Mining Injuries & Roster Moves (10/21/24)

MLB.com has a unique news section where each team updates their injuries and transactions. I’ve found this information useful but it’s unique. Each team’s webpage (not an article) is in flux with information constantly appearing and disappearing. I plan to check for updates (each blurb is dated) and report any information. I’ll quote the page to preserve the information. The information disappears into the abyss so quoting the source is the only way to keep it.

I won’t report headline news but will try to dig a little deeper. Additionally, I want this article to be a quick reference so don’t expect a certain word count. I’ll provide the useful info and then fantasy managers can figure out how best to utilize it.

The last edition was on October 11th, so any news was taken after that date.

Mining the News Archive

American League

Orioles

• Colton Cowser had surgery on his hand.

Cowser underwent surgery to repair his fractured left hand on Oct. 15 in Phoenix, where the operation was performed by Dr. Don Sheridan. The 24-year-old outfielder is expected to be ready for the start of Spring Training in mid-February.

On Oct. 2, Cowser was hit by a pitch on the left hand while striking out during the fifth inning of the Orioles’ season-ending 2-1 loss to the Royals in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series at Camden Yards. Afterward, Cowser was mostly disappointed that he struck out on the play. It was the second out in an inning in which the O’s loaded the bases with no outs and then didn’t score, keeping the game tied at 1.

“Personally, it feels like I kind of let the team down there,” Cowser said. “Just get hit by a pitch there, we take the lead. It’s not a good feeling. Just sucks. That’s pretty much the only way to sum it up.”

Red Sox

• Masataka Yoshida stated that he had surgery on his arm.

Yoshida, who revealed on the final day of the regular season that he had been playing through discomfort in his right shoulder, underwent labral repair surgery on Oct. 3. The Red Sox did not offer a rehab timetable for Yoshida, who signed a five-year, $90 million contract before the 2023 season.

Tigers

• Javier Báez could earn an infield job if he’s healthy by the end of Spring Training.

While his readiness for next Opening Day remains in question, he should be close enough to work out with the team in camp.

“One of the things that we talked about this summer was he was struggling to rotate. He was feeling restricted,” Harris said. “We think a lot of that has to do with his hips, so him undergoing the procedure and coming out of the procedure positively is a good sign for us. He’s got to get a lot better this offseason to demonstrate that he can make our infield better, but there’s no reason to suggest that he won’t have a role in this team if he comes out of the surgery feeling like he can rotate the way he used to when he was performing among the best players in the game, and he certainly fits the framework of our infield right now.

“We know he’ll be participating in Spring Training. He may be ready by Opening Day. We’re just not sure yet, because we’ve got to see how he gets through all the checkpoints of his rehab. But there’s a reason why he got the surgery as early as he did, to try to give him the best chance possible to be ready for Opening Day. The general timeline will allow him to be a participant in Spring Training and have a fighting chance to be ready for Opening Day.”

National League

Dodgers

• Shohei Ohtani is not rehabbing his elbow during the playoffs.

Ohtani has been making steady progress with his throwing over the past several months, but he will not advance to pitching off a mound against live hitters any time soon.

“We don’t anticipate him pitching in the postseason,” general manager Brandon Gomes said on Oct. 2.

• Sounds like Tony Gonsolin is finally healthy.

Gonsolin made his third rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 21 and it was his best one yet. The right-hander tossed three hitless innings and struck out six, needing just 45 pitches to get through the outing. He could be an option for Los Angeles in the postseason, though he was not on the National League Division Series or Championship Series rosters.

• Gavin Stone had right elbow surgery.

The Dodgers announced on Oct. 12 that Stone had right shoulder surgery on Oct. 9, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Stone will likely be out all of the 2025 season.

Stone, who hasn’t picked up a baseball since experiencing right shoulder inflammation on Sept. 6, was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Sept. 24, officially ending his impressive rookie season.

Marlins

• Braxton Garrett hopes to be healthy by Spring Training.

Garrett, who received a second opinion on his arm, was diagnosed with a left elbow impingement. He is proceeding with a throwing progression at the Marlins’ player development complex in Jupiter, Fla. The expectation is that Garrett will be ready for the start of Spring Training if all goes well with the program.

Before Garrett felt something in the back of his elbow after his bullpen session on Sept. 21, there was a possibility he would be reinstated on Sept. 22 to start the 2024 home finale, but that setback during his rehab assignment ended his chances to return.

Mets

• Brandon Nimmo is managing his plantar fasciitis during the post-season.

Nimmo was back in the Mets’ lineup for National League Championship Series Game 2 on Monday despite recently aggravating a case of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. It’s an issue Nimmo has been dealing with since May, but it became more severe during the NL Division Series.

Still, this is an injury Nimmo intends to manage for the rest of the postseason, before potentially addressing it in a more aggressive way over the winter.

“He got a lot of treatment the past few days when we were off,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Good enough to play. I think it hurts the most slowing down, jogging. But when he has to go full speed, it doesn’t bother him. Swinging, it’s fine. He’s doing OK.”