Cafardo’s Latest: Markakis, Bruce, McLeod, Fernandez, Lincecum, Reddick
Here are some hot stove items from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe…
- The Royals and Phillies are among the teams looking at Braves outfielder Nick Markakis. “The money is an issue there, especially with the Royals,” Cafardo writes; Markakis is owed $10.5MM in each of the next two seasons and roughly $7.25MM remaining on his 2016 salary. Markakis entered Sunday hitting .252/.362/.348 in 185 PA, and his near-total power dropoff over the last two seasons has surely hurt his trade value, as MLBTR’s Connor Byrne pointed out earlier today. While both K.C. and the Phils could use help in right field, Markakis has delivered only replacement-level production this season, with an even 0.0 fWAR.
- The Reds‘ Jay Bruce is another target for the Royals and other teams looking for a left-handed hitting outfielder. Bruce’s terrible defensive metrics (-9 Defensive Runs Saved, -34 UZR/150) have his overall value at below replacement level (-0.2 fWAR) though he’s enjoying a good year at the plate, hitting .270/.327/.518 with eight homers through 156 PA. Bruce is under contract only through the 2016 season, owed approximately $8.1MM more in remaining salary plus a $1MM buyout of a $13MM club option for his services in 2017. Cincinnati has been shopping Bruce for months, including one proposed offseason trade that nearly saw him get shipped to the Blue Jays.
- Jason McLeod, the Cubs‘ senior VP of player development and amateur scouting, would eventually like to run his own front office but is content to remain with Chicago, having already turned down interviews with the Mariners and Padres in recent years. McLeod figures to be one of the game’s most sought-after GM candidates should he decide to pursue a general managing position. Between his stints running the scouting departments for the Cubs, Padres and Red Sox, several well-regarded young prospects and currently stars were drafted on McLeod’s watch.
- Cuban infielder Jose Miguel Fernandez is eligible to sign at any time, though he could possibly have to wait until the offseason simply due to awkward timing. Though Fernandez is 28, an eight-year veteran in Cuba’s top league and is pitched by his agent Alan Nero as a Ben Zobrist or Dustin Pedroia type of player, he won’t be able to immediately help an MLB club. Fernandez hasn’t played since 2014 so he’ll need some minor league time to get back into game shape.
- As per “a couple of GMs” and at least one AL talent evaluator, Tim Lincecum made a mistake in coming to the American League to sign the Angels. “I just don’t see his style of pitching at this juncture in his career working in the AL,” the evaluator said. “The designated hitter makes a big difference, and when you have a guy who relies on having to be pinpoint, that makes it a tough league to succeed.” Lincecum was known to prefer pitching for a West Coast team so his choices were somewhat limited in that sense, especially given that the two-time Cy Young Award winner also wanted to start.
- As of last week, Josh Reddick told Cafardo that there wasn’t any progress towards an extension with the Athletics. Much has changed, of course, since Reddick’s chat with Cafardo, as the outfielder suffered a fractured left thumb and will miss several weeks of action.
Pirates Notes: Bullpen, Joyce, Cervelli
Here’s the latest from PNC Park…
- The Pirates are looking for bullpen help, GM Neal Huntington told reporters (including MLB.com’s Adam Berry and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Chris Adamski), though Huntington noted that the pickings have been slim for buyers. The Bucs will “scour the Minor Leagues to see if there’s another Jason Grilli-type situation out there,” Huntington said, as in a possible buy-low veteran who’s recovering from injuries or a drop in form. The GM didn’t totally rule out the idea of calling up top pitching prospects Tyler Glasnow or Jameson Taillon as relievers, though “on a case-by-case basis, there are some things we are still accomplishing with our young minor-league starters…before we start trying to shove them in the bullpen,” Huntington said. With the Pirates’ rotation also lacking in depth, Glasnow and/or Taillon are much more likely to start when they’re called up, as noted earlier today.
