Twins starter Chris Paddack underwent Tommy John surgery today, the team informed reporters (including Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press). It’s the second such procedure of his career, as he previously went under the knife as a Padres prospect back in 2016.
It’s obviously a disappointing development for both pitcher and team. Minnesota just acquired Paddack on the eve of Opening Day, relinquishing closer Taylor Rogers and corner outfielder Brent Rooker to secure three years of his services (as well as reliever Emilio Pagán). The hope was that Paddack would add some depth to a rotation that had its fair share of injury concerns, but his first season in Minnesota comes to a close after five outings.
Paddack presented something of a health red flag himself, however. In addition to his prior Tommy John surgery, the righty landed on the injured list late last September due to inflammation in his throwing elbow. That proved a season-ending issue, but Paddack returned to open this year. He left his May 8 start because of renewed elbow inflammation, and reports thereafter suggested surgery might prove necessary.
The 26-year-old Paddack has proven enigmatic from both a health and performance perspective. He was lights-out as a rookie, tossing 140 2/3 innings of 3.33 ERA ball in 2019. His production ticked downwards in both of the following seasons, as his ERA jumped north of 4.70 in both years while he struggled to keep the ball in the park. The Friars continued to stockpile starting pitching talent over that time, and Paddack fell outside the top five or six arms on the rotation depth chart.
San Diego explored multiple possible Paddack deals in Spring Training. He and Pagán were involved in talks with the Mets that might’ve offloaded some of Eric Hosmer’s contract to New York while sending Dominic Smith to Southern California. Mets’ brass eventually pulled out of that possible deal, and San Diego pivoted to talks with Minnesota instead.
From a performance perspective, Paddack had shown signs of turning the corner in his early run in the Twin Cities. He posted a 4.03 ERA across 22 1/3 innings, striking out 21.5% of opponents while walking just two of the 93 hitters he faced. The Texas native saw slight dips in his fastball velocity and swinging strike rate, but neither seemed especially alarming until he was pulled mid-start with the elbow concern.
Paddack is making $2.25MM this season, and he’ll be eligible for arbitration twice more. With his limited innings total, he’ll only accrue a marginal raise on that salary for 2023. He’ll certainly miss the bulk of the 2023 campaign as well, so his final arbitration raise will probably also be muted. It’s unfortunate timing for Paddack, but that affordability probably means the Twins will tender him a contract with an eye towards the end of next season and the 2024 campaign.
In the meantime, Minnesota will have to make due with their other starting pitching options. Joe Ryan and Chris Archer are the only two who have taken all seven turns through the rotation. Dylan Bundy missed some time with COVID-19, but both he and Sonny Gray — who had a brief IL stint for a hamstring strain — are back. Bailey Ober shouldn’t be far behind after making a rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul over the weekend, and well-regarded prospect Josh Winder has produced in a swing role.
That’s likely to be the primary group, although there’s a fair bit of performance and injury uncertainty with the veteran options at the back end. Kenta Maeda is hoping to make a late-season return from his own Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last September. Still, rotation help looked to be a possible midseason target for the division-leading Twins even if everyone were healthy. Paddack’s loss only figures to spur that pursuit as we move nearer to the trade deadline.
Sucks
The Twins and any other team looking for starting pitchers, need to look no further than the Chicago Cubs. Smyly, Stroman, Mills and Farrell could all be had for a reasonable offer.
I guess the Mets were on to something when that deal fell through
Speaking of the Mets…
I don’t really think that deal “fell through”. It was all just empty rumors from the start. Obviously I don’t know this as absolute fact, but it’s the impression I got at the time.
Most potential deals fall through really. There’s always a lot of chatter and “what if” analysis type stuff going on between different ballclubs. Most of it is just talk, sometimes rumors leak to the media (including sites like MLBTR). Deals that do happen occur because both sides think there’s something worthwhile in it for them.
Exactly. Teams are talking all the time, we get the rumors which is nice, but as you pointed out, most these talks fall through pretty quick.
He wasn’t injured enough yet. They’ll jump on him now to fill out the IL rotation
Good trade………for the Padres.
That’s something you don’t hear every day.
Wait a year or two
A broken clock is right twice a day
not digital ones
Come back strong, CP!
Preller knew…
everyone knew. Falvey thinks he’s smarter than the medical reports.
What set of medicals did Preller send over?
WHOSE medicals did Preller send over?
