Under The Knife 8/5/24

Super Bon Bon

Let’s get right to it with a long one ahead of us:

MIKE TROUT, OF LAA (torn meniscus)

I really debated doing a UTK Flash after it was announced that Mike Trout was done for the season. I didn’t, because the information I had at that point didn’t make sense to me and there’s still a lot that doesn’t. Bottom line, Trout is done for the season, but all the points I raised on Thursday still stand.

Trout’s meniscus re-tore, which is not unusual. A second surgery to “fix” it — and I’ll come back to that word — is going to happen. Again, not unusual. What is unusual is that with eight weeks of season to go, Trout is shutting it down. The question is why. The most common procedure after a failed partial meniscectomy - where the damaged portion of meniscus is cut away and shaved down - is a full meniscectomy. Just take it out. Come back in a couple weeks and we’ll deal with the consequences later.

But “fix” implies either another partial meniscectomy, taking off another small damaged part of an increasingly small meniscus, or a repair, where the tear is sewed together. The latter would be very unusual; it’s usually the first move, if it can be done, though the recovery time is much more extensive. There’s no information yet on the what, or the who - the surgeon alone could tell us a lot.

Again, the idea that he’s going to do something more advanced, like an implant or transplant, seems unlikely. While it’s not an unheard of procedure, it’s something of a hail mary at high level sports and there’s no indication Trout is at that yet, that he couldn’t play. The simplest solution would be to pull the meniscus and that wouldn’t preclude a later attempt at something down the line. If you watched the NFL Hall of Fame, knee transplants later in life are very, very common. For them, almost assured.

There’s still a lot we don’t know, but the bottom line is that Trout’s season is a disappointment and that his value is probably at its lowest ever. Which isn’t to say he couldn’t be traded. An AGM told me that as a Juan Soto Plan B, Trout would be pretty nice for the Yankees. “There’s six years left on that deal, so 220 million. Angels eat 70, so 6/150 is going to look downright affordable. If the Yanks believe they have the best system, do you trade Jasson Dominguez and another prospect for him?”

One question I got from a reader is whether Trout is just “soft.” I hate putting that tag on anyone, but there’s more evidence that he just doesn’t heal well. This is odd since he seemingly has every other genetic gift, but if we look back at Ken Griffey Jr, it’s really much the same in feel, though not in similar injuries. While no one questioned Griffey’s love for the game, the question was whether he was breaking down so fast that he should just walk away. Aside from the contract, is there a reason Trout should rush back? I think it’s the legacy, but again, I don’t know Mike Trout or his mindset.

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MAX SCHERZER, SP TEX (shoulder fatigue)

Time comes for every player, just not at the same time. There have always been older players, the ones that seemed to go on forever, with either specialized skill sets or genetic gifts. For an age-40 pitcher like Max Scherzer, coming off back surgery and a strange forearm issue, hitting the IL again with “arm fatigue” looks like a pattern of breakdown, and it is. That’s both a problem in the now and in the longer term, though if Scherzer wants to play again next year I’m sure there are plenty of takers, if perhaps not at the same salary. Rings are nice to play for as well if some team wants to make a late-Clemens role for him.

While the fatigue designation would seem to indicate nothing serious - no clear strain or sprain - there’s a lot more that can be happening inside that can cause the weakness. What’s notable in Scherzer’s eight starts this season is that after longer (usually better) outings, his next isn’t as good. That could be that he isn’t recovering well, so a 15 day trip to the pitcher spa might help. In bursts and deployed correctly, Scherzer’s shown he can still get outs, but maybe not as many. To me, this screams tandem, especially with Jacob deGrom progressing.

Scherzer was replaced on the roster by Walter Pennington, just acquired for Michael Lorenzen. He’s a power lefty with 84 strikeouts in 62 innings who would seem in line for some leverage innings, but there’s a lot of options out there in the pen with him. Tyler Mahle is likely to take the rotation slot when he’s activated.