- Matt Joyce may be the latest veteran to enjoy a career revival after joining the Pirates, Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes, something manager Clint Hurdle attributes to the franchise’s ability to scout and identify players who have the right attitude about overcoming their struggles. In Joyce’s case, his winter stint in the Dominican Republic impressed the Bucs. “To go play 50 or 60 games in a different country and do some things on and off the field that, in a crazy kind of way, might help you find your way back? I thought it was outstanding. It polarized the whole story of [Joyce] for me. I know that level of commitment,” Hurdle said.
- Francisco Cervelli‘s three-year extension not only keeps a key player behind the plate for the Pirates, it also serves as another sign of the franchise’s growth, the Post-Gazette’s Bill Brink writes. While the Bucs have inked several young players to extensions, Cervelli signed his multi-year deal with free agency beckoning this winter, as opposed to other veterans who have left Pittsburgh for richer deals after rebuilding their value with the club.
AL West Notes: Rangers, Odor, Cano, Astros
The appeal hearing on the eight-game suspension the league gave Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor for punching Toronto’s Jose Bautista will be held Tuesday, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Major League Baseball’s executive vice president, John McHale, will conduct the hearing and Odor will have to begin serving his suspension once McHale’s ruling is issued. The decision could take up to two days to render, notes Grant.
More from the AL West:
- Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano wasn’t his usual excellent self last year, but that has changed this season and he attributes it to regaining his health. Cano dealt with a parasite that attacked his system and sapped him of energy early in 2015 and then a hernia on each side of his abdominal area in the second half of the campaign. Cano underwent surgery on the two hernias last October. “Now that you’re healthy, you get to look back and see the difference,’’ Cano told Larry Stone of The Seattle Times. “After what I went through last year, thank God I’m healthy. I’m able to use my body and move left and right, back and forth. That’s everything.” The healthy Cano is now taking on a leadership role in Seattle, according to general manager Jerry Dipoto. “In addition to his incredible offensive contribution and great defense, Robby has been unbelievable for me, and for (manager) Scott (Servais), in helping to make a very difficult transition, with a lot of new faces, go so much quicker and easier,” he said. Shortstop Ketel Marte also praised the ex-Yankee, saying, “He’s been special to me. He tries to make me better every single day.”
- Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin – who has been on the disabled list since May 8 with a shoulder strain – isn’t close to returning, according to Grant. Texas’ hope when it placed Griffin on the DL was that he’d be able to come back immediately, but the 28-year-old still hasn’t thrown off a mound since and will need to go on a rehab assignment after he does. “It’s probably going to take more than one rehab start. We’ve got to make sure the arm is ready to handle the workload,” stated manager Jeff Banister.
- The Astros aren’t considering moving hard-throwing reliever Michael Feliz into the rotation, but that could change if the 22-year-old continues dominating out of the bullpen, writes Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle. “Not really much dialogue (about giving Feliz a start) as much as there’s curiosity for long term,” said manager A.J. Hinch. “When I see him hold his velocity for the three-inning outings that he’s had in recent days, including (Friday) night, it’s hard not to dream about it.” Since allowing nine earned runs in his first 5 1/3 innings of the season, the righty has yielded just one earned run while striking out 19 hitters and walking none in 11 2/3 frames.
Minor MLB Transactions: 5/22/16
Here are today’s minor moves from around baseball:
- The Rays have promoted right-hander Tyler Sturdevant from Triple-A Durham and demoted righty Steve Geltz, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). Sturdevant, who served a 50-game PED suspension last year, is now in position to make his big league debut after accumulating outstanding numbers over 318 1/3 frames in the minors (2.74 ERA, 9.8 K/9, 2.8 BB/9). Geltz gave up two earned runs in an inning of work Sunday and ran his ERA up to 6.06 in 16 1/3 innings with Tampa Bay this season.
- The Tigers have recalled right-hander Buck Farmer from Triple-A Toledo and optioned righty Drew VerHagen, per Jason Beck of MLB.com (Twitter link). Farmer has already accrued 8 1/3 impressive innings for the Tigers this season and logged a 2.16 ERA, 10.8 K/9 and 3.24 BB/9. VerHagen threw an inning for the club Sunday and allowed two earned runs, giving him a 7.11 ERA in 19 frames this year.
