Astros GM James Click has “no update” on the status of Michael Brantley, who has now missed close to six weeks due to right shoulder discomfort. In an interview with team radio broadcaster Robert Ford (hat tip to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle), Click said that “with every passing day, you have to kind of take an honest look at” whether or not Brantley’s 2022 season could be over, though the Astros are still hopeful that Brantley can eventually return.
Brantley himself told Rome and other reporters earlier this week that he hadn’t started swinging, and was “day by day” with “no timetable” about when he could start resuming baseball activities. Considering the 35-year-old’s lengthy history of shoulder surgeries, there isn’t much Brantley or the Astros can do but wait and see if his discomfort lessens, since trying to force the issue could make things worse. Houston has missed Brantley’s bat in the lineup, and this injury uncertainty also casts a shadow over Brantley’s free agent market this winter. The veteran is in the final two months of his two-year, $32MM deal with the Astros.
More updates on other injury situations from around baseball…
- Almost exactly one year ago, Tyler Glasnow underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his 2021 season and putting his participation in doubt for the 2022 campaign. However, Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that Glasnow is “fully healthy” and said “the chance is not zero” that Glasnow could help the Rays before the year is out. Considering that Glasnow is still at least a couple of weeks away from throwing to live hitters, mid-September might be the earlier he can return, and even then would likely be limited to bullpen work.
- Joey Lucchesi is another TJ patient who could factor into the 2022 season, as Mets manager Buck Showalter told MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo and other reporters that “if [Lucchesi] can continue down the path he’s on, he’s going to be an option for us.” Lucchesi underwent his surgery in late June 2021, and he has been working out at the Mets’ spring facility in Florida. The left-hander posted some solid numbers as a starter for the Padres and Mets over his four Major League seasons, but would also probably return as a reliever, given that he’d need less time to build up his arm for relief innings than starter’s innings. Since New York in thin on left-handed relievers, Lucchesi or David Peterson could add some balance to the bullpen down the stretch and into the postseason.
- Kevin Pillar’s season was thought to be over when he underwent shoulder surgery in June, but the Dodgers outfielder was recently cleared to start baseball activities. “I would definitely call it best case scenario,” Pillar told Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, and his aim is to at least give the Dodgers something to think about when building their late-season roster and their playoff rosters. “It’s trying to get myself healthy, prove that I’m healthy, get some games under belt and put myself in position where…I’m available,” Pillar said. The veteran outfielder signed a minor league deal with L.A. in March and appeared in only four games with the Dodgers before suffering a fractured left shoulder.
Figured the stros would’ve been all over JB jr
Same
There is no need for Houston to go after JBJ. Jake Meyers and Chaz McCormick are better defenders in center than JBJ at this stage of his career. None of the 3 can hit, but JBJ is having the worst year at the plate than any of the 3. Astros are better off with what they have.
Bradley is the best defensive CF in baseball
We don’t need the defense. We need the offense. That’s what Brantley brought to the team, and that’s what we’re missing from him right now.
He might have been at one point. He isn’t anymore. Meyers is a plus defender in center. We don’t need to add JBJ.
Sarcasm? He doesn’t even play CF all that much, and when he does, he’s definitely not playing at a high level..
Cody, MAT, Bader Carlson all beg to differ
Bradley isn’t even a center fielder anymore, this isn’t 2016.
Used to be. Times change.
Jake Marisnick has best glove, arm, guts & speed in mlb outfield.
Probiotics. That’s how.
“The chance is not zero.” He must’ve just watched Dumb and Dumber.
Good luck Pillar. Pulling for you.
Yea hes had some bad luck the oast 2.5 seasons or so injury wise. As a jays fan i thought every year he had turned a corner cuz he would always hit 290 and get on base for the first 2 months
Lucchesi was great for the Mets last year before going down. The rich get richer!
Pretty small sample size last season to be calling him great, but regardless, he should fortify the bullpen for the stretch, assuming he’s healthy.
