Josh Hamilton Breaks Arm: The 15 MLB Hitters Teams Could Least Afford to Lose
The Texas Rangers’ chances of repeating as American League champions took a huge blow today with the news that reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton will be lost to the team for at least the next six-to-eight weeks.
Hamilton suffered a non-displaced fracture of the humerus bone at the top of his right arm while making a headfirst slide into home plate on Tuesday afternoon, during the Rangers’ 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Hamilton will not be able to swing a bat for at least a month and he will need time to get back into baseball shape. He will probably also require at-bats in the minor leagues as well. Best-case scenario for Hamilton’s return is likely mid-to-late June.
While the Rangers have options with which to fill the hole left by Hamilton’s injury (David Murphy, Chris Davis), many other teams aren’t so fortunate in having available talent that can at least plug the hole.
Here is our list of 15 hitters that teams could least afford to lose for any length of time.
15. Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
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Evan Longoria, currently on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, will likely return to the Rays’ lineup by the end of April. However, what would happen if Longoria were lost to the team for much longer than that?
The Rays are already depleted with the sudden retirement of Manny Ramirez and the loss of Carlos Pena during the offseason. Power is certainly at a premium in Tampa, and Longoria’s long-term loss would have long-term consequences to an offense already bleeding.
14. Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp hitting third and fourth, with Kemp off to a tremendous start, hitting .472 thus far in 11 games.
Kemp has benefited greatly under the tutelage of first-base coach Davey Lopes already and he has shown a renewed focus for the game. Losing Kemp on an offense already challenged beyond him and Ethier would spell disaster for the Dodgers.
On a team that will be hard-pressed to spend for additional payroll (see divorce, McCourt), the loss of either Ethier or Kemp would give manager Don Mattingly ulcers before the end of his first season.
13. David Wright, New York Mets
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Third baseman David Wright has been the heart and soul of the New York Mets offense since 2005, and he is off to a nice start once again this season, hitting .325 with two homers and eight runs batted in over the first 10 games.
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12. Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates
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He may only be in his second season, but Neil Walker has already made a huge impact with the Pittsburgh Pirates. On a team with nothing much to cheer for, Walker is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise hopeless situation for a team destined to suffer through its 19th-straight losing season.
While the Pirates are probably headed for another 90-plus loss season, losing Walker would ensure a triple-digit loss season.
11. Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox
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Konerko was the catalyst for the White Sox last year with 39 home runs, 111 runs batted in and a .312 batting average. Konerko has sizzled from the start this season as well, with three homers, 12 RBI and a .381 average in 11 games.
10. Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins
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The Florida Marlins already lost Dan Uggla to the Atlanta Braves, so they could certainly ill afford to lose Hanley Ramirez to injury.
Yes, the Marlins have power in Gaby Sanchez, Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison, but Ramirez is the glue that holds this team together.
9. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
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For the man who hit 15 home runs last September and already has four in the early going in 2011, the Rockies could ill afford to lose Tulowitzki for a long period of time.
Yes, Carlos Gonzalez is a great source of power, but Tulo has shown consistency throughout his career with the bat, and at 26, he has assumed the leadership of the Rockies offense.
8. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees
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Second baseman Robinson Cano has proven to be indispensable in the New York Yankees lineup, even more so than A-Rod and Jeter at this point. Even while Mark Teixeira struggled last season, the Yankees were still able to keep pace.
Losing Robinson Cano for any length of time would be another matter entirely. Cano is their future, but he is also their now.
7. Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
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We already saw what happened when 2008 AL MVP and spark-plug Dustin Pedroia went down last season with a broken bone in his foot. While the Boston Red Sox certainly had many other injuries to contend with last season (over 1,000 games lost to players on DL), none was more devastating than losing Pedroia.
Thus far, it certainly seems that Pedroia is completely healthy, hitting .368 as one of the lone bright spots for the Sox during a dismal 2-9 start.
Think of how bad they could be if Pedroia were lost long term once again?
6. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
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The Detroit Tigers’ entire offense revolves around their slugging first baseman, Miguel Cabrera. With at least 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in six of the past seven seasons, Cabrera’s place in the Tigers offense is indispensable.
Any significant time without Cabrera in the lineup and the Tigers are looking at a third-place finish in the American League Central.
5. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
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While first baseman Justin Morneau lost significant time last season due to a severe concussion, the Minnesota Twins still made the playoffs.
However, with a significant injury to catcher Joe Mauer, would they be so lucky? The Twins have always taken great care with Mauer, who does not have the healthiest of knees. Any injury at all would derail the chances of the Twins repeating as AL Central champs.
4. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
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Joey Votto, the reigning National League MVP, was Mr. Everything last season for the Cincinnati Reds. While the Reds certainly had other important components that allowed them to win the National League Central, none was more important than Votto, and obviously MVP voters felt the same way.
If they lose Votto for any length of time this season, the Reds could kiss their NL Central hopes goodbye.
3. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
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The Milwaukee Brewers do not hurt for offense with Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Casey McGehee and Ryan Braun. Losing Braun’s bat in the lineup for any length of time, however, would be a huge blow.
Braun has been Mr. Durability thus far during his career and has developed into a hitting machine. His absence from the lineup would absolutely derail the Brewers chances of contending in the NL Central.
2. Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
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The St. Louis Cardinals had a tough time keeping up with the Cincinnati Reds even with a fully healthy team. This season they’ve already lost ace Adam Wainwright for the year, suffered an early-season injury to Matt Holliday (although he is now back) and Albert Pujols is off to an un-Albert-like start.
Yes, the Cards bulked up by adding Lance Berkman, however, the loss of Pujols for any length of time would see them lose ground quickly to a solid Reds team.
1. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
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Ryan Howard makes the top of this list simply because the Phillies are already without Chase Utley.
If you take away Ryan Howard, it doesn’t matter how good their starting rotation is becaue they’ll have an offense that will be completely punchless.
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