As spring training gets rolling in earnest, news continues to trickle out about various players’ health situations. We’ll collect the latest here.
- Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo has a stress fracture in his lower back, the team told reporters (including Chris Cotillo of MassLive). The organization is comfortable with Verdugo’s progression but unsurprisingly plans to take things slowly in the early going, Cotillo notes. Interim manager Ron Roenicke acknowledged to reporters (including Cotillo) that “if everything goes right, he still might not be ready for Opening Day.” That’ll surely raise some eyebrows among Sox fans, but the organization was fully aware of the issue at the time they made the Mookie Betts trade, reiterates Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). Surgery won’t be necessary, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, but this is the firmest indication we’ve heard yet that Verdugo is likely to start the season on the shelf. Of course, Boston finalized a deal with Kevin Pillar yesterday. He figures to take on a significant role if Verdugo ends up sidelined.
- The prognosis seems to be better for Twins center fielder Byron Buxton. Buxton hit off a tee today and hopes to progress to soft toss by next week, per various reports (including from Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com and Aaron Gleeman of the Athletic). Per Gleeman, manager Rocco Baldelli expressed optimism earlier this week that Buxton could return from the shoulder surgery that ended his 2019 season by Opening Day.
- Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas is working back from a flexor injury and could be delayed in spring training, the team told reporters (including Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Mikolas had some recurring flexor soreness last season, Goold adds, although the hope was that a postseason PRP injection and rest would alleviate the issue. With the soreness having cropped back up, Mikolas is likely ticketed for an MRI, Goold reports. Notably, manager Mike Shildt stressed to Goold that the injury is likely not indicative of any damage to the UCL, which would obviously have been quite problematic. It doesn’t seem there’s overwhelming cause for concern just yet. Of course, it’s not ideal for a key member of the St. Louis rotation to be dealing with arm soreness this early in the season. (UPDATE: Mikolas underwent an MRI this morning, Goold tweets. The exam did not reveal any ligament damage, tweets Anne Rogers of MLB.com).
- Angels reliever Ty Buttrey suffered an intercostal strain and will be out for one or two weeks, manager Joe Maddon told reporters (including Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com). The club still anticipates he’ll be a full-go by Opening Day. The 26-year-old posted a 3.98 ERA with a strong combination of strikeouts (27.2%) and walks (7.4%) in 2019. The former Red Sox prospect figures to be a key bullpen piece for Maddon in the latter’s first year at the helm in Anaheim.
Can someone explain this to me? Verdugo was the one with a STRESS FRACTURE IN HIS BACK and he was ok to trade for? This is crazytown…Chaim, cmon man
I just think it’s carzier that it took this long to discover the stress fracture!
They knew about it.
Stress and hairline fractures are minor compared to other types. Rest should heal it and while no fracture his good, any arthritic issues he could develop won’t be until long after his contract if not playing career ends. A disc or a congenital issue would have been worrisome.
A minor fracture or minor surgery is ONLY “MINOR” if it happens to someone else.
Not sure what your point is Prospect. Of course no fracture is good. The point I was trying to say is that the team doctors obviously weren’t concerned long term about this particular injury.
Merely a flesh wound.
Thank you Marcus Welby
The stress fracture was known to the Bosox from the beginning.
If a stress fracture was ok makes you wonder what they thought was wrong with graterol that was a no go.
Seriously though, fragile verdugo is shades of ellsbury….
Bones heal at a much more favorable rate than shoulder ligaments…
Big difference is that Ellsbury actually was very productive major league player for years before his body broke down. Verdugo has yet to really do much.
Hyperbole, much?
Because back problems get so much better with age… rofl and they passed on the Padres deal?
Verdugo has potential, but health has been a constant issue in his young career.
Verdugo was hurt for most of last year with the injury.. its not breaking news
When is “most”= since mid August
You morons overreact and overstate everything
Bloom didn’t do anything wrong. When making a trade whether a pitcher is projected as a starting pitcher or relief pitcher makes a big difference in expected surplus value. I don’t know off the top of my head but $40,000,000 to $10,000,000 which is sizable enough to warrant asking for more. Bloom might have been shady bit I doubt anyone outside of him really knows. It’s basically reading for the next Verlander hopeful, and finding out he’s only Hicks. Not saying Hicks is bad just that’s a sizable gap.
