Tim Collins’ MRI Reveals Damage, Clouds Brandon Finnegan’s Future

Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

According to the Kansas City Star’s Randy Covitz, the results of Tim Collins‘ MRI showed damage to a ligament in his left arm. The Royals are going to get a second opinion, but that’s certainly not the kind of news the team hoped to hear just 3 days into the Cactus League season.

Collins left the Wednesday game with soreness after facing just four batters, but considering some pitchers deal with tightness this time of year, he was hopeful it wouldn’t be anything major. Welp.

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In other potentially very bad news, Omar Infante is having an MRI on his elbow today. That’s another depressing topic for another depressing post, so let’s focus on the little lefty for now.

Obviously the Royals will wait until they know for sure, but if they do announce he’ll need the dreaded Tommy John surgery, it could have a far-reaching impact on the roster, and not just in 2015. They want to have a left-handed reliever in the bullpen, and we all know who the best candidate for that role is, in Brandon Finnegan.

Having been drafted in the middle of the first round, Finnegan was seen as a starting pitcher. The Royals likely still want him to be a starting pitcher in the long-term, but because his stuff is big league-ready right now – as we saw in October – they may feel the need to use him in the bullpen at the start of the season, rather than sending him to the minors for more development.

Finnegan’s fastball and slider combination could wreak havoc on left-handed batters, but they, along with the changeup, will allow him to have some modicum of success against righties, as well. If he is called upon for the 25-man roster, the Royals wouldn’t need to slot him into a LOOGY role. They could use him in just about any inning, while also using him in long relief situations.

Ned Yost has indicated he wants Finnegan in the big leagues, and from his perspective, it makes perfect sense. His job is judged on winning games in the here and now, and Finnegan would help him in that department more than other options. In the past, Dayton Moore has hinted at Finnegan being in the minor leagues so he can refine his game as a starting pitcher, and from his perspective, it makes perfect sense. Moore must also focus on the long-term, and if Finnegan is able to start effectively, he’ll provide more value to the organization in that role.

Now, Moore is less certain. While Collins’ presence made Finnegan seem less necessary, the Royals may now feel their hand being forced. In all reality, they do have other options. Franklin Morales, Joe Paterson, and Brian Flynn could all provide relief innings from the left side, although Finnegan does have the superior arsenal.

Rany Jazayerli brought up an interesting name as a reference to what kind of path Finnegan could follow: Chris Sale.

The lanky lefty made the first 69 appearances of his career out of the bullpen, before moving to the rotation in 2012, and eventually becoming one of the best starting pitchers in the league. Now, Finnegan doesn’t have Sale’s repertoire or ceiling, but the Royals could potentially use that kind of track. That would certainly be preferable to the Aaron Crow career path.

As for Collins, he’ll await the final word on his elbow, but it appears he may have to wait until 2016 to bounce back from his 2014 season.

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