Adalberto Mondesi Injures Shoulder, Done For Year
Amidst a 100-loss season, Royals fans are likely ready to pack things in with an eye toward Spring Training 2020–unfortunately, their season won’t end with a bit more bad news, as it appears promising young shortstop Adalberto Mondesi reinjured his left shoulder in today’s loss to the Twins. While the severity of the injury isn’t yet known, Manager Ned Yost told MLB.com’s Jeff Flanagan that Mondesi’s season is over with only five games left to play (link).
Mondesi’s left shoulder already forced him to miss nearly two months of action in 2019, as a subluxation suffered on July 17 truncated his second season as a full-time starter. The 24-year-old was reintegrated into the lineup when rosters expanded on Sept. 1, but he will apparently be headed for a little more rest and recovery.
Although the smooth-fielding Angeleno logged just an 81 wRC+ across 442 plate appearances this year, his campaign wasn’t without its highlights. For one, he tied with Arizona’s Eduardo Escobar for the MLB lead in triples with 10 and logged 43 stolen bases in just 101 games. Defensively, Mondesi logged a nice +9 DRS figure in 800-plus innings at short this season. 2020 will mark Kansas City’s last year of team control over Mondesi before arbitration proceedings begin in 2021.
Zach Neal Drawing MLB Interest
It appears that former MLB pitcher Zach Neal is drawing interest from stateside clubs after logging a successful season in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball ranks. According to a tweet from MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, Neal, who has previously pitched for the Athletics and Dodgers, is drawing interest from “a lot” of MLB orgs after going 10-1 with a 2.96 ERA for the Seibu Lions in 2019 (link).
While Heyman may be generous in comparing Neal to Miles Mikolas, a pitcher who flummoxed big league hitters in 2018 after spending several years abroad, it isn’t inconceivable to think that the onetime Marlins draftee may have found a new key to success while pitching in NPB. After all, a 2.96 ERA in Japan is impressive when considering that country’s offensively friendly brand of baseball; although he has only thrown 94.1 innings with the Lions this year, that ERA marker would rank fourth in the Pacific League if he had enough innings to qualify.
It may be fair to note that Neal, 30, has continued to post underwhelming strikeout numbers while in Asia. After posting a puny 3.89 K/9 rate in 85.2 big league innings between 2016 and 2018, the righty has struck out just 47 hitters across his 90-plus NPB innings — good for a K/9 rate of just 4.49. T0 his credit, he’s also limited walks (1.43 BB/9) and homers (0.76 HR/9).
If Neal does end up drawing an offseason contract offer from an MLB club, he may prioritize offers that allow him the opportunity to start. The South Carolina native made six spot starts for the A’s back in ’16, and his move to Japan was apparently made with the intent of proving himself in a rotational role. “I wanted the chance to start,” Neal told Jason Coskrey of The Japan Times about his move back in April. “I wanted the chance to be able to start 28 to 30 games with a team that wants me to do that.” Neal signed a one-year deal with the Lions back in November of last year and has replaced much of the production the club lost when former ace Yusei Kikuchi departed for the Mariners organization.
NL Notes: Mattingly, Freeman, Diamondbacks, Lamb
When Marlins manager Don Mattingly signed his freshly-inked two-year contract extension, he may have taken a significant pay cut to keep his position in the Miami dugout, writes Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. While the precise financials of the contract have not been released to the public, Rosenthal’s sources have indicated that Mattingly will make roughly $2MM annually to stay in Miami—a considerable downgrade the $2.8MM figure that he’s earned this season. While the Marlins are notorious for their conservative spending, Rosenthal argues that Mattingly’s salary reflects an industry-wide trend that has driven managers’ salaries down. A veteran like Mattingly may have found it hard to match his previous salary had he elected to go job-hunting elsewhere in the Majors, where teams increasingly favor younger—and therefore more affordable—analytically-driven managers. That’s not to discount Mattingly’s work with the rebuilding Marlins, who have praised his ability to work with young players; however, it’s notable just how much the landscape of baseball has changed that a lifer like Mattingly is no longer a sought-after skipper.
- Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who has been battling through a bone spur in his elbow, was again bothered by the elbow today, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. With his Braves having already clinched the NL East, he’ll play it safe and take the next few days off before rejoining the club on Friday for the series against the Mets. The hope is that four days of rest and treatment will have Freeman ready to go for the rest of year—it’s worth noting that, after the game, manager Brian Snitker said that Freeman would be in the lineup if the playoffs were starting tomorrow.
