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Archives for June 2016

Astros Sign First-Rounder Forrest Whitley

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The Astros have announced the signing of first-round draft choice Forrest Whitley, via MLB.com. He’ll receive a $3.148MM bonus, per MLB.com’s Jim Callis (via Twitter). Whitley was taken 17th overall, which came with a $2,504,200 slot allocation.

A high school righty hailing from Texas, Whitley was a consensus top-twenty prospect entering the draft. MLB.com had him highest on its board, ranking him 12th on the basis of his outstanding results in a competitive environment and promising set of pitches. The towering hurler brings a mid-nineties fastball, power curve, and improving change-up.

ESPN.com ranked Whitley the 13th-best draft prospect available, while Baseball America was also quite bullish on his outlook in placing him 18th. None of the outlets really expressed any concerns, though the ESPN.com team suggested that there’s less to dream on than may be the case for other top young arms. As they put it, Whitley has “a fourth starter’s arsenal and a workhorse build,” but “there’s no projection here and Whitley has some stiffness and effort to his delivery.”

After several years worth of drafts in which the club was among the first in line and carried deep draft pockets, Houston fell back in the order due to its successful 2015 season. The resultant maneuvering was certainly less interesting as a result, as the team has thus far agreed to at-slot deals with second-rounder Ronnie Dawson and third-round pick Jake Rogers, but the organization also managed to avoid intrigue this time around. None of the team’s other reported signings have skewed too dramatically from the mean, though the ’Stros managed to stash some savings in order to add to the pile of cash headed Whitley’s way.

Marlins Eyeing Pitching; Odorizzi, Pomeranz Among Targets

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WEDNESDAY: Miami has also reached out to the Padres to ask about lefty Drew Pomeranz, MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reports. After some solid work in recent years in a swingman capacity, Pomeranz has put up surprisingly excellent numbers as a starter in San Diego, working to a 3.00 ERA with 10.7 K/9 against 4.2 BB/9 over 81 innings.

Pomeranz can be controlled for two more seasons after this one via arbitration, and he’ll be building off of a cheap $1.35MM salary. The Marlins are evidently looking at assets with value beyond the present season, though that would certainly raise the acquisition cost for an organization that doesn’t feature a high volume of highly-regarded talent in the upper levels of its farm system.

MONDAY: The Marlins have been looking at both starters and relievers on the trade market, according to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Among the players they have discussed is Rays’ right-hander Jake Odorizzi, per the report.

It’s not surprising to hear that Miami is looking for arms. The club is certainly in a buying posture as the All-Star break nears; in fact, the Fish have somewhat quietly passed the Mets and currently occupy the second spot in the NL East.

Despite that success, there are some clear questions in the staff. That’s especially true in the rotation, where Jose Fernandez has led a group of otherwise ordinary starters. Major free agent signee Wei-Yin Chen isn’t going anywhere, but hasn’t been great. Adam Conley and Tom Koehler have been ordinary on the whole, while neither Justin Nicolino or Jarred Cosart has managed to lock down a spot.

There are at least some questions, too, in the bullpen, though the results have been more than fine from the team’s top relievers even with Carter Capps and now Bryan Morris missing significant time. A.J. Ramos and breakout righty David Phelps have held down the back of the pen admirably, with Kyle Barraclough racking up strikeouts but also walks. Miami has received good middle-relief work from pitchers like Dustin McGowan and Nick Wittgren, with late-inning lefty Mike Dunn showing promise upon his return. On the other hand, Miami has received a lot of subpar innings from other pitchers. It’s certainly possible to imagine the team pursuing back-end or middle relief help via trade.

Odorizzi looks like exactly the kind of pitcher you’d think the Marlins would look at. He could well be made available even if Tampa Bay doesn’t elect to trigger a broader sell-off, as the team has loads of depth in its own rotation. He has been more solid than great this year, but is a power pitcher with control (through 2019 via arbitration), much like Cosart was when he was added back in 2014.

Mariners Acquire Wade LeBlanc

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The Mariners have acquired southpaw Wade LeBlanc from the Blue Jays, per an official announcement from Seattle. A player to be named later or cash will head back in return.

LeBlanc isn’t going directly onto the 40-man, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). But he is expected to be activated to take a start on Friday, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune tweets.