- The Angels have selected the contract of left-hander Lucas Luetge, who will fill Tim Lincecum‘s roster spot, tweets Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. Luetge, whom the Halos signed in November, owns a 4.35 ERA, 7.5 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 in 89 major league innings.
- The Indians have recalled right-hander Austin Adams from Triple-A Columbus and sent southpaw Kyle Crockett down, according to Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link). Adams was lights-out over 16 1/3 frames with the Clippers prior to today, putting up a 1.10 ERA, 9.92 K/9 and 2.76 BB/9. He hasn’t been nearly that effective at the big league level, though, with a 4.69 ERA, 6.02 K/9 and 3.12 B/9 in 40 1/3 innings. The demotion of Crockett, who has given up a whopping six earned runs on seven hits in just 3 2/3 innings this season, will leave the Indians’ bullpen without a left-handed option.
Pitcher Notes: Gray, Lincecum, Bucs, Rosenthal, BoSox
Athletics manager Bob Melvin thinks the trapezius problem that forced Sonny Gray to the disabled list Sunday is at the root of the right-hander’s early season woes. “It’s like pitching with a rock in the bottom of your neck,” Melvin said (Twitter link via Joe Stiglich of CSNBayArea.com). If Gray had been pitching through the injury before landing on the DL, it would explain his swift descent from an ace to one of the majors’ worst starters in 2016. For his part, Gray expects the DL stint to serve him and the team well. “It’s better to go ahead and try to miss a couple starts and knock this thing out. In the long run, it’ll benefit everyone,” he commented (Twitter link via Jane Lee of MLB.com).
Here’s more on a handful of other pitchers:
- Newly signed Angels righty Tim Lincecum will head to Triple-A Salt Lake City at the end of the month and make at least two rehab starts there before joining the big league club, tweets Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times.
- Pirates general manager Neal Huntington wants elite pitching prospects Tyler Glasnow and Jameson Taillon to spend the entire season with Triple-A Indianapolis, but he realizes that it’s unlikely to happen. “Perfect world they have a full year at Triple-A. It’s probably not going to be a perfect world,” he said Sunday (Twitter link via Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review). Glasnow and Taillon have torched the minors this year and look poised to join the Pirates when the Super Two threshold passes in June. Aside from Gerrit Cole and, to a much lesser extent, Juan Nicasio, Pittsburgh has gotten little production from its rotation members this year. Thus, Glasnow and Taillon will provide a pair of welcome reinforcements.
- The Pirates have gotten many offers for minor league right-hander Chad Kuhl over the years, Huntington said Sunday (Twitter link via Stephen Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Huntington added that he thinks Kuhl has the potential to be an asset in either the rotation or bullpen at the major league level. Both Glasnow and Taillon overshadow Kuhl, but the latter has gotten eye-opening results at Triple-A this year, posting a microscopic .99 ERA in 45 2/3 innings. Kuhl, 23, also demonstrated similar abilities at lower minor league levels.
- Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal has struggled with command this month, walking nine batters in six innings, which manager Mike Matheny attributes to a lack of work. “If we see him take long breaks and then be really sharp when he comes in, that’s another story. But right now, he’s just not quite where he wants to be. And sometimes the only way of fixing that is to throw,” Matheny said (via Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com). Matheny plans to use Rosenthal more, even if it means the Cardinals deploy the 25-year-old so often that they have to rest him for certain save situations. “I think it’s probably the priority at this point to get [Rosenthal] the amount of work that he needs until he is right, and then build on that confidence,” Matheny stated.
