After being shut down for the remainder of the 2014 season due to elbow inflammation, Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish has been cleared to throw. In Cincinnati, the Reds have hired former Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers to join their front office.
Darvish landed on the disabled list back on August 9 and had his right elbow examined again in the beginning of September. General manager Jon Daniels opted to keep the right-hander out of action for the remainder of the season as a precautionary measure. The Rangers were among the worst teams in baseball and with about three weeks remaining in the year there wasn't much to gain.
Before hitting the DL and eventually being shut down for the year, Darvish compiled a 10-7 record with a 3.06 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 22 starts for the Rangers. It now appears he'll be able to get back on track for next season. He's apparently been resting his arm throughout the offseason to avoid any setbacks, but T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports Darvish should be ready to continue throwing after receiving good news this week.
"Yu Darvish underwent an MRI and a subsequent examination of his right elbow by Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday in Arlington. Dr. Meister reported that the MRI looked fine, and he has cleared Darvish to begin throwing on his normal schedule. Darvish is currently undergoing his normal off-season training program and expects to start throwing in early December. It is expected that Darvish will spend at least the next several weeks working out in Texas."
Like Darvish, former Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers had his season cut short this year. The D-Backs dismissed him in early September after three consecutive seasons missing the playoffs. After Towers was fired, the team's downward spiral continued, and they finished with an MLB-worst 64-98 record that also resulted in the dismissal of manager Kirk Gibson.
But Towers has found a new home with the Cincinnati Reds. He was hired as a special assistant for player personnel on Tuesday after spending the last 19 seasons as a general manager for Arizona (2010-2014) and the San Diego Padres (1996-2009). Towers was known to be active on the trade market when he was a general manager, so it'll be interesting to see how he's utilized within the Reds organization. Cincinnati could be a conducting a fire sale this offseason or before the trade deadline depending on whether or not they can compete in the NL Central.
Good news here for two notable figures in the MLB.
