It does not appear that Cleveland Indians pitcher Danny Salazar will make a return this season. Is his time with the Tribe over?

It appears that this is end of the road for Danny Salazar in a Cleveland Indians uniform. Salazar asked to step away from his rehab and Cleveland granted this request.

Salazar returned earlier this season and subsequently was placed back on the injured list after just one start. 

Now that Salazar has stepped away it is more than fair to wonder if he will put on an Indians uniform again. The amount of time it has taken for him to return and the almost immediate return to the injured list point in that direction. Cleveland can only invest so much money into a player who is not contributing on the field. The Indians have waited almost two seasons for Danny Salazar to get healthy and contribute. This could be the end of the Indians patience for a player who has made one start since 2017. 

Considering how the Indians have operate in their market it does not make much financial sense to continue paying a player who isn’t playing. Cleveland needs to allocate their financial resources to players who will help them win games. That does not appear to be Danny Salazar. 

There was a moment when “Gas Can Dan” appeared to be a vital part of the Cleveland Indians future. Now after several years of being a non-factor it feels like this is the end for Danny Salazar in Cleveland. 

Cleveland Indians pitcher Danny Salazar made an apperance in Arizona and pitched well. Could a return to the Tribe be coming soon?

Danny Salazar has not appeared in a Major League Baseball game since 2017. Since then it has been setback after setback. Questions about Salazar’s return changed from when to if. But things finally appear to be heading in the right direction.

Danny Salazar made an appearance in Arizona and pitched quite well. In 1.2 innings Salazar struck out five batters and allowed three hits. This could signal a return for Salazar could be coming sooner rather than later. Although more rehab starts will be necessary.

Salazar’s stuff has never been questioned. When healthy he can strikeout batters with the best of them. Over his five year career Salazar averages 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. During his last season Salazar’s strikeout rate was just under 13 (12.7 to be exact). Of the six starting pitchers for the Indians that season, Salazar had the highest strikeout rate of them all. The next highest was Corey Kluber with 11.7 per nine.

While Danny Salazar has previously been a starting pitcher, that does not appear to be the case if he returns this season. The Indians starting rotation is pretty much set for now. The likes of Trevor Bauer, Shane Bieber and Zach Plesac have been the savior of Cleveland’s season. Mike Clevinger is back in the rotation now but has missed quite a bit of time. There is also the fact that Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco are on the injured list and could return at some point to bolster the rotation even further. This leaves the bullpen as the only option for Salazar. Even with a surprisingly good bullpen this season, Cleveland could use someone like Salazar. Especially considering the near-constant trade rumors about closer Brad Hand. The closer role could be in Salazar’s future if he can stay healthy.

The Cleveland Indians have placed pitcher Danny Salazar on the newly renamed 60-day injured list to start the 2019 season.

As expected Danny Salazar has been placed on the 60-day injured list to start the year. Salazar is still in the process of recovering from a shoulder injury and was not in the mix to make the Opening Day roster. The reality is that this is merely a formality. The expectation for Salazar was to continue his recovery and maybe return sometime this season.

Danny Salazar has not appeared in a game for the Indians since 2017. Even then Salazar was dealing with injury issues. There was once a time that “Gas Can Dan” could be an integral part of the rotation. Now that does not appear to be the case. Frequent injuries have hampered his development. Additionally, questions about his durability and longterm future have arisen because of this.

Even if Danny Salazar can return this season the starting rotation is currently full. Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger and Shane Bieber have all five rotation spots on lockdown. Barring injury or a dip in performance, there is no room for Salazar in the rotation. That means that Salazar could make a home in the bullpen. The benefit to this is that it will limit his usage and hopefully be easier to keep track of any sort of issues with his shoulder. While he may make more appearances with this route, the shorter outings may be more beneficial to avoiding injury and maximizing his skill set.

Of course this is assuming that Danny Salazar can return from his injury this season. The expectation heading into last season is nearly exactly the same as this season. Being unavailable at the start of the year with a potential return later in the season. The real way to look at this is that anything the Indians get out of Danny Salazar is just a bonus.

