A Gamble Too Far: The Madness of the Musgrove Return
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Sal Dimarco argues that putting a pitcher who hasn't seen a big-league bat in two years into a playoff fire is a recipe for disaster.
Let's get one thing straight: this is my opinion, and I'm shouting it from the rooftops. I've seen a lot of desperation moves in this game, but what the San Diego Padres are doing with Joe Musgrove is bordering on the delusional.
According to reporting from MLB.com and CBS Sports, the Padres have added the 33-year-old right-hander to their Wild Card Series roster for the clash against the Cubs. On paper, it's a heartwarming story. Musgrove is a San Diego native, a clubhouse favorite, and a man who once threw the first no-hitter in franchise history. But we aren't playing for sentiment; we're playing for a championship.
Look at the tape—or rather, the lack of it. Musgrove hasn't pitched in the majors since Oct. 2, 2024, when he started Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Braves. Since then, he's dealt with a torn UCL, Tommy John surgery, and a recovery process that CBS Sports describes as "halting" and marked by setbacks. He even had his return pushed back earlier this season due to a back issue.
Now, the Padres are tossing him into the deep end of the postseason. The plan, as reported by MLB.com, is to use him in a limited relief role. Why the bullpen? Because, as MLB.com notes, Musgrove struggled to bounce back after his Minor League outings as a starter, with his elbow requiring several days to recover from the workload. He didn't even formally rehab as a reliever, instead pitching in the Arizona Complex League.
Sure, CBS Sports mentions that Musgrove averaged 94.4 mph with his fastball across three August rehab starts at Triple-A, which is up from his 2024 average of 92.9 mph. And yes, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported he's shown good stuff in live batting practice and instructional league. But there is a canyon of difference between a controlled environment and facing a "powerhouse" Cubs offense in a winner-take-all playoff atmosphere.
Manager Craig Stammen is betting on a guy who is essentially an unknown quantity. The Padres are carrying eight pitchers in their bullpen—including names like Michael King, Nick Pivetta, and Mason Miller—and they've decided Musgrove is the missing piece. In doing so, they've left Randy Vásquez and Wandy Peralta off the roster.
Musgrove himself told CBS Sports on Sunday that he feels the most optimistic he's felt in two years. I admire the confidence, but optimism doesn't stop a line drive to the gap. To take a pitcher who has spent nearly two years in a surgical ward and a rehab facility and expect him to hold the line in the playoffs is a desperation move that smells like a disaster waiting to happen.
Emotional boosts are great for the fans and the clubhouse, but they don't win Wild Card series. You don't gamble your season on a recovery that has been plagued by setbacks. This isn't a bold strategy; it's a prayer, and in October, prayers usually aren't enough.