Injuries are a common aspect of baseball, especially for pitchers who push the boundaries of velocity and spin rates. The Minnesota front office has a history of trading for injured or injury-prone pitchers who often confirm that reputation upon joining. Anthony DeSclafani (0 appearances), Sam Dyson (12 appearances), Chris Paddack (5 appearances), and Tyler Mahle (9 appearances) all had limited participation after being acquired. It may be time for the front office to double down and acquire another injured pitcher for the second half of the season.
I previously discussed why the Twins continue to acquire injured pitchers during spring training. Reasons include the increase in pitching injuries across the league and the front office’s valuation of top prospects. As the trade deadline approaches, these factors remain relevant, and the following names might be available at a reduced price due to their current injuries.
Blake Snell, currently with the Giants, suffered a groin injury on June 2 during a game against the New York Yankees and was placed on the injured list the following day. After a challenging offseason seeking a long-term contract, he signed a two-year, $62 million deal with an opt-out after 2024. This season, he has made six starts, allowing 25 earned runs in 23 2/3 innings. With San Francisco below .500 and several teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race, Snell has expressed frustration with the Giants pressuring him to return quickly. A change of scenery might help him regain his form.
Blake Snell, Elevated 95mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/M3yRsUOSax
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 22, 2024
Justin Verlander of the Astros went on the 15-day IL in mid-June due to a neck issue after trying to pitch through it. Earlier, he missed the start of the season with right shoulder inflammation. In his ten starts this season, he has a 3.95 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, a 21.3% strikeout rate, and a 7.1% walk rate. Houston had a slow start but has worked its way back to .500, trailing the Twins, Royals, and Red Sox in the Wild Card standings. The Astros haven’t missed the playoffs since 2016 and have reached the ALCS for seven straight years. Verlander would need to approve a trade, and while it’s unlikely the Astros will sell, a rough July could change that.
Alex Cobb, from the Giants, had hip labrum surgery in November and has recently experienced shoulder soreness. An MRI showed no structural damage, so he received a cortisone shot. He’s now beginning to throw live bullpens, moving closer to a rehab start if all goes well. He’ll need to demonstrate that his splitter is effective again for teams to consider him. Despite this, Cobb has the potential to be a playoff-caliber starter and might be more affordable than other options.
Alex Cobb looked incredible yesterday coming with one out of no-hitter and threw more splitters last night than anyone in a game since 2008 with 83 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/mDRv3HNRD8
— Driveline Baseball (@DrivelineBB) August 31, 2023
Paul Blackburn of the A’s has been on the IL since mid-May due to a stress reaction in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. In eight starts this season, he posted a 4.11 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP. Over the past three seasons, he’s been a mid-rotation starter with a 91 ERA+, 7.9 K/9, and 3.0 BB/9. Blackburn is appealing because he’s still arbitration-eligible next season, which might make him more costly. While he may not be an upgrade over some of the Twins’ current options, the front office values depth, and acquiring him would provide additional depth through the end of next season.
The Twins acquired Tyler Mahle, a playoff-caliber starter with health concerns, but fans may be wary due to past disappointments. At this year’s deadline, it’s unlikely that Minnesota will pursue high-profile pitchers like Chicago’s Garrett Crochet and Detroit’s Jack Flaherty, as they play for AL Central rivals. This will lead the front office to explore other options, including the names mentioned above. With injury risks come potential rewards or setbacks, but the Twins can aim for better outcomes by acquiring one of these pitchers.