Capitals aren’t necessarily.
DC hockey fans would disagree.
Sure, I can explain it to you: by dealing Betts and Price, the Red Sox significantly weakened their 2020 team, in exchange for players who will help them in the long run, and salary relief that will, again, free up money for new signings after 2020.
Clearly, they don’t care about 2020, they care about the future. And, since a stress fracture heals with rest, it will only impact the 2020 season. So it doesn’t matter.
@stansfield123
you “hope” will help in the future.
Most athletes actually have stress fractures in their shins and other bones all of the time. It’s not a giant deal if handled correctly.
“Shins and bones” aren’t as significant as your back. You literally need to use it to do anything remotely athletic, especially as an OF.
That Sox trade keeps getting better and better
So the Red Sox traded a potential Hall of Famer for damaged goods.
Nice going, guys!
Everyone that puts on a major league uniform is a potential Hall of Famer.
And I mean anyone. Because anyone that watched Bruce Bochy play baseball know he was about the worst ever and yet he is just about definitely going into the Hall.
That’s like saying everyone who is born in the United States is a potential President of the United States at the moment of their birth.
Correct
Yes it is exactly like that. And it is possible that any of them could be.
Good deduction
Well they are. Obviously. Well, not girls, but everyone else:)
Yes , Chief Whatever, that is exactly what he was saying.
@hiflew
Dude really”? If Bochy becomes a HOF it certainly won’t be because of his career sub .700 OPS and more likely for his 3 WS rings. Oddly enough, he’ll be voted in as a HOF manager with a career record of exactly .497. That’s .494 with the Padres and exactly .500 with the Giants.
Doesn’t anyone wonder why it was never even a questions if BumG was going to leave but where to? That says something.
Re-sign Betts next offseason if you’re really that upset about the trade.
This is NOT good for the Mookie replacement
You gotta remember that this was probably the best offer they got
Alex is a good guy and when fully healthy will do just fine in Boston. Hope fans give him a fair shake.
Except that some guys can never seem to be “fully healthy.”
Good guy who was benched by LA for dogging it and attitude issues.
He is actually not a knucklehead nor did he have attitude issues.
Acutally he very much is a knuclehead
beyondtheboxscore.com/2020/2/6/21124292/red-sox-do…
bosoxinjection.com/2020/02/10/prediction-alex-verd…
Everything I have read says that his teammates really liked him.
He’s actually quite the knucklehead
No criminal record that I’m aware of and hopefully a change of scenery will allow him to mature.
I think immature would be putting it in the kindest possible way…
Everybody knew the Dodgers were in heat to move Verdugo, whose lack of effort bothered everybody. I’m sure they insisted on dumping him on the Sox if they were going to take Price, with his contract and similar issues.
It wasn’t his lack of effort when he played he was an all in guy and sounds like a fan favorite in LA for the most part. It was his perceived lack of tuffness and willing to play injured that the Dodgers thought was a potential problem and made him expendable.
Why does this narrative of Latin players sound so familiar?
Maybe a trade with the Padres could have been Mookie for Patino, Weathers, Baez and Abrams
Hard pass for a 1 year rental
There’s no way you could’ve gotten Patino or Abrams for Betts
Padres were offering a lot better than what the Red Sox got
Not from what I’ve read. Problem with all of us is our assessments are mostly based on hearsay information. How many of us have actually seen much any of these players outside of Verdugo? Hopefully Bloom brought some scouts and a medical team from Tampa because the Sox obviously missed on Thornbury and Smith.
The Padres would not take Price and required Boston to take back Myers as part of a Mookie deal. This would not have allowed Boston to get under the CBT threshold so regardless of the prospects were slightly better, it was a no go for Boston all along. The only way they traded Mookie was with Price attached (or full value of Eovaldi’s contract).
No,they weren’t. Myers and Manuel Margot woukd have been worse than they received. We would have taken on Myers bad contract and add an oft injured OFer who hasn’t done anything in 3 years in the majors. The Red Sox traded him for Krimbrel, why would they want him back?
