The Indians have designated right-hander Zach McAllister for assignment, as per a team press release. Outfielder Tyler Holt has been recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
McAllister has only been designated off the Tribe’s 25-man roster (he’s still on the 40-man) as, since McAllister debuted in the majors more than three years ago, he must be put on optional assignment waivers in order to be sent to Triple-A.
It’s been a tough year for McAllister, who missed over a month with a back injury and has posted a 5.91 ERA, 7.3 K/9 and 2.08 K/BB rate in 14 starts for Cleveland. Looking at his advanced metrics, McAllister’s 4.04 FIP, 4.27 xFIP and 4.30 SIERA indicate that his real-world ERA has been unluckily inflated thanks to a .322 BABIP and only a 58.6% strand rate.
I’ve got to think that McAllister might have worn out his welcome in Cleveland. This year’s 14 starts were pretty much awful.
You are exactly right most likely McAllister’s unwillingness to work on his secondary pitches with Calloway .
You hate to lose a guy that has a 94/95 MPH fastball but when a batter can just sit back and wait on it since he throws it a nearly a 80% Clip that pitcher just becomes a issue example Stephen Strasburg is having to learn at the major league level on how to be a pitcher not just a thrower even with a 97 MPH + fastball.
This sure doesn’t come as a surprise. Zach relied too much on a fastball that he couldn’t throw consistently for strikes. And when he did……..BOOM!
When, or if, he learns some secondary pitches and can consistently throw them for strikes, then maybe he’ll be back in the bigs. Myself, I hope he never pitches for Cleveland again.
Wow, a 26 year old starter with proven success at the major league level making practically the major league minimum is DFA’d? Who do the Indians even have starts to give to? McAllister is the exact same pitcher he was last year.
2013; 4.03 FIP, 4.53 xFIP, 4.42 SIERA, 0.87 HR/9, 2.06 K/BB
2014; 4.04 FIP, 4.27 xFIP, 4.30 SIERA, 0.94 HR/9, 2.08 K/BB
Given time, McAllister’s numbers would have normalized.