- Triple-A Pawtucket has placed Red Sox southpaw Brian Johnson on the temporary inactive list as he seeks treatment for anxiety, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Johnson, whom MLBpipeline.com ranks as Boston’s sixth-best prospect, will partake in “non-game baseball activities” in Fort Myers, Fla., while undergoing anxiety treatment. “Obviously we’re well aware of what he’s dealing with and we support him,” said manager John Farrell. “He’s a talented young guy and we’ll provide every available resource to him to get back to being a productive pitcher and a guy that we’d hope to factor in as we go forward.”
Angels Designate A.J. Achter For Assignment
The Angels have designated right-hander A.J. Achter for assignment, reports Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com (Twitter link). Achter is the second reliever the Halos have designated this weekend, joining Al Alburquerque.
Achter threw 11 1/3 frames for the Angels prior to Sunday and pitched to a 4.76 ERA, posting low strikeout and walk rates (3.18 and 2.38 per nine innings, respectively) along the way. Achter, 27, previously accrued big league time as a member of the Twins, with whom he picked up a combined 24 1/3 innings the previous two seasons. In total, Achter owns a 5.05 ERA, 5.8 K/9 and 3.03 BB/9 in the majors.
Athletics Send Sonny Gray To DL, Recall Daniel Coulombe
The Athletics have placed Sonny Gray on the disabled list with a strained right trapezius, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter links here). In a corresponding move, the club recalled lefty Daniel Coulombe from Triple-A Nashville.
It’s unknown how much time Gray will miss, though the Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg sat out nearly a month last year with the same injury, notes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times (on Twitter). It’s also unclear if the right-hander had been pitching injured prior to landing on the DL. If that were the case, it would help to explain his precipitous decline this year. After posting ace-like numbers for the A’s in 491 innings from 2013-15, Gray has compiled a 6.19 ERA, 7.69 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 48 innings this season. In his previous start, a 3 1/3-frame showing against the Yankees on Friday, Gray surrendered four earned runs on six hits and four walks.
Gray’s velocity looks normal, as do his strikeout and ground-ball rates, but his walk, home run and hard-contact marks have notably increased in 2016.
With Gray down, the A’s now have a franchise-record 13 players on the DL. The A’s haven’t announced how they’ll set their rotation in Gray’s absence, but the vacant spot won’t go to Coulombe, who’s a reliever. Couolombe has logged 22 1/3 big league innings, including one with the A’s this year, and put up a 6.04 ERA, 6.85 K/9 and 5.24 BB/9.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Braves, Pirates, Phillies, Jays, Draft
Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere:
- Outfield Fly Rule runs down the qualities the Braves should be looking for in their next manager.
- The 3rd Man In has an interview with MLB.com prospect guru Jim Callis, who answers questions regarding the upcoming draft.
- Clubhouse Corner profiles and chats with Diamondbacks pitching prospect Tyler Wagner.
- Super Two Sports argues that the Phillies should trade for Brewers star outfielder Ryan Braun.
- Sports Heaven asks if seemingly ageless Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz should rethink his retirement plans.
- BP Toronto details the success of reliever Joe Biagini, who has been a rare bright spot out of the Blue Jays’ bullpen.
- The Point Of Pittsburgh analyzes how the extension given to catcher Francisco Cervelli will impact the Pirates’ window of contention.
- North Shore Nine lavishes praise on the Pirates’ extension of Cervelli.
- Chin Music Baseball lists six teams that could take advantage of the upcoming winter’s weak free agent pitching market by putting their own starters on the trading block.
- Jays From The Couch assesses the Blue Jays at the season’s quarter pole.
- Outside Pitch MLB writes that the recently extended Brandon Belt‘s early season excellence is making the Giants look brilliant.
- Big Three Sports examines how the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta went from an afterthought to one of baseball’s elite starters.
- Bucs Raise It warns the Pirates to upgrade their pitching – which could mean promoting any of Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon or Chad Kuhl – before the Cubs run away with the NL Central.
- Pirates Breakdown takes a look at the incredible pace Triple-A Indianapolis’ rotation – which includes Glasnow, Taillon and Kuhl – is setting.
- Wayniac Nation tries to figure out which prospects will go where in the top 10 of the upcoming draft.