Quantrill is going to be good this year. He is going to be better than Boston’s #5 starter without a doubt. He and especially Campusano would have been a big win. But whatever. It’s done and the Sox have Verdugo.
Man if Buttery can figure out what he was doing right the first half of last year, he will be the Angels closer for 4 years. He was filthy then.
I think Buttrey’s problem last year was the same as the rest of the bullpen: They were gassed.
Asmus wouldn’t allow the SP third time through the lineup, and too often that was the 5th inning. Three to four arms needed to get through the game. Multiply that by the last 60-70 games in the season and the whole bullpen was spent.
Well ain’t that a kick in the nuts
Oh stop it, Justin!
Absolutely hilarious….Red Sox were so concerned about the health of Graterol….did they overlook Verdugo? Was Graterol’s past arm issue just an excuse for seller’s remorse?
Good luck finding future trade partners, Chaim.
The Sox knew about this injury at the time of the trade, that he was missing Spring Training but hoped he’d be ready for the start of the season. They didn’t think the injury would be a detriment to his career as they felt Graterol’s was.
Stop trolling wjf. Time will tell and Bloom’s reputation in Tampa is more important than your or my assessment.
Stupid Sox were worried about the Twins giving them damaged goods. The Cardinals are a 500 team this year but there are ignorent fans and many at that who think the Cards have a good solid chance in the central
Too bad we can’t bet on that Cardinals being a .500 team this year. Fact is- I know more baseball than iknowmorebaseball does. Obviously with that prediction.
You can. Bet on the under of their wins total in Vegas. I believe they are in the mid to high 80’s so that is above .500. Put your money where your mouth is!
I love it. Yes, others are “ignorent” but you? You know it all! Lol
Is Vedugo in serious contention for most tattoos in baseball?
Did Yadier Molina retire?
I have had back issues myself from lifting that took years to resolve. Some never make full recovery, interested why the took verdugo over graterol.
Perhaps because the exam didn’t reveal a significant underlying cause for the stress fracture. Sometimes a fracture is traumatic which heals fine. Other times it could be caused by a root condition that weakens your body so that something as simple as a sneeze could result in a fracture. A stress fracture needs rest and if there were no underlying factors, it should heal fine.
I think we can agree that pro athlete’s bodies are created differently (or better capable) than most of us. When they sustain injury, they have every resource available to ensure a speedy recovery. I have a bad hip now from too many basketball falls.
David Wright’s demise started with a stress fracture of the lower back.
You are correct
David Wright has spinal stenosis which is not caused by a stress fracture.
Stenosis, which I have at multiple levels, is merely a disc causing narrowing of the canal the cord sits in to where there is pressure on the cord causing pain issues.
A stress fracture can be bilateral, in which case the vertibrae can slide forward. If that happens you get the same symptoms as stenosis referred pain into the extremities and all.
Medical terminology can be different, but end results and debilitating symptoms are the same.
With rest a stress fracture can fully heal.
If I’m a GM and I hear the words “fracture” and “back” in the same sentence, I’m hanging up the phone…
That’s why GMs consult Dr.’s…
If the outfield grass starts to turn brown a GM talks to the groundskeeper…he dosen’t know anything about that either.
Cardinals need to make a trade for a starter!!
You must not know the cardinals Very well…they have plenty of starters to take that spot…as a matter of fact KK the Korean lefty and Martinez are battling for a the 5th spot
You are correct they also have Gant, Gombers and Poncedeleon that can fill in.
Lol @ tbone0816
The Cardinals have a lot of really good starting options.
Buxton absolutely can NOT stay healthy. Has missed almost the entirety of the last two seasons. Last off-season, complains about the team to the media at a children’s hospital. Lol. Talking about how “pi**ed” he is. How about stop running full-speed into the wall and then going on the DL for the year? The team clearly wants him to just stay healthy and here he jokes to the media about how he put on muscle so that he could run THROUGH walls. Can’t make this up. Talking about how he “ain’t gonna listen to nobody” (double-negatives) and how he’s going to do things HIS WAY. Just the most moronic player ever in the history of the Minnesota Twins. Then the MN media just barrages us with these constant articles about how he is such a “good guy”. Whatever. He demonstrates time after time that he can not take instruction, openly opposes the team to the media, and is completely selfish and unprofessional. Yeah… such a “NICE GUY”.
