2:40pm: The Astros have announced that Alvarez has been placed on the IL, with outfield Jose Siri recalled to take his place on the active roster.
2:15 pm: The Astros are going to place Yordan Alvarez on the 10-day injured list due to a hand injury, reports Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest.
Alvarez dealt with a hand issue back in June that caused him to miss a few games. He has evidently been playing through the injury since that time, with Morales relaying word from manager Dusty Baker that the issue has been getting worse. Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle relays that the club is hoping that a period of rest can help the slugger be ready for their series against the Yankees, which is right after the All-Star break.
Due to the upcoming break, this is probably the best time for a player to hit the IL due to a nagging injury. If he can return after a minimum stay, as the Astros hope, Alvarez could miss just seven games. After the All-Star break, the Astros are in for a bit of a grind, as they start with a double-header against the Yankees as part of a stretch wherein they play 19 games in 18 days. By going on the IL now, he’ll miss games against the A’s and Angels but potentially be ready to go for that stretch where they play the Yankees, Mariners, A’s, Red Sox and Guardians.
Although Houston is clearly of the opinion this is a minor issue that be quickly cleared up, it’s still noteworthy that it’s lingered for the past three weeks, as it was June 19 that the hand issue first forced him to miss a game. Of course, it’s also noteworthy given that Alvarez has been perhaps the best hitter on the planet this year. With 26 home runs and an overall slash line of .306/.405/.653, he’s been 97% better than the league average hitter this year. His 197 wRC+ is first among qualified hitters, six points ahead of Paul Goldschmidt’s 191 and 20 points ahead of Aaron Judge’s 171.
Alvarez has largely been used as a DH this year, with 33 left field appearances mixed in. With Michael Brantley also on the IL, this leaves the club a little stretched on the grass, with Kyle Tucker, Jake Meyers and Chas McCormick likely getting the bulk of the regular action. Aledmys Diaz, Mauricio Dubon and J.J. Matijevic are also around as outfield-capable options.
There’s little reason for the Astros or their fans to panic, as their 55-29 record gives them a 12-game lead in the AL West. If the injuries to either Alvarez or Brantley linger towards the vicinity of the August 2 trade deadline, the club could always look to outfield upgrades at that point.
Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle first relayed that Alvarez was not with the team and that the issue was his hand (Twitter links). Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest relayed that he was indeed landing on the IL.
A franchise player that the Dodgers have away
Yordan and Oniell Cruz are looking like the two worst trades of Friedman’s dodger tenure. If you want to fleece Friedman you have to get players from the lower levels of their system.
Damon Keith is looking like an underrated player someone could trade for this year. Probably the next Cody Bellinger but he’s buried and unnoticed because that farm is stacked with talent.
Just for laughs, go look at that 2017 A ball team for the Dodgers
Dodgers got what they needed out of both trades. Fields and Watson were both effective in the playoffs. Kudos to HOU for identifying Alvarez. Cruz is no doubt a great prospect but it’s taken him 4+ years to make it and still hasn’t produced much. True examples of lottery tickets.
You must of missed it when the Astros destroyed josh fields in the world series i guess.
Ok, except for those 3 batters, they got decent value out of Field for 2+ seasons and playoffs. Lol
Every active GM that’s been in the game long enough has traded some prospects that hit somewhere else, it’s part of the toll
What Id take a deeper look at is the ones they had info on and let walk or traded before their value took a hit
Ryu, Maeda Kenley Knebel Kelley McGee
Grandal Pollock Seager
They’ve done a pretty good job overall playing the red light/ green light game with their monies. Barnes recent ink just made the 4th guaranteed contract for 2024 only to date (Mookie Freeman CT3)
Yiiikes
Luckily they have no competition in the division. Take the 10 days off and rest.
How can this be? How is he going to bang the trash lid with a stick now?
He wasn’t part of that ordeal. It’s fair to make fun of the Astros but you should leave him out of that he’s done everything fair and square.
Maybe.
He could always borrow a buzzer.
They used buzzers?
I don’t really think so, but there was that whole thing where someone said they thought they heard a buzzing sound while Altuve was batting and then he later freaked out when they tried to rip his jersey off after he walked one off.
Their cheating reportedly ended in 19/20, and I think he tore his shirt off after that.
I don’t think they’d keep pushing that envelope, but who knows?
Where did 19/20 come from?
Typical Los Karens response. The article is about Alvarez, not Beltran.
They act like Bellinger wasn’t doing the same thing.
Now everyone can stop crying about him not starting in the all-star game
TRUE
Still should’ve been the starter at DH.
Like Harper who won? Alverez should have won, Ohtani can’t hold his jock.
Still the class of the AL.
I choose judge
Why would you choose the lesser player?
Far from the lesser player. Judge is a premium defender and Alvarez is a negative in the field
Stats disagree with that assessment. Prior to the IL stint judge was the lesser player, even accounting for him playing defense. That’s how much superior Alvarez is on offense.
Only way to keep him from wining the Home Run Derby at the ASG…
I am genuinely terrified of Yordan. He looks like he could pop Altuves head like a zit
Never happen but could do that to France.