The Rangers announced that right-hander Jacob deGrom has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his throwing elbow. The move comes a day after deGrom was removed early from his start against the Yankees due to what was initially termed as forearm tightness. In the corresponding move, Texas called up right-hander Yerry Rodriguez from Triple-A to take deGrom’s spot on the active roster.
Manager Bruce Bochy told reporters yesterday that removing deGrom was “just a precaution,” and GM Chris Young told reporters (including Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News) that an MRI revealed the inflammation. “Given how important he is to us and our season, we’re going to play this very cautiously and see how he responds over the next several days of treatment, and then 7-10 days we’ll have a pretty good idea of what the next steps are,” Young said.
DeGrom also made an early exit from a start two weeks ago due to wrist soreness, this IL visit might be something more of an overall maintenance pause to let deGrom entirely heal up. That said, it certainly isn’t good to see deGrom back on the IL, particularly with any sort of elbow/forearm issue. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery over a decade ago, and he missed the second half of the 2021 season recovering from forearm tightness. Between that abbreviated 2021 season and then a stress reaction in his shoulder blade prior to the start of the 2022 season, deGrom missed almost exactly a full year of action bridged over the 2021-22 campaigns.
Sandwiched around that long injury absence, deGrom still posted a 1.90 ERA over 156 1/3 innings in 2021-22, continuing to show that he is one of baseball’s very best pitchers when healthy. Even with health concerns clouding his last two seasons, deGrom still opted out of the $30.5MM remaining on his contract with the Mets in order to chase a larger free agent deal this past winter. The bet paid off handsomely for the 34-year-old, who landed a five-year, $185MM contract from the Rangers.
That deal contains a conditional option for the 2028 season that is relevant given the nature of deGrom’s current IL stint. The option becomes a club option if deGrom undergoes a TJ surgery or is on the IL for any elbow or shoulder-related injury for either 130 consecutive days in a given season, or for 186 consecutive days bridging multiple season. (The price of that club option ranges from $20MM to as much as $37MM if deGrom hits certain innings thresholds and finishes in Cy Young Award voting over the life of the contract.) If deGrom avoids these injury benchmarks, passes a physical after the 2027 season, tossed at least 160 innings that season, and has a top-five finish in Cy Young voting in 2027, the option becomes a $37MM player option.
As noted, there isn’t yet any indication that deGrom’s injury is serious, or anything that might even sideline him beyond the 15-day minimum. Still, it is a little ominous that an elbow problem that sent deGrom to the IL within his first month in a Rangers uniform, and the club can only hope that this injury is just a bump in the road.
Over his first six games with Texas, deGrom has continued to perform like an ace, posting a 2.67 ERA over 30 1/3 innings with elite Statcast metrics almost across the board. The Rangers are a perfect 6-0 in deGrom’s starts, which is a big reason why Texas is sitting in first place in the AL West after a 15-11 start.
Texas has off-days on both Monday and Thursday, giving the team some flexibility in how it will reset the rotation with deGrom out. Young indicated that Dane Dunning is the likeliest candidate to step into the starting five, and Rodriguez’s promotion is perhaps a hint that the Rangers will indeed move Dunning back into the rotation. Dunning was a regular starter for the Rangers in 2021-22 before the team’s offseason pitching acquisitions pushed him into a relief role. Despite a very low 13.9% strikeout rate, Dunning has fared well in the bullpen, posting a 1.77 ERA and 50.8% grounder rate over 20 1/3 relief innings.
Elbow inflammation? Uh oh….
I’m telling you, he hates baseball! He seems like the type of guy who get more hyped doing a crossword puzzle than pitching in a big game. He dogged it in NY because he knew he was gonna get his big payday, so he chose he small(er) market team so he could sit on the IL in anonymity.
Does seem like the planets have2 align 4em to feel good enough 2pitch … has left 3 starts w”discomfort” this season already, could be in his own head, diff form of the yipes “can’t do it cch lil tender,” it’s early but this contract has makings of terrible albatross 4TX
I mean, if it’s a Sunday crossword puzzle, that’s understandable.
Just an astoundingly stupid comment. Bless you for sharing it.