#1: Buxton did not miss “almost the entirety of the last two seasons.” Just factually false.
#2: Buxton joking with the media does not mean he takes his health for granted, nor does it mean he fails to understand and appreciate the magnitude that his health has on the team.
#3: Playing “his way” means playing aggressively. Aggressive play on defense doesn’t mean he will ignore coaching and learn a better warning track approach.
#4: Nothing published anywhere, at least that I have read, has portrayed him personally in any disparaging way. Even if he may be a little stubborn and competitive, Buxton can also be a nice guy. Those characteristics are not mutually exclusive.
Man, the link must have REALLY triggered you. Or did he steal your girlfriend in high school?
#1 – Buxton played 28 games for the Twins in in 2018 because of injuries. He played 87 games last year because of injuries. Of 324 games, he barely played in 1/3 of them. He’s probably the most injury prone player in baseball, but I’m very glad to hear he’s progressing. It’d be awesome for the Twins to have him for a full season, even if that really does look like a pipe dream at this point.
#2 – Buxton wasn’t joking. He had a Texas sized ego for what little value he’d actually produced.
#3 – He has, so far, ignored continued attempts to get him to not play so aggressively he misses most of the season.
#4 – You’re actually right this time.
Honestly, I hope Buxton is able to completely turn his durability issues around, but I’m not about to hold my breath.
Matras — There is no reason to be so negative towards Buxton. The disparaging remarks are completely uncalled for. He is a nice guy who plays the game hard. Sometimes he plays it too hard. Hopefully, the Twins can work some of that out of him.
As far as his “ego” and humor goes — There are many personality types that play the game. Some players use humor or sarcasm to respond to serious questions they do not wish to answer publicly. And yes, he was upset in 2018 when he was called down to the minors. He was hurt, playing horribly, and extremely frustrated. We all have moments where we blow up and show our frustration, even publicly.
I share your concern and hope that Buxton can play his 3.1 WAR half-season for a full season. He is by far the most valuable player on the Twins. All Twins fans hope he can live up to (his deserved) expectations.
This is the price the Red Sox paid to get a team to take on Price’s pricey contract…lol go figure
Half of Price’s contract?
This trade was doomed from the start. Boston’s just happy they don’t have to pay half of prices salary. At the end of the day they may have got nothing for Mookie should have just let him walk
Jeter Downs is a legit prospect and Connor Wong will be an above average offensive producer for years to come (in the power category). So they get a starting OF in Verdugo, a future starting 2nd baseman and at the least a very solid back up catcher or perhaps full time utility guy. Not a bad haul if you ask me.
I hate it when people talk about prospects with the words “will be” as if it is pre-ordained that they will work out. There have been lots of “legit prospects” that never became quality starting big leaguers.
If all things work out positively for these guys, then the Sox COULD have three solid players. They could also have a guy that can’t stay healthy, a utility infielder, and a AAAA catcher.
I know people like to hope for the best, but it’s just annoying when they forget that prospects fail a lot more often than they succeed.
Yeah, but you are operating under the concept of, since anything MIGHT happen, then something negative MUST happen.
So maybe both Verdugo & Downs fail. Or maybe both have RS careers with 3 WAR/year. There is no reason for you to make your assumptions, any more than someone should assume 4 WAR seasons.
Connor Wong will be a backup catcher if hes LUCKY!!
Literally no scout thinks Wong will be an above avg offensive producer for years to come
Doomed from the start? They made the best of the options they had. If Mookie had stayed, the questions would have been nonstop, “are you negotiating? will he be still be dealt before the season starts? will he be traded in July? Mookie created this condition which was within his rights and if they signed previously at whatever the cost, would they have still signed JDM or traded for Eovaldi and Pearce? Their bloated payroll would have been even higher so who knows? Let’s just move on and wait for MLBTR to write a piece at some point down the road reassessing the actual trade and the other identified offers.
