Under The Knife 4/10/24
Some People Call Me Maurice
Today, let’s get right to the injuries:
FRAMBER VALDEZ, SP HOU (inflamed elbow)
Another one? The Astros are already down a couple starters, though Justin Verlander is getting closer to a return and Luis Garcia is on the mend. Losing Framber Valdez, however, would be devastating to a team that already lacked depth. Just a few weeks of being without their 1, 2, and 3 starters is difficult not just from a depth standpoint, but a talent one as well.
Initially presented that the Astros pulled Valdez from his start as a precaution after he showed some tenderness in his elbow, he was quickly shifted to the IL, shut down, and scheduled for further testing. That likely includes scans and visits to at least the team physicians to see how he responds to rest and treatment. This isn’t necessarily something much more severe, but there’s certainly worry that it could be.
There’s no timeline on when we’ll know more, but my assumption is this won’t be quick. With the 15 days locked in, we’re not going to see Valdez throwing in the short term. How long he’s down will contribute to how long he’s out, so there’s a self-feeding cycle to these kinds of injuries. Add in that the scans or consultations should shift both the diagnosis and the timeline and speculation doesn’t help.
I know people don’t pay for a column that says “I don’t know,” but that’s what I have right now. Even inside the Astros braintrust, there’s no certainty with this and a broad range of scenarios they’re now having to plan for. The Astros’ lack of pitching depth is one where they might be more likely to hit the open market than a team like the Braves, but this is one where the unique setup of the Astros front office might be open to more creative solutions. A team like Colorado or Washington might be willing to make a deal now. Imagine if the White Sox still had Dylan Cease to dangle in front of Jim Crane. One scout emailed with a suggestion: “Martin Perez to the Astros for a couple prospects, making room for [Paul] Skenes.” Hard to argue.
None of those admittedly unlikely scenarios are happening until the Astros have a better read on Valdez’s injury and I’ll have it for you as soon as I can.
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