Here’s a roundup of today’s notable roster decisions….
- The Brewers announced that the contracts of right-hander Blaine Boyer and left-hander Chris Capuano have been selected. Both pitchers were told they had made the team earlier this week, and the moves are now official that Milwaukee has created some corresponding roster space. Sean Nolin and Yhonathan Barrios were both moved to the 60-day DL, while Will Smith was placed on the 15-day DL.
- The Diamondbacks selected Rickie Weeks’ contract, the team announced. Weeks, looking to rebound from a disastrous 2015 season, signed a minors contract with Arizona last month. The D’Backs placed A.J. Pollock and Josh Collmenter on the 15-day DL in corresponding moves.
- The Twins selected the contract of Fernando Abad, the team announced. The southpaw signed a minor league deal with Minnesota in December after the A’s non-tendered him. Abad posted a 4.15 ERA last season, with some unfriendly advanced metrics and uncharacteristically poor results against left-handed hitters.
- The Phillies finalized their 25-man roster, announcing that they have selected the contracts of lefty James Russell, infielder Emmanuel Burriss and outfielder Cedric Hunter. In corresponding moves, Cody Asche and Michael Mariot were put on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 25, and Matt Harrison, Aaron Altherr and Mario Hollands were each placed on the 60-day DL.
- Left-hander Cesar Ramos has accepted an assignment to the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate to begin the season, Rangers executive VP of communications John Blake tweeted. Ramos signed a minor league deal with Texas in January after being somewhat surprisingly non-tendered by the Angels.
- Cardinals backup catcher Brayan Pena will begin the season on the DL and will require surgery to remove a body from his left knee, MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch writes (Twitter links). That means the Cardinals will add minor-league signee Eric Fryer to their roster to serve as their backup catcher until Pena can return, which should take two to four weeks. The 30-year-old Fryer played most of last season with Triple-A Rochester in the Twins system, batting .293/.367/.360. He’s appeared in bits of five big-league seasons with the Pirates and Twins.
- Outfielder Jabari Blash, a Rule 5 pick from the Mariners, has made the Padres’ Opening Day roster, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com tweets. The 26-year-old Blash batted an impressive .271/.370/.576 and 32 homers in a 2015 season split between Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma, then followed that with a decent spring in which he hit .204 but with four homers and eight walks in 59 plate appearances. The Padres also announced that fellow outfielder Travis Jankowski has made the team.
- The Rays have selected the contract of lefty Dana Eveland and optioned righty Andrew Bellatti and outfielder Mikie Mahtook, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes (Twitter links). The moves also mean righty Danny Farquhar has made the team. The 32-year-old Eveland pitched only briefly in the Majors last season, but got good results for three different Triple-A teams, posting a 1.95 ERA, 7.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 55 1/3 innings.
- The Braves have announced their Opening Day roster. The Braves were already in MLBTR’s pages today as they designated Michael Bourn and Emilio Bonifacio for assignment and selected the contracts of Drew Stubbs and Alexi Ogando. In addition, they reassigned Jhoulys Chacin to Triple-A Gwinnett. The idea, via David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter), is that he’ll make one start there and then join the Braves when they need a fifth starter, which should be April 12. Notable names who made the team include righty Dan Winkler, a 2014 Rule 5 pick, along with rookie righties Jose Ramirez and John Gant.
Must be tough to play with a “Body” in your knee! Male or Female body?
That’s what I was thinking. I the surgery a C-section?
I was more suprised that it would only take 2 to 4 weeks to remove a WHOLE BODY from your knee!!
Man, technology, especially in the field of health care, has gotten truly amazing over the past decade or so. The strides made in that field has just been absolutely astronomical!
At the very least, if he ever needs any type of replacement surgery, he has a whole other body to pick and chose parts from!! (; lol haha…
It’s one of those conjoined twins that never grew bigger. Weird spot for it though
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Lol so the Cardinals lose two guys to the DL who were signed for injured (Peralta) or possibly injured (Molina) players. Good thing Molina is starting
Great, another Cardinal injury! Jeez
pena had a pregnant knee?
More like a dead body
Wonder how Chacin isnt pitching for a MLB team.. even the braves phillies or brewers could use him.
He will be pitching for the Braves though. The article says that he’ll make 1 start in AAA before being called up when the Braves need a 5th starter.
Is John Gant related to Ron Gant?
John Gant is Caucasion and Ron Gant is Africa-American, so I’d guess last names are coincidental. Hopefully John will be as successful as Ron was.
Good for Jabari. The Padres needed to replace of some the right handed power they lost in Upton and they will be doing it at a fraction of the cost. Blash’s strike out numbers are alarming but the power potential warrants give him a chance.
I was a bit surprised Blash was left unprotected was pretty sure he would be picked. Good for him he was fun to watch. Probably be one who is a pain in the butt when we play each other.
Exactly, he is a very one dimensional player but when that one dimension is one that your team lacks the most then the gamble on him is 100% worth it. Mark Reynolds still finds a job every year and has a similar skill set being in every at bat 1 of 3 things will happen, Strikeout, Walk or a big fly.
So I take it Gant has actually moved into the 4th spot in the rotation. Good for him I don’t think to many ppl were expecting that.
Gant will be in the bullpen. Williams Perez has the 4th spot.
I’ve got Abad feeling about this.
booooooo
Ok, they wont let us downvote that but can they at least give us a rimshot button?
We need *something* to do when someone makes Abad joke.
Booooooooo
Boy, you really are giving people Abad time over some fairly good puns…
It’s kind of making for Abad environment.
Boooooooo
What, a guy can’t make Abad joke anymore?
Okay, I’m done.
Maybe Pena is in the Mob?
Hitting .204 is a decent spring? Umm, OK.
While Blash’s .204 is certainly impressive all on its own, his 21 strike outs in 59 PA is even more impressive. All 4 of his spring training bombs were off guys that didn’t make their big league squad.