The same medicals Boras tried to pass on to teams for Conforto
Pomeranz’s
While the Twins knew about the injury to Paddack before trading for him, this is yet another black mark on Preller dealing damaged goods to another team. With the exception of the Pomeranz deal to Boston (he received a 30 day suspension and a fine) he has somehow avoided greater punishment by the league office even though it has been proven that he has not sent full medical records to other teams he has dealt pitchers to in the past. I’m not saying he did this with Paddack at all, but If I’m another GM, I stay far away from any pitcher Prelller is dangling to the market unless the pitcher has no history of injuries. Even if that is the case, no one should make a deal with him until their own medical staff has fully evaluated his health, head to toe. This might make it hard for SD to trade pitchers in the future as some pitchers refuse to go through an entire battery of arm tests as part of a potential trade transaction but Preller has dug his own grave and now has to lie in it.
I’m guessing the league office will review this deal again just to make sure no funny business went on here as well.
No
What? Dumb post of the day
@Dorothy_Mantooth This isn’t another black mark on anybody. Not a single soul didn’t know Paddack had a bad elbow. And Preller hs been on the wrong side of this type of thing probably more than he has been in the right side of it (Clevinger, Espinoza, first Paddack trade, Capps, etc).
And you should fully evaluate from head to toe any pitcher you are trading for regardless of who you are trading with.
Anything else you care to be wrong about today?
Oh please, don’t be stupid, everyone knew what paddack was before the trade, this isn’t a black mark on preller at all
Oh give over. Padres are constantly getting damaged goods from other teams (Snell, Clevinger) and nobody is saying a thing then. Everyone knew something wasn’t right with Paddack and that he’d been on the IL plenty of times. This one is entirely on Minnesota.
Snell, Clev, and add Adams, Voit, Nola, etc…
Paddack’s arm issues were common knowledge. His performance issues had to do with his pitch arsenal, i.e., fastball, changeup and not much else. I think Larry Rothschild broke him trying to get him to develop a third pitch.
“While the Twins knew about the injury…” did everyone commenting here miss the first sentence of the post? Probs.
Preller sells damaged goods?? Yet still has a job and continues to make trades. Something doesn’t add up. Does it make him smart or the other 29 teams dumb?
He was caught selling damaged goods in the past. It’s documented.
Everyone knew about his injury and Paddack’s decision not to get surgery, but to instead get PRP injections which have a pretty low success rate in terms of avoiding TJ long term. The Mets saw his medicals and passed because they saw the same thing the Twins decided to ignore.
The Twins just made a dumb, desperate move.
If you needed to look at medical reports to know this was the most likely outcome for chris then you probably shouldn’t be a gm.
Braves have Fried, Anderson, Wright, Strider….make your pick. The Braves are finished contending.
Huh? Your team should trade for Duvall,
Don’t bogart that joint my friend
The only people who should put the joint down are the ones who believe this team is good. The offense needs an overhaul.
@Curly – I think you meant don’t Bogaert that joint.
I can definitely see Preller getting into the Bogaerts trade market at the deadline even though they already have (3) shortstops on their 40 man roster (Tatis, Kim, Abrams). He could offer Kim & a young prospect or two for Xander if Boston makes him available. It would be a classic Preller move.
No. I don’t agree with this. Their infield looks good and is improving. Especially with Kim. Tatis will return soon and there’s no reason to believe he won’t plug in right away. That will help Machado, Hosmer, and down the lineup. The Padres don’t need any more infielders now. Pitching, yes. Bullpen help.
“…He could offer Kim & a young prospect or two for Xander..”
Not just no, but hell no. Kim is just starting to find his groove in the majors.
I get ATL has had their offensive struggles, but considering Acuña has barely been back…not sure why this would pull a troll out from under his bridge. Especially when they just gave the reigning Cy winner (Burnes) his worst start of the year (@ home, no less) only to have it squandered 3x by has-been RPs (yes, Jansen is a has-been).
Braves fans should quit preemptively whining that your team might not be a dynasty. No one thought you were going to win the World Series after Acuna got hurt. Just relax. There are still trams that have never won or made it to the World Series. Braves fans are least entitled right now to whine about not winning it all in 2022 lol.
And Billy Eppler is breathing the WORLD’S BIGGEST sigh of relief.
Not really. That deal never had any legs and was “leaked” on the Padres end to try to drum up interest in Hosmer. If anything, Mr. Preller is breathing a sigh of relief that he still has Hosmer.
