AUG. 7: The Indians announced that they have rescinded the waiver claim on Guerra after discovering a pre-existing left knee injury. He will remain property of the Pirates. Additionally, Cleveland announced that Roth has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A.
AUG. 5: The Indians announced that they have claimed right-hander Deolis Guerra off waivers from the Pirates and designated lefty Michael Roth for assignment.
Guerra, a one-time Top 100 prospect whose name may sound familiar, was one of four pieces sent from the Mets to the Twins in the 2008 Johan Santana blockbuster (he ranked as the game’s No. 35 prospect at the time, per Baseball America). The Venezuelan righty’s development stalled, however, and he spent seven seasons in the Twins’ minor league system before becoming a minor league free agent this winter and subsequently signing with the Pirates.
The now-26-year-old Guerra dominated with the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate, pitching to a 1.23 ERA with a 37-to-8 K/BB ratio in 36 2/3 innings before having his contract selected and making his big league debut. Guerra was terrific in his first seven outings, allowing just three runs with a 13-to-2 K/BB ratio in 13 innings, but he was torched in his final three appearances before being designated for assignment. In that brutal stretch, he was tagged for nine earned runs on 11 hits (three homers) in just 3 2/3 innings.
Roth, 25, hadn’t appeared in the Majors with Cleveland this season and had a 4.15 ERA with 5.5 K/9 against 2.9 BB/9 in 115 innings with the team’s Triple-A affiliate. A former ninth-round pick by the Angels, Roth was quick to the Majors, debuting in 2013 after being selected in the 2012 draft. His inexperience showed in the Majors, though, as he posted a 7.79 ERA in 32 1/3 innings from 2013-14. His work at Triple-A this season, in fact, is his first experience at that level. He’d previously jumped from Rookie ball to Double-A to the Majors.
