Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Freeman Free, Man?
Freddie Freeman‘s wrist needs to make up its mind.
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Just days after Braves general manager John Hart said the first baseman may not be back until the first week of August, the club hinted Friday that Freeman could begin a rehab assignment as early as Sunday. Freeman hasn’t played since June 18 due to a right wrist sprain.
Despite the previously pessimistic report, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said a recent conversation left him and the organization feeling better about Freeman’s outlook.
“I took his conversation today as good, at least he’s making progress,” Gonzalez said. “He felt good, kind of turning a corner a little bit.”
Freeman received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his wrist on June 25 in hopes that it would speed up the healing process, but the wrist didn’t respond as hoped. Instead, Hart told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Freeman may need until early August to get healed and back on the field.
Even though that timetable has since accelerated, Freeman will still likely need a handful of rehab games to get back in the swing of things after a month off. Freeman was one of the offensive leaders for the Braves before the injury, batting .299/.367/.520 with 12 homers, 41 RBI and 43 runs scored through 66 games.
A return in late July — assuming his wrist doesn’t have another change of heart — now appears likely.
Nola Gets The Call
There hasn’t been much to get excited about regarding the Phillies this season, but they’re set to become a little more interesting in the second half.
The Phillies announced Friday that top pitching prospect Aaron Nola will be promoted to make his major league debut next week against the Rays. The start will come Tuesday in front of Nola’s home fans in Philadelphia.
The 21-year-old won’t make much of a difference to the Phillies’ record, but the 2014 first-round pick forced the team’s hand with his pitching this year. Nola went 10-4 with a 2.39 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 92/18 K/BB ratio over 109 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A this year.
“The thing that really jumps out to you is his command. His control,” LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri, who coached Nola in college, told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday. “This guy has as good of control of his fastball as any pitcher I’ve known in 33 years of college coaching.”
Nola has plenty working against him as a fantasy pitcher, despite the Phillies’ excitement. The Phillies have the worst record in the league at 30-62, and they’ve been outscored by 157 runs on the year. Nola is also widely regarded as having less-than-elite stuff, so he won’t pull many rabbits out of hats despite his surroundings. The right-hander may eventually be a fantasy asset, but he’s nothing more than a mixed league flyer for now.
Even so, that’ll suffice as excitement for Phillies fans in 2015.
Trade Winds
With the All-Star break in the rearview mirror, baseball’s attention turns to the next big event — the non-waiver trade deadline.
Whispers regarding a few of the bigger names expected to be available at the deadline emerged Friday in a piece by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. Among the names listed in the column were stars such as Carlos Gomez, Johnny Cueto and Cole Hamels.
On Gomez, Heyman said the Brewers are “willing to trade” the outfielder, saying the possibility is “born of pragmatism.” A source close to the situation told Heyman a trade of Gomez and shortstop Jean Segura is “somewhat likely” ahead of the deadline.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, are being linked to both Hamels and Cueto as they look to bolster an already-strong rotation. Heyman said the club has “quietly continued having dialogue with the Phillies” about Hamels, who is expected to be one of the most coveted players at the deadline. Unlike some shorter-term rentals, Hamels is attractive in that he’s signed to a reasonable deal through 2018 with an option for 2019.
Cueto would represent a hired gun for the Dodgers. The right-hander is a free agent after the 2015 season, the reason the Reds would part with their ace in the first place. The club, fresh off hosting the All-Star Game — likely the highlight of the year for Reds fans — will surely be in sell mode with Cueto, among others. The availability of the others, most notably Aroldis Chapman, is “the more interesting question” in the weeks leading up to the deadline, Heyman speculated. Mike Leake is also believed to be available and coveted.
Stay tuned.
National League Quick Hits: The Marlins hoped Dee Gordon could avoid a trip to the disabled list, but the second baseman was placed on the 15-day DL Friday with a dislocated left thumb. Gordon is eligible to be activated on July 27, and if the Marlins’ optimism is any indication he should be ready to go at that time … Stephen Strasburg (oblique) threw from flat ground Friday, a step in the right direction. Strasburg will begin throwing off a mound in the next 4-5 days, after which he could make a rehab start or two before being activated, likely in early August … Matt Holliday was activated from the disabled list and started in left field for the Cardinals on Friday. The outfielder, who hadn’t played since June 8 due to a strained quad, went 0-for-3 before being removed for a defensive replacement … it came down to the wire, but the Diamondbacks got No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson under contract ahead of the signing deadline Friday. Swanson reportedly got $6.5 million from the D’backs, well below the $8.6169 million slot value of the selection … Kyle Schwarber was recalled and started at catcher Friday, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Schwarber also had a throwing error and an error for catcher’s interference, illustrating the predicament the Cubs face when deciding whether to start him behind the dish … the Braves added Jason Frasor to their bullpen mix Thursday, and the club signed Ross Detwiler on Friday to provide more depth. Detwiler had an ugly 7.12 ERA and 1.91 WHIP in 17 appearances with the Rangers before being released Wednesday … Jaime Garcia (groin) will throw live batting practice on Saturday. If the session goes as expected, Garcia will likely rejoin the rotation next weekend … another southpaw looking to join his team’s starting rotation is Tony Cingrani. The lefty is “under consideration” to start Wednesday against the Cubs, per Reds manager Bryan Price, after throwing nine shutout innings over three rehab starts recently … the Braves, obviously excited about being just five games below .500, extended the contract of manager Fredi Gonzalez on Friday. The new deal runs through 2016 with a club option for 2017.
American League Quick Hits: There was some concern that Dustin Pedroia wouldn’t be ready for activation Friday, but the second baseman was active and in the Red Sox lineup for the start of their series against the Angels. Pedroia went hitless in four at-bats in his first game back … Mike Trout didn’t go hitless, blasting a walk-off homer against Red Sox closer Koji Uehara in the ninth inning to break a scoreless tie. The homer spoiled a strong outing for Red Sox starter Wade Miley, who carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and allowed a lone hit over seven scoreless frames in the no-decision … Chris Carter left Friday’s game against the Rangers after spraining his ankle. After the game, Astros manager A.J. Hinch conceded Carter could be looking at a stint on the disabled list … Drew Smyly (shoulder) will throw a simulated game on Tuesday, after which he may be ready to start a rehab assignment. Smyly hasn’t pitched since May 5 after partially tearing the labrum in his left shoulder, and he’ll likely need most of his 30-day rehab window before being activated … Carlos Beltran (oblique) is playing in rehab games, but the outfielder wasn’t ready for activation Friday. Even so, he’s likely to be activated in the coming days … Kyle Seager homered twice to keep the Mariners in the game, but Alex Rodriguez got the last laugh Friday. The designated hitter smashed a solo shot in the seventh inning that proved to be the game-winner, leading the Yankees to a 4-3 win.
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