Here are the latest minor moves from around baseball, with the newest transactions at the top of the page…
- The Rockies acquired lefty Pat McCoy from the Blue Jays, according to the Jays’ Triple-A affiliate (Twitter link). McCoy has pitched in four different organizations during a pro career that began in 2007, and his Major League experience consists of 14 relief innings with Detroit in 2014. McCoy has a 4.43 ERA, 7.6 K/9 and 2.63 K/BB rate over 491 2/3 career minor league frames, with 288 of his 312 games coming as a reliever.
- The Pirates selected the contract of catcher Jacob Stallings from Triple-A and added him to both their Major League and 40-man rosters. Jason Rogers was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. Stallings will give the Bucs some depth behind the plate with Francisco Cervelli on the DL and Chris Stewart also battling an ankle injury. A seventh-round pick in the 2012, Stallings has a .675 OPS over 1266 career minor league PA and wasn’t listed on Baseball America’s ranking of the Pirates’ top 30 prospects.
- The Mariners have sent right-hander Steve Johnson outright to Triple-A Tacoma, the team announced. Johnson has been outrighted in the past, so he’ll have the option of declining in favor of free agency. The Mariners designated him for assignment Friday after he totaled a 4.32 ERA and 11 walks over 16 2/3 innings.
- The Rays have outrighted lefty Dana Eveland to Triple-A Durham, according to the club. Eveland, like Johnson, has been outrighted previously. The 32-year-old has racked up 16 2/3 frames of 7.56 ERA ball at the major league level this season.
- Minor league Red Sox reliever Anthony Varvaro has retired, per a club announcement. Varvaro, 31, concluded his career by recording a 2.83 ERA, 9.73 K/9 and 4.08 BB/9 in 28 2/3 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket this year. Prior to tossing 11 frames at the major league level for the Red Sox in 2015, he was a member of the Braves, with whom he had a pair of standout seasons from 2013-14. Varvaro combined for 128 innings of 2.74 ERA pitching in that span, also posting a 6.54 K/9, 2.67 BB/9 and 48.2 percent ground-ball rate. Over the course of 183 2/3 innings in the majors with the Mariners, Braves and Red Sox, Varvaro logged a 3.23 ERA, 7.35 K/9 and 3.43 BB/9.
- The White Sox have signed first baseman K.J. Woods, whom the Marlins released, and outfielder Slade Heathcott to minor league deals, reports Matt Eddy of Baseball America (Twitter link). The Marlins used a fourth-round pick in 2013 on Woods, who hit .239/.326/.386 in 872 minor league plate appearances with their organization. Heathcott, the more notable player of the two, was the Yankees’ first-rounder (29th overall) in 2009. BA ranked him as baseball’s 63rd-best prospect entering the 2013 season, but injuries and disappointing production led the Yankees to release him last month. Heathcott did perform well during his first taste of major league action last year, though, collecting 10 hits – including two home runs and a pair of doubles – in 30 PAs.
Didnt realize the Marlins released Woods. He has a lot of power, and is still pretty young, considering if I recall correctly, he was taken out of high school. He had a really good year last year too. He was struggling in Jupiter this year, but he also struggled previously when at a new level of the minor leagues, before improving, and though it mostly has to do with his swing and miss issues, its not like Jupiter is an easy place to hit. I just dont see the reasoning behind continuously getting rid of players for nothing. Not that its any comparison, but the Marlins, who needed bullpen help before they did it, gave away Sam Dyson for literally no reason, and look where they are now in typical Marlins fashion
Wonder why Carcarro retired. Didnt he have a shoulder problem last year? Maybe something to do with htat? Although his numbers seem to indicate he was mostly fine, considering the K rate.
That’s awesome for the Sox. I mean, the team is slipping further out of contention day by day but these are clearly the kind of moves they should be making. The front office deserves a big pat on the back.
I understand your frustration, but a lack of effort seems like a weird complaint. They didn’t settle with Rollins, and they went out and traded for Shields. Their moves of late have largely sucked, no doubt, but a significant move every few days is a bit unrealistic
I think it’s time to move cutch this year is shot, nuttings thrifty luck with pitching caught up finally and it sunk the ship. An d his cheap ass not paying Cole a decent chunk will lead to him jumping ship first chance he gets, you can’t pay your best pitcher one fifth of your worst pitcher Cole 500k Locke 2.5 mil
FIrst, Cutch will be moved. No need to pay him a ton with Austin Meadows in the wings. 2nd, The Pirates could have paid Cole $5million in a bonus this year and all they would have gotten in return was a thank you (maybe) and Cole will still go free agent as soon as his arbitration years are over. Would love to see the Bucs re-sign him but if he remain relatively healthy, he will command upwards of $200 Million and that is out of the Pirates league. Even a $10 million bonus this year would do nothing to help him stay. Hence the reason why they keep drafting pitching by the boat loads every year.