The Indians have been without Corey Kluber since May 3, when he suffered a forearm fracture upon being hit by a comeback line-drive, but Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer provides some reason for optimism regarding his return. Kluber went through his throwing motion while wearing “stabilizing straps” this week and is slated to undergo MRIs to determine whether his fracture has healed. If that proves to be the case, he’d be cleared to begin a throwing program.
There’s also some progress to report on Carlos Carrasco, who is out indefinitely due to an undisclosed blood condition. Carrasco played catch this week, Hoynes notes, and the Tribe could learn within the next two to three weeks whether his condition can be managed. If that’s the case, he could rejoin the Indians’ rotation even before Kluber. That said, the Cleveland organization still isn’t fully sure when or if either righty will return to the 2019 club.
Here’s more from the division…
- Tigers right-hander Spencer Turnbull left today’s start after just two innings due to shoulder fatigue, manager Ron Gardenhire told The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen (Twitter link) and other media. An MRI didn’t reveal any structural damage and Turnbull didn’t feel any pain, but rather the club decided to make the move due to a drop in Turnbull’s fastball velocity. It isn’t known yet if Turnbull will miss any time, though it would mark yet another pitching injury for Detroit’s rotation this season. Turnbull’s emergence helped the club fill one hole in the starting five, as the rookie has a 3.31 ERA, 8.43 K/9 and 49% grounder rate over 89 2/3 innings.
- Byron Buxton is “getting close to his return” from the injured list, MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park tweets. Buxton was sidelined on June 18 (IL placement retroactive to June 15) with a wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch, and while the Twins outfielder has already exceeded the 10-day minimum IL stint, the injury isn’t considered to be serious. Buxton was expected to face live pitching today in the Twins’ indoor batting cage, though rain kept him participating in on-field batting, Park notes. Buxton’s all-around play has been a key factor in Minnesota’s rise to the top of the AL Central, as he has provided his usual excellent center field defense and baserunning while also hitting .266/.324/.527 with nine homers over 227 plate appearances.
- The White Sox have been open about their desire to keep Jose Abreu beyond the 2019 season, and the first baseman also has no plans to leave the south side, he tells Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. “I’ll always be a White Sox….I’m a part of this organization. This is the organization that gave me a chance to play at this level and made all my dreams come true. I hope to stay here a very long time,” Abreu said. While there’s nothing stopping the Sox from trading Abreu at the deadline and then re-signing him after the season, Abreu said he expects to remain with the club. As Sullivan notes, this might leave Alex Colome as the only real trade chip for the White Sox at the deadline, as Chicago’s other veteran players apart from Colome, Abreu, and James McCann (who might also be retained) have largely struggled.
The tigers have lost so many pitchers this season in the majors and AAA they would probably be well served to hold an open tryout to fans at this point
Abreu better not count on anything close to fair market value, if he thinks Reinsdork will be fair with him.
Dont reduce yourself to name calling.
This particular troll just can’t help himself in that department.
He is correct. The man is a thief and a liar
Yes, because offering Machado more guaranteed money than any team not named the Padres wasn’t fair. And offering more per year than the Padres with easy to reach incentives to make it more overall money just wasn’t fair. Maybe next time they can should offer deferred payments til the year 3000 like the Nats.
Easy to reach incentives. That is not true. The plate appearance clause at the ages Machado would have been are very rarely met. Give Machado credit, he takes care of himself from what I’ve heard but Sox offer was set up to fail in my opinion..
Dog
Talk to Michael Jordan, Paul Konerko, Mark Buerhle and Frank Thomas about more than fair contracts near the end of their careers from Reinsdorf. Abreu will be
33 during the 2020 season. I’m sure you don’t want him to be paid like ARod and Pujols at the end of their careers (ie 230 and $30M).
While I’m glad the tribe has played better lately, I look forward to getting our rotation back to full strength. If they can get both aces back and find a middle of the order bat and hat can play a corner outfield or dh and they might look good again.
I hear Yonder Alonso is available.
Ha, great post!
The White Sox might even throw in Daniel Palka for a starting pitcher who can last 5 innings with a like number ERA.
Abreu is in decline. Dipping OBP and a need to cheat to get to fastballs should show the Sox that anything more than a 1 year deal, as a bridge to any of the 5+ 1B/DH types they have in-house, would be a huge mistake.
Thanks for the memories, Jose. But 1.5 fWAR, bad defensive, 30+ yo, RHH 1B are cheap and plentiful.
As an old school and often despised fan among the younger sabermetric crowd I say the White Sox ought to retain Jose Abreu. He can keep 1B warm until Andrew Vaughn is ready for prime time come 2021 or so and then transition to more DH duty.
Abreu’s value is as much in a leadership role and mentor to the young hispanic players as it his with his still powerful bat. Advanced analytics can’t measure the importance of his clubhouse presence and don’t always value a traditional stat like RBI’s the way I and other fans do.
The White Sox have a great history with Cuban players in particular and I would love to see Abreu retire as a White Sox and maintain the tradition of ambassador that Minnie Minoso held until his passing. There is a reason that Cuban players prefer joining the White Sox in international free agency with all other things (like money!) being equal. It’s because they love baseball and embrace their long history in the sport more than most players from any other nation including those from this country. They appreciate the history their players have shared with the White Sox over the years.
Abreu himself was recruited and embraced by Minoso as well as other active members of the White Sox like Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo back in 2013 when he was considering the White Sox FA offer. Once signed, they all took him under their wing as he was adapting to baseball and life in the states. Abreu is now continuing that tradition with young Cubans like Yoan Moncada, Luis Robert and hopefully SS Yolbert Sanchez when the latter is eligible to ink his bonus on July 2nd when the new international signing period commences. Abreu has also been influential with other hispanic White Sox players like Dominican slugger Eloy Jimenez.
I believe the White Sox will do the right thing and retain Abreu not only for his value to the club but also as a fan favorite. It’s the proper thing to do from an organizational standpoint as well as a fine marketing strategy in their battle to keep pace with their North Side neighbors. The Cubs may still be #1 in Chicago baseball but the White Sox should at least continue their supremacy on the South Side and in Cuba! lol
Make that lolé!!
Nice aaronsapoznik!!
Sox need leaders on the field who are also above replacement level baseball players. They need mentors in the dugout who also make sound strategic decisions and impart knowledge. That’s what successful teams have.
Fans follow winners.
There you go with that advanced analytic crap again.
Keep it up pp, I love you and all other Sox fans regardless! There’s just not enough of us to do otherwise.
Abreu is above replacement level.
They also have this guy named James McCann that appears to be capable of filling that role.
Abreu will stick around until Vaughn replaces him in 2 years; then he’ll probably DH a year or 2 until he retires. They aren’t going to be offered anything crazy enough to make it worth moving him. It’s pretty simple.
Yolbert Sanchez not to be confused with Yolmer Sanchez who also can play SS but is Venezuelan.
I met Minoso in the Ace Hardware on Lawrence and Pulaski when I was a mailman. I told him at my first game ever 06-06-64, he pinch hit for Tommy McCraw in the ninth inning against Mickey Lolich. I told him he should be in the HOF and he said “But I don’t want to go in like Santo did.”
Guy just unplugged every TV in the state of Massachusetts!
If they can get 1 good prospect and filler for an Abreu rental, jump on it rather than lean on sentimentality. It’s not like they can’t offer him a 1-2yr max deal when he is an oldish FA that shouldn’t cost much. Keep Colome for next year to nail down wins when several more top prospects will be on the club unless a contender is crazy desperate. McCann please roll dice and try to extend to stick around 3 seasons. Not sure if 25mil is fair for both to lock down C position.