There has been little information available today about Tigers slugger J.D. Martinez, who at last check underwent an MRI for a foot sprain. Now MLB.com’s Jason Beck tweets that Martinez will undergo a stress CT scan in Charlotte on Friday. Martinez rolled his ankle, as Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press writes, while making a catch against the Marlins on Saturday. He underwent initial tests later in the weekend, but the Tigers have not yet released them. X-rays have indicated he didn’t break any bones, but ligament damage is a possibility. Obviously, a significant injury would be a big blow to the Tigers’ offense. Martinez batted .307/.373/.535 with 22 homers in 517 plate appearances last season. Here’s more from around the league.
- The Padres are aiming to get 2B/3B Cory Spangenberg time in the outfield, writes MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell. Spangenberg missed most of the 2016 season due to a quad injury, and as he works his way back onto the Padres’ roster, the team wants him to become more versatile. Outfielders Alex Dickerson, Manuel Margot and Collin Cowgill are hurt, potentially creating opportunities for Spangenberg. The team would also like to get his left-handed bat into the lineup against righties.
- Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier has a stiff back and will have an MRI today, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com tweets. Ethier himself does not seem particularly worried about the situation and says the team simply wants more information so that it knows how to treat him, tweets Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. Nonetheless, Ethier has already missed time due to back and hip issues this spring, and he collected just 26 plate appearances last season thanks to a broken tibia.
Jankowski, Blash, Spangenberg should be the OF with Margot and Renfoe delaying service time.
100% agree
I agree 100% on Margot since he’s hurt and only 22 there is no need to rush him when they’re not competing.
The argument for keeping Renfroe down isn’t convincing to me. He’s 25 already, has nothing left to prove, and there is basically no one in Padres camp who they could legitimately trot out in RF as a starter besides him. Is it worth upsetting him and his agent to keep team control for his age 32 season?
No reason to keep Renfroe down now.
Controlling him in 2023 is the reason why they should do that.
His prime is now through the next 5 years, he should spend those in the big leagues. Honestly he’ll likely be traded or usurped in RF by Jorge Ona/another prospect by 2022 anyways.
Do you want to keep Hedges in AAA and let Torrens catch for a few months to keep his clock from ticking too? Do you just keep all of them in AAA until the pitching thats 2 years behind them is ready so all of their service clocks start in 2019? Its ridiculous, Renfroe and Hedges need to start getting MLB experience so they’re ready to lead as veterans in 3-4 years when the arms are ready and the team is competing.
Start Renfroe opening day.
If 2023 is worth worrying about that will be a good thing.
If he’s worth keeping past then just sign him to an extension.
We will have the lowest payroll in MLB by 2019 anyway.
What’s the worry?
Very few great or even really good players make their debut at age 25 or later. May as well play Renfroe. I don’t think he’s going to be much more than Jeff Francouer part 2 but SD may as well see what he is
Dickerson could have usurped him in RF but well we know what happened to him.
I say start Renfroe opening day, then option him in May when his hot start cools off and the rest of the league’s scouting catches up to him. I expect him to hit the ground running, then slump once the pitchers get a good book on him. Send him down for a month or so, then bring him back up once he’s straightened himself out and conveniently stayed off the roster just long enough to buy that extra year of team control.
If everyone is healthy, I don’t see a reason the Tigers can’t compete. Really good looking 1-4 in the rotation, and the lineup is still one of the best in the AL
Not really, not even the best in the central
The Indians line up and pitching is better
Top 10 for sure in the al
They just need for everyone to stay healthy and for Brad Ausmus to learn how to manage a bullpen.
I’d like to see Ausmus given something resembling a bullpen before judging his ability to manage one.
That’s a big “if” fit an old, unathletic team
For*. “If” I could type we would all be better off.
Ethier was a great player when healthy. He has been a cripple for several years now.
He missed most of last season with a broken leg. A few seasons before it was a broken finger. Hard to see how that’s anything but bad luck.
He was great when?
I heard Ethier is legally changing his last name to Romo.
nice
He is always laid up