AUG. 16: The Indians announced today that Brantley underwent a 45-minute operation, commonly referred to as “bicep tenodesis,” to correct chronic biceps tendinitis in his right shoulder. Surgeons Keith Meister and Mark Schickendantz confirmed that Brantley’s surgically repaired labrum is still intact and projected a four-month recovery for Brantley following this operation (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian).
AUG. 13: Indians manager Terry Francona says outfielder Michael Brantley will have season-ending surgery on Monday, MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian and other reporters have tweeted. The specifics of the surgery have yet to be announced, and the timeline of his recovery isn’t yet clear, but Brantley had been dealing with shoulder and biceps issues and already appeared unlikely to return in 2016.
Brantley had shoulder surgery last November and began the season on the disabled list, then had persistent problems with the shoulder throughout the season. He was also diagnosed with biceps tendinitis in June, and he had surgery last month to remove scar tissue from his biceps tendon.
In the midst of all that, Brantley has collected just 43 plate appearances this season, batting a mere .231/.279/.282. That’s a far cry from the numbers he posted in his healthy 2014 and 2015 seasons, when he hit a combined .319/.382/.494 and rated among the American League’s best players. The Indians have fared quite well in the outfield without Brantley, getting very strong performances from a patchwork group of outfielders led by Rajai Davis, Tyler Naquin, Lonnie Chisenhall and Jose Ramirez. It is, however, hard for a team not to miss a player of Brantley’s caliber.
As Francona explained today (via Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes on Twitter), the timing of Brantley’s surgery now is geared toward getting him healthy for next season and presumably beyond. Brantley remains under contract with the Indians for 2017, and his contract contains a team option for 2018.
Just think where the Indians would be with his bat in the line up.
Probably worse because he has been hurt
‘Probably worse because he has been hurt’….one of the American League’s best players over the previous two seasons. How does your statement have any validity to it?
Because it was a joke
If his bat was in the lineup, someone else’s would not be. That someone else may not be the weakest bat. Ramirez may have been left on the bench, as he has received many of his starts in LF. As a part timer, he may not have had the breakout he has had. Or Davis may have lost time. Or Brantley may have needed to DH, causing a choice of Napoli or Santana.
Almonte is a bum and should’ve been let go as soon as his suspension was up. Trade for Puig, he’ll get hot and then dump him in the offseason.
I’m surprised Cleveland isn’t asking for Gardner. I know Gardner has had bad year but he’s still young and brings decent speed, defense, and pop for top order hitter. Sometimes change does player good and I think he needs a change. Give Yanks a mid level to top 15 prospect. If you want Yanks eat money then give them top ten prospect.
No thanks, not what they need. And I’m sure in their conversations over Miller all possible extra players and combinations were discussed.
And a productive Yan Gomes.
I wonder if this is a case where the surgery was suggested as an option way back in the offseason or spring. I doubt it, but it should become more clear the more we learn. If so, it possibly could have gotten him on the field by now…. Anyways, I do agree that this has provided the opportunity for a breakout season for Ramirez and a career year for Davis. Also allowed Naquin and Chisenhall the time to show display that they’re capable.
Any rumblings of kicking the tires on Carlos Gomez?
I think even pro athletes dislike going under the knife; I’ve never had surgery but know plenty of people who have and it doesn’t seem fun.
To the MLBTR staff, I know someone had asked about having weird text in the search box before. My search window on the MLBTR page had this:
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Just a heads up for you guys.
This Cleveland team is more likely to be one with a “title window” than a “one hit wonder.” Adding him back into the fold is an exciting prospect for 2017 and mitigates the loss of Clint Frazier.
Brantley tried to “rush” back from shoulder surgery & play in the season opener for 2 reasons. One the Abe Almonte suspension, two the lack of an offseason trade for an OF. Indians went for depth (Cowgill, Butler, Choice, Davis) instead of trading for an every day outfielder. Looking at T.B. trade with Colorado, the Indians could of moved Shaw with 2 or 3 prospects for Dickerson or Blackmon. Guess the Indians didn’t learn from the Sizemore/Gerut fiascos. If the Indians dealt for one of the Rockies OF’s Brantley wouldn’t of tried to comeback so fast. Brantley will be the next Gerut/Hafner/Sizemore & be worthless his last 2 years of his contract. That’s why I was so unhappy with the Indians offseason. The Indians refusal to trade prospects unless their in first or contention in midseason (going with a conservitive approach in offseasons) really is the reason for Brantley needing a second operation on his shoulder.
Would have been nice if y’all had grabbed Markakis from the Braves.
Shame. He was really hitting his stride as a player.
Why do the always show the pic of him pursing his lips? He looks constipated.
What about Gardner and McCAnn maybe throw in refsynyder or hicks for Cheng or Diaz and top 20 pitching prospect?
What about Brian McCann/Brett Gardener for Clevenger or Cheng or Diaz?
Way too much payroll for the Indians to take on at this point in the season
Grady Sizemore 2.0
Should be interesting to see how this turns out. Hoping for the best as its great to see talented players on the field regardless of team.
It’s notable that Dr Andrews isn’t a proponent of this procedure as it changes the anatomy of the shoulder joint itself. Unlike the previous labral surgery he had which is designed to restore anatomy to the shoulder, a tenodesis of the bicep removes the origin of the bicep that once attached it to the labrum and instead moves it to a new location, typically the humorous bone in the arm.
The plus side is that “in theory” the bicep is no longer there to pull and tug on the labrum which causes pain and/or dysfunction. The downside is this isn’t a hugely common procedure for baseball players and exceedingly rare for pitchers (of which he of course is not). The bottom line being that the bicep isn’t there just for fun, it’s thought to have a stabilizing effect on the shoulder that will now be lacking in this case. Much of his rehab will likely involve strengthening the surround muscle to counteract the lost stability.
Having undergone this procedure myself from a pitching injury, here’s to wishing him a speedy, and this time permanent, recovery.
Thanks for the very insightful comment, Dodgerblue! 🙂