Ryan Braun struggled throughout the 2014 season with a significant injury to his right thumb, but a procedure on the affected area in October has helped him. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays and Cincinnati Reds have added depth to their roster with free-agent signings.
Braun told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that his thumb 'feels great.' He underwent cyrotherapy surgery on October 2 to treat nerve damage that involved sub-zero temperatures. The surgeons inserted a needle into the base of his right thumb and froze the damaged nerve, which has evidently improved the injury. He began swinging a bat shortly after the surgery and has felt good ever since.
"I've been able to do everything full-go," Braun told reporters on Wednesday. "I'm not limited in any way. I'm not hitting or anything at this point. I hit a lot right after I had the procedure done. I'll do my typical routine when I get back into baseball-specific activities in late December."
This is great news for the Brewers, whose late season collapse resulted in them relinquishing the NL Central lead to the St. Louis Cardinals and then the wild-card spots to the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. Braun had an uncharacteristic low-output season (compared to previous years) during which he slashed .266/.324/.453 with 19 home runs and 81 RBIs.
Sticking with the NL Central, the Cincinnati Reds have signed outfielder Brennan Bosch to a minor-league contract. The team has a need in left field and reports have suggested the team is talking with other clubs about possibly moving right fielder Jay Bruce. Bosch has played five MLB seasons with the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels and could potentially join the Reds roster in 2015. His best years were in Detroit, where he posted a .259 average with 42 home runs and 175 RBIs in three seasons. In Triple-A with the Angels this past season, Bosch batted .332 with 25 home runs and a 1.017 OPS in 95 games.
Ernesto Frieri, formerly the closer for the Angels, has signed an incentive-laden contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. The one-year, $2.35 million contract guarantees him $800,000 while the rest will be achieved through contractual milestones. Tampa Bay was able to sign him on the cheap because he compiled a 1-4 record and only 11 saves with a 7.34 ERA in 41 2/3 innings this season while with the Angels and Pirates. Prior to his disastrous 2014 campaign, Frieri owned a 2.76 ERA with 60 saves in 228 appearances.
But the Rays and Reds are still rumored to be involved in trade talks, which may come to fruition during the winter meetings in December.
