Byron Buxton was feeling discomfort in his hip as recently as Wednesday, and Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes that this setback scuttled the Twins’ plans for Buxton to begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend. Right hip inflammation has kept Buxton on the injured list since the middle of August, depriving the Twins lineup of a big bat with 16 homers and a .275/.334/.528 slash line over 335 plate appearances. While Minnesota has dealt with a number of injuries this season, losing Buxton seems to have been a particular blow to the roster, as the Twins are only 6-14 over their last 20 games.
Reinforcements are needed, yet there’s no word on when either Buxton or Carlos Correa might be able to start a rehab assignment, as manager Rocco Baldelli told Helfand and other reporters today. Correa hasn’t played since July 12 due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot, and the shortstop has been feeling good while taking part in running drills. This is “some level of significant, but we still have a ways to go,” Baldelli said. “We’ll see if we can build on that and keep moving in a positive direction.”
Some other items from around the American League….
- While Minnesota is struggling, the Royals rebounded from a seven-game losing streak with a three-game sweep of the Twins this weekend. Kansas City is also getting healthier, as manager Matt Quartaro told MLB.com’s Anne Rogers and other reporters that Michael Lorenzen is slated to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday. Lorezen was placed on the 15-day IL on August 28 due to a left hamstring strain, so the right-hander looks like he shouldn’t miss much time beyond the 15-day minimum. Acquired from the Rangers in a deadline trade, Lorenzen had great results in his first five starts as a Royal, delivering a 1.85 ERA in 24 1/3 innings.
- The returns of Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt gave the Yankees a rotation surplus, relegating Nestor Cortes to a relief role as a piggyback pitcher behind Schmidt on Saturday. “I’m never going to leave my teammates out to dry. You’re always going to get my best effort, no matter if I’m happy or not,” Cortes told ESPN and other media, yet the left-hander also made it clear that he was “upset” over the role change. “I felt like I’ve been, amongst all the starters, the workhorse here,” Cortes said. “Once [Gerrit] Cole went down, they picked me to be the Opening Day starter — not necessarily the No. 1, but the Opening Day starter. I had to switch my routine there. Now they do this.” After an injury-plagued 2023 season, Cortes has a 3.97 ERA over 163 1/3 innings this year, with an unimpressive set of Statcast metrics except for an excellent walk rate. Cortes will return to starting duty when the Yankees adopt a six-man staff for the next turn through the rotation, yet it remains to be seen how New York deploys Cortes, Cole, Gil, Schmidt, Carlos Rodon, and Marcus Stroman for the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs.
“While Minnesota has dealt with a number of injuries this sesason, losing Buxton seems to have been a particular blow to the roster”
Because Buxton being hurt is a complete surprise!? Guy is more soft than Taco Bell on the way out!
I think “soft” is a great description for Buxton. Most of his injuries tend to have been the type that can be somewhat superficial, such as strains, pulls, inflammation, etc. Only a handful have been injuries with unquestionable physical damage like fracture or ruptures.
I don’t see him as type that is just trying to get out of playing. But I do question how tough he is mentally to deal with the grind of being a pro athlete. He chose a physical profession where there’s a string likelihood that there will be times one needs to grind it out and play through fatigue, aching, or a bit of pain. In his case he is one of highest paid players in the history ofbthe franchise, pulling himself up by his bootstraps every now and then should ve expected.
Tigers – I feel the same way about Mike Trout.
As a former catcher, I think a lot of these guys are soft!
But there is a difference between hurt and injured. Some guys don’t want to play hurt. I’ve seen that myself. Those are the guys that irritate me. I almost always hurt back in the day.
Just as I will defend pitchers who don’t speak up earlier. Their arm always hurts after pitching, so it is hard to tell sometimes of it is just that or a real injury until it doesn’t subside.
Calling people soft for not wanting to play hurt his honestly crazy, nobody thinks you’re “tough” for playing hurt, playing hurt can lead to getting injured, or worse…I’m a pitcher/3B and if I’m hurt, I sit…or don’t play…(which isn’t often) because I’m not going to risk getting a big injury and not be there for my team…playing hurt is ignorant, mostly because your performance drops, and you risk getting a bad injury and hurting your team more.
The problem with players like Buxton, Bryant, etc., is that they earn an enormous amount of money even if they don’t play. Players should be given the minimum, then play their way into the big money based on innings played. That might speed up their recovery time.
@femboy
twinkietown.com/2022/7/5/23190933/mlb-minnesota-tw…
Look at the list sprains strains, migraines, concussion “like” symptoms, etc.
Most of these have the possibility of being superficial opposed to a clear injury that can be absolutely identified. The guy has developed a pattern and yes it appears he is soft.
Tony Fernandez an IF (mostly SS) (played for TOR, SDP +) had a non compliment nickname of “Glass”. (Part of a big trade with Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar and Fred McGriff).
Many times I think the criticism is unfair. Reasonable people can disagree. Some players get a reputation of being tougher, grittier, gamers.
Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken Jr were the Exception.
