MASH Report (10/9/14)

• OK, I got the data finally cleaned up. I have quite a few players added who look to be back for 2015, but I will keep them on until some resolution is complete. For example, John Hamilton is messed up. I will keep him on there to track him until he is playing 100%. Basically, I would rather have a potentially healthy player on the list than miss someone who may be hurt.

• Quite a few players state they will be ready for spring training which is vague. For any player giving spring training as a return time, I set their date to February in the spreadsheet.

• Adam Wainwright’s elbow is acting up as gets near the point when pitchers have their second Tommy John surgery. He came back pitching in 2012. Since then he has thrown three full seasons (582 IP) and nine post season games (54 IP). He is at the sweet spot for when pitchers need their 2nd TJS as I state in this Hardball Times article:

I ran a brief study using the up-to-date TJS database and found those pitchers who had their first TJS from before 2011 averaged 4.5 years until they needed to go under the knife again, with a median time of 4.0 years. These numbers are in the ballpark of the 650 innings value we originally found.

The seasons are bit on the low side, but he is at 636 innings. No matter how the post season goes for him, I will not be paying top dollar for him next season

• Brandon Moss is hopeful he will be ready to play in spring training after having hip surgery.

• Jose Fernandez does not expect to be pitching before July.

If Fernandez has learned anything since sustaining the ligament tear in May, it is patience. He had his surgery on May 16 and is anticipating a 14-month total recovery timeline.

• Jeremy Hefner will miss all of 2015 with his second Tommy John surgery.

• The Rockies pulled Eddie Butler out of Arizona Fall League for back issues which bothered him during the season.

• Blue Jays rookie Daniel Norris had bone spurs removed from his elbow and should be ready for spring training.

• Mark Teixeira plans on playing a limited schedule even without injuries taken into account.

Speaking to Dan Barbarisi yesterday, Teixeira addressed Steinbrenner’s comments — “I’d love to play 150 games,” he said, “but if that’s the risk of hurting yourself, and hurting the team, maybe you do have to back off” — and said he’s already doing light workouts and plans to hit the weights heavily in a couple of weeks.

• Clay Buchholz had surgery to repair the meniscus in his knee which bothered him all season.

Buchholz had been dealing with issues in his meniscus off and on for at least this season, according to general manager Ben Cherington. It did not, however, greatly hinder his ability to pitch, and shouldn’t be considered a main reason for the right-hander’s season-long struggles in 2014.

If he didn’t have a ton of other injury issues, I would like him as a buy low guy. Maybe plan on teaming him up with pitcher who will miss the first half (Jose Fernandez).

• Carlos Correa is nearly at full strength.

Carlos Correa, in a statement sent out through his new representation, Greg Genske of The Legacy Agency, said his rehab is coming along. “The rehabilitation of my broken fibula is proceeding as expected and I look forward to being at full strength in the very near future.”

• Chris Owings had surgery on his shoulder and expects to be ready by spring training.

Players on the DL

(*) 15 Day Disabled List
(**) 60 Day Disabled List
(***) 7 Day Concussion List
(****) Free Agent
Red colored entries are updates since last report.

Players with Injuries Going into 2015