The Reds announced today that they have activated Mike Moustakas from the 10-day injured list while transferring Joey Votto to the 60-day injured list. Votto’s transfer was a mere formality, as it had already been reported that he will be undergoing season-ending rotator cuff surgery. However, Votto underwent the surgery today and there was apparently a bit more damage than expected, with his bicep also needing to be tended to.
Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer relayed the news from general manager Nick Krall. “Joey this morning had successful surgery to repair his left rotator cuff and bicep,” Krall said. “The surgery was a little more than expected. The injury definitely limited the use of his left shoulder and affected his performance, but we expect he will be able to participate in spring training and be ready for the 2023 season.” Despite the surprise damage to Votto’s bicep, the recovery time will still reportedly be six months, meaning he should still be on pace for next season. Votto seems to be in good spirits about the whole thing, if his tweeting is anything to go by. 2023 will be the final guaranteed year of the 10-year, $225MM extension Votto signed back in 2012.
As for Moustakas, he been limited to 73 games this year due to multiple trips to the injured list. When healthy, he’s hit just .200/.289/.326. That’s fairly similar to his .208/.282/.372 output from last year, with both those lines amounting a wRC+ of 70. 2023 will also be the last guaranteed year of his deal. The Reds don’t have any financial commitments for 2024, other than the buyouts of $20MM options for Votto and Moustakas.
Other injury notes from around the league…
- The Red Sox announced that they have reinstated left-hander Matt Strahm from the injured list, optioning right-hander Josh Winckowski in a corresponding move. Strahm had been out of action for more than a month due to a wrist contusion. The southpaw is having a nice bounceback season after losing most of 2021 to injury. Through 27 2/3 innings this season, he has a 3.58 ERA with a 27.1% strikeout rate that’s the best he’s registered since 2018. He’ll look to continue with those strong results down the stretch as he’s heading back to free agency this winter and could do better than the one-year, $3MM deal he got from Boston for 2022.
- The Rangers announced that reliever Joe Barlow has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right index finger blister, with A.J. Alexy recalled to take his place on the roster. Barlow already went to the IL earlier this year due to a blister on the same finger, returning just two days ago. Now he’ll head back to the IL due to the same issue in what is surely a frustrating development for the hurler. Prior to these setbacks, he got some time as the club’s closer, racking up 13 saves. He has a 3.16 ERA on the season through 31 1/3 innings.
- The Marlins announced to reporters, including Christina De Nicola of of MLB.com, that first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper has been placed on the seven-day concussion IL. Cooper’s hitting .269/.345/.415 on the year, good enough for a wRC+ of 118. He’s somewhat quietly been a consistently above-average hitter in recent years, producing a wRC+ of 111 or higher in four straight season now.
After tonights horrible game optioning the whole team might not be a bad idea.
Rsox – I know you’re being facetious, but last night the offense and defense was obviously not the problem.
As usual, it was Cora’s handling of the pitching staff. Leaving in Crawford to give up 11 hits and 9 runs in less than 4 innings is inexcusable, especially for a team that is *supposedly* trying to make the playoffs.
And Brasier being left in to allow 6 of 8 batters to reach base safely was downright gross.
The game was very winnable, if not for those two atrocious decisions.
What a nightmare for the Reds, where do they go from here?
They stop trying to compete w Yankees and dodgers and start competing w rays and a’s. They have wasted some 300 million dollars on moose and votto and are in the 2nd complete rebuild of vottos contract. That’s Money they could use to extend (or really just afford) to keep younger home grown talent like mahle and Castillo and gray to a lesser extent.
Krall has been decent to good as primary decision maker. But bell is an embarrassment and must go if they ever care to compete.
From there- we are entering an era where large market teams will blow past soft cap by some 100 million. Therefore free agents will be more difficult to come by. So reds need to start locking up their talent young and change the culture of their locker room. Start with india, Tyler Stevenson, and lodolo. Offer those guys contracts to cover arbitration years plus a couple more seasons then do the same w Greene Ashcroft and maybe even senzel. Then when players reach close to free agency, and prime age of 30, unload them or let ‘em walk everytime, Regardless of how well liked they are.
Reds also need to make a major investment into player development. Overpay someone from rays or Braves to come in and help make this young crop of players more prepared for the next level.
Or ya know, they can keep being the reds where the vast majority of their fan base is embarrassed to admit their a fan and refuse to spend 1 cent on merch or go to games.
Ya idk about that tbh
At one point Votto WAS money afforded to young home grown talent…
The Moose signing was an awful deal and even at the time was very suspect.
I never understand why people think the Votto deal was so bad. He WAS home grown talent that they signed. And the dude is a hall of famer. He kept his value in that deal WAY better than Prince Fielder or Pujols did in signing the same deal at the same time. There is no chance he would ever perform at the back end of the deal up to the payment. That’s just a reality for all of these deals. Show me Harper in years 10-14 of his deal.
Just be happy that it’s off the books after ‘23 (plus buyout).
The Reds can’t manage a rebuild or a roster plan. That’s not Vottos fault and his contract isn’t the cause.
Does Votto retire after 2023? Do the Reds do the buyout and him sign for less or does he test the market and sign somewhere else? Since he s the face of the Franchise and a Reds legacy? So now you have no payroll obligations fo you just pick up the 20 million dollar option? since he is a Reds Lifer?
do!!!!
I think 2024 all depends on how Joey produces in 2023. I hope he comes back with a strong season and forces the issue. I honestly can’t see the Reds paying him the 20 mill option, but I believe they’ll make him a fair offer if his ’23 numbers are good.
Some people believe a baseball is an inanimate object, but when the ball reaches a certain velocity and Garrett’s around it becomes a Cooper seeking missile heading straight for where it can do most harm.
Just muted another.
My first ex wife and I divorced because she liked green cabbage while I preferred red. We tried to stay together for the kids but we didn’t have any due to me being sterile from living next to a cell phone tower. At the time I thought the 300 dollars they offered us to build it in the yard was a fair offer but after suffering years of health issues, I know I should have held out for at least 500