AUG. 25: Chirinos underwent successful surgery Tuesday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com tweets.
AUG. 21, 2:22pm: Rays skipper Kevin Cash confirmed to reporters that Chirinos will require Tommy John surgery and likely miss all of the 2021 season as well (Twitter links via Topkin).
1:10pm: Rays right-hander Yonny Chirinos landed on the IL this week due to an elbow strain, and Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times now reports (via Twitter) that the right-hander’s injury is not only a season-ender but will likely require Tommy John surgery. It’s a tough blow to the same first-place Rays pitching staff that just lost Brendan McKay to shoulder surgery and has been without Charlie Morton for two weeks due to shoulder inflammation. Longtime top prospect Brent Honeywell recently underwent another surgery as well.
Chirinos has quietly emerged as an important contributor for the Rays in recent seasons, pitching to a combined 3.65 ERA with 7.6 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 1.23 HR/9 and a 42.8 percent ground-ball rate. That showing was expected to cement him as a member of the Rays’ starting rotation in 2020, but he’s been limited to 11 1/3 innings by a pair of IL placements due to elbow troubles.
Given the timing of the injury, it’s quite possible that Chirinos will miss the entirety of the 2021 season as well. Tommy John surgery typically requires a minimum of 12 months to recover — quite often closer to 14 months. Perhaps with a speedy recovery, he’ll emerge as a bullpen option for the Rays late next year, but getting any contribution from him at all in ’21 would be a bonus and should not be considered a given.
Fortunately for the Rays, they have their typical brand of enviable starting pitching depth from which they can draw. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Ryan Yarbrough and Trevor Richards are currently making starts with Chirinos, Morton and McKay on the shelf, the the team has several other potential options to which they can turn. Former top prospect Anthony Banda is back from his own Tommy John procedure and working in long relief at the moment. Either he or fellow southpaw Jalen Beeks could conceivably be stretched out to help patch things over. At the alternate training site, well-regarded prospects Shane Baz and Shane McClanahan loom as options as well.
Of course, with the Rays in first place and the Aug. 31 trade deadline looming, the possibility off augmenting the staff with someone not currently in the organization can’t be ruled out. The Rays are considered to have the best minor league system in baseball, so they should have no trouble putting together an alluring package for any of the names that figure to be available. Speculatively speaking, that list could include the likes of Lance Lynn, Dylan Bundy, Taijuan Walker and Kevin Gausman, among numerous others.
We need Lance Lynn
Or Trevor Bauer
I wouldn’t touch him. Obese players burn out fast and he has played at close to 300 lbs. Look at Prince Fielder. BTW don’t believe the numbers. He wishes he was 6”5’ and 250.
Yeah CC Sabathia burned out quick…
I know, and Bartolo Colon. He only played a few seasons before giving out.
He’s on the heftier side, but he is definitley not 300 LBS. 300 LBS and 6’5 is what Broxton was, and what CC Sabathia was. Also, Prince Fielder’s issue was a cronic neck and spine problem. Weight didn’t have much to do with it.
Exactly mlb1225, just because you are a big guy doesn’t make you bad. If he was pushing 300, and had a wild, erratic delivery, with tons of wild pitches, that’d be concerning. But he doesn’t. He has an easy delivery, and uses that to his advantage by being able to push his weight forward and throw a consistent 95.
Wow, that really escalated quickly.
Starting to think the Devil Rays are not going to win the AL East now?
That would be Frank Jobe surgery. MLB needs to start getting this right.
Just like me ALS, it is known for the famous person who acquired/received it.
Frank Jobe’s procedures have saved countless careers. He belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame and would be famous if baseball got this right. Tommy John had nothing to do with it.
@ajrodz1335- you can’t be talking about Michael Lance Lynn from the Texas Rangers? Be careful for what you wish for. He’ll break your heart. Go trade for Marco Gonzales from the Mariners or Robbie Ray from the D-Backs as a rental. No worries your definitely a playoff team anyway.
Marco Gonzales signed a long extension. It’s doubtful the Mariners would trade him.
Why do you not like Lance Lynn, Yank4life? He’s had great seasons before 2019,a dn 2020, so I would call it a fluke. He has a variety of fastballs that he can tunnel beautifully. Plus a hard curveball that he pulls out of nowhere. He has postseason experience, and he’s a veteran. He has a cheap contract, plus another year on his contract for 21′ (also cheap). What more do you want?
@Rangers29- Lance Lynn is a excellent pitcher don’t get me wrong. It’s great to see him have such great success. I just don’t see that happening with the Yankees in NY. I can see it in Atlanta, Tampa Bay or somewhere else though. I can see Miguel Andujar hitting at least 30 homers for you in a season regularly getting over 500 at bats. And playing a pretty good 3rd base. No gold glove though.
Lance Lynn is a great pitcher, the guy is elite
Wish you a quick recovery.
Call up McClanahan and have him go 1/2x TTO and then piggyback Richards or Beeks
Like I said the other day, Yonny Chirinos is underrated. Nobody talks about the guy. He has just plain nasty stuff, and he uses it well. Also, when you hear the name Yonny Chirinos, you don’t think about anything bad or negative. I could say… Clayton Kershaw? He’s bad in the postseason. Justin Verlander? He’s on the Astros. Blake Snell? Bro. Yonny Chirinos? Ummm… nothing.
Yonny clearly was the most underrated starter on the Rays. He always kept the team in the game. he will be missed, but as Neander has built them…Who’s up next ready to compete, Beeks, Banda, Richards?
Drink every time MLBTR refers to an injury or surgery as a “tough blow”
That would be unhealthy lol. To be fair, what are some synonyms to “tough blow” when an injury like this happens? “This hurts (insert team name)”, “This is a hard kick in the shin to the (insert team name) pitching staff”. Since they have to stay professional with their writing, they can’t say much other than “tough blow”.
My intent was humor more than anything but I do think sports writers have a tendency to reuse the same lazy metaphors, not that it’s consequential other than being annoying to nerds like me. But for fun: Setback, misfortune, stroke of bad luck, unwanted development, this complicates things for…, salt in the wound (if already dealing with other problems), unfortunate turn of events, wrench in the gears, wind out of the sails, disappointment, raw deal, punch in the gut, hardship, creates adversity for…, painful news, you get the point lol. Not everyone has to think language is as fun as I do.
To get Lynn it might cost Franco or another top Prospect.
as a Rangers fan… that would be great… as a person of average intelligence it is beyond reasonable
@mgomrjsurf- Franco isn’t available for any trades, so I know your just kidding. The Yankees couldn’t even get Wander Franco for Aaron Judge right now. Franco is definitely the #1 prospect in the game right now. And wait till he fills out. smh
That’s why I said that what Rangers might want in return for Lynn but he isn’t available..
If they want to win the division, they need to get Clevinger.