There is a difference in getting injured and not trying to play through with nagging injuries and having a broken bone, major strain etc in my understanding
IMHO I sympathize to some degree with players who don’t want to risk future large earnings by risking a career ending injury especially a pitcher of course
They have to balance what is best long term for themselves with the short term interests of the team. Often it is kind of a lose/lose you may get criticized no matter what you do.
Many managers have gotten criticized for “overusing” pitchers especially relievers which shortened their careers
Buxton is an iron man when compared to Kris Bryant or even Trout. He at least makes regular cameos in the lineup throughout the season where Bryant and Trout are always out for months at a time. “Superficial injuries” is the term of the day 😉
Trout had actual injuries torn ligament, broken hand, a degenerative back issue, torn meniscus. Buxton isn’t even comparable.
Might be the two most comparable players, in terms of injuries, in MLB. I guess it’s perspective. Mike Trout is ten-ply soft.
Breaking a bone in one’s hand while being hit by a pitch is soft? Tearing a ligament(fairly common injury with pro athletes), spinal issues(gravity is not kind to the S shaped spines of us humans).
Really not comparable. Trout has had nearly all clearly diagnosed physical damage injuries. Most of Buxton’s have been superficial pains that could possibly cause injury or just pain and discomfort. Rendon would be the most comparable.
Ten-ply.
So has Byron been a bust or success with the twins?
stnmf
“So has Byron been a bust or success with the twins?”
Like with any attempt to classify, you need to first define your terms
Great player just never available, not sure if that’s a bust
Success. Only two players drafted after him in the first round have had better careers, IMO. Seager, who would have left town as soon as eligible for FA, and Matt Olson, who doesn’t play a premium position. Buxton’s value has easily outplayed his salary as well.
Not a superstar, but still one of the better CF in the league at age 30.
ben
I’m inclined to agree
Per here
tht.fangraphs.com/how-much-is-a-draft-pick-worth-i…
the average #2 overall pick produced about12.5 WAR in their career
Buxton already has 20 career fWAR.
It’s going to take one heck of s argument to get me to believe that better than average is a bust.
Plus he’s signed to a deal that accounts for the limited availability. He’s making half what he could be if he played 140 games a year (7/$100m, ~$14m a year.).
But if he played 125-135 games a year, he would be considered a superstar.
The best ability is availability. A bust. I mean, if you have to make it so black and white. Can’t say he’s been the opposite – a total success. So, if I had to choose, I’d have to say “bust” altho @Dodgersbro is correct about defining terms.
rtc
“The best ability is availability.”
Nah. You and I are both available. If we could play every inning of every game we’d be worse than useless.
A player who can produce 2 WAR in half a season is more valuable than one who can produce 2 WAR in a full season.
What’s important is the combination of ability and availability
He still ties up a roster spot, costs money, and his just being there prevents team from signing someone else who they can be confident will be available for games.
Yes the combination of ability and availability is what’s important. More often than not Buxton is unavailable and renders his abilities useless.
That first line said it all.
Every team in the league would be better with Buxton on their roster. Not a bust
Every team would not clearly be better with Buxton on the roster. With a limited amount of roster spots and most teams having a budget, every player and their contract have an associated opportunity expense that has to be factored in.
In Buxton’s case he has once in 10 years played over 92 games when he played 140. So aside from Covid season he has missed 40% or more of 8 of 9 seasons games. At $15M a yr and upto potentially $11M with options and awards, that’s a lot of wasted capital that nearly every season has been only available almost every other game. For teams over luxury tax threshold the expense only increases to varying degrees.
The other opportunity cost is if a particular team(s) have no players with options available to send down. Then a team is also forced to cut a player who often is a much more affordable player and some times with yrs of team control left.
Lastly, teams also depend on certain players and their skillsets. Buxton has tons of talent and that’s undeniable, but most teams don’t have a player with that same skillset just lying around to use the 40% plus of games that he misses almost every season. That hinders a lineup and that void often impacts production elsewhere in the lineup. Which also has an opportunity cost, as the salary of any player(s) whose production was/is impacted by his absence is then generating less production and value for the expense they carry.
If you tell me right now, health not being an issue, to choose between Parker Meadows and Byron Buxton to play centerfield for my team for the next 5 years, I honestly think I’d choose Parker. He’s at least equal to BB defensively already and still just scratching the surface with the bat.
Sucks for Nestor to be the odd man out of the rotation and it will definitely effect his arb salary next season. The Yankees simply aren’t going to bump Rodon and Stroman (with higher FIPs) whom signed free agent deals with the team. I think he’ll get traded in the offseason.
Buxton injured?!?
Correa with lower leg/foot issues?!
I’m just shocked!
While it absolutely seems like the Twins regularly lead the league in injury list trips…some of it is just brought on themselves by counting on guys that have no track record-at least in recent years-of being able to contribute over the course of an entire season.
It’s fascinating as a fan of a different AL Central team. It seems like every year Minnesota has the most talented roster in the division, and with just a little bit of tweaking–IE spending money on depth and the fringes–the team would be able to survive a cpl injuries. If I was a Twins fan I’d be pretty upset that ownership seems to close the wallet at the most inopportune times