TODAY: Though he’ll head in for a second opinion, skipper Ned Yost said that surgery is likely, Dodd tweets.
YESTERDAY: The Royals have placed reliever Luke Hochevar on the 15-day DL, per a team announcement. The team says that he is showing symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome, including numbness in his fingers, as Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star reports (Twitter links). Righty Brooks Pounders has been recalled to take Hochevar’s place on the active roster.
[Related: Updated Royals Depth Chart]
That’s highly unfortunate news for the 32-year-old, who has come back already from Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss all of 2014. And it’s a blow for a Kansas City organization that could have used Hochevar down the stretch — or turned him into a decent prospect return in a trade.
Though he is only working to a 3.86 ERA on the year, Hochevar has punched out 9.6 and walked only 2.2 batters per nine. He’s still bringing a mid-90s fastball and generating a strong 13.4% swinging strike rate. While he doesn’t generate grounders like he used to and has been a bit homer-prone (1.45 per nine), Hochevar looked like a nice trade chip for K.C.
While it’s not yet known whether the Royals will sell, or where exactly they’d draw the line, Hochevar would have rated as a prime asset to move because of his contract. He’s earning a reasonable $5.5MM this year and seemed likely to turn down his side of a $7MM mutual option (which comes with a $500K buyout).
Now, it not only seems unlikely that Hochevar will be traded, but his entire career path is uncertain. There are a range of outcomes for a player who is diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome — which, it must be stressed, hasn’t yet been determined — but it’s unquestionably a significant malady with which to contend.
there went a decent rp trade piece.
Yeah I thought for sure he was going. Heard Pirates pushing hard for Shelby Miller. Wish the Braves could get him back. Also anybody think Aaron Blair pulls Derek Norris straight up ????
How bout Jim Johnson to the Cards ?
No, we/Cardinals are good without Jim Johnson, he has pitched a little better since he left the Orioles, but we are looking for someone else like Wade Davis.However, I believe it will cost too much to acquire Davis.
If I were the Padres, I’d try to get Touki Toussaint for Norris
Blair did make his MLB debut so some value might’ve gone away
I suggested that last week and didn’t get much of a response from anyone. I mean Atlanta got Touki for Bronson Arroyo, if they were able to flip him for Derek Norris that would be a pretty good turn out. Essentially Bronson Arroyo Cash for 3 years of control and the catcher that they will be going into their new ballpark with. I think that’s a fair deal.
As a Braves fan, I wouldn’t. We need catching help badly, but I personally don’t think we’re close to good enough to be trading prospects for veterans unless it’s a serious buy low type situation.
You could try to get Toki but I can’t see that happening.
Hope he’s OK. Trades only mean so much, he seems like a quality person who has already overcame a lot in his playing career.
True. hopefully it’s just a nerve issue that is ok with rest.
Agreed.
Jeez this injury is popping up like crazy this year. Hope he’s ok, always like hocheaver. Maybe it just isn’t KCs year and could lead them to selling this deadline. Or maybe they make some moves and bolster the team. Could go either way
I would push Blair and then throw in a lesser prospect if need be but I don’t wanna give up Toki for Norris. I think Toki could pull a bigger bat whether it’s OF or 3B.
I am not feeling this free agent class coming up and I know we got money to spend but I hope we don’t spend it just to spend it.
This injury seems to be popping up a lot. Haven’t heard much about it before this year.
Jeff Bagwell retired because of the same injury.