No saying its “an astoundingly stupid comment”, is “an astoundingly stupid comment”.
A 36yo hates baseball, but loves rehab. Makes sense. Thanks for adding to the discourse.
Youre welcome. Let me know if I can be of further help.
Well… Jacoby Ellsbury’s endless ‘rehab’ included jetskis and water skiing…so there is precedent.
@despicable_you: What an amazingly ignorant, stupid post.
Sure, players get injured intentionally, which they couldn’t even if they wanted to. That way, they don’t have to actually play a game they’ve been playing their whole lives at a high level.
Did you come up with that theory based on actual information or you just naturally stupid?
I’m not doctor but sounds like TJ surgery. Forearm now elbow? He’s done till 2025
The longer they wait to get the TJ done, the more likely it gets that he will miss all of 2025
Should’ve stopped typing after “I’m not doctor”
Ohhhh… Someone sounds a little, shall we say… edgy?
Everything hinges on that joint.
Might as well quit your day job now!
So don’t bogart that joint…my friend
Bravo!
Sadly everyone saw this coming. Sucks. At his best he was short list one of the most dominant arms of recent era
Clearly not Texas by giving him a 5 year contract. Idc how bad you want to compete and be relevant, the front office should all be fired for signing off on this horrific contract.
Don’t you have a 10 year contract with someone who’s never going to recover from back problems?
Don’t have any outrage at my front office… owner was nice enough to give the FO 7 swings. You had your 1, combined with an injury like everyone is going to have (woodward) the only reason your season isn’t over is the division
Can you point to a single thing that failed to register? I’m always glad to help
The entire second paragraph
@Milwaukee-2208…yeah I will be skipping over his posts.
They all tend to remind me of the letters you see in movies where the bad guy cuts individual letters out of magazines.
When you read them you tend to do a few double-takes to make sure you got it right and then you still sit there shaking your head..
“At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
Got an Edward Nigma going on here. I see Jim Carrey in his green unitard with the question marks
Milwaukee – If I may interject, the proper term is “injured” not “disabled”.
Using the term “disabled” means you’re racist …. or sexist … or one of them other popular “ist” words.
Well, Fever Pitch Guy, is disabled an accurate term? Is it a disability or an injury? You dont have to be an jerk. People with disabilities just want better conditions/treatment. And perception of disabilities has a lot to do with that. To these ends, people with disabilities asked MLB to change the name (a name that is not used for similar lists in any other sport): “The principal concern is that using the term ‘disabled’ for players who are injured supports the misconception that people with disabilities are injured and therefore are not able to participate or compete in sports.”
Seriously, it is so so easy to not be a jerk about this stuff.
And, yeah calling someone disabled for a confusing/borderline-incoherent reply to a MLB Trade Rumors article is “ableist”.
When I was in the Navy, we used to say ‘sick, lame and lazy…’
Now it’s probably physically challenged’, or ‘health compromised’.
Well, Mr. Raw … When you’re injured, for the time being, you’re temporarily disabled, are you not?
After all, there are (for examples) license plates with the disability icon on them, and there are the temporary parking things one hangs on their rear-view mirrors, correct?
Not challenging your premise. Just engaging in (hopefully) civil discourse.
“Sick Bay Commandos” was another popular term of endearment for the crutch-marching denizens.
Good times!
I’m not sure my license plates say DV not IV.
@knolln: Your front office? Which team do you own?
As the rangers sit in first place at the end of April in probably 10+ years, maybe more… I doubt anyone of substance in that organization agrees with you
I know you’re defending the FO, but we’ve won and been relevant in division races over the last decade, several. It’s just been a somewhat slow and no miracle prospects popping up type of rebuild
Not trying to throw shade and I’ll own the zero research I did to verify my statement, but I live right next to Angel stadium. Just honestly, it’s been a long time since any Angel fan has mentioned the Rangers as a threat or concern to me. Before this year.
That’s because they are Angels fans. What threats and concerns? That the Angels finish fourth instead of third with their sub-500 record?
That front office fired by its own first place team? That’s funny.
