MLB

MLB Weekly Digest March 2nd Edition: Yankees’ Severino Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

By Chris Lacey

Posted on March 2, 2020

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The prior week in MLB was about a starting pitcher in the American League who underwent season-ending surgery, an outfielder in the AL might miss Opening Day, and a starting pitcher will be sidelined for the start of the 2020 campaign.

New York Yankees Starting Pitcher Luis Severino Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

The New York Yankees have lost a key piece to their starting rotation before the regular season has started as starting pitcher Luis Severino underwent Tommy John surgery a couple of days ago.

The procedure went as planned, and there was an existing bone chip in his right elbow that was also removed, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Luis Severino underwent Tommy John surgery on Thursday, which went as planned. The Yankees announced that an existing bone chip in his right elbow was also removed during the procedure.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) February 28, 2020

Severino was recently shut down by the team due to experiencing forearm soreness.

The Yankees had signed Severino to a four-year, $40-million extension in February 2019, and there was criticism why he signed the extension, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

At this time last year, Severino was viewed as one of the majors’ best SPs and there was some criticism that he had taken a 4-yr, $40M extension from the #Yankees rather than seek more or go year to year. He will have 5 starts total between 2019-20 now.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 25, 2020

The injury to Severino is the perfect example of why some young players opt to sign team-friendly extensions instead of waiting for a potentially more significant contract when they’re eligible for free agency.

The right-hander was regarded as one of the best young pitchers a couple of years ago and has struggled to stay healthy the past two seasons.

Severino is done for the 2020 season and will be sidelined for a portion of the 2021 campaign.

The loss of Severino puts the Yankees in a tight spot.

The team is without James Paxton, who will be out at least three months after undergoing back surgery early last month, and right-handed pitcher Domingo German won’t be back until June due to his domestic violence suspension.

The Yankees won 103 games last year and accomplished it without Severino, but the team duplicating the success in 2020 will be a tough ordeal.

New York Yankees Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton Might Miss Opening Day

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton might miss Opening Day as an MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain in his right calf.

Stanton suffered the injury while doing defensive work, per Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

Stanton's calf strain occured at the end of his defensive work yesterday, Boone said. He stayed back from the Blue Jays trip with most of the veterans. Got the MRI result today.

— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) February 26, 2020

He was limited to playing in just 17 MLB games last year due to a biceps strain followed by a knee strain.

The outfielder has dealt with a plethora of injuries throughout his career.

If you eliminate his rookie season of 2010 (he wasn’t called up until June), he’s played in less than 120 games in four of his last nine seasons.

The Yankees should slowly ease Stanton back as this is the type of injury that can linger on, and given Stanton’s injury history, it’s the best course of action.

Boston Red Sox Starting Pitcher Chris Sale Will Miss Opening Day

The Boston Red Sox will be without starting pitcher Chris Sale when the regular season starts, manager Ron Roenicke said a couple of days ago, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.

Roenicke says Sale will be on injured list to start season. Says he’s about 2 weeks behind.

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) February 27, 2020

Roenicke added that Sale is two weeks behind after dealing with pneumonia, per Tom Keegan of the Boston Herald.

Roenicke on Sale starting season on IL: Nothing at all with the arm. He’s doing great with that.” Strictly because pneumonia delayed his start to season.

— Tom Keegan (@TomKeeganBoston) February 27, 2020

The silver lining is Sale missing the start of the season has nothing to do with his arm.

That’s excellent news as Sale was shut down last August due to him having a problem with the elbow.

The Red Sox will need Sale healthy to have a chance of competing for a playoff spot in the upcoming season.