- isportsweb delves into the Phillies’ improbable success.
- Notes From The Sally scouts Yankees middle infield prospect Hoy Jun Park.
- Camden Depot wonders how valuable Orioles superstar third baseman/shortstop Manny Machado would be in an eight-team league.
- The Runner Sports checks in on the performance of the Astros’ rotation and details some minor league options capable of stepping in sometime this season.
- Call To The Pen opines that Red Sox minor league outfielder Rusney Castillo could still become a valuable major league contributor.
- Jays Journal believes Double-A prospect Rowdy Tellez could be the Blue Jays’ long-term solution at first base.
- LA Dodger Report explains that Scott Kazmir‘s terrible start to the season could have negative ramifications in the coming years.
- Baseball Hot Corner recommends following Lenny Dykstra on Twitter.
Please send submissions to ZachBBWI@gmail.com.
Mariners Place Ketel Marte On DL, Recall Chris Taylor
The Mariners have placed shortstop Ketel Marte on the disabled list and recalled Chris Taylor from Triple-A Tacoma to take his place, reports Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune (on Twitter).
Marte sprained his left thumb during the Mariners’ game against the Reds on Saturday and had to leave early, though X-rays came back negative. The switch-hitting Marte, 22, is in the midst of his second straight season serving as a capable option at short for the Mariners. In 167 plate appearances this year, Marte has hit .276/.307/.378 with five steals on seven attempts. During his first major league action last season, Marte batted .283/.351/.402 in 247 trips to the plate and swiped eight bags on 12 tries. All told, Marte has already been worth 2.2 fWAR in just 97 career games.
The 25-year-old Taylor has compiled a .294/.374/.464 line in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League this year after faring similarly well with Tacoma last season, but his big league career hasn’t been nearly as successful. Taylor, formerly a well-regarded prospect, has amassed 253 PAs with the Mariners and slashed an uninspiring .239/.296/.296.
Reds Make Several Roster Moves
The Reds have selected the contracts of three Triple-A right-handers — Dayan Diaz, A.J. Morris and Josh Smith — and transferred both starter Anthony DeSclafani and outfielder Yorman Rodriguez to the 60-day disabled list, per a club announcement.
DeSclafani, the closest thing to a household name the group offers, has missed the entire season so far with an oblique issue. The 26-year-old had a positive bullpen session earlier this week, however, and could make his way back to the team’s injury-plagued, subpar rotation sometime soon. DeSclafani was solid last year, his first full big league season, in totaling 184 2/3 innings of 4.05 ERA/3.67 FIP/3.97 xFIP pitching.
Rodriguez (hamstring) has also been out for all of 2016, but the out-of-options 23-year-old was expected to push for a roster spot with the Reds during the spring. Rodriguez signed with the Reds as a 16-year-old in 2008 for $2.5MM, then a record bonus for Venezuelan amateurs. In 2,546 minor league plate appearances, Rodriguez has hit .261/.314/.399 with 50 home runs. He got his first (and only) taste of the majors in 2014, collecting 29 PAs in 11 games.
The Reds are the fourth organization for the 27-year-old Diaz, who hasn’t yet pitched in the majors. Diaz has posted mostly sterling numbers across 10 minor league seasons, however, with a 2.04 ERA, 9.1 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in 344 innings.
Like Diaz, Morris also looks poised to make his big league debut. The 29-year-old was a fourth-round pick of the Nationals in 2009 and also spent time with the Cubs and Pirates organizations before joining the Reds this season. He has worked as both a starter and reliever in the minors, amassing 472 1/3 innings of 3.22 ERA ball to accompany a 7.1 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9.
Smith, finally, tossed 32 2/3 innings in nine appearances (seven starts) with the Reds in 2015 and put up a nice K/9 (8.27), but he offset that with control problems (5.79 BB/9) and an unpalatable 6.89 ERA. Smith has fared better at Triple-A this year, compiling a 3.86 ERA, 7.29 K/9 and 2.79 BB/9 in 42 innings (eight starts).