The latest on a few of the majors’ biggest names…
- While Mets ace Jacob deGrom was popular in trade speculation leading up to the July 31 non-waiver deadline, the club “never seriously pursued” dealing the NL Cy Young hopeful, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. For now, deGrom remains under New York’s control through 2020, even though he and his agent have pushed for a contract extension. DeGrom addressed his future again Saturday, telling Sherman that the Mets “have every right to ride me for the next two years [until his free agency] and say, ‘See you later.’ ” However, the 30-year-old right-hander hopes it doesn’t come to that; rather, he’d prefer to stay with the Mets, according to Sherman.
- Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant has been out since July 26 because of left shoulder inflammation, but it appears he’s about to serve as a key reinforcement for the NL Central leaders. Bryant could embark on a rehab assignment beginning Monday, and it’s possible he’ll return to the Cubs next week at the start of their 11-game road trip, per Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic (subscription required). That road swing begins Aug. 30 in Atlanta.
- Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani threw a bullpen session Saturday and then told reporters (including Maria Guardado of MLB.com) that he’s confident he’ll pitch again this year. A Grade 2 UCL sprain in Ohtani’s right elbow has kept him off a major league mound since June 6, though he’ll take another step toward a return when he throws a 45- to 50-pitch simulated game on Monday, Guardado reports. Ohtani’s injury has prevented him from making a significant impact as a pitcher this year, but the rookie has still held his own at the plate, having slashed .274/.354/.540 with 14 home runs in 255 PAs.
So many Mets players have Stockholm syndrome.
Oh come on all you down voters. This was funny.
And he can say the same back to them when he reaches free agency.
I still don’t understand why the Angels- not making playoffs are messing with Otani pitching. I believe he should sit the rest of season out and have those extra months to recover for a real run next year.
Am I wrong? Grade 2 UCL sprain is no joke. He should be rehabbing and resting now. The Angels confuse me with what they do.
The Mets are going to resign DeGrom next year I think mid season if he’s still pitching like today. If he reaches FA he’s gone. With little top SP Aces round he will get big offers and the Mets only spend money on older, bad players (Bruce, Frazier). A extension next year why I think they didn’t trade him. Now is too early. You need to see him next year and how the rest of staff is holding up before you commit to “going for it”.
Ohtani pitching if possible is THE ONLY out come that makes sense. It’s scsry, but they need to see that the treatment took sans surgery. The time he’d be out if he did get TJ (12-18 mo) insures hed need two offseasons and a full season to recover give or take. By trottting him out for 5-6 starts theyll get to decide whether or not he’ll need surgery more conclusively. There is only upside in this expierment. Good luck Showtime.
Or, rest is the better option over surgery, but you derail it by bringing him back to early in the recovery and causing further, long term damage.
So no, it’s not all upside.
Yea, there’s no conclusive evidence that any level of additional rest improves chances of recovery. This is almost all uncharted water (platelets)
There’s no conclusive evidence they rest will improve his chances. But it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that putting further stress on it right now (particularly at the end of a NOTHING season), increases the chances of further damage.
It might make sense to get a general manager in place to handle the contract discussions.
Hey Chris-he won’t sign an extension at mid season. By the. His agent will convince him that being ignored for so long is another indicator of the lack of commitment and that he can just play it out to go to a team that is truly committed to winning.
I was thinking that if the Mets want him they won’t let him get to FA. They have history of signing stars early to contracts-Wright, Reyes and he may want to sign early before he gets a year older. You know analytics factor in age. But, your right. His agent wants to get his big commission and the Mets will not offer the most $. And the agent seems to have blatantly went against what DeGrom wants since agent eabys extension and DeGrom says he’s happy how things are. Just strange man. But it’s the Mets. Things will always be backwards with them. I have s feeling the will sign from the bargain bin again. If they don’t go full all out WE ARE CONTENDING FA signing and get some top”healthy” players who actually play and not just cash their paychecks- you can hurt feet walking into the bank. Lol. They would have kept all their trade chip for nothing when they had good years and had good trade value. I just feel being a New Yorker and dealing with this that another big pitching injury will come. And Mets will strike out on getting a real GM/ not a kid, a guy with experience. They need stability. Not a geek “moneyball guy” right now. Clean house, build up your analytics dept and get upnto date with this decade and then go unconventional.
Why would you risk pitching Ohtani again this year… Angels are out of it…. let him heal…
Perhaps Ohtani is a competitor and is pushing hard to pitch again this year?
Very true. But it’s too big of a risk. I’m not a doctor. But if more time to heal this injury would behoove him, than I firmly believe they shouldn’t let him pitch until slowly ramping up for next season.
I think everyone who follows baseball would agree that Otani should set the rest of the season out to heal up. Could it be that the Angeles are show casing him for a trade??? Why else would he play any more in 2018????
He isn’t going anywhere for a long long time
Your are very uneducated.
Why the negativity? A difference of opinion is no reason to ridicule someone.
Ohtani might be one of the most valuable players in baseball and is cheaply controlled for many years. He’s not getting traded
You clearly have a PhD
Folks who follow baseball know decisions like this are made in consultation with medical professionals. They aren’t made by GMs with no medical training, or by fans with zero insight to the specifics of the condition.
Ohtani has had MRIs taken weekly, to monitor any change in his condition since the original diagnosis. The hope is that he can work back to pitching, but the state of the sprain is being closely monitored. If it starts to weaken again, then surgery is in order, but nobody will know for sure until they try. And current evidence is he will pitch again in September.
If he has TJ today, or three months from now, he won’t return to the mound a moment sooner. Therefore it costs nothing to try non-surgical approach and allow him to continue to hit.
He’s not the average pitcher. Average thinking isn’t enough.
Lol
Well the Mets will still be a dumpster heap in 2 years. They’ll keep thinking they can win with a bandaid’d team. Their FO won’t ever learn. Glad I’m not a Mets fan.
Yes he’s saying you have 2 yrs to get your act together,he is a Pro he will say all the right things
Hey Paul. You are Smart that you are not a mets fan.
I’m a guy who tore his UCL pitching, which as baseball fans know means TJ surgery. Had it been a UCL strain, you never consider putting him back on the mound this year. A sprain, while as painful, is not likely to become a year by pitching again. If he feels good and wants to get into a couple of games, offseason physio, stretching and rest will allow him to still come back next year in good shape to throw again.
Since July 24th, the first game Bryant was absent, the Cubs have gone 19-12 without him. While baseball is MUCH more of a team sport than most other sports, it makes you wonder how much better than can be with a 100% healthy Bryant back in the lineup. HOPEFULLY he’ll be 100% when he comes back.
Only Maddox can do this but they need to keep Tommy LaStella and David Bote on the roster one less bullpen why wait till Next year DFA That Chatwood it’s ok he’s used to walking lol loser
Maddon