We’ll use this post to track the day’s minor moves …
Latest…
- The Blue Jays will hold Darnell Sweeney on their active roster no longer. The club has announced that he cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A. Sweeney earned just four plate appearances with Toronto this season prior to being designated for assignment; it was his first taste of major league action since 2015, when the 27-year-old was with the Phillies. It seems as though the move was more motivated by projected potential than performance. Although Sweeney didn’t get a hit in his four trips to the plate, he did manage to draw two walks. He did, however, hit just .235/.310/.398 at the Triple-A level, and while that’s good for a nearly-average 98 wRC+, he also struck out in more than 30% of his plate appearances.
- The Angels announced that they’ve placed infielder Luis Valbuena on release waivers. The 32-year-old is finishing up a two-year, $15MM contract with a 2019 club option, which clearly won’t be exercised. He’s long been a useful major-league asset, providing at least 1 fWAR across each of the past six seasons while with the Cubs, Astros and Angels. Unfortunately, this year has been an entirely different story, as he’s mustered just a .199/.253/.335 batting line across 288 plate appearances for the Halos while striking out a whopping 34.7% of the time. Valbuena’s performance has also suffered from a 6.6% walk rate that’s nearly four full percentage points below his career average of 10.5%.
Earlier…
- The Twins have released right-hander Todd Van Steensel, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (via Twitter). It seems the organization simply ran out of room for the 27-year-old reliever, who has been with the Twins since 2011. The Aussie had spent the 2018 season at the Double-A level, working to a 3.07 ERA with 10.0 K/9 against 4.7 BB/9 while allowing just 26 hits over 44 innings.
You’d think with the twins going nowhere this year, and the numbers he was putting up in the minors it would be worth giving him a shot before releasing
Especially within the useless Matt belise and his 8 ERA. The twins Released the wrong guy
4.7 bb/9 is pretty awful command and in AA where hitters are less picky than in MLB.
no point in not giving him a try with the twins wasted season
Or both should be released
If they like Matt Belisle as a “Clubhouse Guy” and mentoring influence, they should give him a contract for a coach. But he shouldn’t be taking the mound again for the Twins except in teaching situations or for batting-practice.
Place scioscia on release watch bees too
“He’s [Valbuena] long been a useful major-league asset, providing at least 1 fWAR across each of the past six seasons while with the Cubs and Angels.”
He spent two of those six seasons with the Astros.
Good catch, thanks!
Give Van Steensel a shot.