Padres confident top two pitchers won’t need surgery

Per a recent report, the Padres’ front office is optimistic that neither Dinelson Lamet nor Mike Clevinger will require surgery this offseason.

General manager AJ Preller spoke with Padres media on Wednesday, discussing various topics. Among those include the health status of the team’s top two pitchers. Pretty much up until we see both Dinelson Lamet and Mike Clevinger pitch in spring training, I don’t think anyone will not have some level of concern regarding their health.

But Preller sounded confident that neither guy would need surgery this offseason.

Lamet, 28, recently began receiving PRP injections in his elbow, hoping that rest alone can repair the damaged tendons. We’ve seen from Garrett Richards that that’s not always the case. My biggest fear, and I don’t think I’m alone in saying this, is that one or both pitchers could require Tommy John surgery in the early spring after an offseason of rest proved ineffective.

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I mean, if both Clevinger and Lamet got the surgery right now, there’s a good shot they’d miss all of the 2021 season anyway. But they would obviously return much quicker than if they needed surgery in spring.

The Padres are entering some unfamiliar territory this offseason, in that their big league roster is nearly intact for next year. This offseason will likely be depth additions and perhaps a pitcher or two for insurance. With the lack of a minor league season, I don’t think it’s fair to slot MacKenzie Gore into the rotation to start 2021.

But who knows.

Let’s hope that the Padres top two pitchers are ready to go when the spring exhibitions begin, and I do not doubt that their innings will be limited in the spring. From there, I think the Padres will remain cautious with each, but at some point, if they are deemed healthy, you have let the reins loose.

Because having one or two bullpen days each week, over a 162-game schedule, is not sustainable.