Stammen (shoulder) retired from professional baseball Friday.
After suffering a shoulder injury during spring training, Stammen said it was unlikely he ever pitches again, and his prediction officially came true Friday. The 39-year-old reliever spent 13 seasons in the majors with Washington and San Diego and will finish his career with a 3.66 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Likely to retire
Rotowire
Stammen (shoulder) told reporters Sunday that it's unlikely he ever pitches again, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Stammen suffered a torn capsule in his right shoulder and strained his sub scapula Friday, and the injuries are related to the torn rotator cuff the right-hander suffered in 2022. He's been told that the recovery time would be four to six months without surgery, with an operation creating a longer rehab process. While Stammen may take some time before making an official announcement, it does seem likely that his playing career is over.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: May have avoided major injury
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Padres manager Bob Melvin said Saturday that Stammen's shoulder injury isn't as serious as it initially appeared, and the reliever is expected to be reevaluated in a couple of days, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
When Stammen departed Friday's Cactus League contest with an injury that was later reported to be right shoulder discomfort, the fear was that he aggravated the issue that caused him to miss most of the second half of last season. While that may still be the case, Melvin's update Saturday at least offers hope that Stammen isn't in line for another extended absence. Even if he does bounce back quickly, there's no guarantee the veteran reliever will make the Opening Day roster, as he's currently on a minor-league deal.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Departs due to shoulder issue
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Stammen is being evaluated for right shoulder discomfort, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
That's what led to him suddenly walking off the mound during Friday afternoon's Cactus League game against the Royals. And it is ominous news given that Stammen missed a large chunk of the second half last year due to what was diagnosed at the time as right shoulder inflammation.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Leaves appearance with injury
Rotowire
Stammen was removed from a Cactus League appearance Friday against the Royals due to an apparent injury, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Hopefully it's not a recurrence of shoulder inflammation, which is what prompted his 60-day IL stay in the second half last season. The 39-year-old reliever re-signed with the Padres this winter on a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league spring training.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Inks MiLB deal with Friars
Rotowire
Stammen signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
After an impressive 2021 campaign with San Diego, Stammen came back with a 4.43 ERA and 1.35 WHIP season in 2022. He also spent roughly two months on the injured list due to shoulder problems. Stammen turns 39 in March, though if he's still able to put on a show in the minors, there's a chance he throws a few big-league innings in 2023.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Absent from wild-card roster
Rotowire
Stammen was not included on the Padres' roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Mets.
Stammen will begin the postseason as a member of the Padres' taxi squad after he pitched three innings in Wednesday's regular-season finale, allowing five runs in a spot start. The right-hander will remain an option to join the active roster if the Padres advance to the next round of the playoffs.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Takes loss in spot start
Rotowire
Stammen (1-2) took the loss against San Francisco on Wednesday, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three batters over three-plus innings.
Mike Clevinger was originally lined up to start San Diego's regular-season finale, but he was pulled and placed on the IL due to an illness. Stammen stepped in and did what he could to preserve the Padres' bullpen a bit ahead of the wild-card series against the Mets that begins Friday, going a season-high three innings and tossing 69 pitches -- the most he's thrown in a game since 2010, per Dennis Lin of The Athletic. The right-hander held San Francisco scoreless through two frames but gave up a run in the third and four more in the fourth, with two crossing the plate after his departure. Stammen finished the regular season with a 4.43 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB over 40.2 innings. It's unclear if he'll be on the team's wild-card roster, but his lengthy outing Wednesday may indicate that he'll be unavailable for several days.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Draws start Wednesday
Rotowire
The Padres will have Stammen start Wednesday's game against the Giants in what's expected to be a bullpen day, Bob Scanlan of Bally Sports San Diego reports.
Stammen hasn't topped two innings or 39 pitches in any of his 32 appearances on the season for San Diego, so that probably represents the upper limit of his workload in the regular-season finale before he turns the game over to the bullpen.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Returns from IL
Rotowire
The Padres reinstated Stammen (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.
He'll be back with the big club for the first time since early July after an extended absence due to right shoulder inflammation. Stammen covered two frames in both of his final two rehab appearances at Triple-A El Paso and is likely to settle into a multi-inning relief role out of the San Diego bullpen down the stretch.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Cleared for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Stammen (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Single-A Lake Elsinore.
