Under The Knife 8/25/25

Flagship Sighted

I normally don’t directly link to podcasts or videos and say “listen/watch this” instead of writing something out here, but the launch of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer product and the re-design of their widely used app is so big and so broad that typing all of it out in this space would take way too long and some of you just want the injury info. So, here’s the link to the Downstream podcast where I was a guest of Jason Snell on Friday afternoon, discussing those and other topics germane to the streaming landscape where so many sports live today.

You should already be subscribed to Downstream, but this one is huge for baseball fans and may well alter how we watch baseball in the very near future. Bottom line - credit where due, Rob Manfred managed to get the same number from ESPN, albeit with more in the deal, got NBC in the mix, and added Netflix. The owners should be happy, the game should be seen more, and the big packaging year stays in 2028, when everything could change, again.

Now, let’s get to the injuries:

ZACK WHEELER, SP PHI (thoracic outlet syndrome/blood clot)

For those of you who subscribed here, the idea that Zack Wheeler would likely need more surgery was baked in. It was no surprise to you, like apparently so many people in Philly. (Substack, how do I target a fanbase?) The clot was a symptom and a real medical problem so that was taken care of first. Now, they’ll work on rooting out the cause, which is thoracic outlet syndrome.

The one big new piece of confirmed information is the addition of the word “venous” to thoracic outlet syndrome. If you think of TOS as a a tunnel being clogged, that tunnel has nerves, blood vessels, and other structures that are being impinged. For Wheeler, the problem is the vein, causing the damage and likely the clot. The solution is opening it up by removing the first rib, just below the collarbone. It sounds extreme, but it a pretty standard and easy operation with little consequence and good result. Standard, easy, good result? That’s music to a surgeon’s ears, even if the bone saw isn’t a great song.

The downside is that, as expected, Wheeler is done for 2025. 2026’s door is open with a six month normal recovery. There’s one open question about the need for clot medication, but the surgical recovery might cover that a bit, giving doctors time to dial things in before he gets back on the mound. My guess is that Wheeler misses the first month of the season and leaves an opening for Andrew Painter to step in a still deep rotation, even with Ranger Suarez an impending free agent.

Speaking of free agency, the Phils have some tough decisions ahead with Suarez, Kyle Schwarber, and JT Realmuto the headliners. Already deep in the tax, “The Middles” - owners John Middleton and Stanley Middleman - will have to decide just how far they can go. One complication a FOT from another team mentioned is that with the CBA coming, no one knows the rules. “Do we plan for all the tax penalties to stay the same, or get worse, or how do you get to the cap owners want if you’re over it?” he asked and teams like the Phillies, Dodgers, and the six other teams in the tax zone will have to think about that this off-season.

News on big bats returning, big problems for the Rangers, and more, only for paid subscribers!