JUNE 22: Perkins himself announced tonight (Twitter link) that he will indeed undergo season-ending surgery tomorrow afternoon. The surgery was a last resort after exhausting his other rehab options, per the left-hander’s message. Perkins’ hope, it seems, is that he can be ready to go for Spring Training next season.
JUNE 16: Twins closer Glen Perkins has been diagnosed with a torn labrum that will likely require season-ending surgery, reports La Velle E. Neal of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Neal notes that the extent of the tear, at this point, is not yet clear, though he adds that Perkins also has some problems with his rotator cuff. Per Neal, Perkins could be ready for the beginning of the 2017 season, though it’s possible he’ll miss a bit of time at the beginning of the year.
Earlier this week, Perkins said that he was headed to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache for a third opinion on his ailing shoulder after suffering multiple setbacks in his attempts to get back on the mound. Perkins admitted to 1500 ESPN’s Phil Mackey at the time that he “[didn’t] have a good feeling” about the meeting but was hoping to be pleasantly surprised. That, unfortunately for both him and the team, was apparently not the outcome from his appointment.
Perkins’ season, it seems, will come to a close with just two uninspiring appearances under his belt. His absence and a significant decline in the performances of 2015 holdovers Kevin Jepsen and Trevor May has led to disastrous results from the Twins’ bullpen this season. Minnesota relievers rank 26th in the Majors with a collective 4.58 ERA. The team has recently demoted Jepsen, who had been closing in Perkins’ stead (a role he filled quite well in 2015), and installed a committee of Brandon Kintzler and trade candidate Fernando Abad as its primary ninth-inning options.
Prior to this season, the 33-year-old Perkins had made three consecutive All-Star teams and carried a 2.84 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 through 313 1/3 innings dating back to the 2012 season. He’s earning $6.3MM in 2016 and is owed $6.5MM for the 2017 season as well under his current contract. Minnesota also carries a $6.5MM club option on him for the 2018 season (his age-35 campaign), which comes with a $700K buyout.
You had to know there was something up, since the second half of last year. At least now he can get the surgery, recover, and maybe get some batters out again next year.
Yeah, too bad. Perkins was one of the first power arms in a while the Twins were able to draft and develop. Here’s hoping Abad continues to excel in his absence and repays the Twins’ flyer with a decent prospect at the deadline.
Twins fans, would it make sense to move Nolasco and his good control to closer now or in the offseason to increase his future trade value or does MIN need him to eat SP innings too badly to make that change?
I’m no twins fan, but I think they will need him in the rotation until Berrios can get major league hitters out consistently. That being said, i think they could go anyway with the closer role.
Whether jepsen keeps it or they give it to Abad, they could also try Kintzler, Tonkin, re call May or a handful of others since this season seems to already be a lost one. No harm in trying out players in differant roles.
Recall May? He’s on the DL too
There isn’t really a legitimate reason to move him from the rotation at this point.
Besides the fact that Nolasco was not receptive to the idea of losing out on the rotation and going to the pen in ST, I don’t think there’s anything about his game that would translate to the bullpen
Better K/BB rate than his results as a SP might suggest and an effective sinker could definitely translate, though your point about Nolasco’s reaction to being demoted certainly makes such a move unlikely.
there goes a nice trade chip for the sell-off. what a shame.
here’s to hoping sano, kepler and buxton have strong developmental seasons.
I’m no doctor, but how does a labrum tear get revealed on the third opinion? Shouldn’t that be hard to miss for the first two guys that saw him?
Maybe they thought he was a righty
Hilarious!
So Twins folks, what does it take to get Abad at the deadline? I haven’t watched him much but I don’t see us offering our major prospects for a bullpen guy (Gallo or Brinson). However I think we have the depth to get him without including those two.
If we can bundle our front office into the deal, you can have Abad and the whole lot for free.
I wouldn’t expect to get a top-tier prospect for a reliever, but considering we’d basically be giving you our only non-terrible reliever I’d like to think we could get a decently talented position player out of the deal.
As much as it pains me to suggest one of my favorites. I feel like Ryan Rua makes sense here. He’s ready to get a try as a starting outfielder and we can’t offer him that in Texas.
Brett Nicholas makes sense too. He played awesome in his pro stint this year. You guys are catcher starved right? Nicholas +1 sounds like a Jon Daniel type move.
I really hope you’re kidding…