Blue Jays right-hander David Phelps will miss the remainder of the 2021 season after undergoing surgery to repair what the club had termed a “significant” strain of his right lat, the team announced (Twitter link via Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet).
This is a terrible blow for the Blue Jays and Phelps, who was brilliant for the club before landing on the injured list toward the beginning of the month. Phelps hasn’t pitched since May 2, but in the 10 1/3 innings he did throw this season, the 34-year-old surrendered just two runs (one earned) on eight hits and four walks, and he struck out 15 batters along the way. Toronto couldn’t have asked for a better performance than that when it signed the well-traveled Phelps to a $1.75MM guarantee in free agency, but he’ll have to head back to the open market during the upcoming offseason after a truncated campaign.
For their part, the Blue Jays will go the remainder of their season without one of their most dependable relievers. Phelps joins Kirby Yates, another of the team’s offseason signings, as someone who won’t return to the mound this season. The Jays are also without Julian Merryweather, Ryan Borucki and Tommy Milone, who have each been on the IL for at least a couple weeks apiece.
baseballhobo
You usually do a chat on Tuesdays, Steve.
Wilmer Flores' Tears
MLBTR has a lot less people chat now, since we can all refresh Twitter for rumors and give our best guesses on which teams will trade or sign players.
Tim Dierkes is working on cutting some writer salaries and investing the ad click revenue in getting people with actual baseball insight to do chats — perhaps former players like Tim Dillard or front office executives like Chuck Wasserstrom.
Until then, we can just “chat” with each other in the comment sections. Steve has no more or less unique insight into anything than the average commenter, and I like Steve, aside from the fact he moved back to Minnesota for some bizarre reason.
Eovaldismemes
My parents went to high school with him and my step dad played softball vs him
oldmansteve
How old are you? 6? Get off the internet and run around outside.
Mrtwotone
Damn, sounds like your parents got started early.
jimmertee
His career might be over, too bad if that is the case.
bobtillman
Orioles place entire pitching staff except Means on 60 IL…replace them with 12 nuns from the St. Anthony Retirement Home….expect better results….
miltpappas
And even Means has come slightly back to Earth his last few starts. He starts getting hit, the O’s are looking at the longest summer on record.
clrrogers
The Blue Jays better get some outside help for that bullpen (not to mention the rotation) or they’re going to waste an MVP year from Vladdy with a 4th place finish.
Poppin' Balls
Agreed. It’s like everyone knew that the Blue Jays would need pitching, except for them.
Taejonguy
yeah balls, because it is usual for the quantity of injuries the Bluejays have suffered to their bullpen. Injuries are part of the game though- Jays need to get some quality and not other team’s cast-off at this point…
jimmertee
Taejonguy, that’s the story I have been singing for the past few years…..we cannot listen to the Shapiro/Sportsnet/Rogers KoolAid any longer. It is time to sell the farm to fill out the rotation and get a real closer with good medicals….
Orel Saxhiser
Vladdy Jr. will have many great years. I loved Vladdy Sr., but it won’t be long until he’s known mainly as Vladdy Jr.’s father.
smuzqwpdmx
The bullpen will be fine if they’re not pitching 6 innings a day. Can always put Hatch and Kay and Pearson in the pen late in the season if they can stabilize the rotation with reliable arms. Hopefully Manoah can be a reliable arm, if not they’ll give Hatch a chance and Pearson another chance and look to trades in July.