Mariners Sign Tom Wilhelmsen
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Brian Cashman Discusses Yankees’ Trade Deadline Plans
Yankees GM Brian Cashman says that the organization is not yet ready to decide whether or not it will sell off veteran assets, as Kevin Kernan of the New York Post reports in a series of tweets. Noting that there’s no rush with over a month to go before the deadline, Cashman also suggested that the Yanks could be both “buyers and sellers.”
What’s lacking at this stage, of course, is clarity about just how capable the team is of competing. That’s not only a question of looking at the roster on paper, but also of assessing the standings and the opportunities on the market. Certainly, a big-market club like this one can probably afford to be conservative in reaching a decision whether to give up on a season.
Despite the team’s win-always mantra, Cashman says that he would not hesitate to recommend a sell off of some kind if circumstances warrant it. The long-time general manager says that he’s “a brutally honest person,” but that the information is not yet there to reach such a decision.
New York has found itself the subject of much trade speculation, most of it centering around its triumvirate of bullpen aces. Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, and Dellin Betances all would carry enormous appeal were they made available. There’s little doubt they’d shoot up MLBTR’s list of the top trade candidates if and when any or all are marketed. Another subject of discussion is veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran, who is 39 years old but is cruising along with a .283/.316/.567 slash line.
The idea of both buying and selling is a popular one among observers, but it’s somewhat interesting to hear the concept emanate from a front office. We’ve seen teams pursue lateral moves at times, though, and it’s not difficult to imagine the Yankees angling for a starter or perhaps a position player with control in a deal involving one of their quality veteran pieces.
Top 15 Trade Candidates
MLBTR’s top trade candidate series is now a month old. Honestly, I’ve been surprised at how much movement the list has required. At this stage, of course, there’s still an awful lot of guesswork. It should continue to evolve with the market starting to take shape.
Remember, we’re not just ranking players by skill alone; we’re looking at overall asset value and trade likelihood. To assess trade value, we’re starting with overall on-field ability — with a premium on the capacity to make an impact in the current season — and then adjusting for contract and market factors. With contenders’ needs in relatively sharp focus, limitations such as future contract status, age, and niche role (platoon bats, relief-only pitchers) tend to have less of a drag on value — though obviously they still matter quite a bit. With regard to the likelihood of a swap, the focus is on potential selling teams’ motivation to deal, with contract status, near and long-term roster fit, and overall competitiveness all weighing heavily. Some teams simply aren’t in a position at present where it makes sense to include their top potential trade chips, but that will evolve over the coming weeks.
Here’s this week’s list:
1. Jay Bruce, OF, Reds — He’s only increasing his offensive production as the season goes on, and Cincinnati looks to be well-positioned to finally strike a deal. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if Bruce is traded relatively early in the process; even if not, it’s hard to imagine him wearing a Reds cap on August 2nd.
2. Jonathan Lucroy, C, Brewers — Milwaukee is putting out vibes that an extension can’t be ruled out, and the demand side of the market suggests that an overwhelming offer might be harder to find than we had thought. Still, it’d be hard for the rebuilding club to pass on a chance to cash in such a valuable asset.
3. Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers — Braun has taken a step back at the plate of late. While it’s nothing to be alarmed at, he may need to be at peak capacity to draw a top-notch return given his health issues and sizable contract. Plus, there continue to be some signs that the Brewers might not just take what they can get for their best assets. There certainly seems to be a better chance that he’ll stick around than there is for Lucroy.
4. Julio Teheran, SP, Braves — I’m moving Teheran up because he’s impressing and the starting pitching market is only looking tighter. Several top potential rental options are on the DL and/or are underperforming, while Sonny Gray — another quality, controllable arm that could conceivably be pried loose — still hasn’t re-established himself. It might take a perceived overpay, but Atlanta just may be positioned to get one.
5. Danny Valencia, 3B, Athletics — If teams are willing to buy in, you could argue that Valencia is the only impact infield bat available. His affordable contract and added year of control increase his appeal, but also reduce Oakland’s interest in finding a deal.
6. Fernando Rodney, RP, Padres — At some point, you can’t ignore the string of success. In the month of June, Rodney has allowed just four baserunners while fanning ten in 6 1/3 innings. That mirrors the rest of his season … and, of course, he has yet to allow an earned run. Rodney won’t be valued at the level of the very best relievers in the game, but he should draw strong interest.
