the 82-83 mph range. Left-hander Tyler Skaggs has yet to pitch at the big league level this season due to setbacks in the recovery from his own Tommy John surgery (in late 2014), though he’s said to be nearing a return to the big league rotation at long last.
The Angels were already clearly out of the picture in the American League West and in the AL Wild Card race, but the loss of so many arms with injuries that will cost them some or all of the 2017 season calls into question how willingly they can part with potential trade chips like Hector Santiago and Matt Shoemaker. Anaheim’s farm system has been largely depleted by trades and the forfeiture of high draft picks to sign free agents, and the team has very little in the pipeline that is on the immediate horizon. If the club is able to acquire some near-term rotation options in trades for either of those arms or for potential trade chips like Yunel Escobar and Huston Street, it’d be a major boon to the system. However, as it stands, the club’s rotation consists of Weaver, Shoemaker, Santiago and the struggling Tim Lincecum, with Skaggs, Jhoulys Chacin and prospect Nate Smith serving as possible alternatives.
While the Angels have seen their share of struggles out of the rotation this season, Tropeano had been a bright spot, logging a 3.56 ERA with 9.0 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 and a 33.3 percent ground-ball rate in 68 1/3 innings. Acquired from the Astros alongside Carlos Perez (in exchange for catcher Hank Conger), Tropeano is under control through the 2021 season, so even if Tommy John surgery is the ultimate outcome, the 25-year-old will have plenty of time to contribute to future Angels’ pitching staffs down the line.
Halos just can’t catch a break can they?
Weaver and shoemaker should retire right now before they get knocked out for the year. What’s that, 4 angels starters so far this year?
absolutely brutal. worst luck for starters. I still think that they should trade hector if they get a good prospect because of how big of a sellers market it is, but it would have to be someone good. unbelievable bad news for Angels.
And who is going to pitch for the Angels? You wanna just set up a t-stand for the other team or something?
is Santiago really gonna help us to postseason next year? if not then why not trade him and find cheap inning eaters? and I have no clue what a t-stand is, but Angels aren’t winning next year so it doenst matter what other teams are doing. Also Santiago is a free agent after 2017…
Maybe someone would be willing to trade the Angels a prospect and a pitching machine with a jersey on it.
At this point just surviving THIS year is what the Angels need to worry about. Santiago is someone who can soak up innings and that is what the Angels are in desperate need.
yeah but we got chacin in the bullpen who can eat innings
Cue up the “Trout to XXX” trade rumors, which you know the media will run with!
I always thought that sounded crazy as they would be trading arguably the greatest player in the game, and he’s still years away from his prime, but I think trading him during the offseason may be the best route for the organization to go in. They could rebuild their entire farm system in one trade. Regardless, it would be such a difficult decision to make as you would knowingly be getting rid of the game’s best player. This team is just so poorly constructed and I think the team that is the farthest away from competing.
Finally!!! A man who knows what he is talking about. Trading Trout could turn the Halos back into a team that could contend by 2018.
A man who knows what he’s talking about wouldn’t trade mike trout. that’s why you don’t find many insiders or analyst saying it would be smart
Any fan of any other team that says it’s a good idea is likely saying it just because they want Trout on their team. Trading Trout would the dumbest possible move and would alienate the fan base.
Total ignorance – it’s a business, and nobody or combination of players is worth to his franchise what Mike Trout is worth. Trade talk is others team’s fans just hoping they can get him.
Exactly, at this point they can only contend in 2018 realistically. I totally understand keeping Trout, but why not trade him and be able to contend for years. Because even by 2018, will they be contenders? They won’t have any prospects to call up or trade. At best they could hope and pray in free agency. Is that really worth it?
What entices me is that virtually every team would be in on him. Could you imagine if Washington chose to go after him. They could get some of the best prospects in the game which may fill many holes for years. Prospects are nothing short of guarantees, but at least you are building organizational depth. One thing we all know is that Trout cannot bring a championship to any team by himself. There really isn’t much sense in keeping Trout, because they cannot figure out a way to build around him. It’s hard to imagine when a team has the best player in the entire sport, the organization just can’t get it right in building a competitive team around that player.
It’s the same in MLB as it is in other sports….How do you get equal value in return when trading away the game’s player?
As was said above, prospects have no guarantees, so would you trade a couple of great young players with some MLB service time, along with maybe an organization’s top couple of prospects to pull this off? How many teams are even capable of making a deal like this? Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers, Astros, and perhaps the Braves? And of those teams, how many of them would need to impact their present WS hopes to make this happen? Remove the Cubs, Red Sox, and Astros from the list, so maybe two teams that MIGHT be amenable to pulling this off.
I guess this just explains why you never see the best players (in their prime) in any sport traded…At least not since the Milwaukee Bucks traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar over 40 years ago, or when Edmonton Oilers traded Gretzky nearly 30 years ago.
I think you could include Washington. Their window for a World Series title has a few years remaining. Could you imagine a lineup with Trout and Harper? Obviously, they wouldn’t be able to retain both for the long term, but you could have two seasons with Harper and Trout in the same lineup. Certainly Washington has the prospects to pull this one off, and every offseason it seems Washington always tries to acquire the best player available.
