Jurrjens Silence is Deafening (Deal in doubt?)

[DrungoHazewood]

Eduardo Encina of the Sun thinks the Jurrjens deal could fall through:

As for Jurrjens, it is becoming increasingly unclear whether the one-year deal between him and the Orioles will come to fruition. Vetting his physical has become a week-long process and it doesn’t seem like it’s heading in a positive direction.

The Orioles have long had concerns about Jurrjens’ health, especially the strength of his right knee. That dates back to last offseason, when the team tested the trade waters with the Braves in a possible deal involving Adam Jones. And that was before the velocity on his fastball continued to diminish and he pitched to a 6.89 ERA last season. They were concerned then, and they’re concerned now.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-friday-morning-orioles-observations-saunders-jurrjens-arbitration-20130208,0,6044638.story

The knee is risk, and risk is quantified in dollars. I'd bet they're trying to come up with a price point that hedges the Orioles' concerns while still remaining acceptable to Jurrjens.

[Jammer7]

If the knee is that bad, bone on bone, do we sign him and get the knee repaired? Maybe a two year deal with a club option for third year, back load it and make it incentive laden. Whether he has the cadaver implant or they take a piece of the hamstring, it will take him out for most of the year. But to have him healthy for the 2014 season, and maybe get the guy he was 2-3 years ago. Might be a steal.

[waroriole]

If the knee is that bad, bone on bone, do we sign him and get the knee repaired? Maybe a two year deal with a club option for third year, back load it and make it incentive laden. Whether he has the cadaver implant or they take a piece of the hamstring, it will take him out for most of the year. But to have him healthy for the 2014 season, and maybe get the guy he was 2-3 years ago. Might be a steal.

So, if his knee is worse than we thought it was, we should give him a longer deal? I don't get that one.

[Crazysilver03]

So, if his knee is worse than we thought it was, we should give him a longer deal? I don't get that one.

I don't get it either since that's unnecessary since he comes with two option years and two years before free agency.

[Tx Oriole]

So, if his knee is worse than we thought it was, we should give him a longer deal? I don't get that one.

It is a tough question get him and have his knee repaired for next season or just no deal at all. Glad I am not making a decision on

that.

[DrungoHazewood]

If the knee is that bad, bone on bone, do we sign him and get the knee repaired? Maybe a two year deal with a club option for third year, back load it and make it incentive laden. Whether he has the cadaver implant or they take a piece of the hamstring, it will take him out for most of the year. But to have him healthy for the 2014 season, and maybe get the guy he was 2-3 years ago. Might be a steal.

I think you're mixing knee issues. If he's "bone-on-bone" that's a cartilage or meniscus issue. Damage to ligaments (especially the ACL) can be fixed by replacing the damaged part with patella tendon/hamstring graft/cadaver part. The cartilage or meniscus is a much more serious problem with less direct paths to fixing, including microfracture or injection of lubricants or various other near-experimental treatments. If he has serious cartilage or meniscus problems it may be very questionable if he'll be able to play effectively again. I've had two ACLs done and almost no issues. I have a buddy who had a serious meniscus tear and he's done, no more team/contact sports at all.

[wildbillhiccup]

If the knee is that bad, bone on bone, do we sign him and get the knee repaired? Maybe a two year deal with a club option for third year, back load it and make it incentive laden. Whether he has the cadaver implant or they take a piece of the hamstring, it will take him out for most of the year. But to have him healthy for the 2014 season, and maybe get the guy he was 2-3 years ago. Might be a steal.

Huh? Not sure I quite understand the logic behind this idea. It's not like we're talking about stashing/investing in Stephen Strasburg. It's Jair Jurjens!

[wildbillhiccup]

It is a tough question get him and have his knee repaired for next season or just no deal at all. Glad I am not making a decision on

that.

It's really not a tough question at all. You simply walk away. The risk does not equal the potential reward for a player of Jurjens caliber.

[Jammer7]

I think you're mixing knee issues. If he's "bone-on-bone" that's a cartilage or meniscus issue. Damage to ligaments (especially the ACL) can be fixed by replacing the damaged part with patella tendon/hamstring graft/cadaver part. The cartilage or meniscus is a much more serious problem with less direct paths to fixing, including microfracture or injection of lubricants or various other near-experimental treatments. If he has serious cartilage or meniscus problems it may be very questionable if he'll be able to play effectively again. I've had two ACLs done and almost no issues. I have a buddy who had a serious meniscus tear and he's done, no more team/contact sports at all.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. Did not know the difference. Thank you!

What I was advocating was risky, but potentially it could have kept him with the organization like they did with Pomeranz. Signing him either way is risky and with what Drungo enlightened me on I would say that if it cannot be repaired, then what is the point in signing him at all?

[SeaBird]

It's really not a tough question at all. You simply walk away. The risk does not equal the potential reward for a player of Jurjens caliber.

Exactly. You don't sign him, re-build him (if that's what is needed), put him on the shelf and then hope he can rehab his way back onto the roster. It's not worth the money.

[LookitsPuck]

And this is why you sign Saunders.

I really can't believe how ridiculously cheap this offseason has been.

[24fps]

Does anyone know Jurrjens' actual medical condition? If the tempo of the speculation about his knee continues, by mid-afternoon we'll be wondering why we signed a double amputee.

[DrungoHazewood]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. Did not know the difference. Thank you!

What I was advocating was risky, but potentially it could have kept him with the organization like they did with Pomeranz. Signing him either way is risky and with what Drungo enlightened me on I would say that if it cannot be repaired, then what is the point in signing him at all?

There is still some wiggle room in treatment even if he has some fairly serious meniscus/cartilage damage. I think Randy Johnson pitched for a number of years with problems like that, and he'd get some kind of lubricant injected into his knee to minimize the problem. Magglio had some kind of experimental treatment in Germany, probably some kind of microfracture to try to get the cartilage to grow back. Depending on what's really going on inside his knee it might be worth some treatment while on an low initial value/incentivized contract.

[El Gordo]

The guy's knee is bone on bone. Anyone questioning the medical procedures here really needs to get their head checked. There are serious questions about whether or not he will ever pitch effectively again - you don't just repair bone on bone. It's a permanent, life long condition. I for one will not be upset if this falls through - that means they weren't confident in his health enough to give him 1.5 mil. Seems pretty smart to me, especially with all the other pitchers on this club.

What's your source for this?

[Crazysilver03]

What's your source for this?

Go read post 8 in the thread.