Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett has been diagnosed with an impingement in his throwing elbow, tweets Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The southpaw is going through a throwing program at the team’s Florida complex.
The diagnosis is a relief after Garrett ended the season on an uncertain note. Miami shut him down in late September when he experienced elbow soreness during a bullpen session. That raised the possibility of another significant injury for a Marlins starter. Fortunately, testing apparently didn’t reveal any ligament damage and Garrett is already throwing.
That offers hope for a mostly healthy offseason. Like most Miami pitchers, Garrett had his 2024 season wrecked by injury. The former 7th overall pick began the year on the shelf with an impingement in his shoulder. He missed about six weeks and returned in early May. Garrett took the ball seven times before a flexor strain put him back on the injured list in the middle of June. Garrett remained on the 60-day IL from there on out, as the late-season elbow soreness prevented him from returning.
Prior to this generally lost season, Garrett was a mid-rotation starter. He posted consecutive sub-4.00 ERA showings in 2022-23. That included 159 2/3 innings of 3.66 ERA ball during Miami’s surprising playoff season last year. Garrett punched out 23.7% of opposing hitters while walking fewer than 5% of batters faced.
Miami was without Sandy Alcantara for the entire season. They lost Eury Pérez to Tommy John surgery in April. Jesús Luzardo, Ryan Weathers and Garrett all had extended absences during the year. While Pérez will be out until the middle of the season, the Fish could welcome the other four pitchers back by Opening Day. A rotation with Alcantara, Luzardo, Garrett, Weathers and one of Edward Cabrera, Valente Bellozo or Max Meyer has a chance to be a strong group.
The outlook for the rest of the roster isn’t nearly as promising. The Fish have very few established players in their lineup or the bullpen. Even if the rotation stays healthier in 2025, they’re highly unlikely to be playoff contenders. Miami is overhauling the coaching staff after committing to a rebuild of the roster last winter.
Miami could trade from the rotation either this offseason or at next summer’s deadline. They’ll probably hold Garrett into next season to allow him to demonstrate his health. Garrett is eligible for the arbitration for the first of four times as a Super Two qualifier. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for a $1.8MM salary.
Maybe these guys should STOP THROWING until Spring. Give their bdies a chance to heal and then they might not have to rely on pitch counts so much. Those pitchers from earlier generations didn’t throw year round and they could easily throw 250-300 innings in a season. Pitchers should be shut down completely from the end of the season until pitchers report to Spring Training.
I am going to rely upon what a doctor says on a case by case basis rather than a one size fits most. Looking forward to the Dodgers-Padres game tonight. I believe Darvish is pitching with one less day of rest than normal. How he responds to that may determine the outcome. I look for tonight’s winner to make the World Series over the amazings.
No one cares about the dodgers.. they should win 130 games and they don’t.. bunch of f’in bums and their stadium is complete ass… can’t wait for Roberts to get $hit canned
Lots of baseball fans care about every playoff game.
I do agree that if the Dodgers lose tonight it will be Robert’s last game coaching the Dodgers, injuries to starting pitchers or not. I also believe that if the Dodgers win tonight, Robert’s will be back next year.
Dodgers got 325Million dollar man pitching tonite. Didn’t realize Darvish is goin on short rest. Not sure Robert’s is canned if they lose tonite, who do u get to replace em ? Let’s hope for a real good game.
My two cents is that Roberts is neither a great manager nor a bad one. I think he is micromanaged by the front office and that will continue with whoever succeeds him. I just think the firestorm from getting knocked out quickly again, and by the Padres again, will result in Roberts’ dismissal. Ironic, because I think tonight is a 50-50 as to who wins and that one extra win will means he is back next year. Of course, my speculation is not better than the next persons. Love to see the Padres up by one in the bottom of the 9th, bases loaded with one out, and Shohei at the plate against Suarez. It is not like Friedman is going to take the fall. Not that I think Friedman is bad. The Dodgers gambled on high risk injury prone starters like Glasnow when maybe they should have signed a couple of lower quality but more durable and reliable guys. Kershaw is the same but I can understand why he was brought back because he is an HOF icon who had good results in the regular season last year. So yeah, not Roberts’ fault, but for him, I think tonight is win or go home, and not just for this season. Who would replace him? No idea. I hope it is not Miguel Rojas.
Padres! Lol!
You posted that on two threads. I don’t know if you are trolling or not. Two heavyweight teams had a slugfest and the Dodgers won on points in the final round. Kudos to both teams.
Padres! Lol!
Brax > Kershaw so yeah back to the Mighty Marlins… Hands down the best staff in baseball next year.
So, which poster are you that is now pretending to be a Marlins fan all of the sudden? I can take a guess considering some recent troll yapping. Clearly you’re a troll. Please don’t use my team for your efforts.
What next? You’ll be praising Kim Ng? Talking about our team like Loria is still the owner? Regurgitating ESPN and FOX Sports narratives about the Marlins? Will you want Tanner Scott back too?
Please go back under your bridge.
Marlins should “trade from their rotation” just to make absolutely sure no player of any value is left