The Astros announced Friday that outfielder Michael Brantley, who has been out since June due to a shoulder issue, underwent an arthroscopic procedure to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The surgery will end his season.
Since Brantley was placed on the injured list, the Astros have been vague regarding the nature of Brantley’s injury. General manager James Click said in July that there were no updates on Brantley other than that the team was waiting for inflammation in his shoulder to subside. Acting manager Joe Espada (filling in while Dusty Baker was out due to Covid-19) said earlier this week that Brantley was seeking a second opinion.
Today’s announcement is the first indication of structural damage within the shoulder. This is the second time in Brantley’s career that he’s required surgery on this shoulder; he also suffered a small tear in his labrum late in the 2015 campaign and eventually underwent surgery that November.
Brantley, 35, is the second season of a two-year, $32MM contract with the Astros. It’s the second consecutive two-year, $32MM deal he’s signed with Houston, where he’s now played since the 2019 campaign. He’s appeared in 64 games and taken 277 plate appearances this season, batting .288/.370/.418 with five homers, 14 doubles and a triple. In all, Brantley has batted a combined .306/.368/.464 in just over 1600 regular-season plate appearances as an Astro, plus an additional 211 plate appearances of .314/.376/.408 production in the postseason.
If that’s the end of Brantley’s run with the Houston franchise, he’ll go down as an immensely successful veteran signing. There’s no option on Brantley’s contract, so he’s set to become a free agent in a couple months’ time. The Astros did not provide a timetable for when he might return to playing. The Astros’ announcement added that Click will speak to reporters in a couple hours, so further updates could be provided at that time.
The ’Stros have been dealing with Brantley’s absence for some time already, most regularly turning to Chas McCormick, Yordan Alvarez and Aledmys Diaz in his absence. Houston acquired Trey Mancini from the Orioles prior to the Aug. 2 trade deadline, but Baker has voiced a reluctance to play him in the outfield, given Mancini’s limited outfield work in recent seasons. (More broadly, he’s opted to sit Mancini nearly as often as start him since the trade, much to the chagrin of Astros fans.)
Subtracting Brantley from the outfield mix entirely puts a damper on the potential postseason roster, as players like McCormick and Diaz — generally viewed as depth/bench options — will now be pressed into more full-time duty. Add in the ongoing struggles of center fielder Jake Meyers, who’s batting just .218/.260/.328 this season (and .147/.205/.221 over his past 23 games), and the outfield is at least a potential area of concern for the remainder of the year. It also stands out as a natural area of focus for Click and his staff in the coming offseason, whether they pursue a Brantley reunion or look for alternatives on the free-agent and/or trade markets.
That sucks. Start Mancini or McCormick in left.
With all the trade frenzy, I kinda forgot about Brantley. A quiet, get the job done player. Any team would miss this guy not being in the lineup.
Tatis Jr should follow Brantley’s lead with shoulder surgery.
Damn
Heal up, Dr Smooth.
Get better Uncle Mike
Well pooey that sucks. This guy is the epitome of a professional hitter. Astros fans would have loved to seen him back headed towards the post season. Unfortunately this may end his tenure with the Astros. Good luck Michael Brantley! It has been a pleasure to see you playing for the Astros.
A torn labrum is serious, although an arthroscopic procedure indicates perhaps a lower severity. Hopefully so as torn labrum’s can be career altering.
Almost all labrum tears are scoped. The only difference is whether the labrum is anchored back down on the socket, or if the biceps tendon is cut and attached to the humerus. I have had the latter, called a biceps tenodesis.
The only thing that is concerning is that it was bothering him enough when swinging a bat apparently, because he could’ve DH’ed otherwise. Mine only bothered me when throwing, to the point where I couldn’t anymore. Hitting wasn’t an issue.
Mancini definitely
Don’t forget Aledmys Diaz has been raking while playing left field
Mancini absolutely
Mancini should takeover LF
All Astros hate aside. This guy has been one of the best underrated players since I’ve been a baseball fan. The guy is just a pure hitter. He would fit perfectly in the top of any lineup. Get well soon MB.
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Correction. This is the 3rd time he’s had surgery on this shoulder.
I love the guy but this is probably a career ender. His power is already sapped and 3 surgeries on one shoulder now is just too much. I hope he recovers well but this unfortunate
Its almost certainly the end of Brantley’s tenure with the Astros. With Alvarez signed long-term and Brantley looking more like a DH the Astros are likely to be in the market for at least one corner Outfielder and possibly a Center Fielder as well this winter
Stop playing Dubon in center and play Chas in CF and rotate Yordan and Mancini in LF/DH. No wonder Dusty hasn’t won’t a chip. You have the best team in the AL, play them!
Yankees, Astros, Braves and Mets are good, Dodgers are ridiculous, they don’t have Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Dustin May, Blake Treinan and Graterol who are all coming back, Highest payroll and the #1 farm system, it’s like an all star team
Brantley is a good example of just how hard it is to have a HOF career. He has it all to get there, but health failed him far too often. Great player regardless.
Even his very best years were not HOF worthy..True he was hurt quite often,but even so he would only belong in HOVG.
Brantley is very underrated like Evan Longoria and Trea Turner but no way would Brantley ever even be considered for the Hall of Fame even if he was healthy each season
Well that is true but at least he made that sweet play to double off Judge in the 2019 ALCS.
In fact, I just watched it again and smiled.
Good luck and quick healing Uncle Mike.
I had a complete labrum tear, rotator cuff and bursa sac surgery last October, I couldn’t imagine throwing a baseball, still daily pain
Sad news. Brantley a really great hitter, not slugger. Sounds like with multiple operations on the Sam shoulder that his days of playing the outfield are over. As much as I alike him not sure he provides enough pop to be a DH on a really good team. Great career if it’s over, just a bit under a Hall of Fame Career.
Resign CF Jake Marisnick. Great defender covers a lot of ground, doubles hitter and occasional power. Astros fans loved him. Shouldn’t cost a ton of money to bring him back. The other Jake ain’t cutting the mustard.
As much as I hate to hear this, he probably wasn’t coming back next year anyway. Loved him while he was here for sure. I think Dusty’s days and his questionable decision calling are also numbered. It’s time Jim Crane does right by Joe Espada and makes him manager. If we don’t, he will be one somewhere else next year.
This is certainly a good new for other teams, no offense.
Can Yoenis Céspedes still rake?