Stammen has been on the injured list since early July with right shoulder inflammation, so he could need multiple rehab appearances in the minors before the Padres activate him. Prior to landing on the shelf, Stammen appeared in 27 games out of the San Diego bullpen, logging a 3.34 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB across 32.1 innings.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Transferred to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Stammen (shoulder) was moved to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, per MLB.com.
Stammen hasn't seen game action since early July, but he's recently been playing catch and throwing on flat ground. He stated last week that his shoulder is feeling better, so the move to the 60-day IL doesn't appear to be due to a setback. Rather, San Diego is likely intent on ensuring that Stammen isn't rushed back so that he's healthy and available down the stretch run.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Progresses to throwing
Rotowire
Stammen (shoulder) began throwing and playing catch to 90 feet last week and is expected to be available for the stretch run, per MLB.com.
A definite timeline for Stammen's return has yet to be established, but his increased activity suggests that the right-hander should be able to return this season. He hasn't seen game action in over five weeks, so he'll likely need significant time to ramp up once he begins throwing from a mound again. Stammen posted a 3.34 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB over 32.1 innings prior to hitting the injured list.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Not yet throwing
Rotowire
Stammen (shoulder) disclosed Monday that he hasn't resumed throwing since landing on the injured list July 9, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Stammen indicated that he doesn't think he'll be shut down for the season in what could be the final campaign of the 38-year-old's career, but he won't have a clear timeline for a return until he begins a throwing progression. Even if he's able to start playing catch within the next few days, Stammen will likely need at least two weeks to get ramped back up before the Padres are comfortable bringing him back from the 15-day injured list.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
Stammen was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation Saturday, retroactive to July 6.
Stammen hasn't pitched since Tuesday, but he's apparently been dealing with a shoulder issue that will keep him sidelined through the All-Star break. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to return, but Dinelson Lamet was recalled to take his place in the bullpen.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Takes loss Friday
Rotowire
Stammen (1-1) took the loss against the Dodgers on Friday, pitching 1.2 innings and allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three.
Padres starter Blake Snell was dominant with 12 strikeouts while allowing only one run through five innings, but he departed with the game tied 1-1. Stammen took over in the sixth and struck out the first two batters he faced, but Cody Bellinger then got to him for a solo homer. Stammen remained in the game in the seventh and gave up another run on a Trea Turner single and a Freddie Freeman double. The righty reliever entered Friday having given up just one run over his previous 8.1 innings, so this rough outing was more of a hiccup than his norm. Stammen has posted a 3.60 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB over 30 innings on the season while notching two holds.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Earns relief win Wednesday
Rotowire
Stammen (1-0) was credited with the win against the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits over two innings. He did not walk or strike out any batters.
Padres starters Ryan Weathers needed 89 pitches to get through 3.2 innings, and Stammen was summoned with a pair of runners on base and two outs in the fourth. He got the third out without allowing any runs to cross the plate and went on to pitch into the sixth frame, allowing four hits but only one run (on a Christopher Morel solo shot). This was Stammen's first victory of the campaign, and he has also picked up two holds while compiling a 3.65 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 20:2 K:BB across 24.2 innings.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Hammered by Mets on Monday
Rotowire
Stammen pitched 1.1 innings against the Mets on Monday, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out two batters.
The right-hander entered in the eighth inning and allowed a single and a homer resulting in two runs before he notched his first out. He closed out the frame without further damage but gave up back-to-back one-out singles in the ninth, both of which were cashed in after Stammen departed the game. The veteran reliever hadn't given up more than one earned run in any of his 17 appearances prior to Monday, and his ERA shot up from 2.41 to 4.05 as a result of the rough outing.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Working in middle relief
Rotowire
Stammen covered 1.2 innings and gave up a run on two hits in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Brewers.
Since setting career highs in holds (31) and saves (four) in 2019, Stammen has seen his higher-leverage opportunities take a hit in the subsequent three seasons. Stammen worked in middle relief Tuesday after starter Blake Snell departed midway through the sixth inning, and the one-out, three-run home run he allowed to Tyrone Taylor held up as the difference as the Padres saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. While his ratios (2.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP) remain solid, Stammen has tallied only two holds through his first 15 relief appearances.
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Padres' Craig Stammen: Makes five appearances this spring
Rotowire
Stammen allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings in Cactus League action. He struck out four and did not issue any walks.
Stammen showed good control in his five spring outings, but he gave up plenty of hits and allowed three runs to cross the plate. The right-hander figures to play a key role in the team's bullpen in 2022 after posting a 3.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 83:13 K:BB across 88.1 frames last season.
