Astros outfielder Michael Brantley was diagnosed with inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder, skipper Dusty Baker told reporters this evening (relayed by Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle). The veteran hitter will be shut down for an indeterminate period of time.
It’s an obvious setback that’ll keep him from making his season debut as expected. The Astros had hinted last weekend that Brantley could be back in the lineup early in the week. That didn’t come to fruition, and while the Astros were typically reticent with any substantive injury updates, they announced that Brantley had left the team for further evaluation a couple days ago. That examination apparently revealed the new concern.
Brantley hasn’t appeared in a major league game in over ten months. His last appearance came on June 26, 2022. Brantley landed on the injured list with a shoulder problem and underwent season-ending surgery to repair a labrum tear in August. He hit free agency but returned for a fifth season in Houston on a one-year, $12MM guarantee over the winter. The contract contains up to $4MM in additional plate appearance incentives, beginning at 400 trips to the dish.
Unfortunately, the five-time All-Star hasn’t been able to get back to the diamond yet. He opened this season on the IL as he continued working back from the shoulder procedure. Houston sent him on a rehab stint with Triple-A Sugar Land on April 23. Brantley played in nine games and tallied 37 plate appearances for the Space Cowboys. That appeared to set him up for a major league return until the shoulder inflammation that arose on the cusp of his reinstatement.
Houston had planned for Brantley and Yordan Alvarez to split their reps between left field and designated hitter. Alvarez has divided his time almost evenly between the two positions, appearing 16 times at DH and on 15 occasions in left. Corey Julks and David Hensley have picked up the most extra playing time in Brantley’s absence. Neither rookie hitter has performed well. Julks carries a .260/.265/.365 batting line, while Hensley is hitting .145/.244/.203.
The Astros have also had to weather an injury to center fielder Chas McCormick, pushing Jake Meyers into the lineup a bit more than anticipated. McCormick was activated after a month-long IL stint on Monday but has only played once since then as he’s experienced renewed back discomfort.
Yeah, let’s keep asking Bagwell for more brilliant ideas.
Like Abreu instead of Gurriel? A 91 OPS+ is not good, but its a huge margin better than 47. Bags was a great player, just not a good judge of what makes players great.
Very yes. Bagwell is an actual moron.
He was a great hitting coach though
Maybe Bagwell needs to pump- them up
I see what you did there. Good one.
Just got back from the game tonight. Know there was only contender out there and one team that’s a gazillon games below .500 but if one squints and takes a couple of hits of the good stuff, imagining this was a game with real stakes. Playoff intensity – especially with Joe Kelly out there healthy and dealing. Kudos to the Astros, every series on the road must be like this.
Pretty much. Every one wants to knock off the champs. Astros offense just no-showed yesterday.
Helps that they had much of their B team out there. Not the Bee team. Quite a few Astro fans up from Houston
Bagwell might’ve given them a pump-up today!
Money down the drain. Can’t hand out sentimental deals.
Brantley didn’t make it back from a previous injury and he is already being shut down. Not good for the Astros or Brantley
This was life when Michael was in CLE. When the shoulder problems began it took a LONG time for him to be healthy enough to be on the active roster again. Those IL stints went on forever.
At least now non-Astro fans know why the team hasn’t played up to par this season. Although the ALW was the only division without any real competition. Now it is.
There’s still no competition. It won’t be close at the end of the season.
$44M Retirement Bonus, final $12M paid in 2023.
I never understood the Abreu & Brantley signings. I would have resigned Yuli(or a cheap good Glove 1bman like Dominic Smith)and gone after a LH OF like Andrew Benintendi. You can’t tell me Beni doesn’t come to Hou, if offered a similar deal as the Chisox gave him.
Nobody else was giving Benintendi that deal.
There were so many better options than Brantley and Abreu.
I thought Dominic Smith would’ve been a good fit in Houston too. I certainly didn’t think Jose Abreu would flop out the way he has so far.