Dallas Cowboys traded Hershal Walker in 1988-89 and it helped to get Emmit Smith and others build,a major run and multiple titles. It can be done and if the Halos were smart they would move Trout.
Yeah any team could be in on him for sure, I like the teams listed above. I think Cubs, Braves, Nats, Yanks, and Red Sox could all be in the sweepstakes. The teams above all have great minor league farms or like the Cubs, depth and farm combined. LAA could go from bottom 5 farm to top five pretty easily.
I doubt the Yanks could get him.
You are probably right. But hard to turn down the right package. I could imagine one, but not worth posting for the sake of everyone that loves to bash anyone on here.
Nice sales job, Washington fan. Will never happen except in Fantasyland.
I imagine their are a few teams that could offer a package that would get Trout, but it just won’t happen because of how utterly ridiculous the cost would be. His value is insane because of his demi-god production, youth, years of control and, also very important, fan love. After all, Trout isn’t just an amazing player, he comes off as a really great guy too.
If I were to take a stab at what it would take to pry Trout from the Angels, suppose it was Boston, I think it would take Mon/Ben/Kop and then a very talented major league producing asset. The name that would come up right away is either Bogaerts or Betts. I imagine Boston would try to wiggle away from that and go with J.Bradley but I doubt it would do.
Would Boston fans hate the deal? I imagine so. I wouldnt blame them, either, but something like the above is probably what it would take. That deal or one like it would never happen which is why Trout won’t get traded.
I’m not so sure about that. To me, Washington seems like a really plausible destination. They have a deep farm system combined with one of the best major league rosters out there. Giolito and Turner are a given and maybe even someone with a little more of a Major League track record like Joe Ross in addition to at least another low level prospect it would take. Trout, if traded, is going to deplete an organization’s farm system, as it should. Washington is in a prime position to make a run this season and next. Harper may bounce after his contract is up, so Washington needs to take advantage of the situation they are in with Harper. Having Trout with Harper, along with Murphy and Rendon would make for a very solid lineup.
Joe Ross?!?! To get the best player in baseball, it will take one of the best packages you can put together. Gio/Turner is a good place to start, I agree, but I don’t see Ross be sufficient.
Turner
Giotto
Ross
Robles
For Trout
Poorly constructed? If their rotation was healthy they’d probably be right up there with the Rangers and Astros.
Is anyone else having trouble with the site?
I was earlier and Steve mentioned in Chat it had to do with new upgrades. Should be cleared up for all soon.
Isn’t that two members of the Angels rotation having Tommy John? And doesn’t Richards have a major issue? Because it sounds like the Angels might already a number of roation issues for next year. I don’t think they can add much anyways, as the Free Agent class is barren.
You have Gio Gonzalez and Matt Moore. If the Angels managed to land those two they’d regroup their rotation quickly.
Time to question the strength and conditioning coaches. Way too many Tommy John injuries….
Same goes for the Mets. Harvey, deGrom, Matz, Wheeler, Molina, Leathersich, Taylor are just some names who have gotten it within the last 5-6 years.
Awesome point, exactly what I was thinking. Skaggs, Richards, Heany, and now Tropeano. That’s one too many TJs for one staff
Jeeze……..
Best thing for Angels is to offer Shoemaker in a trade for 2 or 3 near ready arms, so next year won’t be a complete waste.
Angels can’t do that trade, like it or not shoemaker is the Angels best controllable pitcher now.
There’s just no way. They have taken to many losses to the rotation to think about trading the ones that still have their arm attached to their shoulder.
cannot trade shoemaker anymore. however I do still think Santiago could be traded cause he’s free agent after next year and angels won’t win in 2017 so why not just find a innings eater
Man. Angels pitchers have a shorter shelf life than room temperature milk sitting on a kitchen counter
Winter Meetings Trade to desperately help the Halos….
Angels get: Teheran and Jenkins (rotation help now), Vizcaino,Inciarte, Albeis, Wentz, and Allard
Braves Get: Trout
keep dreaming braves fan…
The Halos are in trouble and they have nothing, and I repeat, nothing to offer as far as trade other than Trout. The Halos have 2 choices: 1. Keep trout and miss the playoffs year after year after year. Not to mention, to have the worst Farm in baseball, or 2. Trade Trout and get out of the Mess they are in because they have no one other than Trout to use as a trade chip.
idk why you keep suggesting this trout stuff… eppler said he’s not going anywhere, and real logic says he’s not going anywhere, so talk about something else. I’d rather hear ridiculous Teheran proposals than trout rumors cause it’s not gonna happen
Lolzzzzzz You have to give up something to get something. It’s quality, not quantity.
I am not a fan of either the Angels or the Braves but that doesn’t even seem remotely close.
I’ll go out on a limb and say that Swanson would be included in any hypothetical Trout to Atlanta deals
I would agree, you would have to put our two biggest chips from 40 man and farm in (Teheran and Swanson) for any deal of that magnitude.
