The 2016 season is only getting worse for the Minnesota Twins, as closer Glen Perkins will miss the remainder of the year. The three-time all-star will be kept out of action because of a torn labrum and rotator cuff problems.
“The diagnosis comes after Perkins underwent another Magnetic Resonance Imaging exam this week and received another opinion on his ailing left shoulder,” per La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune. “Perkins’ labrum is definitely torn, although it’s unclear how severe the tear is, the source said.”
Neal added that Perkins will probably need surgery.
This is a sensible move for both Perkins and the Twins. There’s no reason for him to pitch with that kind of injury. Really, nobody should ever pitch with that injury but given the situation that Perkins and the Twins are in, shutting him down is even more logical.
Perkins is under contract for 2017 with a very reasonable $6.5 million team option for 2018. He can certainly be a vital part of Minnesota’s successes over those two seasons, but 2016 is already a lost cause. At 20-45, the Twins have the second-worst record in baseball, the worst record in the American League and are a whopping 12.5 games out of just fourth place in the American League Central.
Perkins has appeared in only two games for the Twins this season and none since April 10. In his three All-Star seasons (2013-15), Perkins posted a 3.08 ERA, 1.097 WHIP, 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings and recorded 102 saves in 184 games over 181.1 innings.