JULIO RODRIGUEZ, OF SEA (high ankle sprain)

The Mariners have righted the ship, a bit. They’re back in first place after cratering and being caught by the Astros, but there’s enough issues that every game and every player counts at this stage. Getting Julio Rodriguez back for just a game earlier than expected could be the difference in a division win or a coin-flip game. With a high ankle sprain, any days gained from six weeks should be considered a win and to be running at two weeks is a good sign. Consider anything in August a gift from the medical staff.

Rodriguez isn’t close to a return. He’s running in a straight line, with cutting the biggest test, but the lack of swelling with activity is a plus. A source tells me this isn’t his first running and suggested that he’s been doing this in the pool or an Alter-G for at least a week, again, a good indication. If he makes it through this week without any setback or major swelling, he’s definitely ahead of the timeline.

The downside here is there’s no way to DH-only him and get him back early. While that might be done, he can’t hit without a stable base and the kind of rotation on the swing is exactly the kind of thing he’d have a hard time with if it isn’t fully healed. Bracing is possible, but watch to see if he’s using something while running ahead of any return.

MAX FRIED, SP ATL (inflamed forearm)

Max Fried returned to the beleaguered Braves rotation on Sunday and it didn’t go well. Facing a cobbled-together Marlins lineup, Fried got knocked around for five runs in 3 1/3. He needed 82 pitches to get there, struggling with command for five walks against six Ks. If this were one where he could say he was just making his count and working on things, fine, but this was a start the Braves needed.

With Reynaldo Lopez down with a forearm issue, Fried functionally was a fill-in rather than the ace. We’ll see how his arm responds and whether the nerve makes it through the recovery and re-load. I’ll be watching to see if he makes his side session and gets slotted back in on a normal rotation, though if Lopez can go, the Braves as a whole might switch things up or perhaps skip Spencer Schwellenbach. Given how well he’s pitched lately, skipping him might not be the best thing even if they’re managing workload.

At 82 pitches, one would have to think he’ll get a few more next time out, but he’ll have to work on efficiency to make any count worthwhile. One source I spoke with felt like what he saw from Fried was a lack of feel for his pitches and that he would be surprised if he completely lost that, but remember, this was a nerve issue and if there’s some effect on his hand or fingers - possible, but not reported - that could linger.

Fried is a free agent at the end of the season and one of few Braves not locked up long term. Figuring out how to get him back, or even if, is going to be interesting for the front office. Fried has been an ace-level starter the last few years, but they’re expecting Spencer Strider back in that role next year and there’s young arms coming to backfill if Fried leaves, most likely for a west coast team.

RANGER SUAREZ, SP PHI (back spasms)

The Phillies had been hopeful that Ranger Suarez was going to have a minimum stay on the IL, especially when his back symptoms were controlled quickly. The downside is that there was enough concern that his throwing schedule was held back, to the point that he’s just throwing a pen this weekend. (It was scheduled for Sunday, but I didn’t get info that it happened.) Given this isn’t his first instance with back spasms, the time between issues is a bit of a positive.

With a five game cushion and the Braves with injury and depth issues of their own, the Philles can afford to be cautious. They have some depth and some options, including using Orion Kerkering as a longer “opener”. I haven’t been able to get any recent updates on Andrew Painter, but the plan was he wouldn’t pitch at all in 2024 despite being better than a year out on his Tommy John.

As long as Suarez comes back, all that is just concept. There’s no indication yet that won’t happen or that the depth will become an issue. Right now, the focus is one making sure the Phillies get to the playoffs as healthy as possible, something they think was the difference between the previous year’s near-miss and last year’s disappointing playoff run.

HELIOT RAMOS, OF SFG (inflamed thumb)

Heliot Ramos was always an intriguing prospect and is still young at just age-24. He’s broken out in a big way this season and seems to have established himself in a hurry. Jorge Soler’s injury gave him the opportunity and with Soler now a Brave, Ramos would seem locked in to the roomy center field in San Francisco.

