Former Athletics right-hander Jarrod Parker has officially decided to halt any comeback attempts and retire, he tells Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The now-29-year-old Parker was a promising building block for the A’s in 2011-13, posting a 3.68 ERA through his first 384 big league innings at ages 22 through 24.
Once the ninth overall pick in the MLB draft (Diamondbacks, 2007), Parker found his way to Oakland as part of the return that Arizona surrendered when initially acquiring a more established, controllable young righty: Trevor Cahill. Parker showed all the promise in the world, landing on five Top 100 lists from Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus after being drafted out of high school, and the fine early work in his career serves as a testament to what might have been had injuries not ruined a promising career.
Unfortunately for the talented young Parker, his elbow simply didn’t allow him to realize his considerable potential. The righty twice underwent Tommy John surgery before fracturing his elbow in his comeback attempt from that second Tommy John procedure. Unfathomably, Parker re-fractured the epicondyle bone in his elbow, necessitating a fourth elbow surgery. Parker’s former teammate Ryan Cook, A’s executive vice president Billy Beane and former A’s lefty Barry Zito are among the notable names who raved to Slusser about Parker’s raw potential and expressed sadness over never seeing how high his ceiling could have been.
Parker, now looking to the future, tells Slusser that he’d look to work in the health industry, potentially serving as a rehab coordinator for players returning from injury.
A bit more on the A’s…
- Also via Slusser, Oakland catcher Bruce Maxwell did not reach a plea agreement in his recent settlement conference, thus prompting a second such meeting to be scheduled for April 13. Maxwell, who is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct after allegedly pointing a firearm at a delivery person back in October, is slated for an Aug. 9 trial if no plea agreement can be reached. Maxwell is still expected to serve as Oakland’s primary catcher in 2018 despite those struggles; Slusser adds (via Twitter) that GM David Forst cited the team’s long relationship with Maxwell as a factor in its decision to give him a chance as the starting backstop in 2018. Maxwell was the Athletics’ second-round pick back in the 2012 draft.
- Jane Lee of MLB.com breaks down the rotation situation in Oakland, noting that only right-hander Kendall Graveman and left-hander Sean Manaea are considered locks to hold down a starting job at present. The final three spots are up for grabs in a race consisting of Andrew Triggs, Jharel Cotton, Daniel Mengden, Daniel Gossett and Paul Blackburn — assuming Oakland does not make any further additions to the staff. Lee adds, on Twitter, that manager Bob Melvin said Mengden’s strong finish to the season has him in the lead for the third spot in the rotation right now, but the A’s look to have a fairly sizable competition for rotation innings.
Even if Maxwell reaches a plea agreement would he not likely face a suspension from the commissioners office
What a joke
Put him on restricted list
Mpmks Maxwell did not reach a plea agreement. His next court hearing is April 13. If he doesn’t reach a plea agreement then he goes to trial in August. Don’t forget he may be susceptible to punishment by MLB..
ARTICLE XII—Discipline – B. Conduct Detrimental or Prejudicial to Baseball (page 52)
Players may be disciplined for just cause for conduct that is materially
detrimental or materially prejudicial to the best interests of Baseball
including, but not limited to, engaging in conduct in violation of federal,
state or local law. The Commissioner and a Club shall not discipline
a Player for the same act or conduct under this provision. In cases
of this type, a Club may only discipline a Player, or take other adverse
action against him, when the Commissioner defers the disciplinary
decision to the Club.
AJ PUK!
I’d like to see Puk come on board as close for a season much like Chris Sale did for the White Sox. Let him throw short outings at the major league level and head into the rotation next year.
I love this, but I think he hits MLB like Syndergaard did.
tbh they probably could have bought him up as a reliever last year if they wanted to. He clearly came a polished prospect from the jumpoff. I hope he makes the opening day rotation, but they’ll keep him down til May so they can get that extra year. Calling it.
Puk was anything but “polished” coming out of UF. He would’ve gone #1 overall instead of falling to 6. His control and durability were/are huge question marks.
I feel bad for Parker. He looked promising early on in his career. But sadly, he’s another multi-TJ surgery victim.
