Injuries looming large for Blue Jays as trade deadline approaches

MSNBCTV-STAFF

July 3, 2024

TORONTO — Isiah Kiner-Falefa was already on the field going through his final stretching drills for Monday’s game when he felt something in his left knee.

One day later, he’s on the injured list with a knee sprain and the Toronto Blue Jays are describing him as week to week rather than day to day.

“Really, really weird,” manager John Schneider said. “Hopefully he gets back quick, because he’s obviously playing really well. Bad timing.”

In fact, that’s putting it mildly. The Blue Jays have underwhelmed all season and are effectively out of the playoff race, but Kiner-Falefa leads the team with 3.2 wins above replacement, as tabulated by Baseball Reference. He’s been everything the Blue Jays could have hoped for when they signed him to a two-year, $15-million deal.

But with less than a month remaining before the trade deadline, his injury isn’t the only one with major repercussions for the Blue Jays in the short- and medium-term. It’s a big week for the team’s two most trusted relievers, and a significant development occurred far from Toronto, too.

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First, the significance of the Kiner-Falefa injury. As a player under contract through 2025, Kiner-Falefa wasn’t considered a likely trade chip, but he was certainly doing his part to keep the Blue Jays relevant for as long as possible. With him on the sidelines, Ernie Clement, Addison Barger and perhaps even Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be covering third base.

Meanwhile, the recently recalled Leo Jimenez will be used more at second base than shortstop, where he had been playing at triple-A.

“My main position has been shortstop throughout the years,” the 23-year-old native of Panama explained. “But I started playing second couple years ago, so I got to a point that I feel comfortable playing both.”

At triple-A, Jimenez hit .271/.416/.431 with seven home runs this season while drawing nearly as many walks (30) as strikeouts (34). Speaking before Tuesday’s game, Schneider said Jimenez has gotten “a little more physical” in recent years, impacting his play on the field.

“He’s a guy you’d look at at a showcase and you’d go, ‘yeah, that looks right,’” Schneider said. “The swing, the (defensive) actions, all that kind of stuff.”

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Challenging though Kiner-Falefa’s absence may be in the coming weeks, the injury doesn’t appear to come with longer-term questions. The same cannot be said for Jordan Romano and Yimi Garcia, who are both on the injured list with right elbow issues.

After experiencing a recent setback in his throwing progression, Romano (right elbow inflammation) was slated to meet with Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday. Best-case scenario, the reliever can recover with rest and rehab, but this is the same doctor who recently completed Alek Manoah’s internal brace surgery, so the Blue Jays have reason to be fearing the worst with Romano, a free agent after 2025.

“Nothing firm yet,” Schneider said. “Appointment was today, so as soon as we hear something, we’ll let you know.”

It’s been a smoother recovery for Garcia (right elbow ulnar neuritis), who threw a bullpen session Sunday with plans to throw another one Wednesday. If all goes well this week, a minor-league rehab assignment could be next, giving him plenty of time to pitch before the July 30 trade deadline.

With a big fastball and multiple swing-and-miss off-speed pitches, Garcia would likely be among the most coveted relievers available assuming the Blue Jays listen to offers on him later this month. A legitimately interesting prospect return seems possible here, amplifying the significance of each setback or step forward. With that in mind, Wednesday’s bullpen session is a big one.

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Even beyond Toronto, there were significant developments for the trade market as the Tigers scratched Jack Flaherty from his scheduled Wednesday start against the Twins. With a 3.24 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 89 innings, the 28-year-old appeared to have far greater value than he did this time last year, but he has received two injections in the last two weeks, according to the Detroit Free Press.

That matters for the Blue Jays, since there aren’t that many available pitchers who could realistically start a playoff game. Flaherty’s one. Garret Crochet of the White Sox is another (executives around MLB expect both him and Erick Fedde to be traded). And then there’s Yusei Kikuchi, who got off to a great start before running into some recent struggles.

Regardless of what happens around the league, Kikuchi will be in demand assuming he’s healthy and the Toronto front office makes him available, but his value would presumably go up if the rest of the starting pitching market remains weak.

Of course, with four weeks remaining until the trade deadline, there’s lots of time for players to increase or undermine their trade value. It all starts with health, though, as the Blue Jays have been reminded more often than they’d like.

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