7. Jon Jay, OF, Padres — Jay is a plug-and-go player who can handle a regular center field role or make for a versatile fourth outfielder. As a pure rental playing for a team that is in sell mode and has young players ready to step in for him, Jay seems like a likely piece to change hands.
8. Jake Odorizzi, SP, Rays — Odorizzi makes a big move into the top ten. It’s hardly necessary for Tampa Bay to trade him, of course, as he’ll only reach arb eligibility next year. But with the club falling back of late while dealing with numerous injuries, the appeal of cashing in a sturdy, controllable starter in a seller’s market is increasing. And if the team’s rehabbing starters remain on course, dealing from the rotation might not even be that painful. Especially if the Braves hold firm on Teheran, perhaps Tampa Bay could get a nice return for Odorizzi.
9. Sean Doolittle, RP, Athletics — Over his last nine innings, Doolittle has allowed just three hits (one of which was a solo home run) and two walks while posting 13 strikeouts. We’ve heard a lot of talk about some other top-tier power lefties, but there’s an argument that Doolittle is nearly as good while being much more available (and having an even more appealing contract). Injury questions remain a factor, but it’s easier to look past that when you need a gun now and this one is firing in the upper-nineties.
10. Arodys Vizcaino, RP, Braves — Vizcaino hasn’t always had premium strikeout numbers, but they are trending up this season. He has reeled off three straight solid outings since we last checked in, despite a few recent duds, so it’s not so much that he’s moving down the list as it is that the others are moving up.
11. Zack Cozart, SS, Reds — It’s not yet clear what kind of market Cozart will have, but he’s done nothing but increase his appeal all year. He’s still producing at the plate and would deliver a high-quality glove at short. Market demand remains a bit unclear, and Cinci may not be eager to move him, but clubs looking for a true shortstop probably won’t find a better option.
12. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Rockies — I’m still betting that Colorado is in a selling position in the standings when the deadline comes around, though CarGo’s availability is another matter. The song remains the same: he’d draw huge interest if marketed, but Colorado’s approach remains to be seen.
13. Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Phillies — He’s a pure rental piece playing at a reasonable salary ($7MM), and is putting up the kind of solid and steady numbers that teams value at the back of the rotation. Hellickson has a 4.41 ERA and is on pace for around 185 innings, which isn’t terribly exciting. But he’s healthy, is carrying sub-4.00 xFIP and SIERA marks, and is showing indications of positive evolution as a hurler. If he can tamp down the home runs, at least, Hellickson could be an important piece for an organization that needs some stability.
14. Yunel Escobar, IF, Angels — Escobar won’t excite, but he puts the ball in play and has managed to maintain a high average (and with it, a strong on-base percentage) over the last two years. His BABIP is inflated, but that’s also possible because he rarely hits the ball in the air and doesn’t make a lot of soft contact. Defensive metrics don’t really like him any better at third than they did at short, where he has spent most of his career, but he’s at least serviceable all over the infield. That adds real positional flexibility that could come in handy. It’s not yet clear whether the Halos will want to deal him, though, even if they keep on a downward trajectory. Escobar can be kept with a $7MM option that would hold appeal for Los Angeles.
15. Jeremy Jeffress, RP, Brewers — The back of the list still seems like the right range for Jeffress, who isn’t an elite strikeout threat. (Though, to be fair, the dive in K/9 this year is offset by the fact that he has maintained an ~11% swinging strike rate and generates tons of grounders.) Given that Milwaukee isn’t under any pressure to deal him, since he won’t qualify for arbitration until next season, it’ll take a strong offer and he could well stay put.
Keep reading for more names that were considered …
Rangers Acquire Kyle Kubitza
The Rangers have acquired third baseman Kyle Kubitza from the Angels, per an announcement from club VP of communications John Blake. Cash considerations will head back to the Halos in the deal.
Kubitza had been designated for assignment by Los Angeles as the organization continues to churn through pitching at the major league level, leading to a need for 40-man roster spots. Texas has optioned Kubitza to Triple-A.
Heading into the year, prospect watchers generally viewed Kubitza as a top-ten organizational prospect in an exceedingly thin Angels farm. The 25-year-old had been acquired before the 2015 campaign from the Braves in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Ricardo Sanchez.
Kubitza is hitting just .253/.349/.366 over 215 plate appearances on the year at Triple-A, and struggled in a brief taste of the majors last year. But he has shown more in the past at the plate. Obviously, Texas was intrigued enough to use an open 40-man spot to add him.