[Related: Updated Mariners depth chart]

The 31-year-old lefty didn’t crack the majors last year, ending a seven-year run in which he spent at least some time in the bigs. Instead, he pitched in Japan — an experience that he was kind enough to share with me on the MLBTR Podcast.

LeBlanc returned to affiliated ball this year with the Blue Jays organization, signing a minor league deal. He has shown quite well thus far at Triple-A, spinning 89 2/3 innings of 1.71 ERA ball with 8.5 K/9 against 2.1 BB/9.

Mariners Sign Tom Wilhelmsen

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The Mariners have officially agreed to a contract with right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen, as Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune first reported. It’s a one-year, major league deal for the veteran reliever.

Seattle expects to keep Wilhelmsen on the major league roster for two days before optioning him to Triple-A, per the report, as the club needs to add a starter for Friday. He’ll need to clear waivers, but that’s generally an easy procedural barrier to clear — all the more so in this case, since any team could have signed him.

[Related: Updated Mariners depth chart]

Wilhelmsen had never suited up for a major league team other than the Mariners prior to his trade to the Rangers this winter. Things never took in Texas, however, as he surrendered 25 earned runs on 38 hits (with an 11:9 K/BB ratio) over his 21 1/3 frames. Wilhelmsen ultimately chose to give up about $1.8MM — the remainder of his $3.1MM arbitration deal — by declining an assignment after being outrighted.

That was a far cry from the work that Wilhelmsen put in with the M’s. Over five seasons in Seattle, he contributed 312 1/3 innings of 2.97 ERA pitching, with 8.5 K/9 against 4.0 BB/9. Working off of a fastball sitting at 95, his slider and curve drove a swinging strike rate that consistently ran into the double digits.

Since swapping sides in the AL West, Wilhelmsen lost nearly a full tick on his heater and stepped back to a 9.4% whiff rate. That looks more like an erosion than a collapse but he also saw a big jump in contact on pitches in the zone (93.5%) and allowed hard contact at a rate (39.1%) nearly double his marks from the prior two seasons. The result was a sky-high 24.1% home run-per-flyball rate and a .388 batting average on balls in play.

Seattle will obviously hope that Wilhelmsen can return to being the productive bullpen piece that he once was, but it will take some tinkering to do so. A glance at his Brooks Baseball profile suggests that the stuff is still largely intact, so it’s certainly possible to imagine a turnaround. Anyway, it’s pretty much all upside at this point. The club has enjoyed quality production from the primary player he was traded for, Leonys Martin, so that deal has already worked out quite nicely for GM Jerry Dipoto.

Dodgers Hold Private Workout With Yulieski Gurriel

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For those wondering why Cuban free agent Yulieski Gurriel was photographed wearing a Dodgers cap at Dodger Stadium last night, it’s not because he has signed there. But Gurriel did take part in a private workout for the club, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles News Group.

Of course, the Dodgers won’t be alone in pursuing a player who is by most accounts the best of his generation from Cuba. The Mets reportedly also have a workout scheduled, and Hoornstra reports that at least one other team does as well.

Gurriel recently turned 32, so he’s not in the middle of his prime. But he has long drawn praise from scouts as a polished all-around performer, and his market promises to be fascinating to follow now that he has been declared a free agent. Gurriel not only hits for good power, but has immaculate plate discipline and a quality glove at third or even second base.

We’ve heard chatter in the past about international signings essentially functioning as trade deadline additions, and it hasn’t generally turned out that way. Such an impact may be more plausible than ever in this case, though, since Gurriel is considered a fully-developed and top-quality talent and given the timing of his entry onto the market. Still, though, he’ll surely need a ramp-up period and at least a brief run through the minors, so it’s quite a different matter to add him than it would be to trade for a player directly off of another major league roster.

It remains difficult to guess how things will shake out for Gurriel in terms of both price tag and landing spot. MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk recently broke things down, discussing the Dodgers but also several other clubs as prime possible contenders for the Cuban star’s services.

AL Notes: Pentecost, Jays’ Pitching, Buchholz, Groome, Rondon

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Blue Jays prospect Max Pentecost had a delayed start to his career after dealing with serious shoulder problems, but he’s getting back on track in 2016, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca writes. The 23-year-old backstop, a first-round selection in 2014, has already battled through three procedures. Though he still hasn’t been cleared to catch, Pentecost is back in action at the Class A level, where he owns a .262/.333/.317 batting line. Toronto director of player development Gil Kim says that the organization remains “confident that he’s got a chance to be a major-league catcher, and a pretty good one.”

