What Treinen's surgery means for Dodgers' bullpen
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LOS ANGELES – Dodgers right-hander Blake Treinen underwent right shoulder labrum and rotator cuff repair surgery on Friday, and his availability for the 2023 season is now in jeopardy.
Though the Dodgers didn’t release a timeframe for Treinen’s return, the surgery’s recovery time is about 10 months. If that’s the case, there’s a chance Treinen can make it back towards the end of next season, but given how sensitive surgeries in that area are, the Dodgers won’t push the right-hander.
Treinen missed the majority of the 2022 season with a pair of shoulder injuries. He was sidelined for five months as he recovered from a torn capsule in his right shoulder, which he suffered in early May. Initially, the injury was expected to sideline Treinen the entire season. Surgery was on the table, and encouraged, but he opted against it.
The injury healed around September, but Treinen was still experiencing severe pain as he continued to throw. He landed back on the injured list and made it back in time for the postseason, making just one appearance in the National League Division Series loss against the Padres.
Following Treinen’s initial injury, the Dodgers picked up his $8 million option for the 2023 season. With offseason surgery always being a possibility, the Dodgers restructured Treinen’s deal in order to give the team a conditional option for the ‘24 season.
Since joining the Dodgers in 2020, Treinen, 34, has posted a 2.45 ERA with 113 strikeouts over 103 innings of work. In ‘21, he was nearly unhittable, posting a 1.99 ERA and becoming the Dodgers’ best reliever. But now it’ll be two lost seasons for the right-hander.
As for the Dodgers, the team feels confident that the bullpen has plenty of weapons to get through next season, but Treinen won’t be part of the mix. Tommy Kahnle, Craig Kimbrel and Chris Martin all enter the offseason as free agents. Kimbrel likely won’t be an option to return, but the Dodgers will be engaged with Kahnle and Martin.
Los Angeles, as per usual, will also be active in the trade and free-agent market to add impact and depth pieces in the bullpen.
The Dodgers also have Yency Almonte, Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia and Caleb Ferguson on the roster, giving them plenty of firepower. Daniel Hudson and Victor González are expected to make full recoveries after missing most of the ‘22 season.