Mets' Nick Madrigal: Likely to miss season after surgery
Rotowire
Madrigal will likely miss the entire season after surgery to repair a fractured left shoulder, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Madrigal suffered the injury during a Grapefruit League contest Sunday when he landed on the shoulder following an off-balance throw. He's already been placed on the 60-day injured list and his tenure with the Mets could be over before it starts, as Madrigal will be a free agent next offseason.
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Mets' Nick Madrigal: Moved to 60-day IL
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Madrigal (shoulder) was placed on the 60-day injured list Monday.
It was reported earlier in the day that Madrigal is expected to miss a significant period of time recovering from a fractured left shoulder, so this transaction is purely procedural. The move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Alexander Canario, who was acquired from the Cubs in exchange for cash considerations Monday.
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Mets' Nick Madrigal: Diagnosed with fractured shoulder
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Madrigal will be "out for a long time" after being diagnosed with a fractured left shoulder, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Madrigal had already been diagnosed with a shoulder dislocation, and further testing has revealed additional damage. There's no clear timeline yet for how long he might be sidelined, but it will likely be several months. With Madrigal out, Luisangel Acuna could have a better chance to make the Mets' Opening Day roster.
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Mets' Nick Madrigal: Sustains dislocated shoulder
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Madrigal suffered a dislocated left shoulder during Sunday's spring game and is scheduled to undergo an MRI, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The infielder started at shortstop and sustained the injury during the first inning when he landed on the shoulder after charging a groundball and making an off-balance throw to first base. The severity of the injury isn't yet known as he awaits medical imaging, but Madrigal's availability for the start of the regular season is now in jeopardy.
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Mets' Nick Madrigal: Will get reps at shortstop
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Madrigal will see some action at shortstop this spring, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Madrigal played some shortstop in college at Oregon State, but his only pro experience at the position came in 2018 when he was used there for one game in rookie ball. However, if Luisangel Acuna doesn't make the Mets' Opening Day roster, the club would be without a true backup shortstop behind Francisco Lindor. Because Lindor plays so much, the Mets might be able to get away with Madrigal as his backup even if the latter is stretched there defensively.
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Mets' Nick Madrigal: Signs on with NYM
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The Mets signed Madrigal to a one-year, $1.35 million contract Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
He can earn an additional $500,000 in incentives. Madrigal has failed to pan out despite being the fourth overall pick in the 2018 Draft, particularly during his time with the Cubs when he managed just a .251/.304/.312 slash line in 616 PAs over the last three seasons. Injuries have been a problem, with a fractured hand costing him significant time in 2024. Madrigal can play second and third base and will attempt to win a reserve role in New York.
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Nick Madrigal: Headed to free agency
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The Cubs non-tendered Madrigal on Friday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
The No. 4 overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft, Madrigal will enter free agency for the first time in his professional career. Injuries have plagued the 27-year-old infielder, and in 2024 he was limited to just 51 regular-season games after fracturing his left hand in early June while playing for Triple-A Iowa. Madrigal finished with a slash line of .221/.280/.256 over 94 major-league plate appearances, and he'll look to catch on with a team in need of depth in the infield.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Fractures hand at Triple-A
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Madrigal suffered a fractured left hand when he was hit by a pitch during a game with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register reports. Iowa placed him on its 7-day injured list Thursday.
Madrigal was playing in his first game with Iowa after being optioned to the affiliate earlier this week. It's not clear at this juncture how much time he might miss, but he certainly he won't be an option to return to action at Iowa for several weeks.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Sent to Triple-A
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Madrigal was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Networkreports.
The 27-year-old saw limited playing time down the stretch in May and is being sent down in favor of David Bote, who had his contract selected Sunday. Madrigal has appeared in 51 games for the Cubs this season and has a .221/.280/.256 slash line in 94 plate appearances.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Moving back to bench role
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Madrigal is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta.
