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Tigers Reportedly Seeking “Established Young MLB Star” In Boyd Talks

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According to hearsay purveyed by the MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the Tigers have been indicating to interested teams that they will be seeking an “established young MLB star” in any potential deal involving starter Matthew Boyd (Twitter link).

As Heyman points out, Boyd does figure to be one of the better arms available in what he terms a “seller’s market.” With twenty teams currently sitting in playoff position or within 5.5 games of a Wild Card berth, it stands to reason that only a few clubs will be looking to enter liquidation mode with more than two months still to play in 2019. Detroit GM Al Avila may be trying to play this situation to his advantage–today marks the second time in fewer than thirty days that we have heard reports from Detroit indicating a sky-high internal valuation of the admittedly sturdy Boyd.

Back in June, MLB.com’s Jason Beck conveyed that the Tigers were seeking a package in return for Boyd similar to the one the White Sox received in the 2017 Jose Quintana trade – a deal that saw the Cubs part with Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, and two other prospects in exchange for a decidedly unsexy middle-of-the-rotation arm.

Many will question whether Detroit is justified in asking for the moon in exchange for Boyd. Since exiting his June 14th start against the Twins–an outing that saw him throw seven innings of three-run ball–Boyd has seen his season ERA jump from 3.08 to 4.13 across six poor showings. Put another way, Boyd has not thrown a quality start in nearly five weeks, and it is hard to imagine a team sacrificing foundational pieces for a player going through that kind of rough patch.

Still, the lefty is under contract for an affordable $2.6MM this year, and offers three more seasons of arbitration control as a former Super Two qualifier. Plus, his 4.13 ERA across 120 innings isn’t half as impressive as his sterling K/BB ratio or FIP numbers (6.67 and 3.56, respectively, in case you were wondering). Though pinpointing what, exactly, constitutes an “established young MLB star” is a worthwhile debate in itself, it seems safe to say the Tigers won’t be parting lightly with their widely coveted top starter.

Dodgers Outright Zac Rosscup

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The Dodgers have outrighted left-handed reliever Zac Rosscup to Triple-A Oklahoma City, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com tweets. It’s unclear whether Rosscup will accept the assignment or reject it in favor of a trip to free agency.

Rosscup joined the Dodgers via the open market June 12, which came after he turned down an outright from Toronto. However, this past Monday, the Dodgers became the third team of the season to designate Rosscup for assignment. The Blue Jays and Mariners previously did the same.

The 31-year-old Rosscup is in his second stint as a member of the Dodgers, with whom he threw 11 1/3 innings last season. He only totaled three frames with the club this season before it jettisoned him, though. Also a former Cub and Rockie, Rosscup has mustered 18 innings of 5.00 ERA/4.94 FIP pitching this season. While Rosscup has struck out 13 per nine and induced grounders at a 55.1 percent clip, serious control problems have helped undermine his efforts. Rosscup has walked more than a batter per inning (19) and given up 22 hits.

Pitcher Notes: Scherzer, Bundy, Turnbull, Garrett, Alexander

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With summer storms peppering much of the country today, we’ve got our own torrent of pitcher-related news to sort through. Out of D.C., we hear from MLB.com’s Jamal Collier that Nationals ace Max Scherzer threw 15 pitches off of a mound this afternoon (Twitter link). The superlative hurler has been dealing with inflammation in the bursa sac under his right shoulder blade and hasn’t appeared in a game since a seven-inning win against the Royals on July 6th. That Scherzer is throwing again–and could possibly throw another bullpen on Monday–is a sign that he apparently took well to a recent cortisone shot in his ailing back. Given the notoriously fickle nature of back injuries, the Nats are likely to be over the moon at this positive step in Scherzer’s recovery.

