Mets third baseman David Wright has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports. In a second tweet, Rosenthal notes that the condition can be treated via epidural or a “minimally invasive surgery.” Yesterday, he began his latest rehab attempt from hamstring and back issues, but he has already been shut down with the new diagnosis. Needless to say, the timetable for Wright’s return is now completely uncertain while he decides on treatment options. The franchise third baseman is owed $20MM in 2015 and $87MM through 2020.
- The Yankees will promote left-handed reliever Jacob Lindgren, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. He’ll take the place of Branden Pinder who threw three innings in today’s blow out loss. Lindgren was selected in the second round of the 2014 amateur draft. He’s spent the 2015 campaign at Triple-A. In 22 innings, he has allowed a 1.23 ERA, 11.86 K/9, and 4.09 BB/9 in 22 innings. Lindgren is the third high profile pitcher from the most recent draft class to reach the majors. Brandon Finnegan and Carlos Rodon have also received their first taste of the big leagues, although Finnegan is currently in Triple-A.
- Stephen Drew and Daniel Murphy are among twelve players who have hurt their free agent stock, writes Sherman for the New York Post. Drew has shown little evidence of rebounding from a horrific 2014 season. His batting average remains below the Mendoza line, and he’s in danger of losing his job to Robert Refsnyder. Meanwhile, Murphy is off to a slow start at the plate. Per Sherman, his hitting has always allowed the Mets to look past his mediocre defense. In the case of Murphy, a little patience may be in order. His contact rates and power remain within career norms. In fact, his current strikeout rate is a career best. An unusually low .252 BABIP is the obvious culprit for the poor production. Sherman also discusses 10 other non-New Yorkers who may be losing money.
- The Mets will utilize a six-man rotation for at least one week, reports Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Dillon Gee is set to return to action tomorrow afternoon. The rotation will remain in the normal order. Matt Harvey, who was spanked by the Pirates this afternoon, will appear next Saturday with two extra days of rest. While trade speculation will continue to surround Gee, he still has value to the Mets as a means to limit the workloads of Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, and Jacob deGrom.
JacobyWanKenobi
Drew gotta go
willi
The Yankees could have had Jimmy Rollins , who would have Loved to finish his Career in Pinstripes, Cashman can sometimes be too smart for his team good !
Bruinsfan94
Didn’t Rollins himself say that he didn’t want to play there as he was too old to replace jeter?
Sleeper
Yeah he did say something along those lines.
Vandals Took The Handles
Rollins is hitting .192 for more then twice the money Drew is gatting – and the Yankees would have had to move a player or two to get him.
Brixton G.
Drew (0.2) is actually slightly doing better than Rollins (0.1 WAR)
paqza
WAR isn’t good for comparing at such low values. A tenth of a WAR isn’t anything to go on.
willi
Plus for Jimmy over Drew the Dud : Jimmy can and could steal more bases in his Sleep than the drew can awake with Jets on, also Rollins is a Dead Pull Hitter at this time of his career and that High School Right Field line is another 15 Home Runs for the Guy.
MattHollidaysForearms
Nope.
Brixton G.
Rollins said he’d only go to the Mets or the Dodgers.
willi
Jimmy, loved the Big Apple ! Replace Jeter would place him in the heavens.
Marc Seligman
Rollins second choice was the Mets
LazerTown
And why would they want Rollins?
Brixton G.
So far, limiting a pitcher’s innings hasn’t done anything for pitchers. Harvey and Fernandez still had TJ, so why are you taking innings away from Harvey, Thor, Degrom, Colon and Niese so you can keep Dillon Gee happy? I don’t get it.
Tommets
Thank you. You can’t feel bad for a guy because he’s going to lose his rotation spot.
stl_cards16
You can’t have a guy go from throwing 150 IP to 220 IP. If the Mets expect to contend through the season and into the playoffs, they are going to have to keep their young arms fresh.
MB923
Innings pitched is extremely misleading. It’s about # of pitches thrown, not innings pitched
For instance, let’s say there are 2 pitchers who threw exactly 100 pitches a game in 30 starts
Pitcher A threw exactly 6 innings a start
Pitcher B threw exactly 7 innings a start
Pitcher A pitched 180 innings throwing 3000 pitches
Pitcher B pitched 210 innings throwing 3000 pitches.
Did Pitcher B throw more than Pitcher A?
Now I certainly cannot expect 70 innings (the difference between 220 and 150) to be anywhere close to the same # of pitches thrown, but my point is, IP is very misleading.
Gland1 2
Syndergaard is definitely going to be on an innings limit. They are trying to limit Harvey coming back from TJ. DeGrom has been suffering from some shoulder/hip soreness. Colon is 42. Niese has an injury history. In other words, this isn’t about keeping Dillon Gee happy, it is about limiting innings/keeping the other guys fresh.
alphakira
One could argue that it’s actually had the opposite effect.