Here’s more from the American League:

  • Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins says that the club is most in need of pitching depth as the deadline approaches. (Video link via Sportsnet.ca.) Brett Cecil and Franklin Morales are filtering back toward the majors, he noted, but added that it’s impossible to assume that the roster will remain healthy once it gets those and other injured players back. “We’ll have to stay agile,” said Atkins, saying that “pitching will be the area we’ll look to improve.”
  • Clay Buchholz will receive another start from the Red Sox, manager John Farrell told reporters including Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (Twitter link). The veteran righty re-entered the rotation after a stint in the pen, and was greeted with a home run on his first pitch. Despite the shaky start, he ultimately allowed three earned runs on just four hits and a walk over five innings, while recording five strikeouts. Boston needs Buchholz at least to provide some solid innings for the time being, but will certainly hope that he can rediscover his form from 2015.
  • As the Red Sox approach negotiations with first-round selection Jason Groome, Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald writes that it’ll require a careful approach to find agreement. The team has yet to make a specific offer to the touted high-school lefty, though it has opened talks. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski struck a cautious but generally optimistic tone. “We’re hopeful to still sign him,” he said. “We went into there with open eyes. We know what his demands are from what his agent passed on to the clubs. We think we can sign him, but only time will tell.”
  • Bruce Rondon is showing renewed life for the Tigers, who have held out hope for the fireballing reliever for some time. As Aaron McMann of the Detroit Free Press reports, manager Brad Ausmus says that reports have been positive for the oft-maligned 25-year-old. Improved attitude, a streamlined figure, and a refined delivery have brought promising results at Triple-A. Now, he’s back in the majors for another chance at making good on his talent.

 

Injury Notes: Lambo, Harris, Pearce, Mahtook, Brantley, Bautista, Duffy, Richard, Ottavino, Walker

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The Athletics announced that outfielder Andrew Lambo underwent surgery recently to treat testicular cancer. Lambo, 27, has seen limited action in four MLB seasons. He has played mostly at Triple-A over the last four years, posting a strong .264/.332/.467 batting line. MLBTR joins all those around the game wishing him the very best as he recovers; we hope to see him back on the field soon.

Here are some injury notes from around the league:

  • Cardinals righty Mitch Harris required significant elbow surgery to reattach his ulnar collateral ligament, he announced on Instagram. The 30-year-old cracked the majors last year for St. Louis, providing 27 innings of 3.67 ERA pitching. MLBTR wishes the best of luck to the former Naval officer, who has one heck of a back story.
  • The Rays got some more news on the injury front today, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (Twitter links). Steve Pearce will hit the DL with a hamstring injury, and could miss around three weeks. Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like the type of hammy issue that is terribly likely to require a truly lengthy absence. Meanwhile, outfielder Mikie Mahtook’s broken hand will not need surgery, meaning that he could return within six weeks — which is better than had been feared.
  • The Indians were relieved to find that outfielder Michael Brantley’s latest discomfort is only a bout of biceps tendinitis, Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer reports on Twitter. There had been some concern that his surgically-repaired shoulder was showing further signs of trouble.
  • Blue Jays star Jose Bautista will need “a couple weeks” in a walking boot after being diagnosed with turf toe, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca tweets. That’s largely what was expected when Bautista hit the DL; Toronto will hope that rest and a brief rehab build-up will allow the slugger to return in short order.
  • The Giants may be without Matt Duffy for a bit longer than had been hoped, per Andrew Baggarly of CSN Bay Area (on Twitter). He’s expected to wear his own boot for three weeks, and it would seem likely that he’ll need a bit of a build-up from that point on.
  • Cubs lefty Clayton Richard hit the DL with a blister issue, per a team announcement. Chicago also optioned righty Adam Warren to Triple-A, where he’ll stretch out as a starter for an upcoming heavy stretch of play. Righty Spencer Patton and lefty Gerardo Concepcion will head up to the big league club to fill in. Of course, it’s fair to wonder how long the Cubs will continue to roll with Richard, who has struggled quite a bit thus far after a solid 2015.
  • Adam Ottavino’s rehab has moved to the Triple-A level for the Rockies, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports on Twitter. That’s good news for the righty as well as the team; Ottavino was emerging as a force in the pen before undergoing Tommy John surgery last year.
  • The Mariners announced that righty Taijuan Walker’s foot issue is only tendinitis. He likely won’t require a trip to the DL, as Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Mets Notes: Colon, Wheeler, Gurriel, Duda, Reyes

