By Mark Polishuk | at
The Mets have announced a series of roster moves, including the placement of outfielder Brandon Nimmo on the 10-day IL due to a stiff neck. Veteran outfielder Rajai Davis will be coming up to replace Nimmo, as the Mets have selected his contract. To create 40-man roster space for Davis, reliever Paul Sewald has been designated for assignment.
More analysis to come…
By Steve Adams | at
TODAY: Davis didn’t play in Oakland’s 7-2 win over Cleveland this afternoon, though he was still officially active for the game. Melvin told MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos and other media that since Thursday is an off-day, the team will wait until Friday to officially decide on Davis, though Melvin said there is “probably a great chance that he goes on the IL.”
TUESDAY, 9:03pm: Davis himself now tells reporters that he’s also dealing with what could be an oblique issue (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Julian McWilliams). He’ll undergo an MRI tomorrow morning to determine the extent of his injury.
8:49pm: The Athletics will place designated hitter Khris Davis on the 10-day injured list, manager Bob Melvin told reporters after tonight’s game (Twitter link via Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle). Davis exited tonight’s contest after just one plate appearance due to what the team announced as ongoing discomfort stemming from a hip contusion. He’d previously missed a few games in May due to the same issue. Oakland has yet to determine a corresponding roster move.
The ultra-consistent Davis, who signed a two-year, $33.5MM contract extension to remain with the A’s earlier this season (forgoing free agency in the process), is hitting .248/.318/.497 with 12 home runs and an improved 24.3 percent strikeout rate through 173 plate appearances to begin the season. With him landing on the injured list, the A’s could perhaps temporarily use the DH spot as a means of cycling through Robbie Grossman, Mark Canha (who homered while pinch-hitting for Davis tonight) and Chad Pinder in an effort to get increased playing time for the latter two.
Of the Athletics’ 40-man options to replace Davis in Triple-A, outfielder Skye Bolt is the only one who’s already been up in the Majors this season, and he’s hitting better in Las Vegas than teammates (and fellow 40-man options) Dustin Fowler and Franklin Barreto.
By Mark Polishuk | at
The Angels have selected the contract of catcher Dustin Garneau from Triple-A, the team announced. Garneau will take the spot of backup catcher Kevan Smith, who has been placed on the seven-day version of the injured list due to a concussion. No additional roster move was necessary, as the Angels had an open 40-man roster spot.
Smith left last night’s game in the fifth inning after taking a C.J. Cron foul tip off his mask. Selected off waivers from the White Sox roster last fall, Smith has played quite well in his first season with the Angels, hitting .290/.397/.435 over 73 plate appearances. Between Smith’s strong numbers and Jonathan Lucroy’s comeback season, the Halos have been receiving both good production and good pitch-framing behind the plate.
Garneau inked a minors deal with Los Angeles over the offseason, and will look to at least get a bit more Major League action than he did in 2018, when he appeared in just a single game for the White Sox. Garneau, 31, has a .194/.269/.321 slash line over 280 career plate appearances for the White Sox, A’s, and Rockies over the last four seasons.
By Mark Polishuk | at
Just two days after Giancarlo Stanton began a minor league rehab assignment, the Yankees announced that Stanton has been returned to the injured list since the slugger is experiencing left calf tightness.
Today’s news is the latest setback in what has been a frustrating recovery period for Stanton, who originally sent to the IL after only three games due to a left biceps strain. While rehabbing that injury, Stanton then suffered a left shoulder strain that required a cortisone injection in early May.
All systems were seemingly go when Stanton took the field for the high A-ball Tampa Tarpons this week, though the former NL MVP has now been sidelined again. No information is yet known about the nature of Stanton’s calf problem, though such injuries are sometimes difficult to evaluate on a strict timetable. Since Stanton will now be out of action for an even longer period of time, the Yankees could consider shifting him to the 60-day injured list to create 40-man roster space, should such a need arise.
Despite playing without Stanton and a variety of other injured stars for much of the season, the Yankees are still a remarkable 30-17, and sit atop the AL East standings. The combination of Brett Gardner, Clint Frazier, and Cameron Maybin will continue to handle corner outfield duties while Stanton and Aaron Judge are sidelined, with Mike Tauchman as the top depth option at Triple-A.
By Jeff Todd | at
3:20pm: Davis’ oblique injury “is not severe,” Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post tweets.
2:30pm: The Rockies have placed closer Wade Davis on the 10-day injured list, per a club announcement. Righty Jairo Diaz is coming up in his place.
Davis is said to be dealing with a left oblique strain. The length of his anticipated absence isn’t yet clear. His ultimate timeline will obviously depend upon the grade of the strain and how he responds to treatment.