You have to wonder about the Angels conditioning protocol for pitchers…. One guy is just bad luck, but two is suspicious…. and, now, a third guy? And a fourth guy with a shoulder injury? You have to wonder. They keep coming up with replacements though and their run differential isn’t bad for a last place team. I hope they all heal well and make a good comeback.
And the hits just keep on coming….
The Angels are not in a position to trade any of the starters because they don’t have any decent arms to fill in the voids… Unless they trade a position player (EXCEPT TROUT) for near-ready pitching prospects, they may be able to hang in there until the end id the season…
‘Until the end of the season…” Sorry for the typo…
The Halos should wait til Winter Meetings to make a deal. I know the Halos don’t want to hear this, because yes Trout is the best player in baseball, but he is the only player on the team that will help get their organization back on the right track. I would love to see Atlanta do all they could to get Trout. Atlanta has a ton of arms and prospects. Go get Trout now Coppy
I don’t understand how you can lose Skaggs, CJ, Heany, Garret, And Tropeano and logically think it would be a good thing to trade Hector and shoe? People we need arms not continue to lose them.
That is why the Angels should trade Mike Trout.
I think we could trade hector because he’s free agent after next year and were not contending next year. it would have to be a good offer but if Angels get a good offer I say they should still take it
You Halo fans are unbelievable. “I think we can trade Hector because he is a free agent next year, and we aren’t competing…” 1st off, who is going to want to trade for Hector? You are hurting for arms, but you want to trade an arm to fix it? And with the horrible shape that the Halos are in roster wise (I mean there is a reason you are in last place even with Trout) do you think trading Hector will bring you back the pieces you need to fix this broken organization??? Absolutely not!! You trade Trout, and you can bring back pieces that you can use to help at the major League level but you also can get back pieces to help your terrible Farm. You keep Trout, and you let a terrific talent rot on a terrible team just like the Sixers did with Charle Barkely until they finally wised up and got something for him. But they would have gotten more if the Sixers would have traded Barkley sooner. I know Trout is the best player in baseball, but the Team and the organization could benefit more by trading him and getting a haul back. Look at the benefit the Dallas Cowboys got when they traded Hershal Walker to the stupid Minnesota Vikings?? Jimmy Johnson won Championships with that 1 trade!! Although I would love for the Braves to trade for Trout because I think the Braves have the young talent and prospects the Halos need….I just kid around on here to get the thread in an uproar. But to hear you Halo fans wanting so badly to try to hold onto 1 player when you know deep down inside Trout could be the life-line to save your TEAM is just utterly ridiculous to me. Your management obviously doesn’t know a thing and you fans are right in line with them. My goodness!!!
your hilarious braves4life1. Halo fans are ridiculous? look at your comment earlier about a trade proposal for your braves to get trout…. Who wants to trade for hector? teams in need of pitching because he is a solid pitcher so your wrong there. Is he gonna fix the Angels problem? of course not, but he could help. And as far as these other sports comparison to trading superstars, who cares? I could not care less about past traded superstars. And managment does know what their doing, that’s why their in charge of a mlb team and your over here saying they should trade trout. Braves fans are ridiculous with their hopes of prospects in return for Teheran and know your are in regards to trading trout…
Keep Trout ole boy and we will see the Halos in last place next season. Like I said, I’d love to see Trout in a Braves uniform, but it might very well mess up a rebuild where the Braves at least have a future. The Halos will be in last place again next year as well. Why? Because Halo management is just like their fans, idiots.
Probably shouldn’t be calling other posters idiots.
Yeah bravesfan4life, chill on the “idiot” stuff. That is heat gets old with this site. I am a Braves fan as well, we all want the best players, but I have not seen the perfect trade scenario and probably haven’t posted it myself. There are some idiotic proposals from Braves fans, like any other. Think we all need to chill.
I’ll second these calls for calm.
Personal attacks are grounds for banishment if not corrected, and nobody wants to need to resort to that.
I think Angels managment knows more than you on how to run a team but whatever. fact is braves and nobody else is getting trout
You could have fooled me?? The Halos management has their organization in last place, no Farm, No future in site. Yeah, they really know what they are doing in Anaheim.
Can’t believe how butthurt some fans get over the “Angels aren’t trading Trout” responses.
It’s self evident *and* has been stated publically, repeatedly, and emphatically by Angels club officials.
Plus it should be obvious that if you can’t bring yourself to offer up your club’s best prospect (in this case, Swanson), then you aren’t serious about any Trout trade and are just hoping for a miracle swindle. Tony Reagins ain’t the Angels GM anymore…it’s not happening.
Will you please stop with your ridiculous Trout to the Braves wet dream? Will never happen – and why aren’t you suggesting Sean Newcombe going back to the Angels. Get real.
Guys, Trout has a full no trade clause
Does not mean he wouldn’t allow a trade.
Might not be the best , but Jon Neise and Fransisco Liriano have been rumored to be dealt. I’d like to keep Niese in the pen, and deal Frankie, but what would the buccos get? AA prospect. well hey, at least they’re healthy starters.
Trout for de grome, syndergaard, matz, and the mets top 10 prospects.
Now, *that’s* how you do sarcasm, folks.