The Royals are placing Brad Keller on the 10-day injured list with a right lat strain, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com (via Twitter). Josh Staumont has returned from the COVID-related injured list to take his roster spot. Keller has reliably taken his rotation turn all season long for Kansas City, totaling 133 2/3 innings across 26 starts (though he was removed from his last start). The quality of those turns hasn’t perhaps been what Keller or the Royals would hope, however, as he owns a 5.39 ERA/4.72 FIP and -0.2 rWAR. Staumont, for his part, spent just one day on the injured list.
Let’s take a spin around the Midwest and see what shakes loose…
- Carlos Martinez is probably done for the year, per MLB.com’s Zachary Silver (via Twitter). Wade LeBlanc is also questionable to return after feeling some elbow pain in his latest bullpen. If Martinez’s season is truly over, it will have been a disappointing one for the one-time Cardinal ace. Martinez owns a 6.23 ERA over 82 1/3 innings. A 4.76 FIP suggests it might not have quite been the disaster season that those baseline numbers suggest, however.
- While we’re here, we might as well check in with Jack Flaherty, who is also questionable to return this season. The Cardinals are putting him through a series of assessments now. What matters most is making sure he’s healthy for 2022, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Same story for Ryan Helsley, who will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and look ahead to next season.
- The Tigers released Renato Nunez, per Evan Woodbery of the MLive Media Group (via Twitter). Manager A.J. Hinch suggested that there weren’t enough at-bats to go around in Triple-A for Spencer Torkelson, Aderlin Rodriguez, and Nunez. The Tigers outrighted Nunez a few days ago, and he will now be free to sign anywhere.
I say Carlos Martinez will be gone from the Cardinals entirely. I believe they will decline his club option and if he’s lucky he will find a minor league deal elsewhere in the offseason. I don’t see them bringing him back. As for Núñez I do believe he will have to settle for a minor league deal but teams who need depth should look at him as an option
And Tampa Bay will sign him for league minimum where he will make the all-star team and have a 1.80 ERA.
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Absolutely!!! New environment- New pitching coach & New pitching philosophy.
Same bad head though. That’s his main demon!
I agree. I also don’t think Carpenter comes back.
There’s 30+ million between the two on their options, or like 5 million buyout on them. That’s a lot of money to give to two guys who haven’t been productive in a few years
Zero chance Carp or CMart are back next year. Not even worth discussing. Zero chance.
I would agree—-BUT—— those are the exact type of players John Mozeliak looks for to solidify the Cardinals pitching staff & offense in the off season and at the trading deadline.
That’s true but I’m skeptical that the cardinals brass will spin the media saying that since they now have to pay Nolan 35 million (Colorado is covering the bill this year) it doesn’t add the flexibility the way that some might think and that’s why they can’t go out and get a another stud player.
Is adding another “stud player”, ie, one that will cost a ton but still only be one player really wise? Maybe, if they are gonna spend, maybe spread the money out a little more wisely instead of committing another ton to a big name who is, again, only one player? Only so many times you can give out that mega contract and it’s an overrated strategy. Fans love it but it’s overrated and kills future flexibility. (Plus they’re usually overpays).
That’s true, and I would actually be in favor of that too. Im just skeptical that they’ll do what they have been and that’s fix one hole while letting the others leak. They need some serious pitching help and another bat or two.
Both gone! Remind me of Bruan and Sheets! One is in the hall of very good. The other washed up by Injuries, despite excellent Talent. You are not a superstar unless you are available.
The NL central has a lot of animosity going every which way. However, I am a Cardinals fan who LOVES Wrigleyville. And I will root for Kolton Wong for as long as he plays.
But…
Ryan Braun is a dirty lying cheat who tried to lie his way out of being caught cheating. F that punk.
Seriously. I don’t hate other teams, I found the Cubs to be fun, I like Kolten and thing Yelich is a great player, the Reds are fun etc. etc.
There are only two players I hate, Jonny Cueto since 2010 for ending a dude’s career by kicking him in the head and Ryan Braun since 2011 for the reasons above.
Amen
That not really going out on a limb about Carpenter. He shouldn’t even had made the club this year but this loyalty thing the Cardinals have is getting dumb. Just checked and its a 2 million buyout on Carpenter and 1 million buyout on Martinez..
Saying that you “believe they will decline his option” is like saying you “believe the sky is blue.”
Carp and Martinez will both be gone. It’s a shame about Matt Carpenter’s last few years, he should be remembered by the fan base better than he will be – much like Mike Mattheny.
Go ahead and tell me I’m wrong so I can warm up my shove it up your..
Why SHOULD he be remembered that way? I can understand if you’d want to remember that, but he chose to keep playing, so if people want to remember the embarrassing years, why wouldn’t they be allowed to?
{Throat clearing} shove it up your
I agree with what you’re saying. As of this moment, I am filled with homicidal rage every time I see Carp enter the game. But when the season is over and the team declines his option, I will choose to remember the good years. I still have admiration for Matheny. He was a paint by numbers manager, but an old school. hard nosed, tough SOB.
Carpenter has too long of a swing. Just slowed down on him as he aged. I’m sure they tried tweaking it. Gotta be hard. I’m sure he’s had since he was a kid.
Carp had some great years. Matheny was awful.
Matheny wins 3 GG in 5 years as a Cardinal and he’s “awful?” Molina wins GG and he’s a HOF? MATHENY wasn’t a good hitter, but then again, Molina wasn’t Yogi either.
I was talking about as a manager. He was a good catcher. Terrible manager.
Del, got it.
No one can mention that Carp stayed and hurt his team taking horrible at bats for years only for the money?
Seems pretty biased
Your absolutely right!
Mike Mtheny once took a fastball STRAIGHT TO THE FACE. Spits out a dozen teeth and and a puddle of blood to the utter disgust of the announcers and still walked off the field LIKE A BOSS!!! A great Cardinal. Google it. Don’t try to eat when you watch, it’s revolting.
Pretty sure he was a Brewer when that happened.
And stayed on his feet. That’s a hard man right there.
You’re; please, I’m begging you.
Hope Nunez catches on with a contender and does good. He’s a good guy and deserves a break
Why can’t the outright him to AA?
Because both are free agents who aren’t playing well. Welcome to baseball, try to keep up.
What? I mean Nunez…
It says a lot about the season we’re having when the injury news that disappointed me the most was Wade Leblanc. I hope they shut Jack down. I’m glad to close the book on the Carlos Martinez experience. I see no reason to keep Helsley either.
LeBlanc pitched some great games for the cards.
Can the tigers outright their GM?
Considering how well the rebuild is currently looking, he wouldn’t !make it through waivers. He would definitely get claimed.