Here’s the latest on some notable injury situations around the game. Be sure to check out Roster Resource to see how teams’ depth charts will be impacted by these injuries…
- Dexter Fowler exited Saturday’s game in the first inning after suffering a hamstring injury while running out a grounder. The Cubs haven’t yet made a decision on whether or not Fowler will need a DL stint, Joe Maddon told media (including MLB.com’s Cody Stavenhagen). Fowler has cooled off in June after a blistering start to the season, though he’s still hitting .290/.398/.483 with seven homers over 284 plate appearances. Jason Heyward is the most likely candidate to take over in center field should Fowler miss time, though with Jorge Soler and Tommy La Stella already on the DL, Fowler’s absence would be a big hit to the Cubs’ roster depth.
- The Athletics have shut down Henderson Alvarez and the righty has a visit scheduled with Dr. James Andrews, manager Bob Melvin told reporters (including MLB.com’s Jane Lee). Alvarez was pitching in what was supposed to be his final minor league rehab start on Saturday night when he left the game early due to discomfort in his throwing shoulder. He underwent surgery on that same shoulder last July and hasn’t thrown a Major League pitch since, which led to the Marlins non-tendering Alvarez over the winter and the A’s signing him to a one-year, $4.25MM contract.
- In better injury news out of Oakland, Melvin said that Rich Hill and Sean Manaea both threw bullpen sessions on Sunday and are on track for, respectively, a simulated game and another session later this week. Manaea is one of the Athletics’ top pitching prospects while Hill could be a major trade deadline chip if he proves he’s healthy after missing almost a month with a groin strain.
- Speedy Braves outfielder Mallex Smith suffered a broken left thumb after being hit by a pitch on Sunday and is sidelined indefinitely, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. More will be known about Smith’s DL timeline when he visits a hand specialist tomorrow. Smith got off to a very slow start at the plate after making his MLB debut earlier this season and is still just hitting .241/.314/.386 , though he has displayed a good center field glove and is 8-for-8 in his last eight stolen base attempts.
Do the baseball gods hate any team more than the A’s? Just a brutal, brutal season for them, and they were an interesting team, playing .500 baseball until everyone got hurt.
Really? Have you ever heard of the Padres?
Not as many people follow those minor league teams
Ha! Didn’t get, came back and I got it!
That’s funny
The Reds??
Ever heard of the Los Angeles Angels
Don’t be ridiculous. Heyward or Almora can play CF. I would put Almora in CF and Heyward in RF on most days. That leaves any combination of Baez – Bryant – Szczur – Coghlan — Zobrist that can play LF. and any combo of Bryant – Baez – Coghlan – Zobrist that can play 3B and any combination of Baez – Coghlan – Zobrist that can play 2B. It barely leaves a dent in their depth.
I was thinking the same thing. Almora is an excellent defender, and his bat is pretty hot at the moment. Would make more sense to play him in CF than Heyward.
Rumor circulating is Addison Russell for Rich Hill and cash
No thank you
Nice try txcni131 … The only rumor circulating is that you are a troll.
If Fowler does hit the DL, I have to assume that it would be a minimum stint, as if they’re taking this much time to decide, it can’t be too serious.
With this in mind, I have to wonder if Rusney Castillo could be an option. As bad as he’s been with the bat, his dWAR has kept his WAR above water, and that’s something the Cubs front office values, and perhaps they can work some kind of magic with him on offense.
Seeing as The Red Sox are going to chow down on the bulk of Rusney’s contract regardless, perhaps the Cubs could offer Christian Villanueva (who has to be rostered or granted minor league free agency when off the DL) and a few million $s to make it a bit easier for Boston to swallow.
I get that with Szczur and Almora, we already have enough right handed OF depth, but the front office has a policy of going after the best potential value regardless of position.
Rusney is not hitting in AAA either or getting on base. He will clear waivers as its not worth trading anything and assuming any part of the large contract. But if he clears waivers and they want to take a flyer on him and he chooses to come. Why not.