TODAY: The Tigers have placed Boyd on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow sprain, per the team. Ian Krol will have his contract selected from Triple-A to claim Boyd’s roster spot. Krol made 12 appearances with the Tigers previously before being designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-a.
Sept. 10: Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd was scratched from tonight’s scheduled start due to recurred soreness in his left elbow, tweets Jason Beck of MLB.com. Boyd was on the injured list from June 15 through Aug. 29 with discomfort in his left arm. Boyd will be placed back on the injured list, tweets Evan Woodbery of MLive.com.
It’s a tough blow for both Boyd and the Tigers. The 30-year-old southpaw has had a nice rebound from an awful 2020 season, pitching to a 3.89 ERA in 78 2/3 frames this season when healthy enough to take the mound. Boyd didn’t look great in his return from his recent IL stint, however, as he pitched just eight innings across two starts and yielded a total of seven earned runs.
Had Boyd remained healthy, he would’ve been one of the most asked-about players on this summer’s trade market — at least the second time in his career he’d have held that distinction. Clubs have looked into the possibility of trading for Boyd for several seasons now as the Tigers have been mired in a lengthy rebuild, but a deal has never come together.]
Interest in Boyd was likely at its peak in 2019, when he got out to a dominant start with a 2.85 ERA, a 30 percent strikeout rate and a 5.1 percent walk rate through his first dozen starts (72 2/3 innings). That showing was all the more impressive given the home-run boom that stemmed from what was widely believed to be a juiced ball during the ’19 campaign.
With more than three years of team control remaining at that point in 2019, the Tigers put an understandably sky-high price on Boyd, whose performance began to deteriorate in June and July. Boyd was still missing bats in droves and limiting walks, but like so many pitchers around the league, the home-run ball began catching up with him as the weather warmed. From June 1 through the trade deadline that year, Boyd notched a brilliant 90-to-15 K/BB ratio but yielded 15 home runs and was tagged for a 5.28 ERA in 59 2/3 innings. The Tigers didn’t find an offer to their liking and held onto Boyd.
It was defensible at the time, given that Boyd could be shopped in the offseason or even at any of the subsequent trade deadlines. No deal came together in the 2019-20 offseason, as Boyd never really regained his footing down the stretch that year. Any hopes of capitalizing on a strong few months to open the 2020 campaign were dashed both by the Covid-19 pandemic shortening the season and by Boyd’s rough first few starts of the season. This year, it was an injury that prevented a deal from potentially coming together.
Given the uncertainty surrounding Boyd’s health now, it could prove tough to find a significant return in a trade even if the renewed elbow issue proves minor. And, given the Tigers’ shift from a rebuilding club toward contending — owner Chris Ilitch has already suggested the team will spend this offseason — it’s perhaps likeliest that Boyd returns for what he and the club can only hope will be a healthier 2022 season.
Boyd’s lifetime 4.96 ERA and 4.66 mark over the past few seasons don’t exactly jump out, but he’s frequently shown all the pieces necessary to take his game to a new level. Boyd has regularly shown the ability to miss bats and limit walks, but he’s typically been rather home-run prone. This season, he looked to have the home-run issues curbed, but his strikeout rate dipped to 19.9 percent — his lowest mark since 2017. There are undoubtedly teams that view Boyd as a candidate to put everything together and break out as a strong mid-rotation arm (if not more). Being able to showcase that in a healthy 2022 campaign is now the best-case scenario for Boyd, however.
LordD99
Boyd doing his best to ensure the Tigers can never trade him!
alproof
That’s what I think. Really tired of this guy already. We’ll have Skubal Mize Peralta Manning already for next year, and the no-hitter star Turnbull on TJ Surgery recovery right now. And Verlander?
stymeedone
Mize, Skubal and Manning make 3 of the at least 5 Starters they will need. Peralta has had a fine season, which is not what you expected from him, and is a free agent. If you can sign him cheaply and quickly, great, but not a guy I would get into any bidding war for. Turnbull is out next year. Boyd, if healthy, would be a welcome source of innings. Tigers are no longer trading away established players for prospects. Moving Fulmer back into the rotation, as weaselpuppy suggests below, may be a good option. Verlander is a Detroit favorite, but if paying the big dollars for a starter, one of the Giants FA starters would be a healthier choice. DeSclafini or Gausman. Stroman or Snydergard. Scherzer, if you want to bring someone back. Add a SS that can hit his weight and some mid relief arms for stability. Greene and Torkelson will add.the power bats they lack. Getting closer!
Fever Pitch Guy
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
A Boyd in hand is worth more than 2 trips to the IL
BovineCrab
I just read the most ridiculous Steve Adams comment on the most recent chat transcript. Someone asked Steve if the Braves would keep Adam Duvall. Adams said that Duvall was a good defensive outfielder but the Braves still shouldn’t keep him. He said if they do it should be as a “bench role/reserve outfielder.” Adam Duvall is not only good defensively but he already has 34 homer runs and 99 rbi’s. I know Sabermetrics may not like his OBP or strikeouts, but if you think a good defensive player who already has 34 home runs and 99 rbi’s is bench player you are out of your mind. That kind of production from a good defensive player makes them an every day starter on almost any team in baseball. I like Sabermetrics and all but some people are just getting insane with it.
alproof
Also, Goodrum Jimenez Cisnero all must go. Can’t win with these losers.
