The Mariners announced today that second baseman Robinson Cano underwent core muscle surgery to repair a sports hernia. He’s expected to require about six weeks to recover, though as MLB.com’s Greg Johns writes, he won’t play any winter ball this year to rehab. Dr. William Meyers repaired a pair of core muscle injuries, Johns writes, one on each side of Cano’s body. Seattle’s $240MM second baseman struggled greatly in the season’s first half but hit .331/.387/.540 with 15 homers after the All-Star break.
More from the AL West…
- Left-hander James Paxton, who opened the season as the Mariners’ No. 2 starter but spent more than three months on the DL with a tendon injury in his finger, is hoping to make seven or eight starts in the Arizona Fall League, writes Johns in a second column. Paxton also plans on heading to winter ball in Puerto Rico to make up for some of the lost innings in 2015. The southpaw spoke to Johns about the importance of finding a way to stay healthy, though he did feel there’s a bit of randomness to his finger issue, as opposed to a 2014 lat injury that was more preventable. Paxton also spoke about how he personally felt the team’s acquisition of J.A. Happ last offseason helped him grow, as Happ served as a veteran left-handed mentor to help him through some difficult times this season.
- The Angels are facing a decision with free-agent third baseman David Freese, writes MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez, who adds that the team is expected to give strong consideration to re-signing Freese. The 32-year-old Freese would like to return to the Angels as well, Gonzalez writes, though he noted that “a lot of things have to happen on both sides” for a reunion to work. Freese could price himself out of the Halos’ comfort zone, Gonzalez notes, in part due to a weak free agent market at his position. While Freese is more or less an average third baseman, that’s enough to make him among the most desirable hot corner possibilities on the open market this winter.
- The Athletics need to embark on an Astros-esque overhaul of their bullpen this winter, writes Jeremy F. Koo of SB Nation’s Athletics Nation. The Astros had a dreadful relief situation in 2014, but as Koo notes, only six of the 20 relievers that appeared for Houston last year returned in 2015, and only three saw more than 20 innings of work. Oakland needs to sign at least one reliever this winter, and as Koo points out, an offseason in which Billy Beane doesn’t add at least one or two relief options via trade is unfathomable. In particular, Koo points out, the A’s need to focus on right-handed relief options. Sean Doolittle and Drew Pomeranz will return as lefties in 2016, and out-of-options Sean Nolin gives another lefty option if he doesn’t make the rotation. But, as far as right-handers go, only Fernando Rodriguez had a strong season. If Jesse Chavez is slotted into a long relief/spot start role, the team will need to add at least two, possibly three right-handed options.
kingfelix34
15 homers with a sports hernia is pretty good
User 4245925809
I’ve always been a Paxton fan, though him going to winterball is a shock to me.. Granted he does need the work with his fairly extensive injury history, tho the fact he’s a Boras client, who generally protects his players to try to keep as much work as possible OFF of their arms is commendable.
This is one time where Boras has actually steered one of his clients in the proper way, a high talent kid who dearly needs the work going to get it.
ricsflair
How about the possibility of the Phillies trading Cody Asche to the Halos for in return a low level prospect or two? Phillies have four guys who can start as their opening day outfielders at this time (Herrera, Altherr, Brown, Sweeney).
Rally Weimaraner
Angels would be better off just picking up David Murphy’s team option and saving their prospects. Asche is not a good hitter