Heh heh heh heh…
HEHEHE HEH HEHEHE HEH!
Of any era
Kawhi Leonard of MLB
Oh, i like your jib cut! I’ll try too? Miggy Cabrera is Carmelo Anthony MLB comp, oh, if you just look at stats, sure all timer. But, close career watchers say, it coulda been SO much better with championships. And Max Scherzer is Jimmy Butler, succeeds with dog attitude, maybe not best, best talent.
Lol OK. The last triple crown award winner doesn’t reach your no name expectations…gotcha champ.
Cabrera is inner circle hall of famer, but just like Mantle, we wonder, oh if the booz and late nights didn’t cut him short! And, oh, if he just came to spring in athlete discipline shape! This is just like Carmelo Anthony! Both are all time great! But, oh, so much all the talent forever and to the moon!
He’s been pulled from 3 separate starts due to injury this season and it’s still April.
“3 separate starts”…that could explain the 6 IL placements, including two 60 days, since 2018.
Strange post… any serious injury time was 2021-22. He made 32 starts in both 2018 and 2019 and all 12 in 2020.
2 in the regular season – the other one was spring, if I remember correctly
Shame.
The new Wow!
LOLMETS
How is Verlander helping on the IL?
LOLThisIsARangersStory. LOL.
I think more teams should include the “John Lackey clause” in Pitcher contracts. When Lackey signed with the Red Sox after the 2009 season he signed a five year deal with a provision that if he missed a season due to injury (there were concerns over Lackey’s elbow) that a club option valued at league minimum would be triggered. As fate would have it, Lackey would miss the 2012 season after having Tommy John surgery and the option kicked in for the 2015 season. Now granted the Sox had traded Lackey to the Cardinals during the 2014 season but the ultimately still would have gotten the five years they signed him for had they kept him
The Cardinals really appreciated that option on Lackey.
Well who didn’t see that coming?
TJ coming Soon ?
What a game. Paid millions to rehab. He is beyond done…
The Mets virus lives in you for life if you’re a pitcher.
At this point they should probably put him in the bullpen as a closer ala John Smoltz. The stuff is still there.
You don’t pay $185 million dollars for a relief pitcher meat.
You’re not getting that cheese by me, meat.
Poor reference considering Smoltz eventually returned to being a starter in 2005? I wanna say
That’s entirely the point.
Dude was done last year (obviously). They either make him the closer or they don’t get anything out of that contract
It’s unbelievable how nobody can evaluate anything
It’s unbelievable that you claim a team should have a 31M/year closer then claim immediately thereafter that nobody can evaluate anything…
Agreed. That’s a comical reply
Claims to know everything but knows nothing. I’d rather pick a random mlbtr username out of a hat to run my fantasy team for a day than pick him if forced to.
Fantasy teams are purely stat driven and have nothing to do with what wins
Tons of better players put up less stats. Some players just try to win the games, not post numbers
You’re part of the league that thinks Willy Adames and Bo Bichette are better than Correa because they put up more WAR
Money doesn’t have anything to do with it. You either have a starter on the IL or you have a closer for 60 innings
You’re only getting 60 innings a year either way
The entire “they’re paying him as a starter” thing is some sort of myth that developed over the years. The contract is totally irrelevant
News is starting to look “deGrim”
Lmfao. Brilliant!
As a Met fan who was sour when he abandoned the team for a big payday in Texas, I’m now officially fine with his choice.
Maybe you should have been sour with Steve Cohen for not paying what it took to keep him.
On a per innings basis since 2021, deGrom has taken both teams downtown.
You can’t blame deGrom for taking the big payday. Even he knew this was gonna happen. deGrom’s a great guy and great pitcher whose arm just can’t take the stress of how good he is anymore.
I guess you don’t look for and accept higher paying jobs.
Its not his fault, the Rangers brass knew about him and his shotty health record. He will join the Strausburgs and Ellsburys of damaged goods!
Is anyone else surprised that deGrom Texas Ranger is injured? I mean he’s got the thinnest skin of everyone here.
DeGrom is injured and rain is wet
One day we’ll hear why he left the Mets. I feel there’s a story.