What do The A’s have to say about Maxwell? Even if we look past the not standing for the flag, he’s gotten himself in trouble with assult with a deadly weapon, and in hot water with the media over a lie where someone refused him service because of political views.
Lucroy must REALLY not want to play in Oakland.
I’m a loyal A’s fan but Maxwell has got to go. This team has so much going for them they don’t need this selfish ass to cause distractions.
I think Maxwell belongs somewhere, but not on a baseball field for at least 80 games.
80? He menaced a food delivery guy with a gun. He has to go for a season.
Ha this Maxwell story has a weird feel to it.
The Trump supporters hate him because he kneeled for the anthem which ironically peacefully protests the gunning down of *unarmed* African Americans while the Liberals hate that he used his gun to intimidate a food delivery guy for some apparent reason.
My feeling is he should be suspended, for a full season though? I don’t know.
It’s like the starbucks across the street from a starbucks in NYC.
The delivery driver was a woman. That’s not to say that if the delivery driver was a man it would be any better, but other players got significant suspensions for domestic disputes. If those disputes were with another guy at a bar we probably would never heard about it. MLB is waiting for the criminal case to be settled prior to making a suspension announcement not to sway the criminal case from his favor. I think he is looking at a full season suspension when it’s all said and done.
I think we simply just need all the facts. Let the trial play out. And let’s see what the verdict is.
Ok I’m with everyone else he should definitely be suspended a year.
This is 2018. You are guilty until proven innocent.
what’s with the innocent until proven guilty stuff? That’s so two years ago! Didn’t you know the allegation is all that is required these days?
I agree. It is 2018. Where grown men make passive aggressive jabs at the me too movement, when we’re actually talking about Maxwell.
Amen
Parker was top 10 in bWAR in 2012. His arm exploded 5 different times in his life. He can’t even get TJ anymore because there’s nothing to connect it to. Unreal story. Deserves a lot from mlb’s pension, he definitely flashed an ace’s ceiling in his short career.
I watched the most recent Parker injury (the break) live. It was the most awful thing I’ve seen in person. I’m glad he has the financial compensation to show for his continued recovery efforts. It takes guts to keep going after it like he did.
Ugh, what a nightmare, can’t imagine having to see it live. That’s pretty horrible. Upvoting for sympathy.
MLB better be in the middle of an investigation on Maxwell. I just can’t believe I havent heard ANYTHING about it
I just want to know what The A’s front office and ownership has to say about it.
All they have said about it is that Maxwell will remain the starting catcher while trying to let the off-field distractions not bother him.
“Manager Bob Melvin and general manager David Forst said Tuesday they don’t think Maxwell’s off-field issues will be a distraction. Forst noted that the A’s have said all winter that Maxwell would remain the team’s starting catcher.”
“We have a long history with Bruce,” Forst said. “I talked to him throughout the anthem issue last season, throughout everything this offseason. The relationship goes a long way toward making us feel comfortable with him.”
SFGATE
Something you have to take into consideration is if the A’s take any action against him now he cannot be disciplined by MLB later which accounts for the A’s front office verbal tap dance.
Milkman….Nov 14, 2017
“Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell plead not guilty to assault and disorderly conduct charges on Tuesday, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Maxwell was arrested on Oct. 28 and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct after allegedly waving a gun at a Postmates employee that was making a delivery to his house, per Slusser. There’s no trial date set for now, and a hearing wouldn’t come until sometime in early 2018. MLB will conduct an investigation into the matter, but no announcement of any discipline would come until after a hearing (or a theoretical settlement).” link to mlbtraderumors.com
Notice the words “MLB will conduct an investigation into the matter, but no announcement of any discipline would come until after a hearing (or a theoretical settlement).”….just like all of the other cases. Either the case plays out, there is a settlement of sorts or as happened with many of the domestic violence cases, the charges were dropped. Afterwards MLB issues their finding and discipline.
ya boi!
I wonder if a civil suit is holding this up. maxwell might be getting sued by the delivery driver so his lawyer is being careful how the plea deal works out. Maxwell was never a very bright person and has a history of drinking.