The latest on a few other waylaid hurlers…

  • The Orioles’ Dylan Bundy will apparently come off the injured list as soon as he is eligible, with MLB.com’s Joe Trezza reporting that the righty will start Tuesday in Arizona (link). Bundy, who has never really delivered on the promise that was conferred upon him when he was selected 4th overall in the 2011 draft, has a 5.28 ERA and 5.32 FIP in 92 innings this year. He has been on the shelf since July 13th with right knee tendinitis.
  • Chris McCosky of the Detroit News has reported on separate channels that Tigers starter Spencer Turnbull has suffered a back injury that will usher him to the IL. Apparently, Turnbull, who has put together a quietly effective 2019 campaign, experienced a strain during a workout Friday–a strain that persisted in a post-workout game of catch (Twitter link). In a subsequent piece, McCosky cogently points out that this injury could actually serve as a convenient means of limiting Turnbull’s innings–the 26-year-old was expected to pitch around 140 frames this year and had already logged 98.2 entering the weekend (link).
  • Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the Reds will welcome back two bullpen stalwarts with the activation of Amir Garrett and Raisel Iglesias from the injured list and paternity list, respectively (Twitter link). Garrett has been sidelined since July 4th with a left lat strain–an injury he presumably incurred from striking out most of the league this season en route to a 13.14 K/9 rate across 37 innings. To accommodate these moves, the Reds optioned righties Jimmy Herget and, as MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reported, Matt Bowman (link).
  • In concerning news, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has relayed to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com that veteran reliever Scott Alexander has been shut down for foreseeable future with a “nerve and thumb problem” (link). Alexander has been solid in 17-plus innings for Los Angeles this year, but injuries have been a prominent theme. Originally sidelined in June with a forearm ailment, issues with Alexander’s thumb have subsequently followed, and this latest language regarding his nerve is certainly ominous from a medical perspective. The lefty has posted a 3.63 ERA on the season.

Nationals Interested In Shane Greene, Sam Dyson

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Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Friday the club’s going into the July 31 trade deadline seeking controllable talent, especially in the bullpen. Already connected to relievers Mychal Givens and Jake Diekman so far this month, a couple more late-game arms are now on the Nationals’ radar. The club is interested in Tigers closer Shane Greene and Giants setup man Sam Dyson, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Not only are Greene and Dyson thriving in 2019, but they’re under wraps via the arbitration process through next season. Greene’s currently on a $4MM salary, while Dyson is making $5MM. There’s plenty of value in both cases, but if acquiring either would force the Nationals to give up prized shortstop prospect Carter Kieboom, it’s not going to happen. The Nats haven’t been willing to include Kieboom “in any deal,” according to Jamal Collier of MLB.com, and the Tigers were unsurprisingly turned down when they asked for Kieboom in exchange for Greene.

Widely regarded as one of the game’s premier prospects, the 21-year-old Kieboom would indeed be a big ask for a year-plus of a reliever, even though the Nationals are desperate for bullpen help. Despite having been weighed down by one of the majors’ worst relief groups from the get-go this year, the Nationals have gotten off to a 51-45 start and hold a one-game lead over the NL’s No. 1 wild-card spot.

With the Giants also in contention (they’re just 3 1/2 back of the Nats), acquiring Dyson could be difficult for Washington. Regardless, based on his performance this season, the 31-year-old Dyson would be an enormous get for the Nats’ relief corps. The right-hander has logged a sterling 2.68 ERA/2.67 FIP with 8.81 K/9, 1.15 BB/9 and a 55.1 percent groundball rate over 47 innings.

The 30-year-old Greene, also a righty, has put up similarly impressive numbers this season as the Tigers’ closer. Not only has Greene saved 22 of 24 chances, but he has recorded an eye-popping 1.03 ERA across 35 frames. Like Dyson, Greene’s strikeout, walk and grounder numbers are terrific. He has fanned 9.51 and walked 2.57 batters per nine, adding a 53.9 percent grounder mark for good measure. As we noted earlier this week, there’s quite a bit of good fortune baked into Greene’s output, but he has nonetheless impressed in 2019. And unlike San Francisco, Detroit’s way out of contention, making it almost a lock the Tigers will deal Greene by the deadline.

