The Dodgers announced to reporters, including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, that right-hander Blake Treinen has undergone “right shoulder labrum and rotator cuff repair surgery.” The recovery process is about 10 months, meaning it’s possible Treinen will miss the entire 2023 season.
After a dismal 2019 campaign, Treinen was non-tendered by the A’s and signed a one-year, $10MM deal with the Dodgers for 2020. It was a nice bounceback season for him, as he posted a 3.86 ERA while getting grounders on an incredible 64% of balls in play. The Dodgers were impressed enough to re-sign him for two years and $17.5MM with a 2023 club option worth $8MM.
In 2021, he took his game up a notch. Though his strikeout rate had been just above 20% in 2019 and 2020, he shot it up to 29.7% last year. He still got ground balls at a really strong 52.6% clip, helping his ERA drop down to 1.99. He also got pushed into more high leverage situations, earning seven saves and 32 holds.
2022 hasn’t been as pleasant, unfortunately. He appeared in three games in April before landing on the IL due to shoulder discomfort. He was transferred to the 60-day IL in May but the Dodgers nonetheless agreed to an extension with Treinen shortly thereafter. The extension was for $8MM in 2023, effectively guaranteeing the club option that was already in place. In addition, it came with a new club option for 2024, with a value somewhere between $1MM and $7MM. Where it falls in that range will depend upon Treinen’s health and other factors over the course of the deal.
Treinen did return to the hill this year, making a couple of appearances in September before returning to the IL. He was activated for the NLDS and made one postseason appearance, though he must have been using the last bits of strength his shoulder had. It was reported a couple of days ago that surgery seemed to be likely, and it has now indeed come to pass.
This is surely a disappointing development for Treinen personally but also for the Dodger club that took a gamble on him six months ago. They will now be on the hook for $8MM next year and that is quite likely to be a sunk cost. The 10-month recovery window makes it possible Treinen returns very late next year but he will have to rebuild strength and effectiveness after a long layoff. That makes it tough to count on him for anything. The exact calculus that goes into determining the final value of the 2024 option isn’t known, though Treinen’s upcoming extended absence will likely result in it finishing in the low end of that $1-7MM range. The club will surely make their decision based on how his health responds between now and one year from now. Treinen is currently 34 and will be turning 36 in June of 2024.
Sounds like LA will be buying more than Kershaw…..
I think Treinen ultimately delayed his surgery because he believed God would heal him. In interviews he constantly said he trusted In the lord to give him the strength to pitch and if he pitched it would be because of the lords grace.
I wonder what changed his mind now since doctors had been recommending surgery since May of 2022. Very odd
Linkage?
ocregister.com/2022/09/03/blake-treinen-is-back-wi…
Jesus finally got thru to him to get the damn surgery. When Treinen is healthy he is a menace in the pen and a lethal weapon. I wish him all the best in getting back to health. One of the few relievers out there who scared me and I don’t even have to face him.
At his age it might be the end of his career.
Presumably the Dodgers would decline the $8 mill. option on Treinen in favor of a $1.5 mill. buyout?
I believe that he was extended back in May 2022 which guarantees 2023. Not a good move. I thought it was odd that they did that given the uncertainty with his shoulder at that time.
This is tough. Damn
WHY DIDN”T HE DO THIS IN MAY… Delaying this 6 months so you could pitch one inning… ugh. This was a major fail on the part of the team, trainers and player.
@nick no matter what kind of surgery anyone need from “routine” to high risk going under the knife should always be a last resort. in blake’s case resting a rehab didn’t work that’s why he went with the last resort option
Very bad for the Dodgers. Only silver lining, if he recovers, they get him super cheap in 2024
They have a club option at $8mm for 2024, but is that cheap given the uncertainty with shoulder surgery and many times it takes longer to fully recover? Different from TJ surgery. They can always decline but even if they accept, not sure if $8mm is cheap. It’s very cheap if you get the good old fully healthy Treinen. He’ll also turn 36 in 2024. I think you’re getting a lesser version of Treinen when he returns.
Pretty sure the 8M is next year and that is guaranteed, and 2024 will be between $1-7M as a team option. Given the diagnosis, it will be darn near 1M in 2024 most likely
I was going based on spotrac, and they have $8mm club option but there is a footnote on the conditional time played in 2023.
Still a very bad contract as you really don’t know what you’re getting in 2024 and you’re paying $8mm for nothing in 2023. Dodgers doing too much of this lately and Getty burned.
I could very well be wrong, but that’s been my understanding
Nick. I agree. He had issues all year should have done the surgery back then.
Hey are you taking on any new patients? I like your telemedicine style!
Friedman seems to be willing to hang onto relievers/pitchers while they rehab with a possibility of getting production from them on the tail end of the deal. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. No risk, no reward.