It’s obviously not great for the Rockies to see their top reliever hit the shelf. The club has had a rough enough start even with Davis handling business in the ninth inning.
That’s not to say that Davis has been perfect. He has issued ten walks to go with 18 strikeouts in his 14 2/3 innings of action, though he has also boosted his groundball rate to a personal-high 54.1%. Davis hasn’t yet allowed a home run, which is sure to change at some point. The Rockies had handled him with care in the early going in hopes of avoiding just this sort of scenario.
It’s not clear yet who’ll be installed as the temporary Colorado closer. The team might use a mix-and-match approach. Bryan Shaw has produced good outcomes but his peripherals are ugly. It’s not an entirely different situation for Scott Oberg. Carlos Estevez has been strong and is ripping off nearly a dozen strikeouts per nine, though he entered the season seeking to reestablish himself after failing to crack the bigs in 2018.
Diaz will step back up to the majors for the first time since 2017. He allowed just one earned run on a dozen hits in twenty frames at Triple-A, compiling a 22:6 K/BB ratio and keeping the ball in the yard. It’s nice to see this moment for a player that has come through injuries and personal tragedy, as documented recently by Nick Groke of The Athletic (subscription link).
In addition, the Rox announced that Tyler Anderson has been recalled and moved to the 60-day injured list. The lefty is said to be dealing with a chondral defect in his left knee. It was reported previously that he’d undergo season-ending surgery; by placing him on the 60-day IL, the club will open a 40-man spot. The move also resolves Anderson’s arbitration status: since he’ll be on the MLB IL, he’ll be a 4+ service-class player this coming fall.
By Jeff Todd | at
Phillies outfielder Dylan Cozens underwent surgery to remove a bone spur and repair cartilage in his left big toe, according to a team announcement. It is expected that he will miss the remainder of the season, Tom Housenick of The Morning Call reported on Twitter.
Soon to turn 25, the former second-rounder had already faced a difficult roster proposition with the Philadelphia organization. The left-handed-hitting slugger is on the 40-man, but really didn’t fit the needs at the MLB level of a team that installed Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen in the corners over the winter.
Cozens shot up prospect boards after a monster 2016 season in which he launched forty long balls at the Double-A level. But his follow-up effort at Triple-A wasn’t as impressive. Though he produced at the highest level of the minors in 2018, Cozens also struck out 124 times in 348 plate appearances and struggled in a brief attempt at the majors (including 24 strikeouts in 44 trips to the plate).
This year, Cozens opened with a .167/.333/.462 slash line and six home runs in 99 plate appearances at Triple-A. While it’s encouraging to see the walk-rate bump, that’s still a whopping volume of strikeouts.
If indeed he’s unable to return to the field of play in 2019, it’s quite possible Cozens will end up being sent elsewhere at season’s end. He’ll presumably be shifted to the 60-day IL for the time being, but would clog up the 40-man once the season draws to a close. Cozens will be out of options in 2020.
By Tim Dierkes | at
The Indians had a 94.6% chance of making the playoffs prior to the season, according to FanGraphs. The Twins looked like an 85-win team, the Indians projected at 97, and the other 60% of the division is rebuilding. The Twins, however, have flipped the script with a 32-16 start through Tuesday’s games. They hold a 6.5 game lead over Cleveland. But a Wild Card spot is a viable option for the Indians as well, and they still hold a 54.3% shot at the postseason.
The Indians have averaged just 3.96 runs per game, 12th in the AL and nestled between non-contenders. After the club designated Carlos Gonzalez for assignment today, Zack Meisel of The Athletic wrote, “The state of the Indians’ lineup suggests a player can be hitting cleanup one day and be unemployed the next.” Indeed, CarGo had started eight of the Indians’ last ten games, typically as the left fielder.
Gonzalez will be replaced internally for the foreseeable future, with 24-year-old rookie Oscar Mercado in line for an extended look. The speedy Mercado, a Cardinals second round draft pick out of high school as a shortstop in 2013, was quietly acquired at last year’s trade deadline. Mercado returned to the edge of the prospect radar after 2017, a season in which he blossomed playing center field every day and had his best offensive year. Even at that point, though, he profiled as an extra outfielder in the Majors. Mercado’s bat wasn’t terribly impressive at Triple-A in 2018, but he tweaked his swing in the offseason, raked in spring training, and hammered the ball in 30 games at Triple-A. He’s interesting enough to merit regular playing time for the next couple of months, and his right-handed bat could be just what the Indians need in left field. The Indians have veteran center fielder Leonys Martin likely to be pushed by former first rounder Bradley Zimmer in the near future, while Jordan Luplow has settled in as the team’s right fielder and has the minor league track record to stick.
