Here are today’s minor transactions from around baseball:
- The Indians have placed catcher Roberto Perez on the disabled list with a thumb injury and recalled Adam Moore from Triple-A to take his place, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick (Twitter link). Perez, Yan Gomes’ backup, was a 1.7-fWAR player in just 70 games last year, but he has only appeared in four contests this season, going without a hit in 15 PAs. In 287 big league PAs, the 31-year-old Moore and has hit a weak .201/.241/.309.
- The Nationals activated catcher Wilson Ramos from the bereavement list before their game against the Cardinals on Sunday and optioned backstop Pedro Severino to Triple-A, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com (on Twitter). Ramos, a career .259/.301/.413 hitter over 1,839 big league PAs, batted a solid .316/.328/.491 with two home runs and threw out four of eight base stealers in April. Severino appeared in only one game and logged three PAs in Ramos’ absence.
- The White Sox have activated closer David Robertson from the bereavement list and optioned right-hander Tommy Kahnle to Triple-A, reports Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago (Twitter link). Robertson, who hasn’t pitched since Wednesday, has converted eight of nine save opportunities this season in dominant fashion. The 31-year-old has racked up 13 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings of work while surrendering a single run. Kahnle threw an inning for the White Sox prior to today and walked two batters.
- The Braves recalled utilityman Emilio Bonifacio from Triple-A and optioned right-handed reliever Chris Withrow on Sunday morning. However, because of a rule technicality the Braves were unaware of, they can’t activate Bonifacio today, tweets David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Specifically, the Braves need to wait 30 days from the date they released Bonifacio (April 6) to activate him, per O’Brien (Twitter link). Atlanta brought back the switch-hitting Bonifacio on a minor league deal after it released him. He owns a career .259/.316/.337 line in 2,807 major league plate appearances and will lengthen the Braves’ bench if he’s ultimately activated. Atlanta needed reserve depth after it had utilized a 13-man pitching staff over the last couple weeks, as Mark Bowman of MLB.com wrote Saturday. Withrow, a former Dodger, threw seven innings with the Braves prior to today, striking out four and allowing three earned runs on five hits and five walks. Those seven frames were Withrow’s first in the majors since 2014, as he underwent Tommy John surgery that year and later required surgery on a herniated disk in his lower back.
Finally making the right call to bring Bonifacio up. Not sure how long he’ll be on the bench either. His bat has been great in triple A this year. Hopefully that success can translate to the Bigs. May actually be the spark
He’s hit .246/.299/.323 in the majors since 2012. He’s a AAAA type who has some speed and can move around to play a lot of positions (though he’s not really good at any). I have significant doubts that he’ll provide any spark unless his BABIP is abnormally high.
Hope so as well. Need to send Smith down. Would be comfortable with Boni, Frenchy, and Stubbs on the OF.
What about Markakis
Sorry I meant those three in LF platoon/bench bats. OF of Markakis, Inciarte, and the platoon.
And I agree to other comments of letting Smith is hitting better lately, maybe is best to just keep him up. I just wasn’t the biggest fan of being him up as early as they did.
Stubbs and his 19 K’s is 39 AB’s?
Why would you send Mallex down? He is catching on as evident in his last several games. He doesn’t need more seasoning. He is the type that takes a few weeks to get used to a new place. The worst thing you could do would be to send him down. He needs to stay and get used to things at this level. Last year when he went from AA to AAA he did this same thing. He struggled and had an ERA under .200 then turned it around and finished around .300 I think.
Gonzalez has said that he wants to keep mallex.. Dansby will get his chance (read next few comments) and so will Albies.. Eventually Albies and Swanson will be one of the better middle infield duos in the league. Give it time and you will see success.. Bonifacio may bat .300 or .100 but considering his numbers in his MLB career, how much worse can he be than what we have now
The only question is why Withrow?
Gave up a grand slam to a pinch hitter…. I was there and it wasn’t pretty. Gave him two pitches in a row down the center of the plate.
Yes, what a 5-18 team needs is an old utility player who isn’t any good. Why not bring up Swanson?
Don’t want to disrupt the growth and development of our top prospect (future perennial all-star/MVP)
Maybe wait until he plays an inning before making claims like that.
I think he’s ready now. How is it development to beat up on minor leaguers?
Why waste his service time?
Does Bonafacio still smile when he strikes out?