It was a tough day for three major league team's pitching staffs. The Mets, Red Sox, and Yankees all placed major contributors on the disabled list, with the Red Sox losing their key setup man. Steve Adams and Jeff Todd of MLB Trade Rumors reported the injuries of Matt Harvey, Tyler Throneburg, and Cc Sabathia. However, the Astros won a prized Cuban prospect to bolster their already stacked farm system.
Mets lose Harvey for several weeks
The Mets have already lost Noah Syndergaard for most of the season. Now, the Mets will lose Harvey for several weeks with an issue to his throwing arm.
The Mets are looking at another lost season since making the World Series in 2015. Harvey will hit the DL with a 5.25 earned run average.
The Mets also will lose second baseman, Neil Walker, for several weeks after a MRI revealed a partially torn hamstring. Three to four weeks is typical recovery for a grade 2 hamstring tear. The two injuries were two more blows to a team that has been without Syndergaard, Jeurys Familia, and David Wright to the 60 day DL.
Red Sox lose Thornburg out for the season.
Thornburg cost a big package from the Milwaukee Brewers in this past season's offseason. The package was headlined by Travis Shaw, who could make the All-Star game. Thornburg was the setup man to closer, Craig Kimbrel, but will be out for the entire season.
Thornburg will undergo surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. This is a disease where a group of disorders occur when a group of blood vessels or nerves are compressed. There have been bounce back years from surgery in cases of Chris Young and Jaime Garcia, but players such as Phil Hughes and Harvey have struggled.
The Red Sox could look for a reliever this trade deadline now.
Even with Thornburg gone, the Red Sox have the second best bullpen ERA in the majors. David Robertson of the White Sox could be linked to Boston in the coming months.
Yankees lose Sabathia to 10 Day DL
Sabathia will be placed on the DL with a grade 2 hamstring strain. A hamstring strain is a partial tear of the muscle, so it is expected that Sabathia will miss at least two starts.
Sabathia has been possibly the most consistent starter for the Yankees with a 3.46 ERA at 37 years old. With the struggle of Masahiro Tanaka, it could speed up the process in the Yankees finding a starter via trade.
Astros sign Cuban pitcher
Elian Rodriguez signed with the Astros for $2MM with a signing bonus of $1.98MM. The Astros will also have to pay a 100% luxury tax which will bring the grand total to $4MM for the 20-year old pitcher.
Rodriguez will add to an already stacked farm system. The Astros have six prospects in MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects. Rodriguez is listed at 6'4, 205 pounds, and commands a 97 MPH fastball. He can also throw a slider, curveball, and the occasional changeup.
