The Astros have placed left-hander Framber Valdez on the 15-day injured list due to elbow soreness, retroactive to April 6, per Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 (X links). They also optioned right-hander Blair Henley to Triple-A Sugar Land. In corresponding moves, they recalled left-hander Parker Mushinski and selected the contract of right-hander Wander Suero. Mushinski was just optioned on Friday and hasn’t yet spent the minimum of 15 days on optional assignment, but players are allowed to return early when someone else goes on the IL. To open a spot on the 40-man roster for Suero, right-hander Oliver Ortega was transferred to the 60-day injured list, per Alexander. Henley relayed the news of his option last night, with Chandler Rome of The Athletic among those to pass it on. Rome also noted that Suero was at the ballpark earlier today and also relayed that Mushinski was on his way to join the club.
It was reported yesterday that Valdez was scratched from his start due to elbow soreness and sent to Houston to visit with team doctors. Manager Joe Espada says the plan is for him to be shut down for a few days while his inflammation subsides, per Rome. Further updates will likely follow in the coming days as the club continues to monitor his progress.
With Valdez scratched, the Astros tagged in Henley as an emergency starter in yesterday’s game against the Rangers but he allowed five earned runs while recording just one out. The Astros managed to come back and win that game 10-5 but used four relievers, getting multiple innings from three of them. Today’s moves provide the club with a couple of fresh arms for their beleaguered bullpen.
Now that Valdez is officially on the IL, the Astros will have to find another starter to join their rotation alongside Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, J.P. France and Ronel Blanco, though Justin Verlander has begun a rehab assignment and may not be too far away. If Verlander wants to make a second rehab starts as planned, perhaps long reliever Brandon Bielak can take the ball in a few days’ time for a spot start.
Suero, 32, signed a minor league deal with the Astros in the offseason. He has 193 1/3 innings of major league experience, having pitched for the Nationals and Dodgers. He has a 4.75 earned run average in that time, striking out 25.4% of batters faced while walking 8.6%.
However, he’s a few years removed from his best results, as he had a 4.10 ERA with the Nats from 2018 to 2020 but then a 6.33 ERA in 2021. He was stuck in the minors in 2022 and then had a 7.88 ERA in eight innings for the Dodgers last year. But his recent Triple-A numbers have been better, as he had a 3.26 ERA in the Dodgers’ system last year and a 4.50 ERA through four appearances so far this year. Suero still has an option and also has less than four years of service time, meaning he can be retained beyond this season via arbitration if he holds onto a 40-man spot all year.
As for Ortega, it was reported last month that he would miss three to four months after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow, making this transfer an inevitable formality.
Elbow strain pandemic
That’s polite Spanish for WTF
Cue Urias to the Astros
Or Bauman
*Bauer
Astros IL rotation is a great starting 5
which il rotation is better … houston or miami?
Miami imo
Probably Houston Miami has more upside but doesn’t have a legit 5 starter
It’s interesting that you’re seeing the teams with the most advanced analytics depts start to have more and more elbow and forearm injuries. Spin rates and high velocity take their toll. Dodgers, Astros, and Braves are three examples.
I’m not saying it’s the only reason for these injuries – 10 year olds playing travel ball year round is even worse – but we’re starting to see a trend.
And I’m starting to wonder if the front offices even care that the analytics are causing guys arms to explode or if they’re just turning to the next guy up. Like pitchers are on their way to being NFL running backs. “Next!”
Next guy up appears to be the default as teams/Manfred doesn’t want to address the pitchers’ pitch-clock complaints.
I get what you’re saying and would be open to see data on the pitch clock downstream effects, but honestly having played the game and now coaching for over 10 years, I think it’s much deeper than the pitch clock.
There is no pitch clock in bullpens. SPs only take the mound – with a pitch clock – every 5 days. But they throw on their program all week. Elbow and forearm injuries occur because of the constant wear and tear from the *type* of pitches thrown. High velocity and maximum spin.
I have coaches that can throw batting practice many times a week with 5-10 seconds between throws. Hundreds of pitches. So honestly it’s not the pitch clock or even the amount (100 pitches for SPs), it’s the type of pitch and the stress extended during that pitch.
Really good points made here. They don’t care. They will compensate for the lack of pitching by using the balls that don’t fly very well. MLB buying Rawlings, the baseball manufacturer, yields great control over offensive production. Controlling the ball, can allow you to create “superstars”. If certain players only see the balls that fly out the park easily, they will have freak numbers. If you don’t see those balls …. Get a little too hot …. They can cool u off.
The pitch clock must be working very well for what it’s intended for MLB to be so unwilling to revisit it upon seeing so many pitchers go down so far in ‘24. We can only assume the body count needs to get much higher before any one on their end shows the slightest concern. Until then Rob Manfred offers his thoughts and prayers to these players on an unprecedented level because that’s what really matters.
I’m surprised Bauer’s burner account isn’t here to tell us Trevor is waiting.
Dude, you became that guy. You brought him up first! This pains me as I suffer with you
We have you… in almost every post. How does it feel to be the “wow” guy?
Hope Lindsey sees this bro
His inability to keep his mouth shut or speak less publicly on social media while he was being investigated was his downfall. It’s almost certain that his own counsel and the players union would have strongly advised him to pipe down. How is not clear that the MLB and MLBPA don’t want him back after he went scorched-earth? What anyone of us thinks of him doesn’t matter. Urias has a better shot of pitching again in the MLB than him.
What politics?
These guys really need to start wearing their masks so they don’t catch this Elbow Sprain Virus.
2020 called and wants your joke back.
Ooooh, I get it, because elbow sprains in that year too!
I do think you missed it though, as it had nothing to do with Covid.
Clip if they would have used more spider tack it would have held their arm together. Call Canseco and get his recipe and take some ivermectin. You’ll be good in the 15 day IL.
Pair that with 6’ apart to seal the deal