For Love of the Game
Aw scheisse! Too bad Tommy John didn’t trademark his name. The royalties would just keep pouring in. Maybe I’m being too pessimistic but it seems like almost everyone with elbow problems ends up with TJS, except Zach Britton who just needs “reconstructive elbow surgery.”
Monkey’s Uncle
I guess Britton bought the generic version. Just like saving a little cash at the grocery store.
angt222
Detroit held onto him for too long. Should have traded him two years ago.
Stat_head
For what a lottery ticket prospect? Then you’d complain Avila gave him away for nothing. He’s been a solid mentor for Mize & Skubal and had a solid season. I’m sure if someone made a solid offer he’d have been traded.
Thesecondjamie
Tommy John coming up…
stymeedone
I still don’t think the Tigers were planning on trading him, but this is not good news.
tiger9
Tommy John and then free agency after 2022. Poor timing to cash in. The guy is a quality person aside from baseball so wish the best for him.
OneLoneGone
Along with Turnbull you can’t count on them to contribute in ‘22.
weaselpuppy
Guess they are stretching out Fulmer over the offseason and hoping that Wentz can come all the way back. Just no more Julio Teheren Jose Urena type guys, huh?
get Correa, get a veteran pen arm and get us to 500 + a couple games next year, find out what you have in Manning, Wentz, Hill, Cameron, Paredes, the Castros. Let Greene and Tork get established. Good season.
Add the finishing touches 22/23 offseason and start the playoff streak up again,
For Love of the Game
Ryan Kreidler is a credible option at SS. Great D, power, but K’s too much.
sergefunction
Why do these guys always pretend they don’t need TJS? Plasma-rich platelet injections, rest, change their roles, throw with their other arm…why toy with Fate like that? Just wasting everyone’s time, including ours.
Yes, the recovery from TJS is triple-terrible. No, you have no choice unless it’s time for you to open that Life Coach / Safe-n-Legal Supplements outlet in your empty local mall.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Sometimes those things work as they did for Tanaka. Surgery is always the last resort.
SportsFan0000
Tough break for Boyd and the Tigers.
Joey Wentz is working his way back from Tommy John starting in the minors and should be ready to join the Tigers rotation in ’22.
Tigers will have a very good, improving rotation in ’22 with Mize, Skubal, Manning, Wentz.
Tigers have Tyler Alexander and Michael Fulmer who could also be the 5th Starter.
Peralta is a cheap free agent option.
OR, the Tigers can pick up a young starter on a “pillow contract” while they wait
for Turnbull and Boyd to come back in ’23.
Tigers also have some other young starters in the minor league pipeline that could get a serious look. including their #2 2021 draft pick Ty Madden whose college success in Texas could put him on the fast track to the majors…
GarryHarris
I don’t like that Ian Kroll is returning. I’ve also seen enough of Michael Fulmer. I’m being realistic, not pessimistic. Even if their top prospects all pan out, the Tigers will struggle to make .500 in 2022.
SportsFan0000
I respectfully disagree. The Tigers are already banging on the door for .500 this year (’21) with multiple, major injuries. The Tigers have lost at least 12-20 very close one run games this year that could flip in their favor in ’22 if things continue to go their way…The young position players and pitchers will be taking steps forward in ’22. The Tigers may promote Green, Torkelson and possibly catcher Dillion Dingler by mid ’22 especially with Rogers out for ’22 with Tommy John surgery. A few smart trades and/or smart free agent signings and the Tigers could be in the Wild Card hunt as early as ’22…
I expect the Tigers to be very competitive for the AL Central Division Title by ’23.
Luke Strong
I hope for the best for him. Really hope not a TJ situation. That would be devastating. It’s hard finding pitchers who can stay healthy for a string of seasons, these guys are all putting way too much strain on their arms in the name of advanced metrics. They’ve all over-gamed the game. The rash of injuries, especially soft-tissue this season, has gone through the roof.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
The comments are so ridiculously laughable. I didn’t know there were 330# SS’s in the league….
Delusional, if you think they are close the being a consistent, dominate team.
The LAST thing they should be doing is playing their prospects/rookies. Mize, Skubal and Manning s/b honing their craft in Toledo while we trade signings. Especially true for positional players. Don’t take a space on the 25 and the team you do play for will be that much better. (Do you think a 3.66 era s/b 7-8? Really?)
How can you consider them close when there are realistically only a few guys, including Hinch (Remember Chapman, and we can have a player who’s nickname is “Hinchy” if he comes back), you can trade for anything?
But that’s exactly what Al s/b doing! Trading everything he can to the wanna be’s. Hiring, with the intent to trade to the wanna be’s- sweet contacts w/signing bonuses to lower the yearly cost, team options so the receiver has choices and we are not locked in if they flop.
Take on salary, pay it to trade.
Do this until there is no more room on the 40? What kind of team do you have? Target those guys, make them understand what your budget is and what they can be a part of as a team of players, say a 10 year window into their early 30s. I believe true athletes will give some understanding of total salary of a team when it comes to playing with their peers – other top dog players.
Have you guys not considered the improvements other teams will be making next year?
Signing FAs’ for anything other than trade is another last thing he should be doing. Is there no strategy involved anywhere?
I’m sure it’s not the last, last thing he should be doing but I’ll have to spare you and write my congressman. (Since I don’t live in MI anymore, I’m sure he is going to be thrilled!)
The Saber-toothed Superfife
P.S. and please, don’t get them injured like an idiot…