As for Michael Brantley, this was always a poor signing. He’s never going to contribute positively anymore. Houston has two potential LFs in in Corey Julkes and Justin Dirden. Yordan Alvarez needs to DH.
As someone with a shoulder labral tear and 3 related surgeries, it’s a difficult road back to that and I don’t need my shoulders for a living. He can at best be a DH but at this point that window might be over too.
It was “over” 2 yrs ago with Brantley; I get that he’s a good LH contact hitter, but I really cannot understand the Stros fascination with him.
Trade for Ohtani and make Yordan the every day left fielder.
You know what I wouldn’t be shocked if your boys landed Ohtani. The question is who do you give up that would make the Angels say yes?
Pena, Gilbert, Lee, and a relief prospect like Tamarez would probably get it done.
The only reason why I’d like to see them at least try to trade for him is because he’d 100% strengthen the rotation while providing a spark to the line up.
same with… 28 other teams and their fanbases.
Sure, except a lot of those other 28 teams still wouldn’t be very good.
Yuli wanted a guaranteed starting job and Houston could not give him that.
Damn shame. Hopefully Altuve comes back soon and is healthy for the rest of the year and Bregman can start hitting and the lineup will be fine without Brantley, but definitely would have helped to have one more lefty bat.
Once Altuve comes back, I would bring up Justin Dirden and make he and Dubon the other 2 everyday outfielders with Tucker, and make Yordan the full-time DH.
Dubon has been terrible lately
Damn shame to see the Astros cheated of the talents of Bregman and Altuve. All this unfortunate news is a bit much for Astro nation. Assmunch as it were
Didn’t realize it was $12M on his contract. That’s a bit much for someone at his age and history of injury. Feel that’s almost equivalent to $48M per if he was healthy for a full season and played every game. He’s not that player. At this point of his career + history he’s good for 25% of the season.
They got really lucky in his first 3.5 years in HOU. That’s the longest stretch of good health in his career. Unfortunately where Brantley is concerned you have to pay the piper some time. Astros will be lucky if they get anything at all out of him this year.
It is his non throwing shoulder.
Hope Dr. Smooth is feeling better soon and makes it back. Been missing seeing him on the field for too long now.
Take the money and run! Take the money and run! Just take the money and run! Just take the money and run!!!!
No that would be deGrom & Ródon.
I did not see this coming. I thought maybe Abreu might show something. I think now that Brantley down till probably the All Star break or after it. Maybe longer. Whether on an IL stint not sure. Corey Julks looks to have LF with Alvarez. Meyers still in there and will be for a while. Dierden is making a case. Could Drew make a case to see AAA soon perhaps. McCormick might take until mid June maybe. I do not see them pushing till they know he can really go without another setback. I know ASTROS we’re only focused on first for the off season. Catching had in house behind Maldy. Pitching figured we had it all with our starters we had after Verlander left but one who dominated in WBC is lost for season. Another lost till probably lost till after the break. McCullers not sure on him. Hopefully by end of month Altuve is back and maybe Chas. See how Altuve does and could even be back the series after the Cubs come to town. But Brantley is a blow. They thought he would be back. It does make you wonder what if on the off season but Crane was doing things with Bagwell and Dana could not do much. But hope does with the deadline and more.
Well, I hate to say it, but we may have some new Killer Bs in town – killers of our offense. Bergman, Brantley and aBreau.
Overall, Stros are exactly where fans should expect them to be – after the Altuve injury. I do believe that if you’ll run the numbers, you’ll find that they’re just a so/so team whenever he’s not been in the lineup for years, ever since the team got good with Springer and Correa.. I last ran the numbers last year, comparing the difference Altuve makes vs Yordan. Both were out at times last year. Didn’t miss much of a beat without Yordan – as long as Altuve was in the line up – but vice versa was a differentstory.
Guy’s made of crepe paper.
If
If Oakland wasn’t in the AL West, Houston would gave a decent shot at going first to worst.
They have no shot at finishing behind Texas, Seattle, and LAA. They will still easily win the West.