Nationals To Select Michael Blazek

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The Nationals will select right-hander Michael Blazek’s contract from Triple-A Fresno on Sunday, Jamal Collier of MLB.com tweets (Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan was first to report the news). Adding Blazek will require corresponding 40- and 25-man moves.

Blazek’s just over two months into his tenure with the Washington organization, which signed him to a minor league contract May 13. Since joining Fresno’s roster, the 30-year-old Blazek has posted an ugly 5.54 ERA with a paltry 22.9 percent groundball rate in 26 innings, though he has struck out 9.69 batters per nine while walking 3.46.

Assuming Blazek winds up seeing action with the Nationals, it’ll be his first major league experience since he threw 8 2/3 innings with the Brewers two years ago. A 35th-round pick of the Cardinals in 2007, Blazek amassed 123 frames of 4.39 ERA/4.98 FIP pitching with 7.61 K/9, 4.32 BB/9 and a 42.7 percent groundball rate as a member of the Redbirds and Brewers from 2013-17. It’s not the most appealing track record, but the playoff-contending Nationals are continuing to leave no stone unturned in their search for much-needed bullpen help.

Erik Neander On Rays’ Deadline Approach

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In a column from Rays beat writer Marc Topkin, general manager Erik Neander provided several quotes that shed light on how Tampa Bay will approach the upcoming trade deadline (link). Most notably, Neander indicated the club will be looking at potential upgrades to both its offense and relief corps, and that they will be open to dealing for “rental” acquisitions. Specifically, Neander said that the Rays have the flexibility to make “more of a baseball decision than a pure budget constraint type of decision” in regard to potential upgrades.

Tampa Bay currently sits just one game out of the last AL Wild Card spot and could be well-poised to make a move given the treasure trove of prospects that the team possesses (the club currently boasts 10 prospects included on various top 100 lists from around the game). That the notoriously stingy club–which this year rolled out a 30th-ranked payroll–would be willing to open the coffers for a player on an expiring contract is an eyebrow-raising development.

Tampa Bay has managed a 56-44 record despite a middling offense–a feat aided in large part by a stellar 3.45 team ERA. Offensively, Neander and senior VP Chaim Bloom could look to upgrade at the second base position, where they’ve received a 49 wRC+ from 2018 linchpin Joey Wendle. And despite the bullpen’s solid cumulative performance, it stands to reason that most teams within earshot of contention look for bullpen help as the trade deadline nears–as Topkin points out, the club could benefit from the acquisition of a “full-inning” lefty, in part to help lighten the load of struggling rookie southpaw Colin Poche.

Brewers Activate Gio Gonzalez

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The Brewers announced the activation of left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who will start in Arizona on Saturday. The Brew Crew optioned righty Burch Smith to Triple-A San Antonio in a corresponding move.

Gonzalez is returning after missing almost two months because of a dead arm. Through May 27, the day Gonzalez made his most recent start, the 33-year-old logged a 3.19 ERA/3.25 FIP with 7.55 K/9, 2.61 BB/9 and a 45.5 percent groundball rate in 31 innings. Considering Gonzalez was stuck in free agency until late March, when he joined the Yankees on a minor league deal, and didn’t sign with Milwaukee until the end of April, the Brewers couldn’t have asked for much more from the ex-Athletic and National over his first six starts.

If Gonzalez proves to be close to as effective upon his return as he was before landing on the shelf, he could be a key midseason reinforcement for the Brewers. The defending NL Central champions have struggled of late and are now outside the playoff picture, albeit by just half a game, in part because their pitching staff has been a letdown. But getting back Gonzalez could improve both the Brewers’ rotation and their bullpen. Right-hander Adrian Houser, whom the Brewers moved from their bullpen to their rotation after Gonzalez went down, is now back in a relief role. Houser hasn’t performed well as a starter this year, but he has been superb as a reliever.

Angels Claim Adalberto Mejia, Place Andrew Heaney On IL

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The Angels have claimed left-hander Adalberto Mejia off waivers from the Twins and placed fellow southpaw Andrew Heaney on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 17), per an announcement from Los Angeles. Heaney’s dealing with shoulder inflammation, though he doesn’t have any structural damage, J.P. Hoornstra of the Orange County Register reports.

