Trevor Rosenthal is drawing a lot of interest, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network. After serving as one of the best relievers in baseball for many years, Rosenthal suffered a major setback when he required Tommy John surgery in 2017. That wiped out the remainder of that season and also prevented him from pitching at all in 2018. When he finally made it back to the hill in 2019, he didn’t seem to resemble his former self, registering a 13.50 ERA in 15 1/3 innings that year, a showing which included an ugly 30.6% walk rate.
While many people considered him cooked, he had a tremendous return to form in 2020. After signing a minor league deal with the Royals, he eventually had his contract selected and threw 13 2/3 innings with a 3.29 ERA and excellent 37.5% strikeout rate, though the walks were still present at a rate of 12.5%. After being traded to the Padres, he pitched another 10 innings without allowing a single earned run. His strikeout rate shot up to an incredible 48.6% and his walk rate dropped down to 2.9%.
In February of last year, the Athletics quite surprisingly outbid the field and gave Rosenthal a one-year, $11MM deal, a huge sum for a typically low-spending club. Unfortunately, the gamble backfired in a big way, as shoulder inflammation sent him to the IL in April, leading to surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Though he was hoping for a midseason return, hip surgery in July wiped out any chance of that. In the end, he wasn’t able to make a regular season appearance at all last year.
Despite that litany of injuries, it’s not surprising that Rosenthal is garnering plenty of interest, as he’s already shown himself capable of returning from the injury wilderness. His final line on the 2020 season between the Royals and Padres was 23 2/3 innings with a 1.90 ERA with a 41.8% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate. While a pessimist could say that he has only had a couple of good months over the past four seasons, there’s no denying that he was elite the last time he was healthy. After missing another full season due to injuries, he surely won’t be able to land a significant commitment in either years or dollars, meaning there should be plenty of teams interested in taking a low-cost flier that he can pull off a repeat of 2020.
He should play a year for the A’s as punishment.
LOL, That should be standard payment. If Bauer miraculously gets too pitch again that’s where he should be sent.
The fans could have piñata
night with good ole Trevor
I hope he makes it back but I wouldn’t touch for anything more than the league minimum with incentives should he stay healthy. 2020 was just a 60 game schedule and I just don’t think he’s able to stay on the field.
Yes, those penny-pinching A’s that gave him $11m for whom he didn’t pitch an inning for.
But hey, it’s not HIS fault.
It’s that cheeep owners. Good for him he got screwed! Teach him a lesson!! (And apparently it did.)
LOL, That should be standard punishment. If Bauer miraculously gets too pitch again that’s where he should be sent.
The fans could have piñata
night with good ole Trevor
You can say that again.
What fans?
Anita’s is calling your name, Trevor. Best carne asada burr in the League!
That is a perfect scenario for a minor league deal to see what he can do for a season. Maybe a 1yr/2m at the most for a team that needs BP help now.
This guy is becoming the King of comebacks. Would be great to see him overcome yet another pretty serious injury.
him and Brent Honeywell
Can you really include a guy that has pitched 2 major league games as a comeback case?
BTW, my vote is for Rosenthal in 3rd with Daniel Bard taking 2nd and Jonny Venters in 1st for Comeback king.
What about tyler matzek?
Or Dave Dravecky, for those who remember!
Or Brewers/Mets/Astros legend Robinson Cancel
Atlanta to replace Luke Jackson
Welcome back to the Pad Squad old friend
I think he owes the As a full healthy season considering all the money they shelled out for him and he never made it to the field
Worst part–they still have to pay him this season as half his salary was deferred to this May
He doesn’t owe the As squat
No with the As being stingy and never paying their good player and their owner being a multi-billionaire I think its good a player got one over on ole “Moneyball”
I think he owes the Nats as well for all the money they paid him to start his comeback, and how atrociously he pitched for them. Unbelievably gawd-awful.
Old pitcher coming off an injury? Is that Chaim Bloom’s song I’m hearing??
DD should be on the horn
Thoracic outlet? That’s not good. This isn’t coming back from a typical injury.
Philly BP needs warm bodies
This makes sense for Philly. They have several proven relief arms coming back from injury or bad performance. The more guys they get the better chance some pan out
He should go to the Cardinals and retire with Pujols Wainwright and Molina at the end of the year he had his best years there with them
Padres need a closer, but he ain’t it.
Is Jason Isringhausen available too?
Yep and if you sign him you get Bill Pulsipher as a bonus.
If he was really drawing a lot of interest you’d think he would be signed by now.
Pass. TOS surgery is too often career ending.
TJ+TOS=UH-OH!