Indians outfielder Michael Brantley looked to be moving toward a return to the field, but the Indians announced tonight that Brantley has suffered “a recurrence of right shoulder symptoms while progressing through hitting activities late last week.” Dr. Stephen O’Brien of the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York City examined Brantley yesterday and determined that his symptoms are consistent with chronic biceps tendinitis, per the team. Cleveland is gathering additional information and weighing its options, and president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said today that surgery is a possibility (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian).
The 2016 campaign is looking more and more like a lost year for Brantley, who emerged as one of the game’s best all-around players with a breakout 2014 campaign and delivered a similarly excellent season in 2015. Late last season, however, he injured his shoulder while making a diving attempt at a ball hit to the left-center gap in Minnesota, and he ultimately required offseason surgery to repair a tear in his labrum. Brantley came back a bit ahead of schedule, debuting in late April, but he appeared in just 11 games before landing back on the disabled list due to shoulder fatigue. Bastian tweets a timeline of the various setbacks and treatments Brantley has encountered in his quest to get back on the field, but another setback significantly reduces the likelihood that he’ll make a contribution to the club’s playoff push. Certainly, surgery would figure to take him out of the picture for the remainder of the 2016 season.
That Brantley has only played in 11 contests this season makes Cleveland’s current three-game lead on the AL Central all the more impressive. The Indians entered the season with one of the murkiest outfield mixtures in all of baseball but has received a tremendous breakout from former first-rounder Tyler Naquin as well as one of the finest seasons of Rajai Davis’ big league career, thus helping to soften the blow of losing Brantley — arguably the team’s best player. A healthy Brantley would only make Cleveland all the more imposing as the playoffs approach, but the perhaps surprising production they’ve gotten from their current outfield alignment lessens the need for Antonetti and his staff to seek outfield upgrades from outside the organization, even if Brantley doesn’t suit up again until 2017.
Too bad they would be one of the very last teams that could claim them because Jon Jay and Derek Norris combo would be great for Cleveland.
A young talented Indians outfielder having injury issues, let me think. Yep, unfortunately we’ve seen this before even if it is a different version.
Wonder if they have a chance on waiver wire for one of ours Southi.
Which braves outfielder would be better than what cleveland already has?
Yanks have few outfielders and a catcher they can deal to a playoff bound team. Elsbury or Gardner? Els would have waive NT and Yanks would have to send ton of money in trade, maybe $20 million dies it and still I think it doesn’t happen. Gardner on the other hand is a possibility but he’s had a shit year. McCann makes so much sense for tribe but once again there’s that pesky NT and Yanks would have to send at least $5-10 million with him.
Grady Sizemore 2.0
Yep that’s my fear. Jody Gerut, then Grady, now Brantley? With Abe unavailable in the playoffs Tribe should promote Yandy Diaz. He’s moved to OF & recently had a 25 game hit streak @ Columbus. Diaz is better then any OF crossing the waiver wire. We don’t need another Cowgill/Choice/Butler/Guyer & that’s the value you’ll get on the waiver wire. Nobody good will reach the Tribe, all players would be blocked/traded or too expensive (the players who do clear waivers).
Almonte is a bum, should’ve been let go when his suspension was up.
He isn’t at the level Grady was in his prime.
My question is how does this affect his status for 2017? If he opts for surgery, what would be the timeline for a return? And the term “chronic” leads me to believe this will be a reoccurring issue.
Just keep playing hard and being Uriba back as a pinch hitter and club house guy to keep it lite or trade for Cubs minor league SS at Iowa the fun guy and not a great player but very good would be on the 25 but they got to much talent
The Japan legend can’t spell his name niether
Why is he not on the club and 2 guys hitting under 200 Montereo and Coglin it time to forgive us but grow up Tommy LaStella and Grimm or Canderala belong on this team soon not to let chemistry get ruined
Bro… your grammar