The Padres absolutely fleeced the Twins in that trade
Meh. They still get Brayan Medina and all of his upside. Brent Rooker is a AAAA player and then the Twins are probably going to re-sign Taylor Rogers as a free agent this offseason.
Not the best attempt at sarcasm I’ve seen but not terrible either
I invented sarcasm and that wasn’t it
the Padres get one season of Roger’s before he tests free agency and they lose him. it was a good trade for the Twins.
Could somebody check on Barelybreathin?!! Attempted to post something but wasn’t able – hopefully this person is still conscious :-/
Barelybreathin doesn’t post anything & gets 4 up votes. A sad summary of the barely breathin visitors on this site.
LMAO. 6 years of paddack won’t equal this 1 season we have with rogers. what an absolute BONEHEADED statement.
feels like a comment worth checking back on in a few seasons.
Paddack was trash before his second TJ surgery. I doubt he will miraculously be lights out after the fact
No clue how he’ll do in the future but he was the Twins best starter (out of the guys who started 4 or more games) before he got hurt.
19.4 K-BB%, his ERA was like 4 but FIP of 1.7, xFIP of 3.07. Ryan bested him in ERA and barely in K-BB%. Paddack gave up the least amount of hard contact out of the group too.
As a Twins fan I would disagree. Rogers and his salary paid for is worth much more than 3 years of an injury riddled and frankly not very good anyways Paddack
Buyer beware in any deals with Preller
#drewpomeranz
You mean the trade where the Red Sox traded the Padres an injured Anderson Espinoza for a non-injured Drew Pomeranz?
Also, I wonder how the Rays, Guardians and Mariners feel about trading with Preller…
Preller is relapse spelled back sideways
Hahaha, this made me laugh…
Paddock wasn’t exactly a picture of health prior to the trade. Rogers won’t re-sign with the Twins if he continues to have the kind of season he’s having. He’ll be able to score some more coin elsewhere. Sadly, I agree that he’s a one year rental…
Who’s Paddock?
It was no secret that Paddack was damaged. Minnesota just took a flier on him. They also got Pagan who was a disappointment in SD. Both Pagan and Paddack will be bouncing around MLB for awhile. Rogers’s is good for this year for sure. The Padres have an outside shot at a NL pennant and Series appearance. They needed a closer and got one with Rogers.
Yep, the Twins traded for three years of team control and let go of a guy in his walk year that they thought they would not be able to re-sign. Pretty common MLB trade really.
Not the first time Preller has pulled off a shady deal
How was this a shady deal?
More stupid people making stupid comments.
Brilliant trade!!
Twinkies might just wanna stay away from trading with the NL west
Hmmm. See you in ’24?
such a horrible trade by Minnesota
Do you really miss Brent Rooker that much?
And you can bring Taylor Rogers back as a FA next offseason if you want.
Danm tough luck… that woulda been the Mets smh, I wish him the best
Mets woulda had hosmer too though, and hosmer is raking, Mets missed out, but it’s not like they needed it, Sept Alonso has been disappointing
They have to hope Correa opt’s out, but we all know he won’t. You have to laugh when you see him say he’s open to a long term deal, what a hoot. Owing a potential 175 Million for five years, ain’t enough money or time ? Well, good luck.
2 season’s with 600 + A.B.’s, and he wants more security ? Only one team goes from the Central, and Minnesota needs to play like it could be their last for awhile this year.
Bundy is a non-starter. He’s on the downside. As is Archer. I questioned Paddock’s arm issues from the start. Lucky my team is in a weak division.
Chris Paddack, MLB Pitcher, a man barely able to throw a baseball……
The Twins subsidized Paddack’s acquisition from the Padres by paying
$6.6 Million towards the contract of the traded Taylor Rogers
The Tommy John Surgeon, addresses the Operating Room Staff,
“Everyone, we can rebuild him
We have the technology
We have the capability to make the worlds first bionic MLB Pitcher
Better than he was before
Better, Stronger, Faster, Tougher.
Chris Paddack will be that MAN, a $6.6 Million Dollar MLB Pitcher.”
Wow
What a crazy career. From a no one drafted late, to a minor league season of being unhittable, to a trade that shouldn’t have been made, to a great start to a rookie season, to a sophomore slump and then a trade to this…..its been fun …. I hope he recovers and has success.
Yeah, man, he definitely has talent. Hope he recovers well and can get back to where he was. Hate to see an injury destroy anyone’s career.
