Add Tigers reliever Bruce Rondon to the growing pile of pitchers suffering significant arm injuries this spring. MLive.com’s Chris Iott reported via Twitter that the right-hander needs Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2014 season. Rondon complained about pain in his elbow on Monday.
Detroit was already reeling from the news that shortstop Jose Iglesias had sustained stress fractures in both of his shins. The team has reportedly been checking around the league for available replacements. Now, general manager Dave Dombrowski will surely be adding reliever to his early-season shopping list — a list he surely wasn’t expecting to put together at this point.
Rondon, 23, was expected to be the Tigers’ eighth-inning setup man this season. He’d pitched well in Grapefruit League play, compiling a 1.29 ERA with seven strikeouts in seven innings. Last season, Rondon made 30 appearances with Detroit, posting a 3.45 ERA and striking out 30 batters in 28.2 innings. However, he also allowed 11 walks and 28 hits, demonstrating that further development was needed. With Triple-A Toledo, Rondon struck out 40 batters in 29.2 innings, accumulating a 1.52 ERA.
Joba Chamberlain now becomes Detroit’s primary setup reliever. The Tigers signed him to a one-year, $2.5 million contract this offseason, betting that a change of scenery from New York, along with a new team and coaching staff helps him regain his command and throw more like the pitcher that was once viewed as one of the most exciting young arms in baseball.
However, manager Brad Ausmus might now have to use a variety of relievers for that seventh-inning setup role. Luke Putkonen and Evan Reed could get the strongest consideration early in the season. Al Alburquerque can be a dominant strikeout reliever with his slider, but his control issues make him an unreliable choice for a designated role. Later in the season, Melvin Mercedes and Corey Knebel could provide help from the minors. But losing Rondon is arguably a bigger blow to the Tigers than losing Iglesias — at least in the short term.
As with shortstop (and possibly outfielder), the Tigers will surely start checking around to see what help might be available. The guess here is that Detroit will wait to see how its internal options work out before really pursuing trade possibilities.
However, Detroit’s minor league system really doesn’t have much to offer in a deal for anyone significant. Dombrowski will likely hang on to top prospects like pitchers Robbie Ray and Jonathan Crawford, unless it’s believed that getting a shortstop or setup reliever could impact their playoff chances. Taking a chance on relievers recovering from injury, such as Joel Hanrahan, Andrew Bailey and Ryan Madson will surely be considered as well.
Taking a wider view, Rondon joins the Braves’ Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, Oakland’s Jarrod Parker and the D-Backs’ Patrick Corbin among young arms sustaining season-ending elbow injuries during spring training that require reconstructive surgery.
