The Guardians have shut setup man Trevor Stephan down for the next three weeks due to a deep bone bruise in his right elbow, manager Stephen Vogt announced to reporters this morning (X link via Mandy Bell of MLB.com). There’s no concern about Stephan’s ulnar collateral ligament or any structural damage in his elbow, Vogt added.
A three-week shutdown for Stephan makes a potential season-opening stint on the injured list a strong possibility — if not a likelihood. Opening Day is just one month away, and it seems as though Stephan won’t pick up a ball until we’re around eight days out from that point.
Stephan, 28, was a Rule 5 pick out of the Yankees organization heading into the 2021 season and has proven to be one of the most shrewd Rule 5 selections by any team in recent seasons. He’s pitched at least 63 innings out of the Cleveland ’pen in each of the past three seasons, saved six games and piled up 50 holds in that time. Stephan moved from low-stakes outings into a high-leverage role in 2022, and over the past two seasons he’s given the Guards 132 1/3 innings of 3.40 ERA ball with even better marks from metrics like FIP (2.90) and SIERA (3.18) thanks in large part to his excellent rate stats. Since 2022, Stephan has whiffed 28% of his opponents against a 7.8% walk rate while keeping the ball on the ground at a solid 44.6% clip.
Stephan is less than two weeks into his spring training and will now be shut down for at least 21 days. He’ll effectively be starting his spring over whenever he does resume throwing. If there are no further setbacks and the issue heals within the provided three-week window, there’s a chance he could still ramp up and be back with the big league club before the end of April, but only time will tell how his elbow mends.
Assuming Stephan is indeed out to begin the season, trade acquisition Scott Barlow will likely step up as the primary setup man to closer Emmanuel Clase. James Karinchak, Sam Hentges, Eli Morgan and Nick Sandlin could all see some extra leverage situations early in the 2024 campaign as well. In general, the Guardians have a deep bullpen that can absorb a relatively short absence for one of its top relievers to begin the season.
The depth of that relief corps is perhaps one reason the team at least listened to trade offers on Clase back in December, but a deal never seemed likely due to the closer’s remaining five years of affordable control under the terms of the extension he signed in 2022. Clase is guaranteed just $15MM over the next three seasons and, via a pair of club options, could earn a total of $33MM from 2024-28. Given that affordable deal, the asking price in a trade was always going to be enormous — and thus unlikely to be met. That’s become even more true as the season has drawn nearer, and an injury to Stephan even further reduces what was already a minuscule chance of a deal coming together.
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