It’s not the type of relief acquisition Dodgers fans have been hoping for, but the team recently signed free agent Tyler Thornburg, Rob Bradford of WEEI relays. It’s a minor league contract for the right-hander, who had been available since the Red Sox released him July 10. Despite signing with the Dodgers before the All-Star break, Thornburg hasn’t pitched for any of their affiliates yet, according to Bradford.
The 30-year-old Thornburg has gone through a sharp, injury-caused fall from grace since a brief run as one of the game’s top relievers. Thornburg debuted with the Brewers in 2012, but it took until 2016 for him to enjoy what looked like a breakout season. That year, Thornburg recorded a sparkling 2.15 ERA/2.83 FIP with 12.09 K/9 and 3.36 BB/9 in 67 innings. The Brewers sold high on Thornburg during the subsequent offseason, sending him to the Red Sox for a pair of infielders – Travis Shaw and Mauricio Dubon – as well as righty Josh Pennington.
Boston was expecting Thornburg to be an integral part of its bullpen in 2017, but he instead missed the entire season because of shoulder problems that led to thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. While Thornburg made it back last year, he stumbled to a 5.63 ERA/6.04 FIP with 7.88 K/9 and 3.75 BB/9 in 24 innings. Thornburg wasn’t part of the Red Sox’s World Series-winning roster during the fall, and a hip impingement this season limited him to 18 2/3 frames of 7.71 ERA/5.42 FIP pitching (with 10.61 K/9 against 4.62 BB/9) before the Sox cut the cord.
Yikes, the dodgers bullpen must really be struggling. Lol
As a Red Sox fan good luck Dodgers
This guy is going to win a Cy Young soon. I can feel it. He’s that good
Maybe not on the fall team but was still on the team and got his ring
Another guy with TOS surgery.
Anybody know of a pitcher that came back from this surgery and had a decent run after?
Seems like every pitcher that has this surgery struggles for a few years and then is just done
Actually, most come back stronger than ever.
Like who?
Chris Carpenter, Tyson Ross & Clayton RIchards were all productive after the surgery & Chris Young returned to action at the age of 35 and was a valuable member of a teams starting rotation .
Chris carpenter had TJ not TOS should probably know what you are talking about. TOS is not easy to come back from and most are never the same.
You’re wrong JRad, Chris Carpenter had TOS surgery in 2012. Look it up.
He also had TJ surgery in 2007, maybe you should know what your talking about before calling people out.
Sorry! We had a lot of lead paint I’m the house I grew up in..Read the most wrong!
“…most come back stronger…”
Are you confusing TOS (thoracic outlet syndrome) with TJ (Tommy John) surgery?
He probably is. And even then, he’d still be wrong.
Yeah? See Matt harvey
Stephen Strasburg, John Smoltz, Justin Zimmerman, Chris Carpenter, Anibal Sanchez, Billy Wagner, Adam Wainwright to name a few. David Wells had it before he pitched in the Majors. There’s also a guy named Tommy John that had a pretty good career after that surgery. Obviously the majority of pitchers who have the surgery don’t rebound like these guys, but it’s possible to come back and have a great career.
These guys all had thoracic outlet surgery?
You have no clue what you’re talking about!
My apologies, I have no clue what I’m talking about. lol They were all TJ surgery. I will practice my reading comprehension.
These guys all had Tommy John surgery not TOS. Read the question wrong! Duh!!
Another long shot when something closer to a sure thing is what’s needed.
This minor league singing has a chance to be better than most. No problem with this one. Well see what major league help comes by Wednesday
I realize it’s a minor league deal it’s just frustrating to see them taking little nibbles when they need to take a big bite. Especially when they played like total chumps for the second game in a row.
Did we resolve our cable company issue yet, lol?
What was the point of that remark?
Its 2019, people know how to watch a baseball game without Spectrum. Baytown has to try his insults now because the Giants are headed straight for the worst place in sports…. the middle
just wait 2 more day , then you can complain . Last few years its been at last hours/minutes with exception of mach
Well, one more day, actually, and I know many of the biggest trades are made right at the buzzer. So we’ll see about that. The point here is we’ve seen Friedman go for too many long shot bullpen signings to not know how much he likes that approach. Lightening did not strike. They were junk and stayed junk, which doesn’t mean they never stunk up the joint. Sometimes being unconventional is just being unconventional. The contrarian approach is only valuable when it produces results. The Dodgers need a couple of proven late innings arms if they are going to win, and they need them within the next 24 hours.
Dumb comment and way off base. Kenleyfornia has to try his insults cause his a fool.
Don’t remember talking cable companies?
Still waiting.
They’re banking on a Brandon Morrow situation 2.0. Not a big deal if he doesn’t work out considering I’m sure he’s being paid league minimum. High upside here but no Vázquez…yet.
I don’t think they’re really “banking” on anything. As a Red Sox fan who’s watched him be atrocious for 3 years now… I at least hope they aren’t! Because if they are they’re going to be very disappointed lol. My guess is they’re just taking a flier on him in hopes he can maybe work things out in the minors – no real risk, but also more likely than not – no reward either based on how he’s pitched lately.
He’s a loser. He needed to prove himself with the RS but he ran like a coward.
So he wouldn’t accept a minor league assignment from the Sox but then signs a minor league contract. What a fool.