With the playoffs set to begin in less than two months, it is now crunch time for postseason contenders as we roll through the final third of the season. While teams are starting to scoreboard watch with an eye on the standings, there is still plenty of news circulating off the field as well. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from the week.
Votto Done For The Year
Last week, Cincinnati Reds’ first baseman Joey Votto announced that his season would be over as he had surgery on a torn rotator cuff on Friday. While admitting that the shoulder has been hurt since 2015, he discussed that it was just recently hurting to the point of affecting his day-to-day life.
The 38-year-old Votto certainly had a disappointing season for the Reds. In 322 at bats, he hit just .205/.319/.370 with 11 home runs, 41 runs batted in, and 31 runs scored.
Next season will be the last of a 10-year contract worth $225 million that he signed a decade ago. The contract does include a 2024 team option, but it would be tough to see the struggling Reds pick that up at this point.
Cincinnati currently sits in fourth in the NL Central, 20.5 games behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals. The Wild Card isn’t much better as they sit 17 games back there, meaning that this is another lost year for Reds’ fans.
White Sox Bring In Veteran Shortstop, Lose Grandal
As they try to overtake the AL Central, the Chicago White Sox added reinforcements last Thursday. First reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the team has brought in shortstop Elvis Andrus, who was recently released by the Oakland A’s.
This season, the 33-year-old Andrus, who is in the last year of an eight-year contract, is hitting .235/.297/.367 with eight home runs, 30 runs batted in, 42 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 354 at bats between the A’s and White Sox.
The White Sox have dealt with a plethora of injuries this season and are currently without shortstop Tim Anderson, who is still rehabbing from a torn ligament in his non-throwing hand. To make room for Andrus, the team optioned Lenyn Sosa to the minors.
While the team added one veteran, they lost another. The team announced that catcher Yasmani Grandal will miss a couple of weeks as he deals with inflammation in his left knee.
The 33-year-old Grandal has been a bit of a disappointment this season. In 251 at bats, he is hitting just .203/.307/.259 with three home runs, 21 runs batted in, and nine runs scored.
For Chicago, they sit third in the AL Central with a record of 62-59. Still, with just 2.5 games separating them and the first-place Cleveland Guardians, they are certainly in striking distance to make a run at the division.
Chicago is currently +200 to win the AL Central, and they are +5000 to win this year’s World Series.
Could Wander Franco’s Season Be Done?
After signing an 11-year extension this season worth $182 million, the Tampa Bay Rays’ Wander Franco has not quite lived up to expectations in his first full season. However, many of his struggles have been due to injuries.
In June, Franco dealt with a quad strain and later injured the hamate bone in his hand. After having surgery on his hand over a month ago, Franco was finally out on a rehab assignment. Unfortunately, according to the Tampa Bay Times’ Marc Topkin, he has stopped the rehab assignment as he is dealing with more soreness.
In 227 at bats this season, Franco has hit .260/.308/.396 with five home runs, 23 runs batted in, 34 runs scored, and five stolen bases; however, the most recent setback casts doubt as to whether he can contribute as the Rays come down the stretch.
Tampa Bay currently sits at 65-55, tied for second in the AL East. If the season ended today, they would still be in the playoffs as they hold one of the three Wild Card spots.
The Rays are currently +8000 to win the AL East, and they are +5000 to win the World Series. If they do make a run, though, it appears that the availability of Wander Franco could certainly be in jeopardy.
