Pagán, Myers to IL as new Padres arrive
When the dust settled on one of the busiest Trade Deadlines for any team in history, the Padres had a full day of roster shuffling on their hands Wednesday. That included Emilio Pagán and Wil Myers landing on the injured list.
Pagán is dealing with right biceps inflammation, but the club offered no specifics on Myers’ IL stay.
"We don't have much detail," said Padres manager Jayce Tingler. "But what I will say is that we're very optimistic, hopeful that he'll be back in the lineup shortly."
Major League Baseball has instituted a COVID-19 list this season, although clubs will not announce which players are placed on it, due to privacy laws regarding individuals’ health. Players may address their status if they wish, though they are not required to do so.
It's important to note that merely being placed on an injured list without further explanation is not confirmation that a player has tested positive for COVID-19. For example, potential exposure to a person who has the virus can be sufficient cause. So, too, are symptoms attributable to other illnesses, like a head cold.
Last week, Padres left-hander Adrian Morejon similarly landed on the IL for unspecified reasons. He was activated two days later, and Tingler later acknowledged that Morejon was feeling ill due to the altitude. Per protocol, the symptoms were enough for Morejon to be placed on the IL out of precaution.
Tingler said he's hopeful Myers' IL stint will resolve itself the way Morejon's did. In the meantime, newly acquired Greg Allen made his Padres debut in right field in Myers' absence on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. Allen, a San Diego native, arrived in the Mike Clevinger trade on Monday.
As for Pagán, Tingler said he was hopeful the veteran right-hander wouldn't be sidelined very long. Pagán, who owns a 5.40 ERA in 15 appearances this season, has been dealing with biceps tightness for a couple of weeks, Tingler said, though he'd been able to pitch through it.
"It's still lingering," Tingler said. "So after talking to our medical staff, the doctors and trainers, we think it'd be a good chance for him to get some treatment and see if they can get that under control a little bit going forward."
Fortunately for the Padres, the reinforcements for their beleaguered bullpen have arrived. Trevor Rosenthal, who was acquired Saturday in a trade with Kansas City, pitched the ninth inning of Monday's win over Colorado. Dan Altavilla was activated Wednesday, after Sunday's trade with Seattle.
Fellow right-hander Taylor Williams, who also arrived in that Mariners deal, was optioned to the team's alternate training site at the University of San Diego, as was David Bednar.
Those moves cleared room for Clevinger and Allen to be added to the active roster. Clevinger will make his Padres debut Thursday.
Worth noting
• Right-hander Austin Adams -- the third reliever acquired from Seattle this week -- has been on the IL all season as he recovers from left knee surgery. Adams has arrived in San Diego, where he will throw at least one more bullpen session before facing live hitters at the University of San Diego, the team’s alternate training site.
Tingler noted that Adams was "fairly close" to making his return, and the Padres remain optimistic that he will be a weapon for their bullpen down the stretch. In parts of three seasons, Adams owns a 3.79 ERA with 14.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
• Rosenthal offered a perfect encapsulation of the Padres' roster chaos this week when he was asked about new catcher Austin Nola, who backstopped his scoreless ninth inning on Monday night in Colorado.
"I think I met Nola when we shook hands right after the game," Rosenthal said. "We got the last out, and I'm like, 'Hey, I'm Trevor, nice to meet you.'"