San Diego Padres AM Talk: Franmil Reyes To Go Under The Knife

San Diego Padres AM Talk: Results are in and they aren’t good for La Mole.

Welcome to our Thurdsay edition of San Diego Padres AM Talk where the only news coming out of San Diego is unfortunate news. Reported last night, Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes is set for surgery to repair a torn miniscus in his right knee in just a few hours. He is expected to miss four-to-eight weeks, which ends his dominant run in the Dominican Republic.

Even if Reyes returns on the later side of his expected timetable, the second-year outfielder will be ready to go for spring training, but the injury puts a screeching halt to his season with the Leones del Escogido.

In 13 games, Reyes hit .444 (20-45) with a .510 OBP, 1.199 OPS, two doubles, and three home runs. He finishes with 13 hits over his final six games.

If there is a silver lining with this injury, it is that a potential deal involving Reyes is no longer likely. Multiple reports have indicated that the San Diego Padres are attempting to move at least one outfielder, with Reyes, Hunter Renfroe, and Wil Myers routinely being discussed in these talks. A sidelined Reyes no longer makes for an attractive piece and that is fine. After his strong finish to the 2018 season, he has earned an opportunity to show what he can do as an everyday outfielder at Petco Park.

Non-tender deadline just over 24 hours away.

On Wednesday afternoon, MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell provided his thoughts on Friday’s deadline to offer contracts to arbitration eligible players. With Austin Hedges, Kirby Yates, Travis Jankowski, Robbie Erlin, Greg Garcia, and Bryan Mitchell all eligible, Cassavell predicts no surprises, believeing that all six players will receive a contract from the Padres, protecting them from becoming free agents.

While most fans aren’t thrilled about the idea of Bryan Mitchell possibly returning to the Padres rotation, his near shutout performance to end the 2018 season secured him at least one more chance with the organization.

For much of the season, Mitchell was one of the worst starting pitchers in all of baseball.

More from Friars on Base

• Padres fighting with hated rival to sign quality veteran relief pitcher
• Jurickson Profar free agency update likely rules out Padres reunion
• Fernando Tatis Jr. may not take to outfield move after Xander Bogaerts addition
• Padres News: Fernando Tatis Jr. trade rumors, Seth Lugo chase, Manny Machado
• Padres barely missed out on high-end veteran starting pitcher

• April: 0-3, 6.07 ERA, 23 BB, 14 K
• May: 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 8 BB, 6 K
• June: 0-0, 8.10 ERA, 4 BB, 3 K (2 starts)
• July/August: Injured
• September: 2-1, 2.19 ERA, 8 BB, 15 K

In his final start, Mitchell tossed 8.2 shutout innings, surrendering seven hits and three walks while striking out seven. It was this start that earned him at least a spring training with the Padres in 2019. With big competition for the rotation and the bullpen, Mitchell will have to impress all spring if he plans on earning a roster spot.

On this date in MLB history.

On this date in MLB history, the New York Yankees signed “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson to a five-year/$3.5 million deal. In those five seasons, Jackson hit .281 with 144 home runs and was selected to the All-Star game in each season. New York captured back-to-back World Series championships in the first two years of Jackson’s deal.

Hopfully, we end the week with some good news from the Padres as we enter the weekend.