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Veteran righty Bartolo Colon left his start tonight after just four pitches when he was struck on his pitching thumb by a comebacker. Fortunately, x-rays were negative, suggesting that the team may have dodged a bullet. A lengthy absence from Colon would represent a blow to a club that is already dealing with some significant injury questions.

Here’s more from Queens:

  • The hope has long been that Zack Wheeler would re-enter the picture this summer, adding another quality arm to a stacked rotation. His status could take on renewed importance if Colon is down, but we heard earlier today that he may now be on hold. Wheeler has been “backed down” from his pitching program after experiencing elbow discomfort, as Mike Puma of the New York Post was among those to report on Twitter. GM Sandy Alderson says that it’s not yet clear how concerning the issue is, with Wheeler set to be examined further tomorrow (via Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com, on Twitter).
  • Third base remains arguably the biggest area of concern for New York, and Alderson said today that the club intends to host a private workout with Cuban star Yulieski Gurriel, as David Lennon of Newsday was among those to tweet. Widely regarded as the best Cuban player of his generation, the infielder was recently declared a free agent at an opportune time for clubs in need of a third or perhaps a second baseman. MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk examined the potential market for Gurriel earlier today, listing the Mets among many teams that could conceivably match up with the 32-year-old.
  • First baseman Lucas Duda has yet to advance to baseball activities, Rubin tweets. He has been limited thus far to bike exercise as he tries to recover from a lower back stress fracture. James Loney has filled in adequately thus far, with a .279/.329/.412 batting line in 74 plate appearances.
  • As the Mets weigh a move for infielder Jose Reyes — who is said to prefer a return himself (via Mike Puma of the New York Post, on Twitter) — Rubin reports that Alderson has hinted that Reyes’s ugly domestic violence incident will weigh into the equation. “We always evaluate talent and character,” said Alderson (who was understandably addressing the issue obliquely). “There’s a balance. With respect to issues of character, those are things we take a look at. Those are things we don’t ignore and are always taken into account when we make a player-acquisition decision.”

Mets Sign First-Rounder Justin Dunn

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The Mets announced the signing of first-round pick Justin Dunn, a righty out of Boston College. The 19th overall selection will receive an at-slot bonus of $2,378,800, per MLB.com’s Jim Callis (via Twitter).

Dunn rated as high as 14th among draft-eligible prospects, with ESPN.com giving him that lofty rating. He showed a big-time fastball from the pen and continued to show promise in a starting role after a mid-season shift. He features both velocity and movement on the heater, with a promising slider, usable curve, and developing change also in the quiver.

Others didn’t view him quite as highly, based in part on a relatively small frame and questionable command. Baseball America had him 22nd on its board, while MLB.com rated him 29th. Still, all recognize that he has a chance to turn into quite an interesting starter — with a back-up plan, perhaps, of featuring as a high-octane reliever.

Rockies Outright Tyler Matzek

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The Rockies have outrighted left-hander Tyler Matzek, per a club announcement. He has already cleared waivers.

Colorado added Matzek, now 25, with the 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft. Once a consensus top-fifty prospect, he fell somewhat off of the radar while struggling to keep the ball in the strike zone.

Matzek seemed to right the ship in 2014, when he tamped down his persistent control issues and reached the majors for the first time. He provided the Rockies with 117 2/3 rather good innings that year, putting up a 4.05 ERA with 7.0 K/9 against 3.4 BB/9 and a 49.7% groundball rate.

That all reversed in 2015, however. Matzek completely lost his ability to hit the zone and ended up taking a long reprieve to address serious anxiety issues. He has been working back slowly since; over ten frames this year, all at the High-A level, Matzek has allowed just two earned runs on six hits, though he also has seven walks to go with his 14 strikeouts.

Matzek will obviously remain with the organization and keep trying to build himself back toward the majors. It does not appear that Colorado needed a 40-man opening at this exact moment, since it now has an open slot, but perhaps felt this was an opportune time to make the move.

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