Strap in for a very mysterious batch of health updates from spring training…
- Aaron Judge’s health status seems to be unknown to just about everyone right now. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com spoke today with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who said that Judge is going through a “car wash” of tests. “He’s obviously going through a series of tests,” Cashman said. “It’s not like one or two, it’s a number approaching seven to 10 total, so they can make sure they have a full evaluation and determine what ails him. When they’re complete, we’ll either be able to tell you we’re in the clear or we’ll be able to tell you that we have a full diagnosis and the timeframe and everything else like that.” Stay tuned.
- As if trying to outdo Cashman in providing non-answers, Mets infielder Jed Lowrie gave this update about his own status to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “I have to refer you to the organization.” After referring to the organization via general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, DiComo still got no timeline. Though Van Wagenen did say they are looking into a “transitional” brace to help him get on the field. Lowrie appeared in just nine games for the Mets last year. And it’s unclear if he’ll be able to top that in 2020.
- Astros outfielder Yordan Álvarez will sit out “three or four days” because of “knee soreness,” according to Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle. Astros manager Dusty Baker says that they’re “going to try to take it easy on him for at least three days.” This is potentially worrying for Astros fans because, as Young notes, Álvarez was playing through similar knee issues last year, although they didn’t stop him from producing Rookie of the Year-winning numbers.
- And finally, the clearest news of the bunch: Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was hit by a pitch on the back of his hand, but the X-ray came back negative (Twitter links from Ken Gurnick). If you need any more evidence of Turner being fine, he hit a home run between the HBP and the X-ray.
Terrible thing to happen to a nice guy n great player. Admiration from afar.
He might just be a nice guy, but “Great” Player is a stretch. If you said “Average at best decent” player I might agree! Not a clue what made the Mets sign him in the first place when they had Wilmer Flores way cheaper, He was a HUGE Fan Favorite, He wanted to be here, and quite frankly he was a better player!
The Lowrie response is interesting and it sounds like it’s brewing into another Jacoby Ellsbury-Yankees/Cespedes-Mets situation. More to follow…?
Difference being the Mets could release Lowrie today and only have to eat 10 million. The Ellsbury/Cespedes contracts were much harder to swallow salary.
Or let his contract run out which is at the end of this coming season.
Am wondering if any Yankees fans have real concerns about their team’s medical and physical training staff. A very talented team is, it seems, all too often hit with injuries to significant players. Is this coincidence, or part of a systemic problem?
Cashman seems to think so. They did overhaul their entire training staff which was announced in mid-January.
Idk man I think it’s a reach! All 4 have had injury issues come up almost every year. Stanton and Paxton had them before going to NY, although Stanton not this bad. Severino has missed time every year since his debut and Judge can’t get that shoulder right it seems. Just seems unfortunate!
Odds on Judge missing all of 2020 with reconstructive shoulder surgery? 50/50??
Jeter clearly “gifted” Stanton to the Yankees.
Many of us were concerned when Loria signed him to that contract…not because of the talent, but because of his injury history. 13 years for a guy who was injury prone since he was 22?
I think it’s safe to say that Stanton will be opting into the remainder of that contract…and the Marlins won’t be paying that tab.
It was almost bizarre. Stanton averaged 123 games a year with Miami. Won the MVP, and the Yankees fell for it.
A good player, obviously, but a very erratic performer, and the Yanks just had to have all 11 years of his decline phase. The 30m from Miami helps, and turns it into about a 9 year deal…
What am I talking about? It’s Monopoly money to them.
Actually, the way the contract is structured and was backloaded, the $30 million from the Marlins only covers the equivalent of 1 year, so the Yanks essentially will be covering salary the equivalent of 10 years of those 11.
I wonder where all those people that said “Jeter gifted Stanton to the Yankees” are now? Why aren’t they commenting any time a Marlins fan calls this out?
Marlins made out like a bandit on this.
It’s probably a mixture of both. Cashman has been drawn to injury prone guys like a magnet, so you can’t just blame the staff in my opinion. Bringing in guys like Stanton, Hicks, Paxton, and Ellsbury and then questioning why they’re so often injured seems like it could’ve been foreseen. I think Sanchez will soon join that list as well if he doesn’t move off catcher. That’s a big body on those legs.
Sanchez seems to have slimmed down this spring from last year based on my observations.
Batters hit on both sides and tempers flaring during spring games… ahhhhhh good ole Dodgers Gnats rivalry
Is that a mixture of the Nationals and Giants put together? Gnats? Haha. But yes you’re right, love seeing some good ole rivals face off even if it’s only spring. Wish the Giants wouldn’t of sold the farm to stay relevant but I’ll take the rings for a rebuild.
It would of been better if Jeter gifted Yelich instead of Stanton. Judge misses any significant time AGAIN. It’s time to TRADE HIM!!!!
Lowrie: I’m retiring but need to make it look like I’m rehabbing to satisfy a clause in the insurance contract
Lowrie’s contract is not insured. It is neither long term (2 years) nor is it considered “high value” at $20M. Teams seek insurance on long term high value contracts but it is expensive. It is also not required.
Do you have a source that says that it isn’t or you’re only assuming?
I’d generally agree, but I have to figure older players (esp injury prone ones) may make the team more likely to want to take a policy out. He was 35 at time of signing and a policy on a cheaper deal may be much lower in premium. Getting money without having to put it back into the team does seem a rather Wilpon move.