Rockies reliever Scott Oberg is on the 45-day injured list due to blood clots in his throwing arm, marking the third time blood clots have interrupted Oberg’s career. It remains to be seen if Oberg will be able to return during the 2020 season, though the right-hander told MLB.com’s Thomas Harding that he fully intends to keep pitching. “If this is what it’s going to have to be, it’s just another hurdle to overcome. I’ve dealt with the adversity road plenty of times,” Oberg said. After already undergoing three different procedures in the past, it isn’t yet certain if a fourth surgery will be required; Oberg has consulted with doctors and specialists about his latest issue, with more consultations planned for the coming week.
More from around the NL West…
- With Oberg and the struggling Wade Davis both on the IL, the Rockies’ search for a closer is still ongoing. It seemed as if Jairo Diaz was laying claim to the job, though after a rough outing (three walks, one hit, and two unearned runs in two-thirds of an inning) today, manager Bud Black told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post and other media that the club has no “designated closer.” It seems likely that Diaz will still get some save chances as part of the Rockies’ closing committee, though Yency Almonte, Carlos Estevez, Daniel Bard, and possibly others could all figure into the ninth inning depending on the situation.
- Madison Bumgarner will throw a 50-pitch simulated game on Monday, a week after the southpaw was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a back strain. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters (including Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic) that the simulated game “is a way for us to see how he looks, see how he feels and have him evaluate how his body feels and give us that information and determine what the next step is moving forward.” Piecoro notes that Bumgarner is still expected to miss at least one more start while on the IL, though the left-hander might not miss much beyond the 10-day minimum if he reports a clean bill after the sim game.
- Could Johnny Cueto be turning himself into a trade candidate? With the Giants in last place and looking like deadline sellers, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that Cueto could get some attention from teams looking for veteran pitching. Cueto has a 4.62 ERA, 1.73 K/BB rate, and 6.8 K/9 through 25 1/3 innings this season, some fairly middling numbers that ERA indicators (4.72 FIP, 5.55 xFIP, 5.28 SIERA) hint could or should be worse. On the plus side, Statcast metrics show that Cueto is doing a good job of limiting hard contact, and Cueto is averaging 91 mph on his fastball, roughly the same average velocity he was posting in the couple of seasons prior to his August 2018 Tommy John surgery. The Giants would likely have to eat some money to accommodate a trade, given that Cueto is owed $21MM in 2021, there is a $5MM buyout of his $22MM club option for 2022, and he is also owed the prorated remainder of his original $21MM salary for the rest of this season.
I hope the Braves aren’t interested in Cueto.
Why not? Each start has been stronger than the next. No one told your GM to be a fool and trade for Melancon. Lol Cueto would actually be a boost to your club.
Cueto sucks. His velocity is down and he’sporting an ERA north of 5.00
Dubsdynasty, literally everything you said in your comment is incorrect.
Cueto was never great by FIP standards.
Cueto and 15 million for Austin Reilly what do you think??
@antibelt. Did you even look at Cueto’s pitching logs before you made that statement? Because I did. In his last 3 games, his most recent was absolutely his best outing but the second to last was worse than the one before it. Cueto is worse than his mundane production because Oracle Park is covering up just how bad his regression really is.
If Cueto goes to Atlanta, which I don’t deny is possible, I can’t see it being for much more than a lottery ticket prospect.
As for Melancon, so far this year he has thrown 7 IP and allowed 4 hits and 0 runs earned or otherwise. So maybe just hold onto that judgement that he wasn’t worth the trade that was made for him. I know the money is off the Giants ledger but then I haven’t seen the prospects the Giants got do anything yet.
The numbers aren’t indicative of his performance, in the one you say was last to worst it was a no hitter through 6 until pence lost a ball that dropped 10 feet behind him that led to a couple of guys that got on and a dinger- honestly should have been on Kapler to pull him, not an indicator of performance. At this point I feel that watching him, kapler is actually doing more harm than good in the way he is managing the staff
Cueto had a No Hitter in his second to last start against the LAD in Los Angeles. Hunter Pence Screwed up a routine fly and Johnny lost the No Hitter. Cueto kept pitching and hurt himself. Kapler left him in. Next batter hit a 3 run HR. Cueto was tagged for 4 runs after Hunter Pence not getting called for an error because technically speaking it wasn’t an error.
Cueto had a No Hitter in his second to last start against the LAD in Los Angeles. Hunter Pence Screwed up a routine fly and Johnny lost the No Hitter. Cueto kept pitching and hurt himself. Kapler left him in. Next batter hit a 3 run HR. Cueto was tagged for 4 runs after Hunter Pence not getting called for an error because technically speaking it wasn’t an error.
@ribarra12: Not hardly.
How about the Giants tradingbtheir entire useless, run hemorrhaging bullpen for a pack of gum
Two back to back games, Friday and Saturday the gave up a total 9 runs in the ninth and 10th innings. Screw it, we’ll take some free masks instead. Useless bodies.
Actually, a pack of gum and a bottle of Focus Factor for our idiot manager and his crummy decision making.
The Giants have become the laughing stock of the league.Im a fan and it’s flat out embarrassing
The Reds are set to lose Bauer and Desclafani. Cueto, assuming the Giants take on some salary, would be a great fit. Having him in 2021 would be a nice bridge to Lodolo and Greene.