Tommets
If Wright does have to be sidelined for the rest of the year I’d like them to take a look at three guys. Uribe, A. Ramirez, and Cespedes. All will be free agents next year so it won’t cost that much. The first two options will obviously play 3B. Cespedes can play OF and move Cuddyer to 3B.
stl_cards16
The Tigers aren’t going to trade Cespedes while trying to win a World Series. Ramirez would be a good target.
Tommets
Yeah that’s the only problem. They can also just get a SS and move either Murphy or Flores to 3rd and the other goes to 2nd.
willi
Tulo is the answer for the Mets , Do it ownership , Spend the Money !
paqza
It’s not about spending the money. It’s about giving up prospects. On a team plagued by injuries, trading 3 decent players for 1 very good, injured player is the last move that would make sense. The Mets really shouldn’t be putting all of their eggs in one basket; that’s what got them into this mess.
paqza
RamÃrez would be a bench guy for this team, replacing Eric Cambpell, not Flores or Murphy. Not really worth it at all.
Rob Lucci
trade for Todd Fraizer.
paqza
Or Cozart – even better.
paqza
Rámirez and Uribe are not better than Murphy or Flores at this point. Céspedes plays for the Tigers, a team that will probably either win the division or make the Wild Card. They have no reason to trade him. Both Murphy and Flores also play better 3B than Cuddyer.
scann
Lindgren….Heathcott….boosting their trade value I see….smart move Cashman……..
willi
Mets need to shut David down for the season, His Long Term Health is more Important than trying to be a Good trooper and play. Owernship should tell him !
paqza
I think the doctors should make that decision, not the Wilpons.
Vandals Took The Handles
No matter how beloved a player is……
The 4-8 year big money contracts are something that can handicap any team with the luxury tax in place if the player develops a long-term physical ailment or goes downhill. In the latest case, David Wright is killing this years Mets.
I don’t blame the players and their agents for wanting it. But I doubt that even half of those signed give true value.
Chris Kujawa
The Mets are nowhere near the luxury tax. They’re barely at $100M. Wrights contract is big but a NY team should be able to cope.
Vandals Took The Handles
They’e on a budget. Same thing.
paqza
Not really.
Sleeper
Well, Lindgren is about the only thing we Yankee fans have to be excited about at the moment. Man, are they playing terrible baseball right now. Please, stop starting Drew every day Girardi. That won’t solve everything, but it’s not a bad place to start.
scann
Yea they need too call up Ref’s now…..
Sleeper
There’s certainly a case to be made to be looking at that right now. I’m not sold that he’s going to translate well to the big leagues, but I guess we wouldn’t know until he tries. My biggest worry is his defense, he’s still honing the craft there and I worry calling him up too soon will make it hard to do so. I would give Pirela a look first, nothing to lose in doing that, he’s there already and he’s got no stock to worry about losing.
Mikenmn
Outside, maybe of Craig, I can’t think of a player who just completely lost his skills so rapidly as Drew has. Craig at least had an injury excuse. Terrible judgement by Boras to not find Drew a deal earlier last year. I understand what the Yankees are doing in hoping he finds his form, but it seems like a fool’s errand at this point.
Tommets
Drew Stubbs.
Mikenmn
Stubbs wasn’t bad last year, Drew’s been horrible since he got back on the field last June.
Sleeper
It was definitely worth taking a look considering his deal has little to no impact on them overall financially, but it’s been a failed test, for sure. I don’t know that he gets the Brian Roberts treatment though, at least he can still field the ball, but he shouldn’t be starting every day while he’s playing like this. Could/should become a $5million utility guy.
Vandals Took The Handles
Look, what he’s doing is mentoring Didi some and helping him adjust to playing hitters in the AL that he is fairly unfamiliar with. And he has been moving runners up at key points when he makes an out. It isn’t much, but it’s something.
You want to complain about something – talk about what they’re paying CC to pitch like he is. Or Tex, A-Rod, McCann and Beltran – that are not worth 1/4 of what they’re being paid.
Sleeper
I’m sorry man, but there’s no defending Drew at this point. I was positive and supportive about him going into this season, and while he’s put up some decent at bats here and there, he hasn’t played well enough to justify being started every day anymore. I’m not going to complain about money because while those contracts have them hamstrung a bit, at least the guys you named are doing something worthwhile to some extent.
Vandals Took The Handles
So dump on Drew. Man.
The guys that are supposed to be carrying that team are not. This is the low man on the totem pole. You could bring in a Brandon Phillips or another average MLB 2B, and the Yankees would still have problems.
Sleeper
Tex is playing great baseball, A-Rod has been a lot better than expected, McCann has been solid at his position despite being a bit slow with the bat, and even CC hasn’t been entirely awful, before today he had only made one truly awful start this season, and that was his first. I’m not complaining about them because they haven’t been the heart of the problem. The middle infield’s offense, the overall defensive miscues, and select relievers collapsing are the main problem. The Drew problem is the most obvious and fixable problem of them all, at least by addressing his struggles, the team would be making a conscious effort to do something. It won’t fix everything, but it’s better than doing nothing.
