Giants reliever Tony Watson has been dealing with shoulder tightness this spring, but the left-hander said Monday (via John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle), “It’s nothing I’m concerned about.” Watson, who threw his second bullpen session in three days on Monday, expects he’ll be set to go for the beginning of the regular season. However, it’s unknown when he’ll be ready to appear in a spring training game. The 34-year-old’s the elder statesman in a bullpen that has undergone significant changes since last season, when the normally reliable Watson turned in a career-worst campaign. Watson wound up with a 4.17 ERA/4.81 FIP and 6.83 K/9 against 2.0 BB/9 over 54 innings, but the Giants still brought him back on a reasonably priced guarantee ($3MM).
Let’s check in on a few more health situations from around the National League…
- Cardinals southpaw Andrew Miller is having difficulty “getting a feel for the ball,” Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Nothing “physically hurts,” according to Miller, but Goold writes that he’ll undergo a “battery of exams” to determine what’s troubling him. That’s not the type of news he or the Cardinals wanted entering the second season of a two-year, $25MM contract. The 34-year-old didn’t deliver as hoped in Year 1, as he posted a 4.45 ERA/5.19 FIP with 11.52 K/9, 4.45 BB/9 and a 37.2 percent grounder rate in 54 2/3 innings. Miller pitched in 73 games, and with 37 more appearances this year (110 from 2019-20), his $12MM vesting option for 2021 will become guaranteed.
- Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has battled some discomfort in his surgically repaired right elbow, but as expected, he appears to be fine. After sitting out of action last week, Freeman returned Monday, saying (per David O’Brien of The Athletic, via Instagram), “I feel great,” and added that he’s not facing any restrictions. That’s excellent for Atlanta, which will likely need yet another outstanding season from Freeman if it’s going to rule the National League East for the third year in a row.
- The Dodgers have temporarily shut down infield prospect Omar Estevez as a result of soreness in his right (throwing) shoulder, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register tweets. Estevez has been in camp this spring as a non-roster invitee. It’s unclear how much time he’ll miss, but it’s the latest injury for a player who sat out roughly two months last season with a hamstring strain. When healthy in 2019, though, Estevez put up nice production in his Double-A debut, batting .291/.352/.431 in 336 plate appearances. He now ranks as Baseball America’s 16th-best Dodgers prospect.
Watson was so close to a big payday. Melancon gets one meanwhile pitches worse for the same exact team.
So Watson has mysteriously joined Melancon on the braves.
Yeah. You didn’t see the MLBTR story? Biggest story of the offseason.
Do you not realize he was on the Giants with him bub
Melancon was not worse than Watson last year….bub. AND was good for the Braves after going there…bub.
BTW, bub? Really?
So 4/$64 for 3.60 ERA vs 2/$7 for 3.30 ERA, you have not a clue what you are talking about
And Claude is???
Last 2 seasons
Watson: 3.30 ERA 2 WAR PAY: $10.5 Mil
Melancon: 3:47 ERA 1 WAR PAY: $34 Mil
Plus Melancon got $9 Mil in 2017(his worst year) and will get $14 Mil in 2020, how does that even compare to Watson?
????
You don’t get paid as a RP without saves. Melancon has 164 more than Watson. Plus, era is not a good statistic for performance anymore. Look at FIP and you’ll see why one got paid and the other didn’t.
Look at FIP and Melancon is the far superior pitcher. Also having 164 more saves helps. Using era as a primary statistic to back your argument shows YOU don’t have a clue what you’re taking about d0m lol
I was talking solely about last year. Bub. Watson wasn’t closing so different roles, bub. Non closers make less money, bub. You’re comparing apples and oranges, bub. Obviously, if we’re strictly comparing $ than you are correct on who made more.
Claude Raymond pitched for expos many years ago. DOm is a punk for calling someone bub.
Need further explanation?
Melancon Watson. Closer Noncloser. Apples Oranges. Closers make more money. Was one of three best closers when he signed with giants.
AND he WAS better than Watson last year, DOm.
But if we’re talking money made, you do know what you’re talking about. I myself care less what they make. Sorry you got cut from the JVs and can’t get over it…..bub
Watson had a better ’18 not ’19 and Melancom is a decent pitcher just over payed greatly. Also Watson was close to getting payed like Melancom but had a down year leading into Free agency. Lets just go back 2 watching spring ball this is dummm.
Thanks for that, Sirsleepit
I agree DOm
Miller was always a ton of fun to watch pitch, hope he can put it together again.
So far he hasn’t put it together while wearing a Cardinal uniform. I really wanted the Cards to sign Zach Britton over Miller. Both were available at the same time. Miller makes me nervous every time he comes in. In fact, their entire bullpen from the left side makes me nervous with Miller, Cecil, Webb, Cabrera, etc. but Cabrera has shown good potential. But way too many walks between all of them. Walks are just trouble waiting to happen. Especially leadoff walks which all seem to have a problem with
Watson isn’t spectacular but pretty steady. Hopefully he can be solid this year so we can get some prospect return on him in July.