White Sox GM Rick Hahn shot down the idea that top prospect Yoan Moncada will push his way onto the MLB roster early this year, as Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports. All signs are pointing up for Moncada, who has tamped down on the strikeouts while showing signs of polishing up his defensive game. But that doesn’t mean the club is prepared to make an aggressive promotion. “He’s shown a fair amount of progress in each of those areas that we’ve asked of him,” said GM Rick Hahn. “That said, we want to see that over an extended period of time. It’s awfully important to not lose sight of the fact this is a 21-year-old player, one who was not playing two years ago as of right now. It’s a guy who has fewer than 325 or so plate appearances above A-ball.” Given that, says Hahn, the club won’t “rush” Moncada’s ascension.
Here’s more from the game’s central divisions:
- The Tigers have moved Francisco Rodriguez out of the closer role, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today first reported on Twitter. He’ll be replaced, at least for the time being, by Justin Wilson. While it seems that Rodriguez could yet regain his spot in the ninth, he’ll now need to show he’s a better option than Wilson, who has been lights out thus far. Rodriguez, meanwhile, has been generating plenty of strikeouts but has also allowed 11 earned runs on 19 hits in his 11 2/3 innings.
- Though the Reds optioned lefty Amir Garrett recently, president of baseball operations Dick Williams says he expects to bring the youngster back soon (in an interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM; audio link). Garrett, who just turned 25, has been rather solid in his six starts, providing 36 innings of 4.25 ERA ball. But the plan heading into the season was never to ride any of the team’s young arms too hard. “We’ve got a lot of young guys that we’re excited to see this year on the roster,” Williams explains. “And the idea was, ’We’re going to get you up, we’re going to get you opportunities. All of you are going to see opportunities in the big leagues, and all of you are going to be back in Triple-A at some point, just for sheer numbers and innings management.'” In Garrett’s case, some upcoming off-days presented an opportunity to slow his accumulation of innings; he has never previously gone past 144 2/3 frames. “Most importantly, it gives Amir the ability to be on pace to pitch into September, which is what we want these guys to learn how to do,” said Williams.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Brewers prospect Nathan Kirby, who missed the 2016 season due to Tommy John surgery, had another elbow operation and will miss the next eight to 12 weeks (all links to Twitter). An ulnar nerve transposition was performed after Kirby was diagnosed with ulnar neuritis. That’s obviously a disheartening blow to both Kirby and the organization, as the Brewers selected Kirby with one of their top picks back in 2015. Kirby had been touted as a potential top five pick back in 2015 but slid to the supplemental round due to injury concerns that, clearly, have manifested in his pro career.
- Cardinals righty Lance Lynn tells Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM (Twitter link) that he has not engaged in any long-term talks with the club. The pending free agent says he would “love to stay” in St. Louis, but it also doesn’t sound as if the organization should expect any discount. Lynn, who’ll soon turn 30, has returned from Tommy John surgery on a hot streak. Over 35 1/3 frames this year, he owns a shiny 2.04 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. If he can keep up anything approaching that work, and maintain his health, Lynn ought to make for quite an appealing free agent at season’s end.
Lynn is totally worth the price. He was great prior to TJ, and has been even better so far. I don’t know if he’ll maintain this level of success, however it is logical he’d maintain his prior form. If I were the Cardinals, I’d give him what he wants/deserves.
He really hasn’t been better than pre tj unless you are going solely by his era (which is likely artificially low due to a career low babip and career high lob%).
Let Lynn walk. Yes he has been one of the most consistent arms in the rotation, but he will get 100 million on the market average pitchers are making 80 million on the free agent market. Plus they have young kids in the minors such as Reyes, Weaver , Flaherty, Alcantera, Hudson, Gomber, Lyons, and Marco Gonzalez. ( names spelt wrong probably). All of those players are young no cost options for 2018 rotation.
True, but it would be incredibly valuable to have a Cards pitching vet there to lead those young guys.
Lynn does not have strong leadership skills; that’s Waino’s department. In fact, he’s only several years removed from being a perplexing head case. He’s not worth a multi year mega bucks contract. Conversely, it seems his true value may lie more in what becomes available in return for him by a contending team in dire need of strong pitching.
Cards need to let him walk. They have 2 MLB ready prospects killing it in the minors in Weaver
That’s the minors!
That awkward moment when all guys look at are the minor league lines…
Don’t get me wrong, I like Weaver a lot, but without a good third pitch he will struggle over the long haul of an MLB season. Could be a really solid back end starter, but he won’t give you anywhere near the quality Lynn does.
Is he so good that he counts as 2 guys?
I don’t think moncada will be called up this year. Not until September at least. Yes, he is raking in the minors, but he is still raw in some areas. Will be fun to see him play though
He’s as ready now as he’s going to be in September –
Sure, why have him play those minor league games and help him improve? “He’s ready” haha !!!
He’s struck out %30 of his minor league at bats. He’s cut down recently, with only like 5 K in his last 30 AB, but let’s see a larger sample.
Some guys on here crack me up. Last thing you want or need is him to be called up again and have a showing like he had last year.
There are some guys that just aren’t going to be challenged enough in AAA to learn anything.
Moncada appears to be one of those. The rest of his developing will be at the Major League level.
May 16(if my math is right) is the day the White Sox secure another year of control. We’ll see then if they want to hold him down for a couple more months to make sure he’s not a Super 2.
He is tearing up the minors, the Sox are just waiting to get another year of arbitration. He will be up in late June, early July and learn to hit against the best.
Moncada has struck out 34 times in 129 PAs this season in AAA. Strikeouts were his Achilles heel last season in his MLB call up and the Fall League. White Sox have nothing to gain by calling him up now, and he has more to learn in AAA.
How many of you CWS guys clamoring for a call up are there?
The kid has to control that K rate. He’s been better as of late, but let’s see him do it over the course of a month or what not. There’s absolutely NO REASON to rush up a 21 year old kid, especially who fell flat on his face in his call up last season. Too many guys get rushed up too much, too early and don’t over come it. Wait for him to really be ready, let him come up and be comfortable with what he’s there to do, and not try to force it.
i am so glad it said “discount” and not “hometown discount”. lance lynn doesn’t pitch for a team in indiana.
Gotta ask how Tim Anderson got called up and Moncada seemingly must cure cancer before his call-up…
He was called up last year in Boston, so the arbitration clock started then.
False, service time is in play here.
Yep, May 16th the White Sox will gain another year of control. Absolutely no reason to call him up before then.
Or let’s wait and see how that K rate looks in a couple of weeks. On the season right now, it’s awful. The last week? It’s been good.
It’s not ALL about service time. Some guys in the organization actually want to set him up for success, not just rush him up to sell tickets.
The 4L streak keeps Hahn firmly at the wheel of the rebuild. That’s what makes it a weird season for fans. The team has to first get 10 over .500 to even consider bringing Moncada up & frankly that’s not likely to happen. Anderson is too suspect at SS now & this team doesn’t score enough runs to shoulder 4 out innings.