Brad Peacock underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Tuesday, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The exploratory surgery could present a number of different diagnoses, so it’s unclear at this time how long Peacock will be sidelined or whether he’ll be ready for Opening Day in 2021.
Peacock managed just 3 appearances in 2020 before being shut down due to shoulder soreness. The surgery is particularly bad timing for Peacock, who is set to become a free agent at year’s end after making the prorated sum of his initial $3.9MM contract. This season was Peacock’s 8th with the Astros, with his only other major league appearances coming in 2011 with the Nationals, for whom he pitched 12 total innings. For his career, the 32-year-old owns a 4.01 ERA/4.22 FIP in 181 games (83 starts) covering 554 2/3 innings with 9.5 K/9 to 3.9 BB/9 for a 2.47 K/BB ratio.
Two notable trades brought Peacock to the Astros prior to the 2013 season. The first sent him from the Nationals – the organization that drafted him in the 41st round of the 2006 draft – to the Athletics as part of the return for Gio Gonzalez. Just about two years after that, the Astros acquired him with Max Stassi and Chris Carter in the Jed Lowrie deal.
He is one of a number of Houston bullpen staples from years past that are absent from their current run. Peacock, Chris Devenski and Roberto Osuna are all out due to injuries (while Will Harris joined the Nationals). Osuna, of course, led the AL in saved in 2019 but missed all but 4 outings of 2020. Last we heard of Osuna, he was going to attempt rehab to avoid a potential Tommy John surgery. Devenski underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery last month. He also only appeared in 4 games for Houston this season. Devenski and Osuna both have one season of arbitration remaining.
In other Astros news, right-hander Joe Biagini has been outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock after clearing waivers, per Rome. He will have the option of electing free agency. The 30-year-old struggled mightily after joining Houston as part of the Aaron Sanchez deal last season. After posting a 7.36 ERA in 13 appearances to close out 2019, Biagini allowed 10 earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings this year.