We’ve already published one batch of health-related notes today, though here’s the latest on other notable players who have been battling the injury bug…
- Rangers southpaw Yohander Mendez left today’s Cactus League start due to tightness in his throwing elbow (MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan was among whose to report the news). “Anytime a pitcher comes out saying it’s their elbow, it’s never a good sign. We’ll find out as soon as we can,” manager Chris Woodward said, adding that Mendez would undergo tests on Monday. The 24-year-old Mendez has a 6.28 ERA, 5.2 K/9, and 1.25 K/BB rate over 43 career MLB innings from 2016-18, but was fighting to win a job within the Rangers’ righty-heavy bullpen.
- Back tightness forced Jake Lamb out of today’s game after three innings. Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo told media (including Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic) that there weren’t any current plans for Lamb to undergo an MRI, as the current plan seems to just keep Lamb under evaluation over the next few days. After a pair of solid years in 2016-17, shoulder problems limited Lamb to just 56 games and a .222/.307/.348 slash line in 2018. The longtime third baseman will be taking on a new role for Arizona this season, as Lamb will be moving over to first base to help fill the void left behind by Paul Goldschmidt.
- In better injury news for the Diamondbacks, Jarrod Dyson played his first Spring Training game on Sunday. The veteran outfielder was out of action due to an oblique injury, which was of no small concern given that core injuries have plagued Dyson in each of the last two seasons. If he’s back healthy, however, Dyson’s speed and outstanding defense makes him a valuable bench piece for the D’Backs.
- Franmil Reyes and Hunter Renfroe have both been out of the Padres’ lineups over the last few days, though manager Andy Green told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune and other reporters that the two players “are getting a little bit of an extended blow” due to “just general tiredness.” Neither Reyes or Renfroe are expected to miss much more time, leaving the Padres still to deal with a crowded outfield situation as Opening Day approaches.
Padres have some decent young talent, but they trip themselves up with no real depth at starting pitching.
Doesn’t make any sense. Solid, affordable rotation depth pieces like Edwin Jackson are still on the market and the Padres don’t want any part of it. If they sign a couple of those Edwin Jackson type guys they could be like the Athletics. Below average rotation coupled with a strong bullpen and a potentially strong offense led by Machado. Yet they really think Robbie Erlin and his 4.21 ERA will do them any good.
You really believe Robbie Erlin is worse than Edwin Jackson? Luck is the only thing that Edwin had on his side last year.
That wasn’t the point. The point was that the Padres are lacking proven pitching talent. Edwin Jackson has found success in his career more times than Robbie Erlin, so if you go out and sign 3 or 4 guys that have track records like Jackson to minor league deals, odds are one of them will turn out to be a more productive pitcher than the guy you currently have slated at no.5 in the rotation.
The guys left in FA are the likes of Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Tillman and Edwin Jackson. I’d rather pitch Strahm and Erlin. Guys like strahm and erlin have upside. the best you can hope for out of one of those bargain bin guys that is left is 5th starter production at their ceiling. I think you’re just as likely to find that from strahm or erlin with the potential for more. They should probably sift through the waiver wire and see if anything interesting finds it way but I don’t think anyone in FA is worth adding at this point. Aside from Gio or Keuchel but we’re assuming they aren’t playing in that market.
Edwin sucks in San Diego. Been there done that. Never again. Trust the process and don’t step back anymore.
Stoopid
Yeah I’d rather watch Logan Allen or Jacob Nix or Cal Quantrill try to work it out in the bigs than watch Jackson flail around again.
Been there, done that, never again.
The pitching isn’t weak, it’s very strong, but unproven.
Do you really think Reyes and Renfroe are “tired” or do you think the rumors are true in that the Padres are in talks with the Indians for a potential trade for Bauer or Kluber and that they don’t want their two players getting hurt potentially before a trade?
Thank God the D-Backs signed Refsnyder…..now they can trade for Swihart…..
There’s always a guy like you…..
Didn’t know you were a fan of the Reno Aces… smart guy…
Any two of Keuchel, Kimbrel, and Gio completely blow up the Padres’ projections. Preller seems drawn to big splashes but averse to spending the money to augment those splashes.
The Padsres have been really good at creating bullpen arms out of castoffs; not sure why they’d pay huge money for a big-name reliever who is already 30. Kirby Yates was better than Kimbrel in 2018 anyway, and that’s before figuring in the post-season struggles of Kimbrel..
Yates in 2018 – 63 IP/41 Hits/17 BB/90 Ks/2.14 ERA, .921 WHIP
Kimbrel in 2018 – 62 IP, 31 H/31 BB/96 Ks/2.74 ERA/.995 WHIP.
Yates is making like 3 million dollars this season and is under team control for three more seasons. Kimbrel is asking for around 15M/year.
Keuchel is also going to be expensive and is also on the wrong side of 30 with declining peripherals in 2018 (more hits than IP, lower K rate, I just don’t see those guys really moving the needle for a team that might win 80 games if everything breaks right.
Yates under control through 2020
If they wanted Keuchel they would have signed him now. I think they want either Kluber or Bauer and are pursuing one of them, probably Bauer. Givien his numbers and age he would be a great pickup if the price, trade pieces, are acceptable.
Padres don’t need to overpay for relievers and neither of Keuchel or Gio is going to be worth what they are asking for. I’d rather the Padres use 2019 to allow young arms like Cal Quantrill, Logan Allen, Jacob Nix and Chris Paddack to show what they’ve got and then next offseason if they still think they need a proven ace, go after Gerrit Cole or (if they think the injuries are behind him) Zack Wheeler.
If you could get a bonafide stud now you do. Odds of a pitcher panning out are always a toss up.
Well, Keuchel is definitely not a “bonafide stud.” I doubt that Kluber or Bauer are available anymore. Bauer has said he won’t sign extensions and will only go year-to-year in the future, plus he’s not a personality I would personally want on my team, although he is a bright guy and understands pitching very well. Kluber would cost more than Renfroe and Reyes – I would guess almost any non-Tatis/Mejia prospect would be in play if Kluber was actually in discussion.
And also, and I might be wrong about this, but I think MLB has a rule that would disallow the Padres from trading Mejia back to the Indians until a year after he was traded. But that rule may not still exist.
Padre fans not brightest bunch think every prospect is going to be a star
Really? Or is this one of those general statements made from a bar stool?
hosmer hitting in the #2 spot….. that says all you need to know about the Padres management
It does feel like that’s begging for a 30 GIDP season, doesn’t it? I know Hosmer has been working hard to get some more loft on his swing this winter, and he seems to be a bright guy and receptive to the changes he needs to make, so I’ll remain cautiously optimistic. I’m not sure who the Pads are batting leadoff this year, but Machado should bat second, using the theory that your best hitter should bat second. But lineup construction has been shown to be overrated, except for the entire idea of “give your best players the most plate appearances.”
Padres aren’t competing this year so where Hosmer bats is insignificant
In all honesty… I’m not too worried if Lamb starts the season injured… Christian Walker is the REAL first baseman of the future for the Dbacks.