It would be cool to see Johnny go back to the Reds. I’d hate to see the best pitcher on the giants traded but if hes traded I’d like it to be to cincy
The Giants pitching is absolutely terrible, losing Cueto won’t do anything except net a prospect or two and get some salary relief
This last A’s series was brutal
You’re right: He’s not worth much. At this point, it might be a better value to just let him finish out the season and provide leadership than to get next to nothing for him.
If Cueto is going to draw interest, he’ll need to continue to lower his ERA/FIP.
Updated standing prediction
Braves
Phillies
Nats
Mets (we have 4 pitchers out)
Marlins
Gotta love he randomness of baseball – Last year the Cubs were pegged for death now they are the 2nd best team in the NL and its not (that) debatable
This very well could be the Mets next year with a little luck and a lot less injs. Im not a Mets fan per se but I like their outlook for the near future and root for them as Im quite sick of hearing about the LOL Mets bs from the trolls
This Div has been a HUGE disapointment the last 2 years, injs ofc play a huge role-
As weird/odd as it might sound Philly might be the best equipped team to manage the playoffs with Nola and Wheeler up top….
Bullpens are fickle ,…… Remember in 18 Bostons pen was a dumpster going into the playoffs and then lights out….. same with Washington Nats last year
Yeah
The Mets have done nothing but disappoint since 2015. Their outlook is not that good. Rotation is terrible outside DeGrom. Offense is shakey at best. They haven’t earned the LOL Mets reputation to be erased.
I don’t think they ever deserved the Rep to begin with
How many rotations are terrible right now in that Div? You could make a strong argument Mia has the best rotation A-Z there outside of Wash ofc
Its an easy stone to cast but I dont think its very profound
Bro the cardinals would lose all 60 games if their 4 best starters got hurt. our outlook for the future is 10x better than the cards bc we have a lot of young good hitters who we have control fo for a whole.. while Syndergaard is coming back next year.. That’s offense that is shaky at best is 100x better than he cardinals lineup
I think people calling the Giants will be asking about Kevin Gausman –
Probably the most likely player to be traded at the deadline this year is KG
Im sure the Giants are ready to eat a good amount of the contract on Cueto though if they can get some good prospects that way
Shame with Oberg, for all the bad contracts in that pen Oberg was looking like a steal at his current rate
hope Oberg’s condition isnt debilitating later on in his life. several occurrences at a young age arent good and it can be a bigger issue as one ages.
Cueto when healthy and properly motivated is as close to an ace as anyone is going to find on the trade market this season. Don’t worry about the numbers just watch him pitch. He more than passes the eye test and if he were on a good team actually pitching for something he would be even better. Lots of pitchers on the DL so hopefully someone is desperate enough to give up something more than mid level talent which seems to be all Farhan knows how to trade for.
Yeah, his numbers would look a lot better if he actually had some relief pitching too
Cueto Ace? lol. have you lost your mind . he’s at best a number 4 , number 5 on a contender. He’s old and His velocity is down. He’s a 4 run allowed 6 ip guy now.
There is 30 teams in baseball with his experience and work ethic he would surely be an ace on another franchise other than the giants. Again not saying dudes Gerrit Cole but he sure does know how to pitch! Cmon those offseason horse pictures are worth it alone!
Cueto has been very solid his last two starts and both were against two of the best teams in baseball right now (A’s and Dodgers). The numbers lie a bit, he had a no hitter against the Dodgers going into the 6th until pence lost an easy fly ball in the lights which went for a triple, got the next two out so should have been inning over but it unraveled after that. But he’s been doing a very good job of keeping hitters off balanced the last few games.
If an inning gets extended because of an error those runs aren’t earned. So his current ERA does not include them.
Technically Pence misplaying the ball was not considered an error because he lost it and never touched it.
They also forget he held the Dodgers to one run opening day before the bullpen blew up.
Rockies need to put Estevez or Bard as cider. Diaz is a good set up man.
None of those guys are trustworthy for set up or closer work. The pen is a mess. Jake McGee is looking great though. Nice decision JB.
Closer not cider.
Oh I don’t know. A good cider is always pleasant to have. =D
@SCM: I was thinking the same thing.
With all the injured pitchers, the way teams like the Braves spent on veterans everyone should be looking at cueto as an option. He’s getting paid too much but whoever takes him on is only getting one season and likely some salary relief. I hope another team trades for him just to make the playoffs better, but as a die hard shimmy fan, I’d love to have him be a giant til the end of his contract because he is an amazingly fun talented pitcher to watch play the game of baseball!
I also think he is so fun to watch pitch. What joy and he frequently gives a tip of cap when his teammates make a good defensive play…. the latter is not common this year so not much reason for cap tipping
Hell he has fun with the opposing hitters often when he gives up a knock or out duels them. Aside from that incident with the reds he seems like a legit dude and I’ve watched him rather closely toward the end of his career.
None of those guys are trustworthy for set up or closer work. The pen is a mess. Jake McGee is looking great though. Nice decision JB.
I agree with the earlier poster’s opinion that Gausman will be a more coveted target at the deadline than Cueto. I expect that Tony Watson will be on the move too, in spite of the fact that he’s the only experienced guy in the bullpen. Giants would also do well to sell high on Solano and to listen on Yaz. I know the latter moves won’t sit well with fans, but neither of these guys will be producing at their peak when the rebuild gives rise to a new core.