Are you on something? Every Luchessi outing pretty much ended up in a disaster. Its ok to admit that your Luchessi’s mom, no one else would ever make a comment like that. Luchessi is terrible and should be DA’d a long with Trevor May, Joely Rodriguez, and Drew Smith. I’d much rather them try out Alex Claudio who they have in TripleA and them give Adonis Medina more shots at the major league level. Im pullinh for Megill to get healthy because I think he can slot in as the 7th inning guy, behind Ottavino and Diaz. Lugo is just barely league average and Givens is a good 6th inning guy. After those 6, theres not many other relievers I trust in the Mets bullpen. Tommy Hunter could have been one but its clear hes still suffering from back problems because it seems like he can’t bend his back while releasing the ball
1. Game logs for Lucchesi and everyone else are readily available on BBREF. “Every Lucchesi outing ended up a disaster” is factually wrong.
2. Your opinion of Mets relievers is shared by nobody, and is likely informed by actual stats just as much as your opinion of Lucchesi: it’s not. At all.
3. Are you Tommy Hunters daddy or something?
4. You don’t provide any commentary of value and your attempts to pwn are as funny as they are correct. Not at all. I’d recommend that everyone just mute you if you can’t or won’t do it yourself.
What a weekend of dominance. DeGrominator is BACK and the Mets easily take 4 of 5 from the strikeout-and-error-prone braves. Lucchesi will be a nice add for the stretch run.
Sleep tight while clutching your little tomahawks tonight you petulant braves fans…
I don’t know if there’s another team in baseball that can match the top two in the rotation of Scherzer and deGrom if they continue to pitch as they did this weekend. Separately, I knew before the deadline that the best opportunity for the Mets to improve was internally, but it never occurred to me that Lucchesi was an option this year. Joely Rodriguez was great today, which is amazing after the struggles he’s had, but one lefty on the active staff is not enough.
Yes, their best chance was to improve internally, but the Vogelbach/Naquin/Ruff deals are proving all the clowns wrong too.
Oh no no no. The thing you don’t understand is that the Mets are actually a bad team and are just super lucky. The Braves will pass them any day now. Ignore the Mets run differential and far superior record against teams above .500. Ignore the fact that deGrom only has two starts yet the Mets are 31 games above .500. It’s actually the Braves, somehow, who are the better team. Any day now.
Yeah these braves fans have been saying the same thing since April… “It’s only April… but it’s only May… but it’s only June… but it’s only July… but it’s only August…”
Only recently did I see someone say, “wHo CaReS aBoUt tHe DiViSiOn aNyWaY”… LOL
I mean, I get people down South aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed but sheesh they’re embarrassing themselves.
.
.
Braves fan should worry about a) staying ahead of the phillies and b)facing the padres in the wild card round with tatis healthy.
“Oh yeah when’s the last time the Mets won a World Series?!? Haha that’s what I thought!”
That comes next.
Got as good a chance as any to win this year. Had a crappy ownership for the longest and now we don’t.
You do realize not all Braves fans actually live in the South? There are quite a few like myself who got hooked back when they were broadcasted on TBS. I am actually almost midway from the Royals/Rockies stadiums.
@raisinsss…From 1903-2021, the Braves have 4 WS Championships, one every 29.5 years. In the 59 years since the Mets came into the league they have 2 WS Championships, one every 29.5 years.
I know. They were the MLB equivalent of “America’s Team” – “…the land of the free and the home of the Brave[s].” I appreciate passionate fans, but can’t stand it when they get obnoxious. I’m a long suffering Mets’ fan who was born the day the Mets lost the 1973 World Series to Reggie Jackson’s A’s. 1986 was incredible and there have been fun teams since then, but I think we’re due. However, I do notice a pattern in World Series appearances. After losing in 1973, the next appearance was 13 years later in 1986. After that, it was 14 years until 2000. Then, it was 15 years until 2015. I don’t want to wait until 2031, when the team is on that level now
Fortunately for braves fans, they can rewatch their 2021 ws run on mlb.tv while the Mets are still competing for it this year 🙂
For the record, Americans in every state can’t stand New Yorkers.