The 26-year-old Mejia was a top 100 prospect in his days in the Giants’ farm system, but he hasn’t lived up to the billing in the majors as a member of the Twins. Since Mejia made his MLB debut with Minnesota in 2016, he has pitched to a 4.63 ERA with 7.4 K/9 against 3.4 BB/9 in 138 innings. He was barely a factor for this year’s Twins, totaling just 15 1/3 innings before they booted him from their 40-man roster.

For an Angels team low on pitching, there’s no real risk in taking a flier on Mejia. Perhaps he’ll help make up for the loss of Heaney, another former high-end prospect. Heaney hasn’t been especially durable in his career, and the 28-year-old has also dealt with a decline in performance this season. He owns a 5.09 ERA/4.79 FIP despite 10.57 K/9 against 3.72 BB/9 in 46 innings in 2019.

Red Sox Release Eduardo Nunez

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The Red Sox have released INF Eduardo Nunez, Chris Cotillo of masslive.com was among those to report. Nunez was designated for assignment Monday after a dreadful (.228/.243/.305, 36 wRC+) start to the 2019 campaign, and is now eligible to sign with any team for the pro-rated league minimum.

Long a productive utility player, if defensive liability, over the course of his ten-year MLB career thus far, Nunez’s recent output, on the heels of a -0.3 fWAR 2018 campaign, may relegate him to minor-league duty if he’s to latch on with another club this season. The longtime Yankee posted three consecutive 100 wRC+ or better seasons from 2015-17, but the current campaign marked the fourth season in which he’s checked in beneath the replacement-level fWAR baseline.

Nunez’s ineffectiveness, coupled with Dustin Pedroia’s injury issues, spawned an unlikely Brock Holt/Michael Chavis platoon at the keystone, the latter of whom – a converted corner infielder – shouldered the bulk of the early-season load. It’s been a mostly productive mix thus far, with each player posting above-league-average offensive totals through yesterday’s games; Chavis, for his part, has acquitted himself well defensively in his first professional crack at the position.

Giants To Select Conner Menez, Move Drew Pomeranz To Bullpen

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Giants prospect Conner Menez will replace left-hander Drew Pomeranz in the rotation tomorrow, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Henry Schulman reports.

Menez, 24, has risen steadily through the Giants system with little fanfare until quite recently. The lefty, who’s said to have “plus-plus extension” (per FanGraphs, though the site didn’t rank him among the club’s top 35 prospects) and a “high [fastball] spin rate” (MLB.com, where he ranks 21st in the system), led all minor-league left-handers with 171 strikeouts last season. He’s leveled up further in ’19, setting down 123 hitters in just 85 innings for Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento.

Pomeranz, who signed a one-year, $1.5MM (plus incentives) pact this offseason, has furthered has rapid descent in San Francisco. In 72 1/3 innings for the club, the 30-year-old’s been torched for a startling 17 homers in the Giants’ massive park while walking 35 in the process. His 4.60 SIERA, reflective of a typically-stellar K rate and unsustainable 21% HR/FB, is optimistic of a rebound, but it’s the second consecutive 6+ ERA campaign for the lefty who was once swapped straight-up for a then-top 20 prospect. Pomeranz’s average fastball velocity and strikeout rate are both career bests, but his once-vaunted curveball his abandoned him: per FanGraphs, the pitch has been among the league’s worst since the start of the ’18 campaign.

The sizzling-hot Giants, winners of 14 of the club’s last 16, will now line up with Menez, Madison Bumgarner, Jeff Samardzija, Shaun Anderson, and Tyler Beede in the rotation as the club surges toward the second wild-card spot. It isn’t a mix that inspires much hope, though perhaps the club’s lights-out bullpen – the only NL unit with a sub-4 collective FIP – can safely be counted on to soften the blows. Schulman does note that, per manager Bruce Bochy, the club rotation’s mix “remains fluid” and the Giants will look to rest starters and limit the innings of the three rookies.

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