- With the offseason approaching, there will be no shortage of questions surrounding Diamondbacks infielder Jake Lamb, writes Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Lamb has struggled through a second consecutive disappointing year after an All-Star campaign in 2017. He’ll be eligible for arbitration this winter, and the organization may opt to non-tender Lamb in favor of more affordable, less risky investments. Injuries to his shoulder and quad have robbed Lamb of regular at-bats, making it difficult to regain the swing that produced 30 home runs just two years ago. Unfortunately for Lamb, those injuries have opened doors for others in the organization, and he may now find himself squeezed out of the D-Backs’ plans.
Kris Bryant Exits With Right Ankle Sprain
4:48pm: Per Rogers, Bryant will undergo an MRI tomorrow to determine the severity of the sprain.
3:12pm: In a worrisome scene at Wrigley Field today, Cubs star Kris Bryant was helped off the field after suffering an apparent ankle injury that occurred when he slipped on first base trying to beat out a ground ball. Cubs fans can breathe a sigh of relief, with Jesse Rogers of ESPN reporting that initial X-rays did not reveal any broken bones, as Bryant has been diagnosed with a sprained right ankle.
The injury looked awfully similar to the one suffered by Bryce Harper in 2017 when he hyperextended his knee after slipping on the first base bag. However, it looks as if Bryant has escaped the worst-case scenario—though a sprained ankle certainly isn’t a favorable outcome, either. Similar to Harper’s injury, the base was we because of light rainfall in Chicago.
The situation was made more nerve-wracking in light of Bryant’s nagging troubles with knee soreness throughout the season. He was able to put very little weight on the right leg as he was helped off the field, replaced by Ian Happ.
As the Cubs see their playoff chances diminish by the day, another injured star would only be a fitting nail in the coffin, given what has happened to Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo in recent weeks. The Cubs entered the day three games behind the Brewers, who are in line for a Wild Card berth. With only seven games to play (including Sunday) the margin for error is only shrinking in Chicago.
Mariners’ Austin Adams Will Require ACL Surgery
Mariners right-hander Austin Adams will need surgery to repair the torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com. It’s devastating news for the 28-year-old Adams, who now faces an approximate 6-8 month recovery timeline.
The injury diagnosis comes after Adams underwent an MRI Sunday morning, which was precipitated by Adams’s departure from last night’s game after suffering a knee injury while covering first base.
Adams has been one of the bright spots of the Mariners lackluster season, at times looking dominant out of the bullpen. He’s ridden a dynamic slider to a solid 53:16 K:BB ratio in 32 innings between the Nationals and M’s this year, good for a 14.9 K/9. As Johns notes in a later Tweet, that’s a mark that ranks among the best by a reliever in Mariners history (minimum 100 batters faced).
While that doesn’t mean that Adams was flawless, he has nonetheless proven to be a fine discovery by the M’s front office and a piece that could factor into future Seattle bullpens. For a year in which the M’s have trotted out dozens of fringe relievers, Adams has been one of the definite successes after he was acquired from Washington in May.
However, those plans will have to be temporarily put on hold as Adams will now have to work his way back from a significant knee injury. His recovery will no doubt cut into his 2020 season, with the upper estimate for recovery placing him on track to be at full health in late May, though he likely wouldn’t be able to return to game action until about midseason.
AL Notes: Royals, Yankees, Hicks, Orioles, Kepler
In a discussion with Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star, outgoing Royals owner David Glass reflects on his 20 years spent spearheading a Major League team, touching on a wide variety of subjects ranging from regrets, financial challenges, and the next chapter for the Royals. Glass offers some insight into the factors that led him to seek out John Sherman as the next Royals owner, including a desire to ensure the franchise remains in Kansas City. He speaks about the ups and downs of the last two decades, a time that saw the franchise emerge from some of its darkest moments to claim a World Series victory. He shares regrets and memories, as well as his philosophy for operating a small-market team. Finally, Glass gives a glimpse into his decision to forgo a bidding process, instead specifically targeting Sherman to take over the team in his wake, with the hope that the new ownership regime will keep the organization “basically intact.”
Let’s turn to other nuggets from the American League…
- Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks, still recovering from elbow issues, has begun to throw from 90 feet, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. When we last heard from Hicks, a second opinion recommended several more weeks of rest after suffering a setback in early September. At this time, Hicks and the Yankees are still optimistic that he won’t require Tommy John surgery, though that’s not guarantee—he’s due for another evaluation shortly. However, the timeline has all but confirmed that Hicks won’t be ready to return at any point in the postseason.