Just because New Yorkers don’t sleep with their livestock doesn’t give you the right to attack them. They’re people too.
Just check twitter see see what happens to obnoxious braves fans when they harass Mets fans
For the record, I’m from the upper midwest and 2 of my best friends are New Yorkers.
With an open mind, life is rich & full.
That Pillar is a true warrior !
Best of luck Pillar!
The Astros have paid Brantley A LOT of money over the past 4 years and haven’t had much bang for their buck. He’s an injury magnet.
idk how closely you follow the astros but from your comment i figured that you dont follow them closely he’s been their most consistent hitter the last 4 years and this year has been the only year he’s missed an extended amount of time
I went to baseball reference and saw he isn’t durable. He missed over 40 games last year and this year he’ll miss more than that. The guy gets hurt alot. That’s all I’m trying to say. He’s a good hitter when healthy. He was good in Cleveland too. I’m not sure why you brought up being their most consistent hitter. I wasn’t talking about his work on the field. The games played numbers show he has problems staying healthy.
The Stros are quite happy with Brantley signing.
Unbelievable how many people on here don’t have the ability to look past the surface on ANYTHING.
Brantley didn’t miss any large number of games in 2019 and 2021. He was also good to go for the shortened season. Missed 40 games last year? Cool. He was still a hit machine for them so I’m sure they’re satisifed.
You missed it too. I said he’s been injured quite a bit throughout his career. Never mentioned production. When he’s healthy he’s good. I’m sure they are satisfied with his production. I’m also sure behind the scenes they aren’t happy with the problems staying on the field. Missing 41 out of 162 games is a chunk. Going to miss more than that this year. They signed him to a contract and he hasn’t stayed healthy.
You went from saying they haven’t gotten much bang for their buck to saying you’re sure they’re satisfied lol
When he’s on the field I’m sure they are happy with his production. With this contract he signed I’m sure they are not satisfied with the amount of down time. There is no way they can be happy with all the time missed since he signed his latest contract……now all the way back to the beginning…..they haven’t got much bang for their buck. I have all day to reply and it will probably take all day until everyone gets it.
You are the one that hasn’t looked beyond the surface. Odds are you went to baseball-reference, saw he played 120 games last season (missing 42 games) and then saw 40+ games in 2020, not realizing it was the covid season (easy thing to miss). You automatically assumed he missed 120 in 2020. Then, when people that do follow Houston made the correct assumptions about Brantley you have changed your tune slightly.
I can’t believe we are still on this. I was around in 2020 so I’m well aware of a 60 game schedule that year. I never mentioned his on field production at first. That’s different from being injured and can’t play. I said he’s always been good…..when he plays. If I was paying him especially in the last 2 years I’d be a little disappointed that he was hurt so much. Nobody changed my tune about anything. The discussion expanded and I went with it.
You moved the goal posts. Have a good day.
The first comment after my original comment is when the goal posts got changed. Go back and try reading it if you can. That’s when his production was brought up. I always liked Brantley. Solid player. I mentioned his health and how he’s missed alot of time. Surely isn’t what the Astros were looking for when they signed him.Try not to be slow. Pay attention from the beginning.
I am a diehard Phillies fan and naturally loathe the Mets. But I’m also a fan of logic and realism. They made solid off-season moves and have new ownership. And to me the best move they made was hiring Buck. The guy is easily one of the best players managers in the game. One of their biggest problems was a skipper that glued the team together. It’s massively overlooked. Could any of the braves or Phils catch them? Sure it’s possible. But highly improbable barring a massive implosion. Which this doesn’t look like the “LOL METS” this go around. October is a whole new ballgame but I just don’t see them being run down this season.
I imagine it’s hard to get a solid report on Brantley while he’s in hospice care.
This was a really great joke Jimmy
I’m not the one acting like the dude is dead and the world is coming to an end because of an ouchy shoulder