Angels starter C.J. Wilson believes he might be out for the season, MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez (Twitter links). The Angels had previously announced that the results of a recent MRI showed left elbow impingement secondary to arthritis. Wilson says he has bone spurs in his elbow that have expanded. As Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times tweets, the bone spurs have been an issue for several months, but Wilson is now opting for surgery because of a decreased range of motion and an increased risk of injury to his shoulder.
Wilson had similar surgery following the 2012 season and returned to pitch 212 1/3 good innings in 2013. (He also had surgery for the issue late in 2008.) Still, the news is unfortunate for the Angels. Shaikin tweets that Wilson informed the Angels before the trade deadline that he would likely need surgery, so they had enough time to make a deal if they wanted to. They did not, however, perhaps figuring that they already had enough depth — they currently have Garrett Richards, Matt Shoemaker, Hector Santiago and Andrew Heaney in their rotation, with Jered Weaver set to return soon from a hip injury.
The 34-year-old Wilson has had an effective season with the Angels, with a 3.89 ERA, 7.5 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 132 innings. He’s making $18MM in 2015 and will make $20MM next year before the expiration of the five-year, $77MM deal he signed prior to the 2012 season.
Good thing the Angels added pitching at the deadline. Oh, wait…
They were looking to trade starters for bats if anything. Not add more pitching.
I bet they would like to have James Shields now eh?
Shields’ may still clear waivers. I don’t see another team claiming that contract with the risk of the Padres just letting him go for nothing.
True that deal is a little ugly after this year. Now if I were the Angels, I wouldn’t want to be saddled with that ugly deal especially since I don’t see Shields opting out after next year. So they’ll have to keep that ugly contract on top of all the bad ones they still have on the books now. Not that would stop Moreno. I would’ve rather added Gallardo, Cashner, Ross, or even Leake/Latos who were traded. Can’t see how the Angels didn’t least go after 1 of those last 2.
I don’t think the Angels had the prospect depth to trade for Ross or Cashner. In regards to Shields, both CJ Wilson and James Shields are free agents after 2016, and they are both making 20MM in 2016. If Wilson needs elbow surgery, likely his salary in 2016 is insured and that can go towards paying Shields in 2016, and the 40MM they have off the books can go towards paying Shields beyond 2016 if he does not opt out.
*both CJ Wilson and Jered Weaver. My bad.
First off, insurance policies are not all the same. Next, in an article I read with the Cardinals owner a few years ago, he explained that insurance for ballplayers had changed, and that the perception that a team gets back all of a players salary if injured was simply not being offered by companies in their policies anymore. To begin with, most had a 6 month deductible.
How much insurance the Angels can get back on Wilson – if they even have it – is something that we will never know, as those things are not made public.
Would make for a nice article on MLBTR.
Why on earth would they want Shields when Weaver is going to return in a week? Don’t understand why people think the Angels are in dire need of a SP now.
Worst. Timing. Ever.
Unless you are an Astro fan.
I don’t think the astros stay on the pace their on. I still have the angels winning the west.
With Heaney pitching well and shoemaker throwing good, it’s sucks but it actually prevents them from moving Shoe to the bullpen or sending Heaney down. Tropeano is an option in AAA too. If Skaggs and Wilson come back next spring Angels actually look strong at SP. (not strong like the Mets but still good)
Could wind up being a blessing. As you note, the Angels have a lot of good starting arms. I suspect they built them up just in case of this sort of thing happening.
HEY FANS!!! It’s ok!! Turns out all three out fielder’s we traded for are also…….STARTING PITCHERS! !
This must have happened a minute after the trade deadline passed…
Seems like Shields is the logical guy to go after now. I bet if the Padres place him on waivers and Angels claim him, the Padres won’t demand much just to get out of that contract. With Wilson likely out most of 2016 now, I’m guessing insurance helps cover Shields’ salary in 2016, and both of Weaver and Wilson (making 20MM each in 2016) will be free agents after that season.
Wilson will be ready to go by Opening Day 2016. He had this same surgery in October of 2012 and didn’t miss any of 2013.
Good to know. For some reason I thought the Elbow surgery might imply Tommy John. Still, Shields would be a pretty solid addition for their squad. Doubt they can sign one of the premier pitching free agents this offseason with all their salary commitments, but I believe they’d be able to afford Shields after 2016 no problem is more what I was trying to get at.
No way that the angels would take on his contract. If the padres trade him, they better just get what they can for him and just eat the contract.
Couldnt have happened to a worse guy!
What a Phillies-level of albatross contracts this payroll could turn into if/when Pujols breaks down.
I’m amazed that people still don’t realize that the Angels are pretty deep with pitching talent. The Angels will definitely be ok.
CJ gets a lot of bad press and people wanted to trade him or don’t believe he’s really injured…. He’s a good competitor though, he’s been pitching through ailments and I believe he’s a stand-up guy. He’s a good pitcher and if he needs time to heal, then I’m willing to give it to him. I think the nay-sayers should back-off. He’ll be ready for next season.