Robert Stephenson ended his minor league rehab outing after four pitches yesterday, as the Angels right-hander called for the team trainer and then left the mound. Manager Ron Washington told reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) that Stephenson would be undergoing tests, but didn’t offer any other details about the situation.
Shoulder inflammation kept Stephenson from pitching during Spring Training, yet after beginning the season on the 15-day injured list, the reliever seemed to be making good progress in his recovery and was looking to be part of the Angels’ roster before April was over. Yesterday’s news seems to put that timeline in jeopardy, and the only hope now is that Stephenson’s setback is less ominous than it seemed. A dominant four-month stretch with the Rays last season turned Stephenson into one of the more sought-after commodities in the free agent relief market this past winter, and the Angels landed the righty on a three-year, $33MM contract.
More from around the AL West….
- Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone likely seems headed for the 10-day IL after suffering a left AC joint sprain in today’s game. In the second inning, Canzone collided with the wall while catching a Mike Tauchman fly ball, and had to be removed from the game. Playing in his second MLB campaign, Canzone has hit .219/.286/.531 over 35 plate appearances for Seattle, hitting three homers as part of his early-season power surge. Canzone and Dylan Moore have shared a left-field platoon, but if Canzone is out, Moore could get more of a regular role, or the Mariners could have Luke Raley assume the lefty-swinging side of the platoon.
- There was plenty of concern for Framber Valdez’s health when elbow soreness sent the southpaw to the Astros’ 15-day injured list earlier this week, but it seems like Valdez may have avoided a serious problem. Valdez told MLB.com and other media today that he aims to start throwing again on Tuesday, and doesn’t think he’ll need a minor league rehab assignment. “I feel a lot better now than I did then, and I’ll continue my routine as a starter,” Valdez said. Needless to say, a return after the minimum 15 days would be a fantastic outcome for Valdez and the Astros, who are already dealing with a lot of injuries in the rotation.
- Justin Verlander is one of those other Astros arms on the shelf, yet the future Hall-of-Famer is on pace to make his 2024 debut on Friday in a start against the Nationals. Verlander threw 77 pitches over four innings in his second and likely final Triple-A rehab start yesterday. Some shoulder soreness delayed Verlander during Spring Training, so the 41-year-old was placed on the 15-day IL to begin the season in order to give him more time to ramp up and prepare for his 19th big league campaign.
I feel bad for him because he was really good down the stretch for Tampa and has skills, but I think literally every team other than the Angels seen this coming. History of arm issues, one good season, and they decided they needed to give him a 3 year deal.
On-brand for the Angels.
Doubtful they were the only team bidding since he got 3 years and $33MM after only one good year.
It’s the Angels. Why is it doubtful? They’ve bid against themsleves before under Arte’s guidance.
He was a Top 10 free agent this offseason on all lists.
Welcome to the Angels curse Robert Stevenson ask Anthony Rendon he believes in the Angels curse
Well, at least they’re not the Astros. Anyone have them with at the bottom of the division, below the As at ANY point in the season?
Jeebus. I swears I speaks ingrish correctly!
Must’ve been a combination of autocorrect on my phone and being distracted. Someone understood what I was trying to say?
Let me be clear. I’m laughing at the idea that there was ever a chance the As would have a better record than the Astros, but here we are. Obviously this won’t last all season.
Stephensons face in the profile pic is basically the average Angel fan reaction to someone saying “Arte still owns the team.”
ugh…
Definitely ready that as Dominic Calzone at first…might have to go ahead and order one now.
You may have to share your calzone with the boss, because “big Stein wants a little taste.”
That’s literally what I think every time he is at bat, and then my stomach rumbles for a greasy calzone
Verlander gave up a lot of runs and hits in his 2 rehab starts. I hope it is him just trying some stuff as he stretches out and not a sign that father time has finally said, “Hello!”.
A rehab start was more about pitch count and recovery. No doubt he was trying a few things too, he is the consumate professional.
I agree with the previous post, and obviously expectations have to be lowered due to age and 19th season, but not worried about those rehab starts at all. He knows when to rev up and tighten the belt (sans some playoff starts a few years ago). He’ll have his bad outings but I would be shocked if those numbers continued.
What are the odds that Robert Stephenson eclipses 50 innings over the life of that contract?
They’re bad enough that Ippei may be the only one to actually take that bet….. and double down on it.
Anthony Rendo said to take the under
Be careful you don’t curse your team being on this page is dangerous hazardous to your team The O’Malleyyour players might go on disabled list
Another brilliant Angels signing.
Expected a guy to repeat the best 3 months of his career for 3 full years.
Dude can’t even pitch.
Meanwhile Clevinger and Lorenzen were signed for less money combined.
Angels may be a perennially poorly run team, but my comment above is at least a moment of joy this season.
Every Angels fan who posts on MLBTR is more intelligent than the team’s owner or GM.
This is a scary thought!
I haven’t seen Arte Moreno or Perry Minasian missing an action or maybe they got caught by the enemy moment of silence RIP
And plenty of ‘halo honks’ who are dumber than Arte/Perry that buy into them each season.
This is so Angels.