1.4179 trillion buried in injuries, who’s to blame? 5 out of 9 people over $100 million groan with injuries
Major League Baseball received some unfortunate news today about two of the game’s most dominant hitters.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, who set an American League single-season record with 62 home runs last year, was placed on the injured list (IL) for the second time this season, and Texas Rangers’ Jacob deGrom, the most dominant ace in the game, had his season cut short after undergoing elbow surgery.
First, Judge was placed on the IL with a toe injury. This is the second time he’s been on the DL this season, after injuring his hip on March 29. He suffered a bruised big toe on his right foot on April 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he crashed into the netting fence after catching a fly by J.D. Martinez. A medical examination revealed ligament damage.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “We’ll see how it goes over the next few days and weeks. We’re going to have to wait for the swelling to go down,” Boone explained. It’s hard to say when he’ll return, but he’ll miss at least two to three weeks. Jersey, who leads the AL with 19 home runs, has a cloud over his chances of winning a second straight MVP.
DeGrom was given the worst-case scenario. He’ll need elbow surgery. “He will undergo surgery to reconstruct the ligaments in his elbow, and while Texas general manager Chris Young did not specify whether the surgery would be a Tommy John surgery or something else, either way, DeGrom is out for the season,” MLB.com reported.
DeGrom left the game on April 29 against the New York Yankees in the fourth inning after complaining of elbow pain. He was placed on the 15-day IL the next day and was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 6 after a recent reexamination to set up a rehabilitation program showed no improvement. If he undergoes surgery soon, he could be out of action until next summer.
Both players are in their first seasons after signing astronomical free agent contracts last winter. Judge re-signed for nine years and $360 million to remain a Yankee forever. DeGrom left the New York Mets for Texas on a five-year, $185 million deal.
The problem is, they’re not the only big-name stars who signed free agent deals this past winter that have been plagued by injuries.
Left-hander Carlos Rodon, who signed a six-year, $162 million deal with the Yankees, was placed on the IL with a left arm injury before the season even started. He has yet to take the mound in a Yankees uniform. He was transferred to the 60-day-IL on June 2 due to a lengthy rehab assignment and will throw live pitches against hitters every eight days, according to Boone. He is expected to return in early July.
After signing a five-year, $120 million contract last winter, Mets closer Edwin Diaz was out for the season after injuring his knee during a victory celebration at the WBC. It’s been called the most ridiculous injury ever. 스포츠토토
The San Diego Padres’ Xander Bogaerts has also been on the bench lately with left wrist soreness. He’s been off for three days since his last start against the Chicago Cubs on April 4. Bogaerts is also underperforming with a .252 batting average, seven home runs, 25 RBIs, and a .725 OPS. He left the Boston Red Sox last winter, signing an 11-year, $280 million deal with San Diego.
Carlos Correa of the Minnesota Twins recently returned to the lineup against the Tampa Bay Rays after taking four days off with a left foot injury. He hasn’t been on the IL yet, but he’s already missed 10 games this season. Correa, who re-signed with Minnesota for six years and $200 million, is hitting just .208 with six homers, 24 RBIs, and a .673 OPS.
Of the nine players who signed deals totaling more than $100 million in free agency last winter, only three are still on the field: the Philadelphia Phillies’ Trey Turner (11 years, $300 million), the Chicago Cubs’ Dansby Swanson (seven years, $177 million), and the Mets’ Brandon Nimmo (eight years, $162 million).
Five are currently unavailable – Judge, Bogaerts, DeGrom, Rodon, and Diaz. The combined total of their free agent contracts is $1.089 billion.