Follow me on this hypothetical…

Put aside any off the field Watson stuff

Put aside the contract

Put him on the Guardians, as the #1 starter.

Wouldn’t his shoulder injury be “medically cleared” by the Guardians doctors in that it does not need surgery?

He would have probably gone down to A or AA to do a rehab assignment away from the big league club and then get back to the majors.

If he misses 4 starts, that is the equivalent of 25-28 Guardian games. They would have to be patient with his rehab/rest and hope the rest of the team would score some runs, the rotation holds up, and the bullpen is solid. Try to go .500 and get him back healthy.

It seems that he wants to pitch. He has pitched hurt before and tried to make his last start but could not get out of the first inning.

How well he pitches one he gets back into the rotation remains to be seen… but the Guardians will struggle to compete without him in the long haul…

Thoughts?