- Though there has been some clamoring for the Chris Davis era in Baltimore to end, Orioles general manager Mike Elias expects the 33-year-old to be back with the team in spring training 2020, tweets Dan Connolly of The Athletic. While Davis’s dreadful performance has certainly not earned him a spot in the team’s future plans, the reality remains that the ex-slugger is under contract for three more years, a span in which he’ll earn another $69MM. While internal options like Trey Mancini or minor-leaguer Ryan Mountcastle might make more sense, it appears that the club is committed to reforming its highest-paid player.
- While there still isn’t a concrete timetable for the Twins‘ Max Kepler to return to the lineup, he’s set to dial up his workload in the coming days, according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune. Kepler, who hasn’t made a plate appearance for Minnesota since September 14, has been dealing with somewhat nebulous shoulder and back issues for months. One of the most productive hitters in the Minnesota lineup, it feels imperative that Kepler is available for postseason play. While the precise timetable remains unknown, it seems that ramping up his swings and hitting off a high-velocity machine is a step in the right direction.
Red Sox Notes: Mookie, Moreland, Hembree
What had long been apparent became official Friday. The defending World Series champions would not earn a chance to defend their title in the postseason. With the Red Sox officially eliminated and many in Boston turning their attention to another team looking for a more successful title defense effort, the focus for the Sox is now on 2020 and beyond.
- Mookie Betts‘ status as a free agent after 2020 will surely generate quite a few headlines in the coming months. The superstar outfielder discussed his situation with Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, noting that he doesn’t feel it critical to his legacy to spend his entire career in one city. That’s not to say Betts is definitely leaving Boston; Speier notes that player and organization have a strong relationship, with the Sox particularly respecting Betts’ dedication to returning to the field recently from a foot injury despite their place in the standings. Rather, Betts has a history of justifiably and successfully betting on himself, Speier chronicles, and there’s no reason to sell himself short in extension talks given his elite level of performance. Betts overcame something of a slow start in 2019 to hit .292/.388/.521, aided by work with an independent hitting instructor he met through teammate Christian Vázquez, documented by Chad Jennings of the Athletic.
- While free agency will no doubt prove lucrative to a superstar like Betts, the market has been decidedly less kind to players like Mitch Moreland, the first baseman lamented to Rob Bradford of WEEI. Moreland’s last foray into free agency landed him a 2-year, $13MM deal to return to Boston, but he’ll have a hard time finding that much this winter. The 34-year-old tells Bradford that finding the right fit, not maxing out financially, will be his priority in choosing a suitor this offseason, although he acknowledged he may not have too many offers to choose from. Moreland says he’d love to return to Boston for a fourth season, but the executive who brought Moreland back two years ago, Dave Dombrowski, is gone, putting Moreland’s status with the organization up in the air. Working in Moreland’s favor, perhaps, the free agent market for first baseman isn’t especially robust, as MLBTR’s Steve Adams examined recently. Despite a pedestrian .244/.322/.498 line (108 wRC+), Moreland still seems likely to find a guaranteed contract somewhere on the market.
- In more immediate news, the Sox plan to be cautious with their top arms over the season’s final week. Manager Alex Cora tells Chris Cotillo of Mass Live the team will be judicious with the workloads of its high-leverage relievers (Matt Barnes, Darwinzon Hernández, and others) in prep for next season. A player who should make at least one appearance is Heath Hembree, who Cora notes could be used either in traditional relief or as an opener. Hembree has been on the shelf since August 2 with elbow inflammation in his throwing arm.
Astros Activate Brad Peacock
The Astros activated right-hander Brad Peacock from the 10-day injured list today. Peacock has been out since August 28 with shoulder discomfort.
When healthy, Peacock, 31, has turned in good results for manager A.J. Hinch, primarily as a starter. In 20 appearances (15 starts), he’s worked to a 4.06 ERA with strikeout (25.4%) and walk (7.8%) rates a little better than league average. Justin Verlander is scheduled to start this afternoon’s game against the Angels, but Peacock told reporters (including Jake Kaplan of the Athletic) he expects to enter in relief.
Peacock figures to have the inside track at a relief role on the Astros’ postseason roster, assuming he shows his typical stuff upon his return. We heard yesterday that Houston may be looking to find room on the playoff roster for rookie Bryan Abreu, though, so Peacock’s progress will certainly be worth monitoring.