Danny Salazar missed all of 2018 due to injury. Now the question is what role will he play for Cleveland in 2019?

As of now the Cleveland Indians have a full pitching rotation. This leaves Danny Salazar as the odd man out and with a role that is yet to be determined. Assuming the team does not trade a starting pitcher and Salazar recovers from his shoulder surgery in time for the start of the season, the perfect landing spot for him is in the bullpen.

Salazar is not going to supplant Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger or Shane Bieber in the rotation. This is just a fact. However there are openings in the bullpen. With the departure of Andrew Miller and the assumed departure of Cody Allen, the team will need another arm in the bullpen. While the team could find some free agent relievers, the fact is they will not fill out an entire bullpen with free agents. An in-house option must be explored and that could be Salazar.

Danny Salazar in the bullpen makes sense

Considering Danny Salazar’s past history with injuries, the bullpen makes sense. If Salazar were to go down with another injury it is much easier to replace a bullpen arm than reshuffle the rotation. A reliever can be called up from the minors or even signed off the street. Cleveland did just that with Oliver Perez last season. Granted he was released by the Yankees on June 1st and pitched the very next day for Cleveland.

As a bullpen arm the Indians would be in a better position to manage Danny Salazar’s workload. If necessary Salazar could start a game, similar to the opener role that has developed. This could come into play when Cleveland has a doubleheader or wants to manage the innings of their starters. Salazar can be utilized in various situations all throughout the season. Opening games, appearing in relief or even closing if necessary.

In the modern era of the “Super Reliever”, Cleveland may have their own already on their roster. Danny Salazar can be the pitcher who does not have a defined time of the game that he pitches. Instead Salazar can pitch when called upon instead of waiting for a certain point in the game to come in. This would be to the benefit of both Salazar and the Indians, who desperately need help in the bullpen.

Cleveland Indians flamethrower Danny Salazar missed the entire 2018 campaign due to injury. With the depth of talent in the starting rotation it is hard to imagine Salazar returns to that role. Barring injury, Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger and Shane Bieber appear to have their rotation spots for the foreseeable future. Is a new role or a new team in the cards for Salazar?

Danny Salazar to the bullpen?

With an increased emphasis being placed on bullpen usage moving Danny Salazar to the bullpen appears to be a great idea. Salazar has the capability to touch triple digits and reduced workload may allow the Indians to keep an eye on any potential issues. While he would pitch more frequently, it would not nearly be close in regards to volume of pitches. Of course if he moves to the bullpen his appearances will be infrequent at first. Eventually working up to a more frequent role.

Transitioning to the bullpen would also help with cover for the all but certain losses in that department. Andrew Miller and Cody Allen are all but certain to depart in free agency, creating a vacancy in the bullpen. Salazar moving to that role would help the team make up for those losses. Other transactions are necessary, but this would certainly help.

Danny Salazar on the move?

Before last season there were trade rumors regarding Danny Salazar. For a brief moment it appeared that Salazar would end up in a Cubs uniform. Obviously nothing happened, as Salazar remained in Cleveland. Other teams see value in Salazar and if Salazar wants to remain a starter a trade is necessary. There simply is not a place for Salazar in the starting rotation and if he wants to start he will have to be moved.

Health will always be an issue

Danny Salazar’s non-existent 2018 season will be an issue whether he remains in Cleveland or is traded. Salazar experience inflammation in his shoulder during Spring Training and eventually required rotator cuff surgery. This is not the first time Salazar has gone under the knife. In 2010 Salazar underwent Tommy John surgery. Additionally in 2016 and 2017 Salazar missed time due to injuries.

Selling another team on the health of Salazar will be quite difficult. As is relying on him to not miss any time in the future. Especially considering how trigger happy teams are to place players on the 10-day disabled list. Salazar is all but guaranteed to end up on the 10-day DL at some point next season.

What it comes down to is whether the Indians believe Salazar can contribute to the club or if what they could get in return for Salazar is more valuable. The answer to that question will ultimately be found out before next season. Until now all that exists is speculation.