We’ll know much more about this arrangement by mid-July, and it’s possible Mercado and/or Luplow won’t continue hitting at the Major League level. While the Indians have some other paths to improving their offense, this post will explore corner outfield trade targets they may consider if internal options struggle.
Current Left Fielders
Current Right Fielders
It’s also worth considering that several teams that are contending now may not be contending in a few months. The Rangers, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Padres, and Athletics have some interesting corner outfield bats that might become considerations for the Indians. I also entertained the possibility of including the Cubs’ Ian Happ on this list, though the 24-year-old has struggled in 42 Triple-A games.
By Jeff Todd | at
The Orioles have acquired outfielder Keon Broxton from the Mets and claimed righty Chandler Shepherd from the Cubs, per a club announcement. $500K in international signing bonus slots are headed to the Mets in the swap.
Those additions created a need for two 40-man slots. To do so, the team moved starter Alex Cobb to the 60-day IL and designated fellow righty Yefry Ramirez for assignment.
Broxton, 29, obviously drew some interest since it took a non-trivial trade return to add him. He’ll need to stay on the active roster since he’s out of options. It’ll be interesting to see whether the O’s give him an extended audition in center field. While the results just haven’t been there for Broxton at the game’s highest level, he also has not had much of a chance to get going since the 2017 campaign.
This year has been a wreck so far for Broxton, who saw action in 34 games but took only 53 plate appearances with the Mets. He struck out 22 times in that span while delivering just one extra-base hit. Broxton did still manage to swipe four bags and figures to be a strong contributor in the field and on the bases.
As for the 26-year-old Shepherd, he’s on the move again just days after being claimed by the Cubs from the Red Sox. The right-handed hurler has been hit exceptionally hard this year at Triple-A, allowing 33 earned runs on 53 hits (eleven of them long balls) in 29 2/3 innings. But he had previously been a solid performer in the upper minors. The O’s are in need of innings and may have some ideas for getting him sorted out.
In any event, the organization obviously preferred Shepherd to Ramirez, who has had his own struggles this year. In 10 1/3 MLB frames, Ramirez has issued nine walks against eleven strikeouts while coughing up eight earned runs. Though it had never been an issue in the minors, he also struggled with the free passes last year in the majors.
By Jeff Todd | at
Many different types of free agents end up receiving relatively expensive, one-year deals. Some are looking for the right opportunity to earn a nice single-season paycheck while (hopefully) building up to a multi-year deal in the ensuing winter. Others settle for a solo campaign after trying and failing to find more. Some are younger players who have enough upside to draw a significant offer despite a rough platform campaign. Others are steady veterans that are being paid more for their floor than their ceiling. All such players necessarily receive only a limited commitment from their new teams; those that end up with non-contenders must be prepared for a mid-season scramble for new lodging in the event of a swap.
With about a quarter of the season in the books, we’re looking at how things are shaping up for the highest-paid rental free agents. We already performed this exercise for position players. and for starting pitchers. Now, we’ll take a look at the ten most expensive one-year relief pitchers:
Cody Allen, Angels, $8.5MM: Allen jumped right into the closer’s role for the Halos, but hasn’t bounced back as hoped. Instead, his struggles have deepened. Allen’s 4.80 ERA through 15 innings is actually rather deceptive. He is allowing a walk an inning along with 2.40 homers per nine. His average fastball velocity has fallen off by nearly two mph, with his swinging-strike rate dipping all the way down to 9.5%. Allen has turned in five-straight scoreless appearances, but has issued a free pass in every one of those outings.
Trevor Rosenthal, Nationals, $7MM: The issues are even deeper for Rosenthal, who is trying to find his way on the mound during an expansive rehab assignment. Despite showing ample arm strength, the occasionally wild reliever has completely lost the zone. In seven MLB appearances, Rosenthal recorded as many walks as outs (nine apiece), uncorked five wild pitches, and hit three batters. Needless to say, this investment has not turned out as hoped.
Greg Holland, Diamondbacks, $3.25MM: It has been a roller coaster ride in recent years for Holland, who reestablished himself late last year with the Nats but has still surprised with his strong early showing. Through 16 innings, he owns a 1.69 ERA with 12.4 K/9 and 5.6 BB/9 and has closed out eight games for the Snakes. There’s quite possibly some regression in store, with opposing hitters batting under .200 on balls in play, but Holland looks to be quite a nice value.