Watching him pitch the last few games at the end of last year were concerning – his fastballs were flat and getting hit. He started out right, but seemed hittable towards the end.
I assume there were 185 million reasons why he left the Mets.
They were rumored to offer more on average, guaranteed. Texas has an option if he misses a period of time, so that $185 could be less.
A story? Is this not the story? Almost 200M and not even a full month into the contract and he’s being treated like nitro glycerine. Had Texas not bit, I wonder what his contract would have looked like.
Probably didn’t like to have is butt groped by his manager.
This is funny. Rangers sign always injured deGrom to a FIVE year contract. Not even out of April and look what you have. This is one of those guys where you can’t look at the upside of what he could do and just pass. He can’t be relied on to deliver. Talent is unquestionable he’s simply to much of a question mark. You have five years of this lol.
Injuries.
The universe is as it should be. Both Stanton and deGrom are on the IL as expected.
The F/A class of 22 had injury concerns. DeGrom, Rodon, Verlander, Syndergaard. Texas has the money to gamble with. So far, they crapped out.
It’s gonna be a long 5 years for the Rangers. This guy is always injured, I wouldn’t say he’s done, but he’s certainly banged up
Stupid money.
Rash cash.
Just stand there and watch it burn
These elite older pitchers should start going the Roger Clemens route of the mid 2000’s and come out of retirement yearly after the All Star Break. Maybe it will save some mileage on the arm.
As a GM I would have NEVER signed him. He’s an All-star for 10 games a year. Everyone knew he’d get hurt… here you go.
The only one still smiling is his wife Mrs deGrom. She gets the money And her husband back home. But I Hope both his and her family used all their comp tickets to see him already down in Arlington this season. It Might have been their only chance.
It will take years to wash deGrime off of this contract.
health is a skill
Met fan here. Didnt see this coming. Lol. Enjoy the roller coaster Rangers fans. When Jake is on the mound he’s one of the best. But he is injury-prone, and surely the Rangers FO was more than aware what they were getting into.
Wow, are you kidding me, this was totally unexpected…lol The fleecing of the 185mil has begun…lol
So the deGrom haters are out in force. I guess cheap shots are easier than intelligent conversations.
deGrom is like the Larry Bird of SPs right now. He’s better than every other SP but he’s now older and gets dinged up more often so he’s frequently disrespected. Mike Trout’s in the same boat. He’s not at his pinnacle any more but he’s still the most talented hitter in the game like deGrom is the most talented pitcher in the game.
Teams pay millions for mediocre pitchers who will start more games but they can’t deliver the results that deGrom delivers when he’s in the game. Texas made a brilliant move to get deGrom because if he only starts 25 times a year he’s better than every other choice they could have made who starts 30 to 35 times a year.
It’s the team’s money not yours so being frugal is ridiculous. Betting on the best pitcher in the game makes plenty of sense. And if it’s a bit of a roller coaster ride, who cares? in the end, if you go to the games there is a chance every time he takes the mound that you might see perfection, a no-hitter or a dozen or more strike outs. I’m thrilled to have him playing at a field near my home. I hope to see him as many times as possible. He is a generational talent and maybe you need to experience life more to appreciate how seldom one comes along in a sport. Bird, Magic, Gretzky, Pele, Ruth and all the other generational talents are people you will remember for the rest of your life. You won’t reflect on your games where Rich Hill pitched or Carl Pavano you’ll remember the great ones Gibson, Koufax, Clemens, Pedro, Kershaw, deGrom, Scherzer and Verlander.
So whether deGrom misses 1 or 10 starts, he’s worth the money they paid him because he added value to all the Ranger fans experience and the players who are his team mates. That’s a huge added value that turns average teams into highly competitive teams.
Texas made a very smart move that will pay off for years.
I agree, except with the assumption that he starts 25 times a year. At this point, it’s more likely that he misses 25+ starts a year on average. At that rate he won’t be worth his contract, but maybe the Rangers luck out one year and make a postseason run with him healthy like the 2019 Nationals with Strasburg.
KD17…
Great deGrom PSA!
Precaution? Yeh he gone for 23. Make plans for year 2