MLB Hot Stove: Injuries are complicating free agency for these eight players
No free agent suffered a potentially more costly injury than Wilson Ramos in 2016
By
Mike Axisa
•
6 min read
Last offseason featured one of the best and deepest free-agent classes in recent memory. This one is the exact opposite. Aside from a few big bats (Yoenis Cespedes, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista) and top relievers (Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, Mark Melancon), this free-agent class is lacking impact.
To make matters worse, several free agents are working their way back from major injuries, which complicates things. The injuries will impact their earning potential, and teams will be wary of committing to an injured player when there are healthy alternatives. It's a tough spot for all involved.
Here are eight players who finished the season injured and are dealing with the fallout as free agents this offseason. The players are listed alphabetically.
It has been nearly 14 months since Greg Holland last appeared in a major league ballgame. He struggled through a subpar 2015 season before blowing out his elbow and needing Tommy John surgery that September. The Royals non-tendered Holland last offseason and he's been a free agent since.
The 30-year-old right-hander threw for scouts in Arizona earlier this week, so his rehab is progressing well. Teams know he's going to get at least 17 months to rehab given the timing of the injury, which is a positive. The more rehab time, the better. The days of a 12-month Tommy John surgery rehab are over.
The fact remains teams have not seen Holland pitch competitively since last September, and that will be reflected in his contract. Bullpen help is always in demand, and given his pedigree, Holland will surely land himself a nice payday. It just won't be on par with what someone like Melancon will receive.
Matt Holliday is an unusual case because he was hurt late in the season, but he played anyway. An errant pitch broke his thumb in mid August and the injury was supposed to end his season, but the Cardinals activated him for the final home series of the season so he could say goodbye to the fans at Busch Stadium. Sure enough, Holliday homered:
The home runs will assuage concerns about Holliday's thumb during his free agency this winter. That was definitely good to see. It's hard to hit when you have an injured thumb and can't hold the bat properly, but Holliday showed he could still do it there. I don't think the broken thumb -- it was a fluke injury, remember, not something chronic -- will hurt his next contract much, if at all.
Veteran lefty Jonathon Niese's free agent stock was down even before surgery to repair a torn meniscus ended his season in late August. He pitched to a 5.50 ERA in 121 innings with the Pirates and Mets and lost his spot in the rotation. That's after spending years as a solid mid-rotation horse.
Niese, 30, was expected to need four weeks to recovery, and by all accounts his rehab work as gone well. Now he has to see how teams value him following the poor season and knee injury. A multiyear contract almost certainly isn't happening. Can Niese still command $8 million on a one-year deal? Or is he looking at $4 million or $5 million instead?
You know, for a player who has hit well and played multiple positions the last few years, Steve Pearce doesn't get nearly enough attention. In 2016 he put up a .288/.374/.492 batting line with 13 home runs in 85 games while playing first base, second base, third base, left field, and right field. That's mighty valuable.
Surgery to repair a torn flexor mass in his right forearm ended Pearce's season on September 12. That's an injury usually associated with pitchers, not position players. The surgery comes with a 4-6 month recovery period, so it's possible Pearce will not be ready for the start of spring training. That's a problem.
Pearce, who turns 34 shortly after Opening Day, was not looking at a huge contract this offseason, but a two-year pact was well within reach. It'll be interesting to see whether some teams limit their offers to one year in the wake of his injury despite his versatility and offensive production.
Ugh, what brutal timing. Wilson Ramos was in the middle of a career year with the Nationals when he tore his right ACL jumping to catch a throw from the outfield on September 26. It was the team's 156th game of the season. Ramos tore the ACL for the second time in four years and needed reconstructive surgery.
A healthy Ramos would have been one of the most in-demand players this offseason. Catchers who hit .307/.354/.496 with 22 home runs and play solid defense are extremely hard to find. He was perhaps looking at Brian McCann (five years, $85 million) and Russell Martin (five years, $82 million) money.
Instead, it's unclear if Ramos will be ready for Opening Day, and that's going to hurt his bottom line. He's still going to get a very nice multiyear contract because quality catching is so in demand, but the knee injury took a bite out of his earning potential. No doubt about it.
Luis Valbuena's hamstring injury went from bad to worse this year. He initially pulled his right hamstring running out a ground ball in mid July, then, during his rehab work, Valbuena suffered a setback that required surgery. He had a procedure to repair his hamstring tendon on August 26.
The expectation is Valbuena, who hit .260/.357/.459 with 13 home runs in 90 games before getting hurt, will be ready in time for spring training. This free-agent class offers little help at third base beyond Justin Turner. A healthy Valbuena would have been the clear No. 2 option. The lower leg surgery will create questions about his mobility, or at least teams will claim that in an attempt to save a few bucks.
Back surgery to correct a herniated disk ended Neil Walker's first season with the Mets in late August. He initially tried to play through the injury, but to no avail. Walker hit .282/.347/.476 with a career high 23 homers in only 113 games before getting hurt.
The good news is Walker's surgery typically comes with a three-month recovery, so he's expected to be ready well ahead of spring training. But still, back trouble is scary. It very rarely just goes away. It can linger really for the rest of the player's career.
Walker is by far the best free-agent middle infielder available, so I don't think the back surgery will hurt his stock too much. It's definitely not a good thing though. Teams will be a little more skeptical about Walker long-term following surgery.
C.J. Wilson
SP
I am really curious to see how C.J. Wilson's free agency plays out. The soon-to-be 36-year-old has not pitched at all since July 28, 2015, due to elbow and shoulder surgeries. By all accounts his rehab is going well, and he should be ready in time for spring training.
Wilson was pretty good prior to getting hurt (3.89 ERA in 2015), and with lefty pitching always in demand, I do expect a team to roll the dice with him this offseason. Chances are it'll be a minor league contract with a chance to compete for a roster spot in spring training, but you never know. A team that feels comfortable with the medicals could guarantee him a roster spot.
Other notables: Luke Hochevar (thoracic outlet syndrome), Austin Jackson (knee), Desmond Jennings (knee), Logan Morrison (wrist).