Brad Brach, Cubs, $3MM: Though he’s through 19 2/3 innings of 2.75 ERA pitching, there’s reason for concern with Brach’s opening to the year. He has not yet allowed a home run, which is both a feather in his cap and a sign of some good fortune. Worryingly, he has allowed 19 walks to go with his twenty strikeouts. He has also seen his swinging-strike rate drop to 10.1% and his chase rate drop to 25.7% — both well below his career mean. Brach isn’t having trouble putting the ball in the zone when he wants to, as he carries a 64.7% first-strike rate, but it seems opposing hitters may be seeing him better than they have in the past.
Jake Diekman, Royals, $2.75MM: Walks have always been a big part of Diekman’s game, so it’s not surprising to see him dishing them at over four per nine innings. But he’s also getting lots of strikeouts. To this point, Diekman carries a 24.4% K%-BB%, the best mark of his career, on a personal-high 15.4% swinging-strike rate. Ramped-up slider usage is paying dividends. Diekman carries a 3.15 ERA through twenty frames and is looking like a nice trade deadline chip.
Shawn Kelley, Rangers, $2.75MM: This signing is paying dividends, as the 35-year-old carries a 1.80 ERA in 15 frames. He has regained some lost velocity and issued just one walk on the year. That said, there are some areas of concern. Home runs remain a problem (1.80 per nine). Kelley is only generating swings and misses at about 2/3 of his former capacity. And the .189 BABIP-against and 100% strand rate he’s carrying are bound to rise.
Oliver Perez, Indians, $2.5MM: He isn’t getting any younger, but Perez has found new baseball life in Cleveland. He hasn’t been quite as excellent this year as he was in a bounceback 2018, but the 38-year-old has still maintained an excellent combination of 13.5 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 to open the new year. He has actually raised his swinging-strike rate yet further to a lofty 16.7%. The club is using him judiciously, with short outings focused mostly on lefty batters, but is getting what it bargained for.
David Phelps, Blue Jays, $2.5MM: The Jays knew they’d have to nurse Phelps back to health before getting him on the field, as he underwent Tommy John surgery just before the start of the 2018 season. He has yet to launch a rehab assignment, and it has been a while since we’ve seen a meaningful update on his status, but there’s no indication that he won’t be ready to go at some point in the relatively near future. That’s just what the Toronto organization needs Phelps to do if it is to utilize him as a summer trade chip.
Sergio Romo, Marlins, $2.5MM: Another potential trade candidate with an asterisk, the veteran has struggled to begin the year for Miami. He’s carrying a 5.06 ERA in 16 innings, with 9.6 K/9 but also an uncharacteristic 5.6 BB/9 and 1.69 HR/9. Interestingly, the hurler who once leaned on his slider more than anyone has dropped its usage below 50% for the first time in a long time even as the rest of the game increasingly leans on that pitch. Romo has increasingly gone to a change-up. He’s getting lots of chases out of the zone (39.4%) and a solid volume of swinging strikes (13.7%) but has obviously produced less-than-inspiring overall results. Whether Romo can tune up his pitch mix and return to his longstanding effectiveness remains to be seen.
Adam Warren, Padres, $2.5MM: It made eminent sense for the Friars to nab Warren after spending big on Manny Machado, but he hasn’t been in great form early. True, his 3.54 ERA through 20 1/3 frames is just fine. But Warren is giving up way too many walks (4.9 per nine) and home runs (2.66 per nine). He’s getting by on unsustainable BABIP-against (.160) and strand rate (100%) figures.
By Jeff Todd | at
The Rangers announced today that outfielder Willie Calhoun is heading to the 10-day injured list with a strained left quadriceps. He’ll be replaced on the active roster by fellow outfielder Delino DeShields.
It’s inopportune timing for the 24-year-old Calhoun, who just got a long-awaited promotion back to the majors. He has been in good form since coming up, slashing .435/.458/.739 with a pair of long balls in two dozen plate appearances.
There’s no reason to think the injury will be more than a speed bump for Calhoun, who was the headlining prospect of the 2017 Yu Darvish trade. But he hadn’t really thrived in his new organization since that swap, struggling especially in limited opportunities at the game’s highest level. Calhoun earned his way back up with a strong beginning to the season at Triple-A.
DeShields was demoted earlier this month after another rough showing at the plate. He just hasn’t hit enough since the start of the 2018 season to warrant a steady MLB roster spot, though his speed and defense remain appealing tools. DeShields wasn’t exactly tearing the cover off of the ball at Triple-A, with a .211/.318/.421 slash in 44 plate appearances since going down, though that was an improvement over his major league output.
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