Stfu already about Maxwell. Y’all are OBSESSED
Maxwell should be the starting catcher……. for the California state penal league!!!
He can catch for Ricky Vaughn
Vaughn is too good for him.
In terms of the rotation, I’d like to see Oakland go with Manaea, Graveman, Blackburn and Mengden, then signing a 1-year deal on a quality SP – anyone decent will do, and who knows how hard prices will fall, but Cobb, Cashner, Garcia or Lynn all slide right into that rotation.
Oakland needs one more legit innings eater who’s good type, and those guys above fit the bill. Oakland’s payroll is a pitiful $59M, so MLB should lean on them to throw $20M on a couple guys who actually don’t block anyone too much. Adding a higher end SP really makes Oakland an even deeper sleeper for 2018.
The A’s will be better than the Cubs in 2018.
Why? Don’t say “because if Rizzo or Bryant get injured, they’re a sub-500 team”.
hehe its funny because its true
Even if either Rizzo or Bryant got injured, The Cubs would still be a decent team.
Slusser just said Mengden is the #3, behind Manaea and Graveman.
link to twitter.com
The commissioner will have to follow MLB rules under the CBA for Maxwell’s disciplinary action but as a fan, I wish he was suspended indefinitely from baseball. Events such as this are usually precursors to future tragedies.
There is no precedent for aggravated assault. Only domestic violence. That means it isn’t in the CBA so it’s up to the commissioner. Start a precedent and go hard to set an example. MLB don’t play with guns!!!
absolutely! that’s the NFL’s claim.
I would have expected Maxwell to use a silver hammer, not a gun.
The A’s have a nice young group of position players but relying on that nutjob to serve as your primary catcher is insane. The guy might be in prison, on probation, or just go nutjob again.
You have to sign somebody who will actually be available to play.
Parker was a joy to watch pitching. Real shame. I’m sure he’ll do well in his next endeavor.
So, threatening your wife or girlfriend with a gun is bad, but threatening a pizza guy with a gun is A OK? No “distraction”. He’s the starter. It’s all fine.
I hope Manfred takes this more seriously than the A’s.
@forwhom……no kidding……the A’s are actually giving this violent, wingnut a promotion after he pulled a gun on a delivery driver…….I think that Rob Manfred will actually take this far more seriously than do the A’s.
Threatening your wife or girlfriend with a gun is bad in Cincinnati, but not in NY or Chicago. As to threatening a Pizza Guy, at this point it’s only alleged..
Bearing up wife/gf – just fine with Yanks scum
Hey if you bearing up your wife at least she will roll smoother with less resistance.
Solid pitching rotation to look forward too
Would be quite the face turn if Maxwell somehow has video evidence proving its all untrue and then he hits .300 with 20 homers and solid defense!
I do absolutely think the A’s front office says some really insulting things to its fanbase “He’s been in our system a long time” what does that even mean in relation to this?
I think the A’s blase attitude towards Maxwell’s potential jail sentence is largely based on how Sean Murphy is actually ready now, if you think a .600 OPS is ok for a plus defending catcher. They might rush the bat and just have him hitting 9th until he gets it together, which he might never, but I think the A’s know Murphy is lowkey ready now, that’s why Maxwell is meh to them.
@forwhom……no kidding……the A’s are actually giving this violent, wingnut a promotion after he pulled a gun on a delivery driver…….I think that Rob Manfred will actually take this far more seriously than do the A’s.
My pizza was late the other day. I tipped the guy a dollar less.
Did you pistol whip him as he turned to leave?
My gun was in the shop.
It’s a shame that injuries prevented Parker from a full career. He had the ability to be a really good pitcher for a really long time, and it’s always a shame when injuries intervene.
Guys like him, Venters, and Beachy (off the top of my head) could have been so good. I hate to see talented players being taken away.
Jarrod Parker, Brad Peacock, Tommy Milone, Sonny Gray, AJ Cole, and Brett Anderson were supposed to lead the A’s into the next generation…
Is Phegley ready to go as starting catcher