Shawn Kelley left during the eighth inning of last night’s Nationals game due to an arm injury that left him with a badly-swollen right hand. “Just on that last pitch I felt something go down through my arm and my hand swelled up a bit,” Kelley told media, including Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. “I just didn’t feel like I could pitch another pitch honestly. I couldn’t really grip the ball. I motioned for somebody to come out because I knew it wasn’t good.” Kelley will meet with doctors today to evaluate the problem, which is particularly ominous given that Kelley has twice undergone Tommy John surgery. The veteran right-hander has had two separate DL stints due to a bad back and a trap strain, and these injury issues have very likely impacted Kelley’s subpar performance. Kelley has a 7.27 ERA over 26 innings this season, with huge spikes in his homer rate and hard-hit ball rate. As Janes notes, Kelley may not have made the Nats’ playoff roster even if healthy, though the team will have one less bullpen option to choose from if Kelley is indeed hurt.
Here’s more from around the NL East…
- Brad Ausmus won’t be returning as the Tigers’ manager next year, though Peter Gammons of GammonsDaily.com reports that some in the Mets front office are interested in speaking with Ausmus. New York has also been rumored to be making a managerial change, and will likely look into several different candidates if it does indeed move on from the Terry Collins era. It’s also possible that the Mets’ interest in Ausmus may not necessarily involve managing; Ausmus also worked as a special assistant in the Padres’ baseball ops department before taking the Tigers job.
- Also from Gammons’ piece, he expects the Braves to be listening to offers for Julio Teheran during the GM Meetings in November. Teheran drew some trade buzz this past summer, with Atlanta reportedly holding onto Teheran since it was unable to land another top-tier arm to replace the right-hander as the rotation’s ace. Teheran has struggled to a 4.52 ERA over 175 1/3 IP this season, though that inflated number has been due to a lack of success at SunTrust Park — Teheran has a 6.23 ERA at home this season and a 2.84 ERA on the road. While Teheran’s swinging-strike and contact rates have also gone in the wrong direction, between his controllable contract and the idea that he would rebound in another ballpark, the Braves would certainly garner quite a bit of interest in trade talks.
- Braves CEO and chairman Terry McGuirk told MLB.com’s Mark Bowman and other media that the team won’t make any management decisions until after the season is over, though McGuirk did praise manager Brian Snitker and president of baseball operations John Hart. McGuirk expects Hart, whose deal is up after the season, to return in 2018. The Braves hold a club option on Snitker’s services for next year, though there has been speculation that the team could be exploring a change in the dugout, with FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman hearing from a source that the Braves are currently “leaning toward” hiring a new manager. Snitker will meet with the front office to learn about his future, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets that this meeting could take place as soon as today.
GabeOfThrones
I feel like Snitker has done a fine job with what he has. Only reason this makes sense is if their plan all along was to have him manage during this interim stage of the rebuild. Don’t think they’re going to be ready to contend next year, so why make the change this early?
arp7241
1. He hasn’t done a fine job as a rebuilding manager. It seems as though he constantly goes for the veteran over the young guys. Nick Markakis has been batting clean-up while Dansby is still batting 8th. Akeel Morris was phenomenal but we still continuously elected to go with Jason Motte and Rex Brothers?? Not saying I can do a better job than Snit, but he hasn’t been coaching like the rebuilding manager we need
southi
You know I often wonder if at least some of that bad decision making was from direction of the front office (in part at least). Sorta along the lines of use player X and Y more because we want them to regain some value. It seems, at least to me, that Snitker has managed somewhat differently since essentially all the trade deadlines have past.
RunDMC
I agree with some of what you’re saying, but Snitker can only play the guys on his roster. I don’t know how much you fault the manager for having Motte/Brothers on the roster. Now, if he’s overworking them or under-utilizing them, then sure, but that hasn’t been the case. Coppy has signed them, hoping to find fool’s gold that he can push on another team for a prospect upgrade. In many cases it works, but this year it hasn’t as much. I really didn’t like the decision to keep so many bullpen vets, while trading Albers to SEA for not much, only to see him do better than some of our starters. Sure, he’s not a long-term piece, I get it, but he looks like he can get consistent innings – something we can keep relying on well-paid vets to do (i.e. Garcia, Colon, Dickey, etc.).
