Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is set to start the 2022 season on the IL, he told reporters (including MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart). The right-handed pitcher continues to rehab the flexor tendon in his pitching arm that was injured during last year’s playoffs. Surgery does not appear to be in the cards at this time, and McCullers stressed he’s not dealing with a UCL issue (via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle).
While it’s still uncertain when McCullers will be able to return atop Houston’s rotation— currently he’s not even cleared to throw— Astros brass and fans should be encouraged by the news that their pitcher has not been recommended to head down the surgical route. The 28-year-old was already known to be behind in his recovery, with MLB’s lockout disrupting that recovery process, but there was still some ambiguity about the status of the player’s health.
Fortunately, several doctors have confirmed that the 2018 Tommy John recipient has not re-injured his UCL and instead have advised non-surgical PRP injections and stem cell therapy to treat the ailing tendon. This course of action is certainly preferable to a season-derailing surgery, though it still serves as an inauspicious beginning to the $85MM extension agreed upon by player and team early last year. Even with continued rehab progress and no further setbacks, McTaggart writes that McCullers figures to be out of commission “well into April,” owing to a need to build up the starter’s pitch count.
Houston will be hard-pressed to fill the shoes of their #2 pitcher behind veteran ace Justin Verlander, as the righty posted a stout 3.16 ERA and 27.1 K% across 162 plus innings last year. Difficult as that production may be to replace however, the Astros have a stable of arms who showed ample promise in the big leagues last year. Assuming good health, each of José Urquidy, Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier and veteran Jake Odorizzi should do an adequate job holding down the fort until the homegrown McCullers is ready to take the hill again.
Should Houston’s top decision-makers go the way of other teams in recent days and add to their rotation depth, they will likely have the means to do so. Thanks to the new CBA, the Astros have more than $33MM to spend before hitting the first luxury tax threshold in the eyes of RosterResource, and none of the remaining pitchers on the free agent market figure to be too cost prohibitive. It remains to be seen if a deal with more Major League pitching is even on Houston’s radar, particularly if rumblings of a Carlos Correa reunion add another large salary to the books, but the Astros appear capable of weathering McCullers’ absence regardless of how the next few weeks unfold.
Bummer. Dude is kinda fragile.
He’s a max effort pitcher with a power breaking ball. He’s gonna always have health issues. Guy is tremendous when healthy though
There are plenty of pitchers that fit your description that don’t remotely have the chronic issues LM has…. Poor kids potential will always have a lower ceiling due to the fact that he can’t get on or stay on the field.
If Correa ends up taking a paycut, get another good starting pitcher and/or good reliever.
Taillon for the Yanks is behind too. He will miss the first month or so. Like McCullers being behind schedule with the rest of the rotation, it does create some kind of early innings crisis.
But, I think Taillon will benefit from the late start. I wouldn’t want to be counting on him for much more than 150-60 innings anyway. Rather get ’em down the stretch. Looking at McCullers yearly inning totals, the same may be true for him as well.
Update on that Ducky. Boone said yesterday that he expects Taillon to be ready at the start of the season.
Well, that’s a big deal, Rob.
Kind of relieves that innings problem we were looking at. I’d be perfectly fine just running our pitching back as is. Focus on the lineup/bench. Reassess at the deadline.
& – no. This isn’t Cash’s burner account.
That’s ok. I’ve was accused of being Rob Manfred because of my MLBTR name, even during the lockout when I was posting pro-player stuff.
You are correct, Ducky. McCullers could get injured later on though, regardless of the innings. Not sure if Taillon is as prone to injury as he is.
Because so many Boras clients take pay cuts?
There’s a first time for everything. Nothing has gone the way Correa hoped. The Astros hold all the cards. Is Correa going to sit out until some one gives him what he wants? Doubt it.
Not sure why Correa would take less cash.
He’s fragile too. Has a bad back from playing a position that he is to tall for.
His platinum glove says otherwise.
I’m not expecting a pay cut for Correa at all. A significant pay raise. He’ll probably sign for a high AAV for a season, or maybe two with an opt out after year 1, Think of a variation of the deal Verlander is on now. He can re-enter the market in a year or two, still in his 20s and without the lockout and the flood of competition with all the other SS’s. A second straight healthy season also will help increase his value quite a bit.
I think he fired his former agent believing he may have misread the pre-lockout market, so now he’ll sign a Boras pillow-type contract and go back out again in a year’s time. Just my guess.
He’d take less cash if there’s no alternative. I highly doubt he’d sit out until a team gives him his dream offer, and as far as we know, no team had given him such an offer.
I agree. The Astros are basically bidding against themselves at this point. A few teams could swoop in, but I don’t see it. If he wants to hold out for 10 years, he will not be an Astro.
I wonder if the A’s would trade within their division
They did last year
Where do u think u got ramon laureano
Wish they would trade for Castillo to add to their rotation.
Very concerning he’s still having an issue almost a half a year later. Flexor tendon issues can also eventually lead to UCL problems.
Love McCullers but he’s not ever gonna be a 35 start a year guy. Unfortunately injuries for him tend to be worst case scenario so I’m fully expecting to hear surgery is needed in about three weeks.
Mr. Glass breaking already.
Cheater.
This is why McCullers didn’t get a nine-figure contract. Based solely on his age and talent, he would have been able to nab a deal worth well over $100 if he wasn’t made of glass. Guy pitches at near ace level when fully healthy, but he simply can’t make it through an entire season.
I’m glad the Astros didn’t trade Oddo. He can fill those innings. It’s not a new injury. He’ll be ready soon.
I guess this answers my question on why the RS didn’t sign him. Fine pitcher when he’s healthy.