Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon has yet to make an in-game appearance this spring due to soreness in his calves. That was set to change today as he was poised to make his first start since camp began, though those plans were scuttled when the club scratched Taillon from his start earlier today.
As noted by Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, manager Craig Counsell indicated to reporters that Taillon was dealing with lower back tightness and that the right-hander’s back “locked up” while throwing warm up pitches prior to his scheduled start, though there hasn’t been imaging scheduled for the right-hander and Counsell indicated the club hopes to know more about Taillon’s status tomorrow. Sharma goes on to note that the Cubs are hopeful the issue was just a spasm and that Taillon has dealt with a similar issue previously in his career and that it often subsides after just a few days. Though Chicago is remaining optimistic that the 32-year-old will be able to avoid a trip to the shelf to open the season, the right-hander missing time to open the season would be a blow to the club’s chances in a crowded NL Central division.
Taillon figures to occupy the middle of the club’s rotation this season alongside fellow veteran righty Kyle Hendricks, behind southpaws Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga. The fifth spot in the Cubs’ rotation has not yet been determined but appears likely to go to one of Jordan Wicks, Drew Smyly, Javier Assad, and Hayden Wesneski as things stand. Taillon’s four-year deal with the Cubs got off to a rough start last season as he struggled to a 6.90 ERA in his first 13 starts with the club, though he settled in to provide mid-rotation results late in the season with a 3.57 ERA and 4.23 ERA across the season’s final three months. [UPDATE: Counsell told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and other reporters Sunday that Taillon “came in today pretty much the same as he left yesterday. Probably not the improvement we were hoping for.” While the manager admitted to “a level of concern for Opening Day,” Counsell doesn’t “think it’s a long-term absence for Jameson, so don’t think it’s one of those concerns.”]
More from around the NL Central…
- Cardinals manager Oli Marmol provided a positive update regarding veteran righty Sonny Gray today, as noted by MLB.com’s John Denton. Marmol told reporters that Gray has been able to throw from 120 feet and do agility work without issue in recent days, and could progress to throwing off the mound sometime next week. The 34-year-old veteran is battling a mild hamstring strain that has put his odds of making a start for St. Louis on Opening Day in doubt. While Marmol’s comments regarding Gray today didn’t indicate whether or not the righty will be able to avoid opening the season on the injured list, it’s nonetheless encouraging news for Cardinals fans given the important of Gray to the club’s rotation this year. Gray signed with the Cardinals on a three-year, $75MM deal this winter on the heels of a strong 2023 season that saw him finish second to Gerrit Cole in AL Cy Young award voting on the back of a sterling 2.79 ERA in 32 starts.
- Sticking with the Cardinals, shortstop-turned-center fielder Tommy Edman recently spoke to reporters (including Denton) regarding his own injuries woes in the wake of reports that he is now doubtful for Opening Day due to wrist issues. It appears as though those concerns are justified, as Denton notes that the switch-hitting Edman has been unable to swing right-handed at all and has not been cleared to face live pitching from either side this spring. That being said, Denton adds that Edman expressed optimism regarding a recent diagnosis, which indicated that the pain in his wrist is “more inflammation than structural.” With fellow outfielder Lars Nootbaar’s availability also questionable ahead of Opening Day, St. Louis appears likely to turn to one or both of Dylan Carlson and Alec Burleson in the outfield alongside Jordan Walker to open the 2024 campaign.
- Pirates manager Derek Shelton spoke to reporters (including Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) earlier today to announce that veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal is dealing with plantar fasciitis this spring, which has prevented him from catching over the past two weeks. With that said, Shelton appeared to be optimistic about Grandal’s status, noting that the veteran is expected to return to games in the near future. Grandal signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh last month and figures to feature prominently in the club’s catching mix, which also includes Henry Davis, Jason Delay, and Ali Sanchez among options currently on the 40-man roster. Grandal enters the 2024 season in search of a bounceback after struggling badly across his final two seasons with the White Sox, where he slashed just .219/.305/.306 in a combined 217 games.
