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When the Atlanta Braves gave word that Spencer Strider would not require surgery for his latest elbow injury, most saw that as a great sign. The official word was that there was no damage to his recently repaired UCL and that he was only dealing with inflammation. For many, that was code that meant Strider wouldn't be out for too long at all. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case.
For a couple of weeks now, Braves manager Walt Weiss has been playing down the idea that Strider (as well as Spencer Schwellenbach) would be able to return this season. Weiss pointed to the fact that neither pitcher had really begun a real pitching progression yet, nor was he aware as to whether or not they had made the trip to Florida to accelerate their rehab.
Over the weekend, USA Today's MLB insider Bob Nightengale seemed to confirm those suspicions. Not only did he report that the Braves don't like the odds of Strider returning this season, but he also indicated that the Braves starter would be going to see Dr. Keith Meister again this week. It is safe to say that we could get more news about Strider's recovery once that happens, and that news could influence exactly how aggressive Atlanta is at the trade deadline.
Spencer Strider's injury status continues to highlight Braves' desperate need to add a starter at the deadline
The worst outcome here is obviously that Strider goes to the doctor and he finds out that he needs surgery after all. With a previous Tommy John surgery as well as his recent internal brace surgery, another elbow surgery could be legitimately career-threatening (if it wasn't in jeopardy already). However, it does feel like the odds are that we will hear that the injury is healing, but there is no timeline for his return.
Strider's prognosis COULD impact the Braves' trade deadline plans, however. If Strider's injury is more serious than originally thought, Atlanta could prioritize trading for arms that have extra team control attached to hedge against future issues. If he is healing better than expected, then going with rental options that may not factor into the playoff picture could be easier to stomach.
Whatever direction this goes, Nightengale is 100% right when he said that, "They badly need another veteran starter at the deadline." As to what that arm or arms end up looking like, that will be determined by Strider's recovery and how the rest of the rotation performs over the next couple of weeks.
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This article was originally published on housethathankbuilt.com as Braves Rumors: Latest Spencer Strider injury update came with clear trade deadline warning.
