Reds reliever Drew Storen will undergo Tommy John surgery, C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports (on Twitter). A right elbow strain has prevented Storen from taking the mound since Sept. 1, which will go down as his final appearance of the year, and the injury led the Reds to place him on the disabled list a week ago.
In addition to ending his 2017 campaign early, the procedure is all but guaranteed to take Storen out of play for next season. The 30-year-old is due to hit free agency during the upcoming winter, but both the injury and his underwhelming production in recent seasons will work against him on the open market.
Storen, whom the Reds signed to a one-year, $3MM deal last January, pitched to a 4.45 ERA in 54 2/3 innings this season and posted some of the worst strikeout and walk rates of his career (7.9 K/9 and 3.79 BB/9). He also saw his velocity dip for the second straight year, which happened to be his second subpar season in a row. As a member of the Blue Jays and Mariners in 2016, Storen combined for 51 2/3 frames of 5.23 ERA ball. Only five qualified relievers have prevented runs at a worse rate than Storen’s 4.82 ERA over the past two years.
At his best, Storen was one of the game’s most effective relievers from 2010-15, when he worked as a setup man and a closer in Washington. Storen, whom the Nationals chose 10th overall in the 2009 draft, amassed 334 innings of 3.02 ERA pitching in D.C. and recorded 8.65 K/9 against 2.59 BB/9.
Was he already on the dl Connor ?
No, he wasn’t already on the DL, September call-ups made that unnecessary.
He’s been on the DL since Wednesday, and it was retroactive – not that it matters.
Reds always either wait too long or cut bait too early. They need to realize who they are and sell high and quit thinking they r something they aren’t
They tried to move him around the trade deadline but he was already on the DL. When he returned his numbers started getting worse. In retrospect they should’ve traded him for anything before he initially went on the DL, but nobody knew that was coming and it’s silly to call that ‘waiting too long’.
Not to mention that you don’t want to set a precedent to other GMs as someone that can be low-balled. Yeah getting something for Storen would have been nice, but the market wasn’t there and going below market value is not worth it. Ruining a reputation is not worth a 19 year old lotto ticket.
FYI: Storen has earned all of his incentives in his contract this season, 1.5M$.
This was a low risk roll of the dice for the Reds that just didn’t work out. If I’m the CIN front office I’m grateful his contract expires in a month or so, and the team walks away with no further obligation. As much as his performance has deteriorated over the past 3-4 years, I’m thinking this is the last we’ll see of Storen in the majors.
He’s 30 years old. Will be 31, maybe 32 when he returns. This is a chance for the reds to show other pitchers that they just don’t discard players. They need to offer him a minor league deal. Loyalty. Costs a little up front with big returns down the road.
I’m honestly not trying to pick a fight, but what’s the payoff for loyalty here? Players, under the influence of agents, don’t seem to show much loyalty to teams. And teams have control of young players. Control is loyalty’s nasty older brother.
If you offer him a minor league deal this winter with a 2019 mlb option attached to it, it’s a win-win for player/team if he comes back healthy next August.
When a player gets TJ surgery does the team usually foot the cost or does the player? Or does it depend on each situation and whether the team is invested in player’s future or not?
For that matter, how much is the going rate for MLB player to get it done and does it vary greatly on the severity of the case?
I never see this aspect discussed. Idea for MLBTR Special Report?
Wouldn’t the player’s union cover the cost of surgery? I’d think insurance would be part of their union dues.
Team is responsible for the surgery as well as all recovery costs.
Another one lost to TJ!