2:49pm: Baltimore has given Tillman an opportunity to continue pitching in its minor league system, but he’s undecided as of now, general manager Dan Duquette told Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun and other reporters.
2:24pm: The Orioles announced that they’ve designated right-hander Chris Tillman for assignment. His roster spot will go to infielder/outfielder Renato Nunez, whom they’ve selected from Triple-A Norfolk.
Tillman’s designation continues an abrupt fall from grace for a pitcher who was a solid mid-rotation starter earlier in his career. Acquired from the Mariners in a 2008 heist, Tillman broke out in 2012 with 86 innings of 2.93 ERA ball and then threw between 172 and 206 1/3 frames in each of the ensuing four seasons. During that 844 2/3-inning span, Tillman logged a 3.81 ERA with 6.98 K/9 and 3.07 BB/9.
Unfortunately for Tillman and the Orioles, his career took a major turn for the worse in 2017. Tillman missed the first month-plus of the season with a shoulder injury and then struggled mightily across 93 innings, recording a 7.84 ERA with 6.1 K/9 and 4.94 BB/9. In the process, he dealt with a decline in velocity and even lost his place in Baltimore’s rotation.
Despite Tillman’s nightmarish 2017, the starter-needy Orioles brought him back in the offseason on a one-year, $3MM guarantee with the hope he’d revive his career. The Orioles also hoped at the time that they’d push for a playoff berth, but they’re now among the worst teams in the league, and Tillman hasn’t helped matters. The 30-year-old made seven starts prior to his designation and combined for just 26 2/3 innings of 10.46 ERA ball, also issuing more walks (17) than strikeouts (13).
Tillman hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 10, after which he went on the disabled list with a lower back strain, and his velocity once again tumbled when he did take the hill. Further, Tillman has been ineffective across multiple minor league levels, including Triple-A Norfolk, where he has registered a 6.60 ERA with 3.0 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 15 innings.
With Baltimore now beginning a full rebuild, there are multiple eras coming to an end on its roster. Not only is Tillman on his way out, but the team just traded its best player, shortstop Manny Machado, to the Dodgers this week. There will be more longtime franchise staples headed out via trade in the next week-plus, too, with center fielder Adam Jones (who came over from Seattle with Tillman) and closer Zach Britton perhaps among them.
Given that the Orioles are turning over their roster, they’re in position to evaluate young players, including Nunez. The 24-year-old joined the Orioles off waivers from the Rangers in mid-May and has since batted .289/.361/.443 with five home runs in 228 plate appearances at Norfolk. Nunez is a lifetime .249/.311/.457 hitter in 1,341 Triple-A PAs and has seen a bit of big league action in each season since 2016, having combined for 72 PAs and a .167/.222/.273 line with the A’s and Rangers.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Yessssss!!!!
Needed to happen, shouldn’t have resigned him this year. So unfortunate to see for a guy who was so solid (albeit with poor underlying stats) for us Os fans for so long.
Wow talk about a fall from grace
I appreciate his efforts. He had a nice run for the Orioles.
The cardinals like pitchers like this guy, high era type guys.
What? Name one
Chris Carpenter
Although I doubt that’s who he means as Chris hardly seems relevant
Guarantee somebody signs this guy in the next week. Teams keep signing guys with ERA’s about six
Chris Tillman won’t make it out of the AL once he hits the Waiver wire. Most teams will take a chance on him. What’s the claim order? KCR, CHI, DET, TEX. TOR, MIN. He’ll end up on one of these teams.
He’s not getting claimed. Prime minor league deal candidate at a fraction of the price
“His ERA is about 9? Who cares, he was good once!”
Pretty much how baseball works. Even if you had one great year, you’ll be having offers for the next 5-10 years.
Shoulder injuries are tough to come back from for a pitcher.
About time. Lord help us if he got to pitch in the majors again after giving up 4 runs a game to High A ball and walking as many as he struck out…. Just has lost it, similar to that of Matusz and Jimenez.
Jiminez was way better than Tillman though.
Yeah because he threw triple digits. Once his mph slowed down his ERA blew up
Definitely a candidate for a minor league contract with an organization to attempt to work out whatever issues he has, but it’s very clear he should not be pitching at the major league level for the remainder of the season.
The arm is gone. Some teams may try to fix him but you can’t do much when you just don’t have it anymore.
He’s had injuries. His body may be breaking down early.
Or another team may take a minor league chance on him healing well. It’s low risk. A lottery ticket.
It’s about time now Chris Davis
His contract is absurd. Nobody is taking him.
And i don’t blame them Chris should be battling 400 learn to bunt or hit to the left
The eternal question will ever be, “why did they give the guy a major league guaranteed contract in the first place?”
He was complete toast over a year ago and never gave any indication that he was going to be anything else. Whoever was in charge of that contract should be given his walking papers.
Same sort of things were said about guys like, say, Francisco Liriano when the Pirates signed him to a cheap bounce back deal. He went on to help Pittsburgh win 94
1 year 3 million dollar deal to the guy who had been arguably our best pitcher for the prior 5-6 seasons, Not to mention he was hurt the year before and clearly wasn;t right that season. He never got it back but I’m fine with trying. 3 mill is drop in the bucket.
Rangers will sign Chris Tillman after they trade Hamels. He can improve his stock for next year since rangers are rebuilding
Tillman can’t get minor leaguers out. His arm is shot. I’d say it’s more likely he never takes a turn in a big league rotation again rather than him ever being a useful rotation piece.
Adam Jones and Chris Tillman for Erik Bedard haha
The orioles should keep jones around as a veteran influence and he probably veto a trade anyway
Yes. He now lives in Cal Ripken‘s old house. His kids go to school there. Adam isnt leaving baltimore.
Probably a good move at this point.
It’s really hard when you have horrible mechanics. Falling off the side of the mound when you throw isn’t normal folks. But then again throwing a ball 90+mph isn’t normal either
I wish him the best.
Get rid of jones!
Good lord he fell like a rock since 2016