Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera left camp today with a wrap on his leg after aggravating a hamstring strain he’d suffered a few weeks ago in offseason workouts, writes Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Manager Gabe Kapler called the issue “mild,” and there doesn’t seem to be any immediate concern, though it’s obviously a situation worth monitoring. More broadly, though, Salisbury’s latest piece takes a look at Herrera’s future with the Phillies — particularly with the addition of Bryce Harper still very much on the table for the Phils. Herrera could potentially become a trade option in the event that the Phils land Harper, Salisbury notes, and even if it’s not Herrera, one of the Phillies’ incumbent outfielders would likely be forced out of the picture. Although Herrera only just turned 27, he’s been a fixture on the Phillies’ roster for the past four seasons. He’s guaranteed $24.5MM over the next three seasons as part of a $30.5MM contract extension that also contains a pair of club options.
Here’s more from the National League East…
- Mets fans have become all too familiar with the injury bug in recent seasons, and unfortunately, the club is already dealing with at least one injury scare. As Tim Healey of Newsday writes, newly signed infielder Jed Lowrie is headed for an MRI after experiencing discomfort in his left knee. Lowrie describes the issue as soreness on the back side of his knee and says it first surfaced when getting up to full speed in running drills and when taking batting practice. Beyond Lowrie, outfielder Brandon Nimmo is experiencing some shoulder soreness but is confident that the issue is just a matter of early-spring soreness rather than an indication of anything serious.
- The Braves will give top third base prospect Austin Riley some work in the outfield this spring, writes Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. That experiment isn’t indicative of a permanent position switch but instead would be a means of seeing if Riley can provide some value to this year’s MLB roster after the addition of Josh Donaldson firmly blocked Riley’s path to regular at-bats at the hot corner. As evidenced by his .294/.360/.522 slash line across three levels last year (including .282/.346/.464 in 374 Triple-A plate appearances), the soon-to-be 22-year-old Riley may not have much left to prove against minor league pitching. Donaldson’s addition already pushed versatile Johan Camargo from a starter back to a utility role, Cunningham notes, and the emergence of Riley as a viable MLB option would only further limit Camargo in 2019. Of course, that scenario wouldn’t necessarily play out early in the season, and if Riley does eventually prove ready, it’d only be a boon to the Braves’ roster to have that level of depth and talent in the dugout. The 25-year-old Camargo is sometimes overlooked by those who don’t follow the Braves closely, but he posted a very solid .272/.349/.457 slash with 19 home runs last season and is slated to get a few starts per week as a backup at third base, second base and shortstop.
- The Marlins received limited trade interest in Starlin Castro at last summer’s trade deadline, writes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, but they’ll likely have more motivation to make a deal involving him this time around. Infield prospect Isan Diaz, acquired from the Brewers in last year’s Christian Yelich trade, reached Triple-A as a 22-year-old last season, and while he struggled there against older competition, he’ll have another several months to inch closer to MLB readiness. Diaz ranked 104th among MLB prospects on Fangraphs’ 2019 rankings and is slotted in seventh among Miami farmhands on MLB.com’s rankings (in addition to being their No. 10 overall second base prospect). Castro, meanwhile, is set to earn $12MM in his contract’s final guaranteed season ($11MM salary, $1MM buyout on next year’s $16MM team option). At that price, he’s not exactly a bargain but he isn’t grossly overpaid, either, considering last year’s .278/.329/.400 slash (101 wRC+, 107 OPS+). Fangraphs valued Castro at 2.3 wins above replacement, while Baseball-Reference was more bullish at 3.3 WAR.
You know if it’s not one knee it’s another. I was just looking at Willie Mays and Hank Aaron’s games played. Every year until they were winding it down they played literally almost every game. Dang. They just don’t make knees like they used to.
Not a fair comparison.
1) We don’t know the extent to the injuries those guys faced because they didn’t cover literally every single thing that happened to them in the media. I’m sure they sat out games in Spring Training just to avoid getting hurt.