Peacock settled for $3.11MM in lieu of an arbitration hearing last winter, and he’ll be eligible for the process one final time this offseason. Assuming he’s healthy, Peacock is a good bet to be tendered a new contract for 2020 at a modest raise above his current salary. While his immediate future seems to be in the bullpen, he’d be worthwhile starting insurance for Houston next year. The club faces the potential free agent departures of Gerrit Cole, Wade Miley and Collin McHugh.
David Price Shut Down For Season, Will Undergo Minor Surgery
Sunday: Manager Alex Cora told reporters, including Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe (via Twitter), that Price will indeed undergo surgery to have the cyst removed next week. The procedure is not expected to be extensive, adds Cotillo (on Twitter). Price is on track to have a normal spring training in 2020.
Wednesday, 4:04pm: Price has officially been shut down for the season, Cora revealed in a radio appearance on WEEI’s Ordway, Merloni and Fauria today (Twitter link).
Wednesday, 1:03am: It appears injured Red Sox left-hander David Price‘s season will come to an early end. The Red Sox are “most likely” to shut him down for the rest of 2019, manager Alex Cora told Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com and other reporters.
This is anything but a shocking development, as Price’s left wrist continues to trouble him and the Red Sox have nothing of significance to play for at this point. At 9 1/2 games back of a wild-card spot with the regular season nearing a conclusion, the reigning World Series winners won’t have a chance to defend their crown in the playoffs this year.
The fact that Boston hasn’t had Price at full strength is among the reasons this will go in the books as a disappointing season for the club. Price, who has made only two starts since the beginning of August, will wind up with 107 1/3 innings of 4.28 ERA/3.63 FIP pitching on the year. He missed a couple weeks in May with a case of elbow tendinitis, and then hit the IL again last month because of a cyst in his wrist. While Price underwent a cortisone shot then in hopes of alleviating the issue, the 34-year-old still hasn’t found relief.
Price may have to undergo surgery before next season, which will be the fifth of the seven-year, $217MM contract the Red Sox gave him going into 2016. There’s still $96MM remaining on the deal, a pact Price signed when he was amid a long run as an elite workhorse. Although he’s a six-time 200-inning hurler (including in his first year with the Red Sox), Price has only averaged 119 frames per season dating back to 2017.
Rays Activate Brandon Lowe, Designate Kean Wong
The Rays have activated rookie Brandon Lowe from the 60-day injured list. Fellow infielder Kean Wong has been designated for assignment to open 40-man roster space. Lowe is hitting fifth in today’s lineup and playing second base.
Lowe’s return is a welcome sight for Rays’ fans. He last played July 2, when he went down with a bone bruise on his shin from a foul ball. After experiencing difficulty moving laterally for weeks, Lowe embarked on a minor-league rehab assignment in August, where he strained a quad. Initially believed to be season-ending, Lowe has somewhat remarkably returned for the season’s final seven games.
The timing couldn’t be better for a Rays’ club that sits a game up on Cleveland for the AL’s final postseason spot entering play today. Any hope Tampa has at making a playoff run involves the Wild Card, as the Yankees have officially sewn up the AL East. Tampa sits two games behind Oakland for the AL’s top Wild Card position.
The return of Lowe for the season’s final week (and potential postseason play) gives the Rays one of their most impactful bats. The 25-year-old was slashing .276/.339/.523 (128 wRC+) at the time of his injury, perhaps the frontrunner for AL Rookie of the Year. That honor will almost certainly go to Yordan Álvarez now, but Lowe nevertheless looks like a key piece in Tampa short and long-term.
Lowe’s slash line is inflated by a .381 batting average on balls in play and masks a concerning 33.9% strikeout rate, so it’s difficult to imagine he’ll remain this productive at the dish. That said, Lowe’s 90.7 MPH average exit velocity is quite strong, so he should continue to be a bona fide power threat even if his on-base numbers drop off some moving forward. For a quality baserunner and versatile defender capable of playing second base, that’s more than enough to be a key piece on a contender.
Wong, 24, is also a left-handed hitting second baseman, although he’s not generally viewed as anywhere near the caliber of player Lowe is. Nevertheless, he’s been productive in the high minors for quite some time, seemingly a victim of the Rays’ crowded infield mix. He got his first big league call this September after slashing .307/.375/.464 in 506 plate appearances in his third season with Triple-A Durham. Wong, the younger brother of Cardinals’ second baseman Kolten Wong, comes with a clean slate of team control and option seasons. Between that roster flexibility, his defensive profile and high-minors offensive track record, it would be surprising if another organization with a little more uncertainty in the infield didn’t take a flier on him on the waiver wire.