Pre-Draft Reserves of Non-DL Players

[Copperfields]

This thread is to discuss players who are likely to start the season on the DL, but have not yet been officially placed on the DL by their National League team. If approved by the Executive Committee, CFCL teams will be permitted to place these players on their Reserve Lists prior to the Draft.

Refer to the post on the Front Office Blog (cfclhq.blogspot.com/2010/03/reserving-non-dl-players-prior-to-draft.html) for more information about this process, including the level of evidence the EC will require in order to approve these moves.

If you would like to propose that you be allowed to reserve a non-DL player prior to the Draft, post a note here with the player's name in the Subject line. Discussion of the player's status and outlook is open to all CFCL owners, though the final decision will be made by the Executive Committee.

[mcoulter2008]

I will start by tossing out the first name: Mat Gamel of the Milwaukee Brewers. This is what our own site CBSsportsline has to say about Mat's unfortunate spring training injury...

News: MLB.com reports a MRI scan on Mat Gamel's right shoulder revealed a "slight" tear in his latissimus dorsi, which is the large muscle behind the shoulder. Brewers media relations director Mike Vassallo said the team will restrict Gamel from baseball activities for six weeks. "Then he has to get ready for games from there, so we could be talking about closer to eight to nine weeks total before he's 100 percent," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said.

And this...from the Brewers site itself:

PHOENIX -- An MRI scan on Wednesday revealed that Brewers third-base prospect Mat Gamel has what the team termed a "slight" tear in his latissimus dorsi, the large muscle behind the right shoulder. Brewers director of media relations Mike Vassallo reported that the team expects Gamel to be restricted from activity for six weeks.

"Then he has to get ready for games from there, so we could be talking about closer to eight to nine weeks total before he's 100 percent," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said.

Gamel, 23, suffered the injury during batting practice early in camp and missed the first three days of Cactus League play. He started a March 8 game against the Mariners but was forced to exit in the third inning because of the shoulder.

Many Brewers fans know the "lat" muscle well because it's what sidelined Ben Sheets at the end of the 2005 season and caused him trouble into 2006. Sheets, though, had a much more significant tear as the muscle pulled away from the bone.

In Gamel's case, according to Ash, the tear is much less severe and is located in the middle of the muscle. The injury is more similar to the one then-Brewers outfielder Gabe Kapler suffered on a throw home in 2008.

Injured players who logged Major League time in the previous season cannot be optioned to the Minor Leagues, so Gamel will almost certainly begin the season on the Brewers' 15-day disabled list. With two games on Thursday's schedule -- an afternoon "B" game against the Rangers and then the regularly scheduled evening "A" game -- Brewers officials have not yet discussed whether Gamel will undergo his rehabilitation in the Major League clubhouse or head over to the team's Minor League complex.

"It will depend on what will help him get better in the most efficient manner," Ash said.

[Copperfields]

It certainly sounds like Gamel will be a candidate for an exception. For the record, the 6-week prognosis was published March 16 or 17, meaning his expected return date would be the last week of April.

I think I'm comfortable allowing an exception here.

[bentel889]

My post concerns Houston Street and Jesus Flores.

The Rockies listed on March 19th that Houston Street is out indefinitely and has not be given a time table as to when his return will be. He has been listed with shoulder tightness and inflammation while an MRI showed no structural damage.

As for Flores, the Cardinals posted March 17th that he'll be out indefinitely with a torn labrum, with a projected date of return set to mid-April. According to mlb.com, the Cardinals are going to "undergo further tests on shoulder."

[bentel889]

Correction: The Cardinals posted him injured on March 15th.

[mcoulter2008]

This paragraph from the Washington Post could shed some light...

Flores will stay with Dr. Andrews for 10 days to two weeks, and once he returns, he will have to restart his throwing program. Flores already had said he would not be ready for opening day, and Riggleman reasserted that Flores will begin the season on the disabled list. At best, Flores could return in mid-April. At worst, the question may become whether he will play this season at all. General Manager Mike Rizzo is confident Flores will return.

This was from an article in the March 12 Washington Post...meaning Flores could stay with Dr. Andrews until the day of the draft, then restart his throwing program if all is well. With Riggleman saying he WILL begin the season on the DL and the best case scenario has Flores returning mid-April, I think it is pretty doubtful he will open the season on the active roster. I would vote to allow for an exception in this case.

[mcoulter2008]

Initially, all the things I found on Street were couched in vague language with lots of "likely to start the season on the DL" or "possibly won't be ready for opening day"...

But this Denver Post article seems as though the Rockies brass have communicated a plan to Street following his MRI...

Street said he will stay in Tucson for extended spring training when the Rockies open the season April 5 at Milwaukee. He has been told to expect a month-long rehab process, which would put his return at mid- to late-April.

That was from an article posted March 20. The fact that the Rockies appear to be shuffling their bullpen the last couple days, moving Franklyn Morales into the closer role and signing Joe Beimel to add another lefty seems to indicate they're preparing to open the season without Street as well.

Not as entirely sold on this one as I was on Jesus Flores, but I am leaning toward allowing the exception...perhaps more info will come out in the next day or so before the draft.

[Copperfields]

I'm leaning towards giving a thumbs up to Street going on reserve, but may want to wait a day or two to see if any further prognosis is published. Most of the reports I've seen still list him as "likely to start the season on the DL", though recent reports about the Rockies signing Joe Beimel hit a little more strongly about a DL stint for Street.

According to a report published today (3/23) on Flores, it sounds pretty definite that he will be going on the DL, as a recent 12-day stay with Dr Andrews didn't provide any definite timetable for his return. I doubt he's going to be declared healthy and start playing in games within the next two weeks.

My votes:
Flores - OK to reserve
Street - Leaning toward OK to reserve, but want to wait 2-3 days

[Copperfields]

This article from the Denver Post (3/24) makes a pretty definitive statement that Street will start the season on the DL: "Street, who will open the season on the disabled list, is set to play catch Friday for the first time in 11 days. He estimated he could be back in the big leagues by April 20 and closing again by May 1."

www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_14744405

And this article reiterates the fact that no timetable has even been set yet for Jesus Flores' return: "While Flores appears to be healing nicely from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder (slight inflammation remains), no projected deadline has been established for his return."

I'd feel pretty comfortable about allowing the Killers to reserve both these guys before the Draft.

thenatsblog.com/2010-articles/january/olsen-struggles-flores-progresses-and-macdougal-gets-cut.html

[Demreb]

Thank you both for doing the research. I would be in agreement that Flores and Street can be reserved. Hey! Now my draft and roster sheets for the league are accurate! I love it when that happens.