Madrigal had started at second base or third base in seven of the past eight games, but his opportunities to pick up playing time in the infield are likely to be more limited moving forward after shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner both recently returned from injuries. The 27-year-old hasn't done much with the opportunities he's received with the Cubs this season, slashing .213/.276/.250 with no home runs and one stolen base across 87 plate appearances.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Three-hit effort in win
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Madrigal went 3-for-4 in Wednesday's 7-1 win over Atlanta.
All three hits were singles as Madrigal earned his fourth multi-hit effort in 39 contests this season. The infielder is slashing .234/.300/.281 with no home runs, nine RBI, four runs scored and one stolen base over 69 plate appearances. Madrigal had been limited to a bench role for much of the season, but he's receiving more playing time while Dansby Swanson (knee) is on the injured list and Nico Hoerner (hamstring) is out of the lineup.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Sitting in fourth straight
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Madrigal is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.
Madrigal will take a seat for the fourth consecutive game, with each of those absences coming against right-handed pitchers. At least for the time being, Mike Tauchman appears to have edged ahead of Madrigal for the final spot in the Cubs' regular lineup versus righties.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Out of Sunday's lineup
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Madrigal is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Madrigal started the first two games versus Los Angeles and went 2-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Christopher Morel will man the hot corner while Mike Tauchman receives a turn in the outfield Sunday.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Strong performance in win
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Madrigal went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Tuesday's 12-2 win over the Rockies. He also stole a base.
Madrigal batted eighth but got in on the fun as the whole Chicago lineup rolled. The 27-year-old started at third base in this one, though he's still behind Christopher Morel on the depth chart and is serving more as a utility player at this point. Madrigal will need more regular playing time to really take off as a fantasy asset this season.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: On bench for third straight
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Madrigal is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.
Madrigal is on the bench for the third consecutive game, with two of his absences from the lineup coming against right-handed pitchers and one coming versus a lefty. After drawing the Opening Day nod at third base and going 1-for-3 with a double in a 4-3 loss to the Rangers, Madrigal has since ceded the hot corner to Christopher Morel. Morel had been expected to see most of his starts at designated hitter this season, but the Cubs now appear inclined to take a rotational approach to that spot in the lineup while lefty-hitting outfielder Mike Tauchman essentially replaces Madrigal when Chicago faces right-handed pitching.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Remains on bench Sunday
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Madrigal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Texas.
It's the second straight game on the bench for Madrigal after starting at third base Opening Day. Christopher Morel will receive another start at third base while Ian Happ serves as the designated hitter.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Not in lineup Saturday
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Madrigal isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Saturday's game versus Texas.
Madrigal started at third base for Chicago on Opening Day, but he will get a day off Saturday to allow Christopher Morel to play at the hot corner while Garrett Cooper serves as the DH.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Starts at third base in opener
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Madrigal will start at third base and bat eighth in Thursday's season opener versus the Rangers.
Madrigal was a question mark for Opening Day not long ago due to a hamstring injury, but he's avoided an injured list stint and is in the Cubs' Opening Day lineup. Presumed third baseman Christopher Morel is starting at designated hitter.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Expected to avoid IL
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Madrigal (hamstring) is expected to avoid the injured list and be part of the Cubs' Opening Day roster, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Madrigal returned to Cactus League play Sunday after missing three weeks with a right hamstring strain. He'll finish the spring with just 19 plate appearances, but evidently the Cubs have deemed that sufficient. The 27-year-old is a candidate for some playing time at third base for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Resumes baseball activities
Rotowire
Madrigal (hamstring) had resumed some baseball activity, including taking batting practice, Cubs.com reports.
Madrigal has been sidelined since March 4 due to the right hamstring strain, but he seems to be making progress. The utility player is expected to be back later this month, and with the Cubs beginning their year March 28 in Texas, he may not have to miss the start of the regular season. The team will likely be cautious with Madrigal for the rest of the spring schedule, however.
