German Marquez Undergoes MRI With Shoulder Inflammation

Germán Márquez went for an MRI on his shoulder this afternoon, relays Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. The Rockies have not placed the veteran right-hander on the injured list to this point. They’re currently calling the issue shoulder inflammation but are awaiting more specifics from the imaging.

Márquez only managed three innings in yesterday’s start against the Twins. He told reporters (including MLB.com’s Thomas Harding) that the issue stems from his final start before the All-Star Break. He’d pitched well in that appearance — six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts in Cincinnati — but apparently worked through some discomfort. He’d hoped that the issue would resolve itself with over a week of rest because of the break. That didn’t happen, and Márquez acknowledged yesterday that he and the training staff are considering skipping his next start.

It’s an inopportune time for an injury. Márquez is an impending free agent. He’s very likely to be traded if he’s healthy. A pitcher with a 5.67 earned run average across 20 starts seemingly wouldn’t be of much interest to contenders. Márquez has an even worse road ERA (5.95) than he does at Coors Field (5.31).

Still, some teams could view him as a change-of-scenery candidate in a market that’ll be starved for starting pitching. Márquez was an above-average starter before he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023. He’s averaging north of 95 MPH on his fastball and getting whiffs on his mid-80s knuckle-curve. Márquez also seemed to be rounding into form over the past six weeks.

The 30-year-old posted a 2.97 ERA over six starts in June (though he gave up six unearned runs on June 18). Márquez was bombed by the White Sox in his first appearance of July before turning in arguably his best start of the year during the aforementioned appearance against the Reds. Sunday’s start was terrible — three runs in as many innings with four hits and walks apiece — but it’s easy to forgive that based on the injury. While he wouldn’t be anyone’s top target, teams seeking a back-end starter could view him as more of an intriguing upside play than the likes of Andrew Heaney, Aaron Civale or Erick Fedde.

If Márquez requires an injured list stint, he’ll be out beyond next Thursday’s trade deadline. Even if he simply skips one turn through the rotation, he wouldn’t be lined up to pitch again by July 31. They could push him back a few days while running him out on July 29 or 30 against the Guardians in an attempt to showcase his health, but that’s dependent on the imaging results. Márquez is playing on a $10MM salary and would receive a $1MM assignment bonus if he’s traded. He’d also unlock $2MM in bonuses at each of 140, 150 and 160 innings pitched, but those are lofty targets considering he’s currently at 98 1/3 frames and now facing an injury.