Feels like every player who goes to or through SD has at least one of these
I don’t know how many times this happens. Either teams are lying on the medical reports or the GM/organization thinks they are smarter than everyone else.
He has been having issues for over a year. The only two pitchers that I know have overcome TJ when they show the classic signs. Kershaw, the last few years with the constant forearm issue and shutdown and the Japanese pitcher on the Yankees a few years ago. He got a plasma rich injection after a tear and never ended up getting TJ.
Masahiro Tanaka
Thanks
I figured it’s time to buzz the tower, Goose! Np buddy
Maeda and Ervin Santana pitch for many years with elbow concerns before they ended up needing TJ (both happened to be on the Twins when they finally needed it).
I am still salty at the Rea for LUIS CASTILLO trade with Miami.. I mean both went thru team physicals etc.. and Rea’s arm falls off after not 1 not 2 but 3 innings… I disagree with the trade reversal from mlb.. and the sanctions vs AJP… but I get that one from a medical reporting stand… but man oh man Castillo in SDP would have been great…
Paddack made 5 starts and also cleared physicals… not AJP or anyone’s fault his arm fell off..just the nature of the game..
And for the record Dimelson Lamet (now in AAA) soon to “find” his old self and get traded was told to have TJ surgery (#2) last Sept and he refused…so if your team trades for him and word is Twinkies are interested buyer beware.. this way don’t come back and blame AJP “again”…
Check with your history soon after he was acquired by Preiller Paddack had his first TJ surgery. All pitchers are one pitch from busting the elbow ligament. The Pads gave Cleveland 3 players on their current roster for Clevenger and got 5 starts before his 2nd TJ and lost him for 18 mos
Padres trade for a guy that get injured —- preller is a bad gm.
Padres trade a guy that gets injured —- preller is deliberately fooling everyone.
I guess he is somehow both the best and worst gm at the same time.
Are you unaware that he was punished by MLB for dishonest trade practices? This literally happened but folks ignorant to this fact are gaslighting on the issue. Preller has a history of shady dealings where injuries were hidden from the other team. This is a fact, look it up for yourself.
Cause-mo’ information would seem to be the ticket here, Cosmo-
1. Preller had Rea returned after an undisclosed (to anyone, including Colin) injury was found by the Marlins. Seems like it could happen to anyone, anytime and was said to be unintentional on everyone’s part.
2. As the boss, Preller was held liable in the Pom trade for his staff not thoroughly logging all Advil and Tylenol issued to Pom. Preller was suspended 30 days and reiterated that nobody did this intentionally and the team would take extra steps to ensure this staff-wide oversight wouldn’t happen again.
3. The baseball world knew of Paddack’s elbow issues, including the current Twinkie bench coach (and ex-Padre Skipper) Jayce Tingler.
It’s worthy to be skeptical of a bad actor… but Preller isn’t THAT guy.
Fair enough. You sound like his lawyer but fair enough. My point anyway was that folks here were gaslighting on the issue as if there was no reason to be wary of Preller. Even if what you say is all true the fact remains that his past seems shady upon first glance, whether or not it can be explained away upon closer observation.
Duly noted… and if you require representation for any legal transgressions then contact my office at konasurfah@gmail.com haha, enjoy your day bud!
His past isn’t shady it all! There is no reason to be wary of Preller. At least no more reason than any other GM. Ask the Guardians, Mariners and Rays if they are wary of him.
Paddack – what a bargain. His prior club gets rid and acquires a nice relief arm, Twins get stuck with a contract and the medical bills for an albatross that is unlikely ever to pitch in the Majors again, at least with any success.
Falvey – what a guy. Anyone else with his record would be pushing a broom.
The Padres’ 2021 manager is now the Twins bench coach. They knew he was injured when they traded for him.
Paddack has a heart for the game. So did Andrew Cashner. There is no “A for effort” in professional sports except in the fan base.
I’m still fine with the trade. Everyone saw this coming, including the Twins.
Pagan is like the second coming of Fernando Rodney but he’s gotten out of the jams so far. Paddack was the Twins best starter when he went down. I was surprised they got five starts out of him because I was worried about the elbow at the time of the trade. No idea how he’ll come back from a second TJ.
I like Rogers, but the Twins don’t spend big on RP. He wasn’t going to be here next year. I can think of maybe one game where they could have benefited from Rogers and it’s the game Duffey blew. Other than that game he hasn’t been missed