The Padres announced today that they have designated left-hander Eric Stults and right-hander Donn Roach for assignment, adding that catcher Adam Moore has been outrighted off the 40-man roster. Additionally, infielder Ryan Jackson has been claimed off waivers by the Dodgers.
The moves make room for the reinstatement of right-hander Casey Kelly, left-hander Cory Luebke, first baseman Yonder Alonso and outfielder Carlos Quentin from the 60-day disabled list.
Stults, who is nearing his 35th birthday, threw 176 innings of 4.30 ERA ball last season, tallying 5.7 K/9 against 2.3 BB/9. Those numbers represent a downtick from his work over 2012-13, when Stults carried a 3.60 ERA across 302 2/3 innings. The major difference in his year-over-year results comes in the form of an increasing rate of home runs allowed. ERA estimators have generally viewed him in much the same light: as a below-average starting pitcher. Stults had been projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn $4.6MM through arbitration, so the move is not terribly surprising.
Roach, meanwhile, made his MLB debut this year at age 24. He posted a 4.75 ERA in 30 1/3 frames while posting an unappetizing 5.0 K/9 against 4.5 BB/9. His numbers at Triple-A were no more promising, but Roach has had success in the lower minor league levels.
As for Moore, the 30-year-old backstop has seen action in parts of six MLB seasons but has only taken more than 24 plate appearances in one of them (back in 2010 with the Mariners). Once a well-regarded prospect, Moore has a .200/.241/.309 line over 283 trips to the plate in the majors. He did, however, have an excellent campaign at Triple-A this year, slashing .305/.367/.506 and swatting 13 long balls over 354 plate appearances.
The 26-year-old Jackson will present a utility infield option for his new club. He has scant major league experience, but owns a .274/.344/.369 slash in over 1,000 plate appearances at the Triple-A level and comes with a good defensive reputation at short. Jackson missed most of 2014 after undergoing wrist surgery.
Am I correct that Stults can opt for FA rather than accepting the assignment if he clears but that Roach could be outrighted when nobody claims him?
Doesn’t Stults have arbitration time left? Seems like someone would pick him up. 4.10 ERA over 379.2 IP the last 2 seasons. I understand he’s on the decline but his raise from $2.5 million last season shouldn’t exceed $5 million. Seems like someone would be interested to have him as a back of the rotation starter.
He strikes out nobody I love his story but he’s not good
Stults surprised me last year. By the end of July it looked like his time had run out, then he ends the year pitching at an excellent level – 11 GS, 2.75 era, .261/.310/.378 against. Good guy, hope a division rival gives him a 2-year deal. Glad to see they’re not willing to throw 5m his way. Give Robbie Erlin his place at 1/10th the cost.
No real big losses there. Stults is a back of the rotation guy, something the Padres have lots of depth in. Roach is a tweener. Not sure he would have ever made it at MLB level. The others are organizational filler.
Love the Jackson pick up for LA. He was a great defensive SS in STL’s farm system. I never understood why they stuck with Kozma over him when Jackson was a better hitter at every level and age. I hope this means the end of Miguel Rojas on the 40 man.
It was all about timing – Kozma had that sweet postseason bit of success. That was basically all he had going for him.