2) The depth of talent back then wasn’t as great. Yes the top guys in the league were just as amazing, but the guys from 25-40 on the 40 man rosters were just not good. Today those guys are almost as capable as 15-25. So teams literally couldn’t afford those guys to take days off.
I agree. I also think there’s more travel now with teams spread into places like Florida, Colorado, Texas, Washington, Arizona. It has to take a toll on the body.
Every era has it’s differences. Imagine how much “fun” it was to travel by train from NYC to Detroit or Cleveland or Chicago or St. Louis to start a road trip in 1927.
Yes why, the wear and tear on flying to these cities takes its toll on players who are out of shape.
metnoxious. 2 players from the Aaron, Mays era are not all players from that era. Hall of fame players are the rare players that have exceptional ability and can stay healthy for a long time.
So James, meaning NOT Mets.
I think all these fitness coaches and their crazy routines are a contributing factor. I ran my second fastest marathon at 46 and it was at least my 15th or so. I was still pitching against college kids in a men’s league at age 41. I ran and lifted and threw a lot. Stay in shape year round if you’re a professional athlete. Hone your craft. Get sleep and eat right. It’s not rocket science and you don’t need any special vitamins. I ran 5 miles through the snow on hilly trails this afternoon. Buck up boys! Do my knees hurt? Hell yes. I’m over 60, I’m 195 pounds and I’ve run 65,000 miles. I hope my knees hurt. Go out and play baseball.
You want a cookie?
Are you willing to play for the Mets? Mutt and Jeff can convince Wagon Wheel to offer you $100,000 to be a super utility player.
No need for try outs. It’s a feel good story like Tim Tebow.
how’s your cholesterol?
YES!! We got Mutt and Jeff and a Wagon Wheel all in one!! Mike yanked for the combo
that’s amazing whyhayzee. I am only 64,996 behind you. I start to get nervous that my car will start breaking down at that mileage, no way I’m doing that to my body 😉
US Pentagon study shows bone density of average recruit is decreasing and susceptibility to overuse injury is increasing. Studies show active play that includes running, jumping, and falling between ages 3 to 7 helps to increase bone, cartilage, and tendon durability.
I see in my Korea, no kids play outside anymore. I see in my Detroit, no kids play outside anymore. When many of us young, farming or working outside in young day was normal. Older generation more better at avoid injury because our young play and work helped us make better body.
Durability of athlete already going down. Will go down more. Mets make for worse by using exercise technology that teach brain to ignore body signs during workout.
Sound like Mr Jed Lowrie has making for bursitis of knee. This many time caused by poor muscle balance and bad muscle activation before exercise. Or maybe worser, he has meniscus problem develop. Ouch for Mets, again.
Hey 2006-Jed worked out with Cespedes all winter. They were teammates in Oakland.
Well truthfully they hung out this winter. Ran up small bills for pony beers at a bar on Northern Blvd near Chitifield.
Sorry to break the news to you.
I truly feel Bad for u
I feel bad for his kids. He comments more on anything Mets than Yankees. He’s a perfect candidate to under go a screen name change to Summer’s Eve.
Mike, I think you’re still but hurt from the Mets losing the 2000 World Series and you switched to the Yankees. I think it’s adorable. When the Yankees implode and choke again, you’re welcome to come back on the band wagon with Mutt and Jeff and Wagon wheel. We can all see thru you. Wait!! I bet you asked a player for an autograph and when he said no you vowed never to like the Mets again. Don’t cry Mike, just yank one out
are u mad they were more in their knees than u are?
it’s all about nutrition imo. they werent eating a bunch of processed junk bank in those days
Swanson is a borderline bust
He has a ton of time to shed the bust label, and his defense alone is worth carrying him. He’s not an allstar (yet) but he is absolutely a quality big leaguer
Key word is borderline. I’m still rooting for him though. I think that swing and his athleticism can translate into a jeter like player. He won’t be THAT good, but you get the picture
He’s not borderline anything. His defense was great last year and the guy’s baseball smarts and hustle are outstanding. His bat looked to have turned the corner until he hurt his wrist. He increased his power last yr too.