Unfortunately, he’s also got a lingering thumb issue that’s aggravated by hitting. The team hoped a couple days off would clear things up, but it keeps coming back, indicating something’s off inside. So far, the medical staff hasn’t found the right combo of cushion and bracing to reduce the issue, and the 2 for 14 slump shows it’s affecting his swing. Is an IL stint the answer? We may find out early this week.

There’s big downside potential here if this turns out to be something more serious. Ramos has been a significant portion of the offense and the outfield depth post-deadline isn’t ideal. Then again, Ramos came out of nowhere to be just that, so who’s to say Jerar Encarnacion couldn’t do what Ramos and Tyler Fitzgerald have this season. The Giants do seem to have a knack for this.

MICHAEL SIANI, OF STL (strained oblique)

The Cards are in an odd place. They’re in the NL Central hunt, made some moves at the deadline, and yet find themselves with the same “pieces and parts” outfield that never seems to settle itself that they’ve had the entire decade. Michael Siani went from overslot guy to waiver bait to starting center fielder for a playoff team in what seems like a blink, but the right place, right time season he was having will pause due to an oblique strain.

Siani’s strain was clear enough from initial exams to shoot him right to the IL, with the expectation of a mid-grade injury. That will keep him out up to a month, though treatment could help that and it could be important for the Cards. Victor Scott can handle the defensive part of center, but hit under .100 in his April stint. Shuffling Tommy Pham and Lars Nootbaar might be the move, but that will hurt the defense. Oliver Marmol’s going to show us how he can manage with an oddly constructed roster and a shot at the playoffs.

Quick Cuts:

Jacob deGrom will face hitters this week and could be on a rehab assignment “around the 20th” per a source. That would get him back in September, though the context of the Rangers will guide a lot of decisions … Luis Garcia (TJ) was supposed to make a rehab start on Sunday, but elbow soreness stopped that. The question now is why and how much this sets him back … The Astros have given up on the idea that Lance McCullers will return this season from his flexor repair, despite the surgery being over a year ago. He’ll continue his rehab with ‘25 in mind - he’s signed through ‘26 … Mookie Betts (hand) expects to return to the lineup next week. I’m hoping we’ll see a #paddedglove on his hand then … Yoshinobu Yamamoto (shoulder) threw a 20 pitch pen, giving the Dodgers hope he returns in August … The Pirates will send Jared Jones on a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend. There’s indications he’ll need at least two starts to test the lat and build up pitches, but this would be a great opportunity to build Jones up at the major league level … Drew Rasmussen will have one more start at Durham in his TJ rehab, but he’ll go to the pen with the Rays when he comes up … Joe Musgrove (elbow) made his rehab start at Single-A Lake Elsinore because his flight to San Antonio was cancelled. He went 43 pitches, dominated the youngsters, and will make one more rehab start, TBD … Luis Rengifo hit the IL over the weekend with another flare of his wrist issue. They’ll take their time with this one and there’s suggestion he’ll see a specialist early this week … Mason Miller has the cast off his non-throwing hand and he could return quickly. He’ll throw a sim game (sim inning, really) on Monday to determine his readiness … Liam Hendriks has been cleared to face hitters. He could be on a rehab assignment as soon as next week and in the Red Sox pen shortly thereafter … Carlos Correa (heel) will go on a quick rehab assignment this week. It could be as little as a game … Anthony Rizzo is fielding and hitting. While there’s no timeline (and the 60-day isn’t up), there’s also no reason he couldn’t return as soon as the Yankees staff has confidence in his swing. The broken arm is healed now … Clarke Schmidt (lat) will throw live batting practice this week and a rehab assignment could come next week. The hope is Schmidt will come back and Luis Gil can be at least rested … Wyatt Langford missed a couple games with a tight back, but a source tells me the IL isn’t likely. Still worrisome that any young player has back issues, but moreso following Evan Carter’s lost season …