Grandad was also a problem in the clubhouse.
Already?
With the Chi Sox.
He’s talking about how his offense declined, so you might think well, at least he’s a good dude in the clubhouse. But no, not this guy. He just didn’t care. Very rare among mlb’ers. The vast majority are out there giving it all they got. So let’s see…he didn’t hit, his defense was atrocious, and he was a cancer in the clubhouse. Now there’s a guy I want to sign!
Apart from slapping Tim Anderson, is there any evidence that Grandal was a ‘cancer’?
I get that pitchers like Middleton and Lynn had a beef with the position players, but singling Grandal out seems like a stretch to me.
With a bit of luck, Davis, Delay and Ali Sanchez will play Yasmani into retirement and all this talk will be moot anyways.
It was reported on WhiteSox talk podcast by two reporters who are with the team every day that Grandal was disinterested in pitchers meetings and didn’t work on catcher’s drills.
He was one of several players singled out as the major issue with the team the last couple of seasons.
Fair enough. Looks like BC’s losing all reason trying to shoehorn another vet catcher in at the expense of playing Davis five times a week behind the plate.
This is bizarre to say the least. He’s been positively talked about by ex teammates at every stop other than the White Sox. Even this Spring Training Henry Davis and the coaches have raved about his mentorship of the younger catchers and pitchers. Sounds like that White Sox clubhouse was a mess.
Yes very possibly so and if they’ve a bad season most will be Gone this coming offseason and then they’ll have a lot of Money to play with
“…though he settled in to provide mid-rotation results late in the season with a 3.57 ERA and 4.23 ERA across the season’s final three months.”
I’m guessing one of those is FIP?
Yeah I caught that too. 4.23 FIP is probably what was intended.
“the right-hander missing time to open the season would be a blow to the club’s chances in a crowded NL Central division.”
Yeah, with his -0.1 WAR it won’t.
They are hoping he will bounce back. He’s usually a decent mid-rotation pitcher.
His replacement probably would be worse, and he could get back to the 1-2 WAR of 2021-’22.
Getting tired of Taillon.
Well you got him for 3 seasons so better get untired.
Moronic comment, DreamGM.
Sounds like he has a chronic slipping disk in his back and sciatica.
I think Jimbo would be a hell of a bus driver. “Exact change only please!” Ahahaha!
Gotta feel a little bad for the guy, he’s been through a lot of tough injury luck. But Taillon should 100% call Lonnie Chisenhall to find out how to turn a sore calf into a career-ending injury worth a few million bucks.
Lol that guy is done in MLB.
Smoke another one..
Which is more proof of collusion by the owners, and I thought the NFL was bad.
Who believes Yadi will be manager by Jun1?
Pujols
Yadi would expose Mo as a lying tool.
Yadi would leave the team to coach baseball
As a Pirates fan, I’d be very concerned if Yadi got the job. No coincidence in my book that the Cards fell apart the minute he retired.
Can’t tell if troll, or?
Trevor was okay, but not great in Japan. He wans’t even top 20 in ERA or WAR last year in Japan.
Owensboro changed to The Former__Player it seems
Meanwhile Richie Palacios hits 20 homers and steals 20 bases for Tampa.
20 million per yearto pitch for 8 wins-10 losses. Whole career, but 1 year. Whomever scouted and signed this bum should be fired. Pass on Montgomerys old arse and 500 pitcher. Our starters are gonna kill us this year. Bullpen looks solid. Go figure
I would love for Cubs to sign him. But dude is a fruitcake on the field and in clubhouse. He always has been. Stud #1 though. What a waste..
I’ve always found it amazing when incredibly gifted and talented players can’t find it within themselves to grow up enough to behave and maximize their earnings – so many examples of athletes who’ve blown themselves up out of pure narcissism.
Go off the deep end after you retire. You’ll be rich and no one will really care.
There are some free agent options out there from what I have read for the past three months with starting pitching.
Grandal has plantar fasciitis. Must have gotten it from a dirty Chris Coghlan slide.