Hey DTD. That was last year. Now he is a Met. It’s time to adjust to the reality. He will not play as much as you planned for.
Now he is a Met? When did this happen? lol
So a young guy with a 2.3 to 3.1 WAR in 2018(depending on stat method used) despite a wrist injury is a total bust. I wonder what it takes to make some people happy.
Now, I will readily agree that his initial time here made us all think he was going to be even better. He was on that path until he hurt his wrist making that slide, but if he is healthy again I think he will take off. I think the Braves know this also, which is why he was pretty much off limits this off-season.
2.3 WAR when you are 24 y.o. SS is just fine, please don’t comp Vlad with other prospects. Swanson is good, you think “not HOFer” is “borderline bust”. Stop it.
still south of the border .238 and 130 strikeouts is alarming
Not even close. His defense alone makes him a valuable player.
Less value on the Braves than he’d have on other teams, with Camargo and Albies both being natural shortstops
Camargo’s defensive value is way down at SS.
man Bust is always a strong word no professional athlete deserves…I don’t think I’ve ever labeled someone but I may have. We hear it all the time on Espn or local sports talk radio…If i had ever made it or my son ever made it to the big leagues in any way or fashion whether football, baseball, basketball whatever and failed I would never call it a Bust. Being a top 1% in the world should never be a bust…just saying
I guess you never heard of Brandon Wood.
lol no, do tell..
he made a ton of clutch hits, played lights out D and is a great team/club house guy with lots of energy. sit down
Boy, everybody’s gonna be surprised when the Marlins sign Harper…….
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere
Not if the Nippon Ham Fighters do first.
Good idea. Might draw some extra fans to their games. Instead of 10 fans in the stands they’ll have 20.
You are the paradigm for an optimistic man…..
The Marlins can offer him $400 million and he’d probably still reject it.
Camargo deserves regular ABs.
At the very least have him against lefties instead of DS.
Swanson significantly improved his defense last season, and up until his wrist injury he had def. improved his ability at the plate.
He still needs to work on his approach at the plate, but with him back healthy, his improved, above average defense, and with the experience he’s logged at the ML level, he definitely deserves another season to prove what he’s got.
Swanson is a clubhouse leader, regardless of his age, and when he has been healthy, he’s shown signs of improvement. Let Camargo spell him once every 5 games or so, but I won’t be at all suprised to see Dansby have a break out year this season.
Like I said, he already provides great value with his defense and baserunning IQ, but if he builds off his pre-injury offensive success, then you’re looking at a borderline All-Star. If he exceeds his previous offensive output, and takes another step forward, then Dansby will easily be a top 10 option at the SS position. You don’t just give up on a developing talent like Swanson, given health, he’ll prove his worth this season.
Lotta ifs there.
Camargo is here for when Swanson starts to suck, Camargo will take his spot….Camargos defensive is on the same level as Swanson, and his arm….
Yea. Idk man. Tough position here. The kid can play and you want to see him get regular AB’s. But there is still a lot of hope for Swanson and the ceiling is higher. So clearly he needs more AB’s. Just a very tough situation. Would have liked to see the braves not get markakis or heck, save the money spent on Donaldson. Let Riley and carmargo slide into their roles. Spend that money on bullpen upgrades. I think carmargo can play OF if needed.
That’s the thing, we are banking on our farm system and young guys. I believe we are 20 mill under last year’s payroll and that’s with JD. I know we got ODay, but would have liked to see some bullpen help. I know we got the pitching, but not the experience. Gotta stay optimistic.
Braves are 90 million under the luxury tax threshold…90 million! I know that’s nothing to do with payroll budget but dang just for perspective
for sure.. and seriously any real fan knows that we are giving swanson another year bc we gave up on simba a year to early. no way he should be starting over Camargo, and no team wants swanson or we would have traded him. all these fans kissing tail bc hes a local boy.