Vandals Took The Handles
Yes, I know. All those Yankees are playing superlative ball for what they’re being paid. The Milwaukee Brewers would love to have guys like that.
If George were alive he would be throwing a tantrum. Does Stick Michael have anything to do with the team anymore?
Sleeper
I never said that they’re playing at the level they’re being paid for, but with NY, that really isn’t as relevant as it would be with most teams. It’s not ideal, sure. I’d love for the team to have a lot of that money back to spend elsewhere, but when they’re not the problem, there’s no need to complain about them. I have nothing against Drew as a person, he just shouldn’t be a starter right now.
Vandals Took The Handles
The Yankees and Red Sox front offices are proving what everyone always knew……
Unless they can outspend other teams, they’re really pretty mediocre. Both are all over the International market, until that field levels.
Mikenmn
Also a good point. The Yankees aren’t bad because of Drew. It’s because they made poor choices in longer term contracts. Beltran, actually, is my next best example of someone who dropped off the table. His deal was one year too long, it seemed at the time, but this is ridiculous. And most people thought McCann was a decent signing, also, maybe a year too long. CC is a waste. Like with A-Rod they should have let him go when he opted out.
scann
Agree they should of let CC walk after 2011…But A-Rod has performed well in both of his 10 year deal’s….or his 17 year deal..
Mikenmn
The problem with A-Rod, outside of the drama, is that they have paid him superstar money for declining returns and an increasingly brittle player.
Vandals Took The Handles
Why was it terrible judgement for Boras not to find a deal? The teams knew the guys situation. That’s why they wouldn’t bid on him. It’s a wonder they weren’t sued for collusion not offering him at least $70M.
Mikenmn
Excellent point. He was a 7 year, $130M man after 2013. Had to be collusion.
Vandals Took The Handles
Yes, it’s a free market unless a player isn’t overpaid.Then something is wrong.
Jaysfan1994 2
To be fair Morales found form this year after going through exactly what Drew went through.
MB923
BJ/Melvin Upton
Mikenmn
Yes, I must have blocked out the awfulness. The only hope you have with Upton is that he’s still young enough to get things back together.
paqza
Uggla I think must be up there.
Tommets
With the money Yankees are able to spend with they should’ve done the Phillips for Gardner and signed an OF.
scann
they might just sign Kendrick’s……
willi
They will in off season, Get murphy from Mets at least he’ll Hit in Yankee Stadium and pop you 15 Home Runs.
paqza
Murphy for Lindgren and cash would be fine from my perspective.
Vandals Took The Handles
He has no reason to go there.
MB923
Or they should just call up their own youth and bring up Refsnyder. Worked back in 2005 when they brought up this 2B named Robinson Cano. Not comparing the 2 players, but you get my point.
Sleeper
Gardy is more valuable than Phillips imo. He’s more valuable to NY than he is on the trade market in general in all likelihood, he’s one of their more, if not the most, important pieces to their team. Plays very good defense, creates runs with his feet, hits for average, and has even developed a little pop in his bat. As bad as the situation is there right now, I would have hated that trade, strongly.
MB923
For the past 2 (well 1.25) seasons, Phillips has a 2.5 WAR. Gardner has a 4.2 WAR.
Gardner also has a 110 wRC+. Phillips’ is only 92.
paqza
Gardner’s a much better player than Phillips. That wouldn’t have been a defendable move.
iuo
The Mets had their chance to pick up hitting the last two seasons (their biggest weakness) but couldn’t because ownership is still having financial problems. It’s not going to happen now there are a lot of teams still in it and they’re not going to trade their hitters cheap. On top of that the only hitters available are making too much money for the mets ownership. That’s why there talking about promoting Matt Reynolds Ss. Not exactly sure how they would position them but I would put Daniel Murphy at 3B (his best pos) Reynolds at Ss, Flores at 2B.
paqza
Who was available that they should have acquired? Peralta would have been a good option but nobody knew how he would come back after the PED suspension. Other than that, I can’t personally think of anyone.
ezrider
Don’t look now but Murph is heating up. His hits always come in bunches then he’ll go cold for a bit. 3-4 today with an RBI and he hit .301 with 1 HR and 8 RBI for May. Not to shabby for a versatile guy who can hit down in the order. My advice is bat him 7 and let Murph be Murph. Play some 3rd, 2nd, PH and maybe sprinkle in some 1st/DH time.
Any takers. I could package him off with a Niese or Gee to sweeten the deal. If you have a bonafide SS i could be enticed to couple this with a Matz.
driftcat28
As much as I (and any other Yankee fan) have been hoping that Drew would lose his role to Ref, the Yankees don’t seem inclined to think the same. It’s disappointing that they are content with Drew’s mediocrity. Ref should have been called up a long time ago. I know he has defensive issues, which he seems to have smoothed out a bit recently, but his offense speaks for itself and the Yankees need a spark. With Heathcott up, Lindgren now, and (HOPEFULLY) Refsnyder following very soon I could see a much needed jolt hitting the clubhouse soon. If only the front office felts the same way.
willi
Blind leading the Blind if you can’t see why !