The latest minor moves from around baseball…
- The Royals have selected right-hander Jake Newberry’s contract from Triple-A Omaha and optioned fellow righty Jason Adam, per a team announcement. Meanwhile, righty Blaine Boyer is now a free agent after clearing waivers, Maria Torres of the Kansas City Star tweets. The 23-year-old Newberry is in line to make his major league debut long after joining the Royals as a 37th-round pick in 2012. Newberry has dominated at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season, with a combined 1.63 ERA and 9.6 K/9 against 2.5 BB/9 in 49 2/3 innings. Boyer, whom KC released Wednesday, has logged a godawful 12.05 ERA with 3.7 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 in 21 2/3 major league frames this year.
- The Angels announced that righty Akeel Morris has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake. The 25-year-old Morris, whom the Angels designated for assignment on Wednesday, has struggled at both the Triple-A and major league levels in 2018. He owns an ERA near 6.00 in a combined 53 2/3 innings between Salt Lake and Anaheim, with the majority of his work (39 2/3 frames) coming with the former.
- The Braves have outrighted righty Chase Whitley to Triple-A Gwinnett, David O’Brien of The Athletic tweets. Whitley, 29, has thrown just one inning this year with the Braves. The former Yankee and Ray has recorded a 4.56 ERA/4.01 FIP with 7.25 K/9 and 2.31 BB/9 in 167 2/3 major league innings.
Why do the royals refuse to call up Lovelady and/or Staumont?
Best I can figure is they’re not on the 40-man, but we’ve got half a dozen guys on there who don’t deserve their roster spot, so go figure.
12 ERA in 21 innings? Yikes.
The best part is the day before we released him, we brought him in for the 8th in a one-run game and he promptly served up a dinger.
It’ll be interesting to see of Whitmer gets a further look this season when rosters expand..
For 2019, the Braves’ bullpen seems like it is pretty much full as it stands now, and that’s without even bringing anyone in. Nor does it even consider them converting or using any of their starters as long men out of the bullpen come 2019.
As it stands now, the Braves should have..
Vizcaino (CL/8th)
Minter (LH/CL/8th)
Biddle (LH/Multiple Inning/7th)
Carle (MR)
Winkler (7th/8th)
Sobotka (MR)
O’Day (LH/MR)
Luke Jackson (Multiple Inning/MR)
Then, they’ll have free agents like Brad Brach and Jonny Venters, which both are likely veteran candidates to possibly resign, especially Venters.
Even after those 10 candidates the Braves also have young and talented relief prospects like Corbin Clouse, Jacob Webb, Adam McCreery, or they might even consider using a less heralded, but effective pitcher like Wes Parsons as their longman.. Now, that isn’t even considering their current crop of talented relief prospects in AA..
The Braves bullpen should definitely be a strength moving forward, and with quality relief pitcher’s prices seemingly skyrocketing, the Braves will be able to use their money elsewhere, considering most of these guys are already fairly cheap…
Even so, I still wouldn’t mind the Braves really solidifying their bullpen and resigning Kimbrel. Kimbrel alongside Vizzy, Minter, Biddle, Sobotka, Carle, Winkler, and O’Day or Venters would give the Braves am extremely strong and deep pen 1-8 without any holes!!
Whitmer….Whitley…samething..lol
The Braves have had 3 winters to correct/rebuild the bullpen and because they refuse to spend the money just added has bend’s, reclamation projects and discards hoping they would help mask the cheapness of ownership.
Kimbrel won’t play for peanuts, that is a pipe dream. Heck I doubt Markakis is signed again, Duvall probably takes his place in 2019, much cheaper.
The Brave players have done a terrific job staying in the hunt, no help from ownership, or not enough. They should hang on for the second wildcard at worse but could be much better with owners willing spend.