Why would you sit Swanson against a lefty? If anything, you sit Markakis or Inciarte and shirt Camargo to the OF.
Braves MUST trade one of Camargo or Riley. They’d get pretty good returns for either, but getting JD and not trading Camargo is one of the biggest non-moves of the offseason. Camargo is everyday, why are the Braves holding him back? Donaldson–>Riley works just fine. Camargo can cam ar go away.
No they don’t. How many teams can say that they have a backup infielder as good as Camargo? They trade Camargo to make their team worse? Nah. Keep him, you never know if there will be an injury, and when there is, they will be covered.
Plus, he’ll be a great DH in inter-league play.
Let Donaldson DH in interleague games and let Camargo play the field then. It would probably be somewhat of a “rest” day for Donaldson then.
Good point.
I think trading Herrera would be very dumb. His value is as low as its ever been. Trade Williams while he still has any.
We’ll take him…not sure where to put him but he killed the Braves pitching.
Wait… you mean the Braves signed someone to fill a position they didn’t need to fill???
AA sure does know what he’s doing doesn’t he
It’s only a 1 year stopgap . Not that big of a deal.
Not that big of a deal nor a deal that was necessary. Camargo needed another year at 3B to grow and improve. Bringing in a player that isn’t necessarily making you THAT much better doesn’t help Camargo or the future.
AA did this in Toronto when he obtained a player at a position, overpaid him and nearly cost them what then became a near-World Series after blowing up the farm system to do it.
Saying “it’s only a 1 year stopgap” fails to look at the bottom line, which is this move wasn’t needed or addressed real holes on the Braves.
There’s way too much logic and reason in this post TrimReaper. Please stop, other members can’t handle all this truth at once.
Sure it addressed a need. It strengthened the bench by adding the player best qualified to play third on Donaldson’s days off (Camargo).
My apologies MJ. I just like commanding downvotes.
Glad the bench was addressed with a $23-million dollar investment with a suspect shoulder and shaky calf muscle for a 33-year old. Glad that bench improves when the starting lineup might (and might not).
METS ARLEADY HAVING INJURY PROBLEMS!!! LMAOOOOOO
Just wait no more Peds for Cano your gonna see him go down as well
This is for the Mets fans infected with the Flushing virus:
You are right timewalk42–cano is a walking time bomb. As in the past several years he will be more valuable as Cespedes’ golf buddy.
Here’s a FUN FACT for Metsies in denial:
If you criticize the machado or Harper signings for being ten years it’s time to wake up to reality:
If they sign ten years and play 10 years both Manny and Bryce will be the age of Cano TODAY. So good luck Mutt and Jeff as you pay Jay Z’s buddy for the next 5 years!
BTW-the Metsies fans are like crickets on posts like these.
I didn’t know you could do math. Congrats!
Camargo may end up as the starting SS before the end of the season.
How about Philly brings back Giles for Odubel? Could see something like that working
Not bad. I’d settle for near-MLB ready arms like a Ranger Suarez or De La Santos or even JoJo Romero. I see the appeal with Odubel; signed through 2023, has the ability to get to the next level offensively and is a steady defender.
The Muts are Phillies new farm team.
Braves will look super smart when the DH comes to the NL next season and they held onto Camargo
Riley, can’t play LF worse than Gattis or Adams I assume the brass figures.
On the Braves side of things, and I know he was t mentioned here. Just throwing it out there, I’m liking what I’m hearing about Gohara so far this spring.
Braves can get Outfield, Pitching and Catching improvements through helping the Dodgers free up salary space for Bryce Harper, ($33M). Braves get Homer Bailey($23), Yasiel Sierra($5), Joc Pederson($5), Kiebert Ruiz, Walker Beuhler and Gavin Lux from LA for Kolby Allard, Sam Freeman, Grant Dayton and Luke Jackson. Pederson and Beuhler help in 2019 with Ruiz moving to the top of Braves catching prospects. Gavin Lux would be top infield prospect. Same type of bad contract deal used to gain prospects and MLB ready players in the past. Better hurry!