It will heal in time and Verdugo will be fine. The man can hit. That’s why they got him. Bunch of impatient know it alls. Blah blah blah.
Fully agree.
Me too.
thank you for resolving this issue. we all feel better now…
Good. That is what we are here for.
Why wasn’t Verdugo’s back problem reported at the time the trade was announced? Many Sox fans were not pleased with the trade to begin with. Now this?
It was known to everyone who was paying attention.
Everyone except you knew Verdugo had back problems.
A back problem last season, yes. A stress fracture that will affect him this season, no. This fracture was not revealed to the public because the Sox knew the public uproar might scotch the deal.
So you’re saying Red Sox management makes its decisions based on public intimidation? That’s interesting. So here’s what we knew as Dodger fans: Verdugo went down with a back injury that took him out of the last two months of the season and the postseason. We knew as of early January this year he still hadn’t resumed baseball activities and might not be able to participate in Spring Training. The Dodgers were calling it a core injury. I’m sorry Boston fans were not better informed about baseball news happening outside of their timezone, though partly the East Coast-centric sports media is to blame for that.
I’m not a Red Sox fan, but I don’t need to be one to know that all MLB teams rely on fan support to a certain degree, same as any company that sells a product. Are you saying they don’t? Interesting.
So. what happens to teams that take their fan base for granted? Your mileage may vary, but the Houston Asteriks are about to test your theory.
I know my theories, and that isn’t one of them. If the Red Sox were on top of Verdugo’s medicals, and there’s no reason to believe they would not be, then what the public thinks at the moment of the trade is going to be far less important to them than the player’s abilities, which will be demonstrated over years not in a moment. That’s the product they are selling. Boston might be an unusual sports market in some respects, but it isn’t completely unique. In any event the point is Verdugo’s health issues were known in general if not down to the specifics at least as recently as early January. That this news didn’t make it outside the LA sports market is, well, typical.
I assume you simply did not read a single newspaper during the negotiations.
Hey Redsox fans, you have the best and smartest organization in sports. RELAX
The Sox have learned absolutely nothing from Tyler Thornburg and Carson Smith. You don’t trade for injured players. Give them a thorough physical before completing the deal.
This team is Dead on Arrival! Trading for an injured player with a stress fracture in his back? Come on Bloom this was the best you could do for an MVP Player? No 4th, 5th starter, and no bullpen help !!! Go back to Tampa Bay and take Henry with you for this trade!! I predict after this trade flood Bloom will be gone in two years after this team flops this year and next and charges the Fenway prices that they do!
Henry with you for this trade!
——————————-
And yet, the RS are the team of the century. Go ponder that while I re-arrange all my WSC memorabilia.
LOL!
So… you’d have rather had the SD package, led by an injury prone OF who makes 20M a year instead of 500K? Oh, and the 20M a year guy is below average on both sides of the ball?
That’s some fancy logic
Not sure how you there. I prefer the LAD deal.
I’m stressed out over the stress factor.
Bloom should have contacted the commenters on mlbtr…these guys know way more about the business of baseball, the players, and what is fair. Actually, every gm should. These commenters are genius-just ask them.
So Verdugo last played in August due to injury, while Graterol last pitched in October against the Yankees and yet the trade involving Graterol was nullified?
I’m a Dodger fan who really liked Verdugo but this is just weird logic.
Graterol has a huge arm, but he pitched one inning in October. It was a good inning and all, but not a huge sample size.
It wasn’t a reference to him pitching a quality outing, but more in the vein of Verdugo being unable to play 2 months before Graterol’s season ended. Graterol was healthy whereas Verdugo was not.
No it’s not
Verdugo has never had surgery and has an injury that needs rest to recover. It’s the same thing he had in August.. it was wasn’t properly diagnosed. LAD called it “a core/back issue” to the public
Graterol has had TJS- so already one major surgery
And missed 2 months with a shoulder problem.
…For a hard throwing pitcher, those are valid red flags… the Crux is non of that was unknown before the deal was agreed to. That’s why BS looked bad pulling back (to some)
But already major surgery vs rest injury is a big distinction…
I can’t believe that none of these people have been contacted by any teams, not even the Marlins, based upon the knowledge they drop here.