Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor suffered a right calf strain in February, thus placing his season-opening status in doubt. However, the Indians haven’t yet made a decision on that front. Manager Terry Francona said Sunday (via Mandy Bell of MLB.com) the Indians will determine in the coming days whether Lindor will break camp with the team next week. Needless to say, having Lindor ready on Opening Day will be a sizable boon for the Tribe. The transcendent 25-year-old further established himself as one of the game’s premier players in 2018.
More injury news from around the majors…
- Rangers slugger Joey Gallo is dealing with a groin strain, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News relays. The Rangers believe it’s a minor issue, and Grant adds they’re not planning “aggressive treatment,” but Gallo’s not certain to be ready for Opening Day. Should the injury force Gallo to begin the season on the injured list, it could open the door for unproven outfielder Willie Calhoun to make the team, Grant notes. On paper, that’s a significant downgrade for Texas, for which Gallo combined for 81 home runs and 5.6 fWAR from 2017-18. [Update: Gallo says he’ll be in the Rangers’ Opening Day lineup, Grant tweets.]
- Although Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager hasn’t appeared in a spring training game, he’ll be ready for Opening Day, manager Dave Roberts told Bob Nightengale of USA Today and other reporters Sunday. It’ll be a triumphant return for Seager, who starred in full seasons from 2016-17 before missing nearly all of the ’18 campaign on account of Tommy John surgery.
- Forgotten Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury reported to camp this weekend, though he’s “not close” to being game ready, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com tweets. Ellsbury, who has dealt with a laundry list of injuries in recent years (including plantar fasciitis), is only hitting off a tee and playing catch from short distances at this point. It’s not clear whether the 35-year-old will even suit again with the Yankees, with whom he’s in the sixth season of a seven-year, $153MM contract. The former Red Sox star hasn’t appeared in a major league game since Oct. 17, 2017.
- Along with the previously reported Antonio Senzatela, the Rockies are likely to begin the season without reliever Chris Rusin, per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. Upper back pain has shelved Rusin all month, but when he does return, he’ll try to bounce back from an ugly 2018 in he posted a 6.09 ERA/4.64 FIP with 7.74 K/9 and 4.28 BB/9 in 54 2/3 innings.
Rox should have released Rusin three years ago, yet are enamoured with him for some reason.
Rusin is cruisin for a bruisin.
Ellsbury is a complete joke. Just fall off the face of the earth
Imo, Yanks should bring back the mascot “Dandy” and Ellsbury can suit up and portray him.
They tried that. Ells injured himself putting on the costume.
You’re killing me with that comment, I laughed so hard!!!!!!
Wouldn’t it be wise to designate Ellsbury and save $1 million, assuming someone else signs him at this point?
That’s not how it works. If he’s released the Yankees are on the hook for his full salary.
Whoever would sign him, would pick up prorated MLB minimum on him (2 years would be roughly 1M)
Aren’t you the guy who lectured someone above about the earth not being flat? Isn’t that something for an elementary school science website?
But then you make an ignorant comment on a BASEBALL website – by not knowing that the Yankees would save at least 1MM if someone else signed Ellsbury.
Pot meet kettle. 😉
Do you feel better now?
Yes. Thank you!
Save $1MM, how would they do that? He’s owed like $43MM + a $5MM buyout.
If someone else signs him; the team that signs him pays the league minimum. My guess is that since the league minimum is 560k, that’s where the commenter got the $1MM figure. Because he’s got 2 years left on his deal.
I included the “assuming someone would sign him” part as someone paying Ellsbury the minimum MLB wage of ~550K
The Steinbrenners are keeping Ells on the team to remind Cashman of his dumb signing. Heck, they may even extend Ells’ contract to pour salt on the wound.
Or the Steinbrenners could have been the ones to overrule him, and sign him, and are keeping him on the team, cuz the Steinbrenners are too cheap to release Ellsbury, and admit their mistake signing.
Cash fans believe Ells was a Steinbrenner signing. You are pouring salt on the wound. No one knows.
No need to release Ells until he’s healthy. Right now, insurance is covering most of his salary.
That reimburses the organization some, but unfortunately has no effect on the payroll.
To clarify, the insurance payment has no effect on the payroll limits for luxury tax purposes. It does reduce the amount the Yankees have to pay out by $15M, but MLB does not allow teams to deduct this amount from their annual payroll amount for luxury tax calculation purposes.
no one else would sign him, he probably won’t play in 2019, unless it’s late in the season
If he comes back and is at all successful then he could potentially be dumped in a trade and the team can eat more of the salary than 500k or whatever the minimum is for each of the next two years. Or if he plays well then he’ll provide value to the team. A little early to dump him, and that 1 mil is a drop in the bucket to a team like the Yankees
They’re just waiting for a team to give up their best prospect for Ells.
That “calf strain” to Lindor sounds fishy now. Why don’t they come clean and call it what it really is… tuberculosis and a mild case of melancholy.
Emsbury represents one of those cases of subtraction by addition for the yanks.
Ellsbury, the gift that keeps on giving.
Ellsbury – AKA the Red Sox Revenge!
Now I’m still laughing!!!!!
Ellsbury is the bestest!
the twins have to have a great first couple weeks or months if they want to win the division, especially if the Indians will be without their star shortstop to open the season
Anyone remember how good Ellsbury looked in Boston?…. it feels so very long ago.
I remember, as does Cashman. That’s why they opened the vault for him, as they for the Demon Damon. But any Sox fan will tell you Ells was not that good. She
Ellsbury is another reason why owners are hesitant on giving long term deals.
Sammy (great handle, btw), don’t tell the players and the union.
They think ownership and FO’s should continue to do dumb stuff like that.
OTOH, the MLBPA needs to figure out how to get players paid when they are younger, where they really earn the money and are woefully underpaid.
It will be hard unless they break and agree to some type of performance-based comp formula. That might spell the end of guaranteed contracts, which have been the Holy Grail for the MLBPA, so it will be really interesting to see what happens in the next CBA.
Agreed. Ellsbury was on DL with Sox a number of times as well, his problems at this stage somewhat forseeable. I was surprised at just how much the Yanks valued him upon signing.
And you forgetting the fleece from the Panda!!!!
The update on Ellsbury could be a report on a five year old, who just his first glove. It’s actually been that way for a year.
Playing catch and hitting off a tee. If he doesn’t get a boo boo, they’ll let him play soft toss next week.
I think teams in the AL Central are not as weak as they are given credit for. The Indians will not walk through the division this season. Health will decide the winner.