The Indians announced to reporters today that outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall will miss the next eight to 10 weeks due to a Grade 3 strain of his left calf muscle (Twitter link via Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon-Journal). That timeline will keep Chisenhall on the shelf until at least early September, and if there are any setbacks along the way in his recovery, it could potentially jeopardize the remainder of his season.
It’s a tough loss for the Indians, to be sure. While Chisenhall has been quite prone to injury over the past two seasons, he’s also been an extremely productive hitter when on the field, slashing .297/.368/.503 with 13 homers, 23 doubles and a pair of triples through 365 plate appearances. He was limited to 82 games last season by a concussion, a shoulder sprain and a calf strain, and this will now be his second extended absence of the 2018 season due to a calf injury.
Cleveland has recently been relying on Michael Brantley, Greg Allen and Tyler Naquin in the outfield, with Brandon Guyer and Rajai Davis also representing options on the big league roster. Former first-rounder Bradley Zimmer also remains on hand as an option at the Triple-A level.
For Chisenhall himself, the timing could scarcely be worse. He’s just months away from free agency, and in a best-case scenario, he’d have roughly four weeks to demonstrate his health to teams before the end of the season. He’s already been limited to a mere 95 PAs in 2018, and it’s now quite possible that he’ll head into free agency having played somewhere in the vicinity of 130 to 140 games combined in the two-year platform to his first trip to the open market. Given his success at the plate dating back to 2016 and the fact that he’ll be 30 years old for all of the 2019 season, Chisenhall should still find Major League offers on the market, but his stock is obviously weakened handily by what is now his third calf injury of the past calendar year.
Wil Myers, Kirby Yates and Jose Pirela for Nolan Jones, Logan Ice and Brady Aiken. Who says no
Not a chance. Indians don’t have that kind of space to take on Myers’ salary. Even if they did or get the Padres to pay that, the prospect haul is way too light. Plus with Brantley’s questionable at best defense, the last thing they would want is to add another poor defender to the outfield.
Unless SD takes Kipnis in that deal. That would be about the only way
@yankeesbillsnets you realize Myers is a graded as a good defender in the outfield and at 1B both positions he can play for the Indians in that trade, although I agree the package is incomplete without a offset piece to the padres
The Padres say no… Aiken has zero trade value.. unfortunately
Aiken and Ice have no trade value. And I’m an Indians fan.
This is basically a salary dump for Myers’ contract and there is no way the Padres do something like this.
Bring up Brandon Barnes!
It’s probably the best option unless and until they can make a trade at the deadline.
Does this mean a reunion with Austin Jackson?
I hope not, they need a bigger bat in that lineup.
I love the Tribe but we did that last year with Bruce. I agree the lineup needs a shakeup. I’m just not sure that getting a big bat is more important than a solid pen arm.
They need a solid setup man, a solid pen arm and a solid bat in RF.
Holy F&$#!!! Bauer is lights out and their closer bows it just like they blew Klubers great outing the other night. They need bullpen help ASAP! And they bring Otero in to try and close out Allen’s mess? Really?
And now it’s because Willis got “OT” (Otero) up when Francona called for “OP” (Oliver Perez)….SMH
I call BS on TF’s explanation of his interaction with CW about OT and OP.
I do too, he threw himself under the bus for Carl’s screwup. Pitching coaches and managers sit down and discuss pregame who will be available or not. Just like when they get their closer up in a non-save situation they also discuss not using Otero because he’s pitched in 4 of 5 nights. This whole club ranks right up here with the Phillies yanking the starter with nobody warming up.
Still, regardless of the screwup they never should have been in that position but Allen has been poor this year.
soon as I seen the Giants traded him I had a gut feeling the tribe were going to be in on him with the rangers.
NOOOOO!!!!’
jose Bautista to play RF? or see the price on Adam Jones?
maybe jerys and Jose or Jones and Brach
I’d kick the tires on Jones, but no thanks to Bautista.
Bautista has been surprisingly good this year. Hopefully the Mets can love him for a lotto ticket guy.
Might be able to pull Corey Dickerson
Dickerson notoriously disappears in the second half, but this year he started early.
They may add Machado, which would replace his bat and then some…
I think Detroit is keeping Dixon Machado. Indians won’t be in on the other one.
Melky will be back sooner than expected
Agreed, he didn’t have a spring training so he’s in Columbus trying to find his groove and then get called up.
More like finding his magic little helpers.
With Chisenhall’s excessive injury history these past few years I see him getting minors offers this winter with invitations to spring training, but no major league team is gonna commit until he shows he can stay healthy for more than a few weeks here and there. I’m just hoping the Tribe wisely moves on.
I think Chisenhall may benefit from an improved muscle hydration routine.
Woah…Lonnie Chisenhall is injured? Holy…well stop the presses.
Imagine if we still had Clint Frazier…sure could use him this year.