TylerThe bravos fanatic
Well uh dansby ain’t the hitter markakis is
TylerThe bravos fanatic
It’s all bobby cox need to get him away from the decision making foreal
Caseys Partner
Dansby stinks out loud. Dave Stewart is owed an apology.
RunDMC
You owe Inciarte and his sweet extension an apology. Swanson’s just the cherry on top.
redsfan48
Reds should go after Teherán. If they add a potential top of the rotation starter like Teherán, get continued success from Castillo, a healthy DeSclafani and at least serviceable numbers from two other starters, and that could be a very competitive team next year with their offense.
RunDMC
SunTrust has comparable dimensions to Great American Ballpark. When he leaves the ball up, which has been a lot this season, it leaves the yard in a hurry. Not sure that’s the best place for him.
For what it’s worth I think he’d be a great fit with the Cubs. Not sure about them as a trade partner, though they’re usually strong on position players, but Teheran would be united with good friend and countryman, Jose Quintana, would have a steady defense behind him with decent field dimensions (when wind isn’t blowing out), and he wouldn’t be counted on as the “ace of the staff”. CHC would have presumably Hendricks, Quintana, Teheran long term, and I’m sure they’d have the cash to be able to bring in someone big over the next 2+ years. Teheran has never had much run support in ATL, so it’d be interesting to see if he could be better with more leads from the Cubs much better offense of Bryant, Rizzo & Co.
jbigz12
How do the Cubs get Teheran without a farm system though? I agree it’d be a nice fit I just don’t know how’d they lineup. Almora would be a trade option but the braces alreay have ender. Same deal with javy Baez, the braves have a 2b/SS. Idk how itd work out
RunDMC
Again, not sure about them being a great trade partner, but CHC has loads of young, controllable talent fresh on the MLB roster that most likely would interest ATL, similar to their interest not too long ago in Jorge Soler (now with KC). Almora (not to say he’s available) along with Acuna and Inciarte would make an imposing young OF with power, speed and above-average plate discipline. They also have quite a few arms that ATL is always interested in. I don’t think they would be the best trade partners, but I could see CHC being interested in Teheran and he doing quite well there, but it’s not the only club…
jbigz12
Stephenson looks like he’s turning the corner. Reds will never be good with their bullpen though. Lorenzen and Iglesias and no one else. Finnegan Stephenson desclafani and Castillo should be an alright 4.
ReverieDays
They have an awful bullpen.
Tiger_diesel92
Thoracic outlet syndrome, that’s what Shawn Kelly going to get for his arm. Like Phil Hughes and Matt Harvey gotten.
majorflaw
Interesting diagnosis, Doctor. Nice of you to squeeze his exam into your busy schedule.
Steve Skorupski
Doctor Howard, Doctor Fine, Doctor Howard!
Gnotorious
Teheran to the Twins for Javier and Watson
66TheNumberOfTheBest
What would a fair Braves-Pirates deal look like?
Gerrit Cole for Julio Teheran and _____?
aff10
I know you’re a Pirate fan, but honest question: do you see any way that the Braves contend next season? I don’t personally, so I wouldn’t give up top young talent to land a pitcher 2 years from FA if I were them.
tecjug
Teheran needs to be dealt to a team with a good defense and a big ballpark. Think KC.
southi
Well KC will still have a big ball park next season, but after that I’m not sure what to expect yet. They could very easily go into rebuild mode. I look for a lot of changes for the Royals before the 2018 season is under way.
jhuck5
Teheran to Cubs for Kyle Schwarber. Heard it here first.
mikeyank55
Collins isn’t out the door yet. Reports indicate that Wilpon’s will offer him another contract if he takes a sizable pay cut.