Zach Wheeler out with blood clot

[allentown]

I think Painter has hit the physical wall in number of innings he can pitch during this recovery from TJ. He can build himself up over the winter and in ST, but I think the best and safest approach is to shut him down, at least until FIL. I thought the consensus was that he should throw 80 - 100 IP this season. He's now at 93 and struggling.

[zambonir]

Chatting with someone at game who says three months of blood thinners post surgery likely.

[xogfog]

You can pitch on blood thinners, so just a short rehab and he should be back by the playoffs, if not sooner.

[zambonir]

Seems like it is not advised even if baseball is not the contact sport football or basketball is. You get hit by a liner back to the mound or stumble in the field or even in the dugout and it could be a serious complication. But we shall find out I guess.

I feel like Painter's target was 120 IPs but that was based on the idea that half of them would be in the majors and he would be thriving. I think there is still no harm in giving him a spot start if needed, and/or in letting him finish the AAA season but he's not really in the mix to help the major league team in any significant way.

[Philsmania]

I would rather start over with Painter next spring. This was probably his recovery year after one year of rest then surgery followed by a rehab year. I often wonder if he got too pumped and threw too hard and hurt himself during that workout in the first week of 2023 ST in which Mr. Middleton himself attended when there was talk of him actually making the Phillies Opening Day rotation that season. IIRC, he pulled up lame pretty much right after that. He was an unwise 21 year old kid at that point.

[jimbomill]

Chatting with someone at game who says three months of blood thinners

I was on them (blood thinners) for a full year.

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

Zack Wheeler Recommended For Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Surgery

https://t.co/OR4rRFJfJm

https://bsky.app/profile/mattgelb.bsky.social/post/3lx3nh6rkr22h

[Dirk41]

Does Wheeler even attempt a comeback? He's already been very clear that he is only pitching two more years. He will go down as one of the all timers for the Phils. Maybe the best free agent signing we've ever had

[zambonir]

Of course he does. We can't know exactly how it will go or how well he will pitch, but he's not going to retire and walk away from $84 million either (never mind the money, he would view that as not holding up his end of the bargain). And who knows if he was really going to retire/not sign a new deal after this one - even he can't truly know that until the day comes.

As I posted from the story in the general news thread, Merrill Kelly, while only 32, had this same condition and surgery on September 9, 2020 and made his next start on April 2, 2021.

[Docs]

Does anyone know if Major league baseball contracts are insured? Is the team compensated if somebody has a long-term injury? Do salaries on the injured list count towards the tax threshold?

[zambonir]

It varies wildly these days as far as insurance. In a lot of cases premiums have gotten so high that teams don't do it. Sometimes a player gets their own, if they are close to the end of a contract. I doubt the Phillies have anything

And yes it counts towards the tax threshold, whether you're out for two weeks or two years. One of the reasons (along with having to pay the actual money) why MLB owners are so jealous of the NFL.

The Mets are currently paying $50 million in injured salaries to multiple players. Yankees too. Dodgers more than that.

Phillies are at $42M, which is all Wheeler.