Even though Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow has been incredible this season, the club still plans to tamp down his workload as the year progresses, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The towering 25-year-old has recorded a dazzling 1.47 ERA/2.39 FIP with 9.63 K/9, 1.47 BB/9 and a 51.4 percent groundball rate, but at 43 innings pitched, he’s already closing in on last season’s total. “He threw 112 innings last year and we have to monitor that,’’ said manager Kevin Cash, who added: “If we can get him extra days, we’re going to do that. If we’ve got to shave an inning off of him per start, like (Friday) night we could have taken him out after the sixth. Those are things we have to monitor and consider here early in the season.’’ For what it’s worth, Glasnow’s season-high innings total as a professional came as a member of the Pittsburgh organization in 2017, when the formerly wild hurler racked up 155 1/3 frames. A year later, the Pirates traded him and outfielder Austin Meadows to the Rays for righty Chris Archer in what now looks like a heist for the first-place Tampa Bay franchise.
Elsewhere around the American League…
- Astros outfield/first base prospect Yordan Alvarez has gotten off to a scorching start this year at Triple-A Round Rock, where he has slashed an awe-inspiring .418/.505/.923 with 12 home runs in 107 plate appearances. The Astros have taken notice of the 21-year-old’s brilliance, according to president of baseball ops/general manager Jeff Luhnow, who said Saturday that Alvarez “certainly is making it a conversation” within the team to promote him (via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle). Luhnow also declared, “It’s pretty clear he can hit right now in the big leagues,” and noted Alvarez would likely slot in as a left fielder for the Astros in order to make a maximum impact. At the same time, though, the Astros already have a more-than-capable regular there in Michael Brantley, and Luhnow cautioned, “The same people who were clamoring for Kyle Tucker to come up because he was destroying AAA pitching are the same people now clamoring for Yordan Álvarez to come up.” That indicates it’s not a slam dunk Alvarez will head to Houston imminently, as Tucker disappointed during a 77-plate appearance major league debut in 2018 and has gotten off to a terrible start in Round Rock this year.
- Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani’s much-anticipated 2019 debut could come as early as Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register suggests. Ohtani has been on the shelf thanks to October 2018 Tommy John surgery, which will stop the two-way star from pitching this year but won’t keep him out of the Angels’ lineup. To their credit, Kevan Smith and Albert Pujols – especially the former – have offered respectable DH production in Ohtani’s absence. [UPDATE: Regarding Ohtani’s potential activation, GM Billy Eppler said Sunday (via Fletcher): “We hope to be able to activate on him this trip but he has to get through every step of the progression so we’re not going to say anything till the progression is finished.”]
- Prospect Jesus Lopez, whom the Blue Jays acquired from the Athletics for Kendrys Morales in March, is switching from infielder to catcher, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet tweets. The 22-year-old’s adjusting to his new position in extended spring training, per Davidi.
That Archer trade is the gift that keeps on giving to the Rays.
Watch Baz come up and be the guys who provides the most value out of the trio they acquired.
I said it was a terrible move for Pit. when it happened… it’s only gotten worse since.
I couldn’t understand why there were Rays fans that were upset with what they were getting at the time. It always looked like a good haul, even without Baz I thought it was good.
It’s not like we’re getting any production from our DH spot. Put Alvarez there.
I’d take his POSSIBLE production over what the Astros get from Gurriel, Kemp, and/or White. If Alvarez or Brantley can play even a serviceable first base, they would match Gurriel’s “defensive prowess.”. I like Gurriel, but he’s better in a utility role with his inconsistent bat and subpar defense. White and his growing waist line struggle with MLB pitching. I love Kemp, but I love WS banners more and he is nothing more than a 5th outfielder/backup second baseman.
Putting out of mind Yordan’s astounding numbers (impossible)…
Another consideration is the presence of Gurriel.. The trip
from Cuba to The Show may be more difficult than even that
from the other side of the Pacific. Having Yuri there as a mentor
and guide seems like a great opportunity. Why wait?
That trade looked like a heist when it happened.
Never understood this trade from the Pirates perspective. Glasnow wasn’t even given a chance to show his potential Bc of injuries or circumstances that were beyond his control. Meadows looked promising but he’s simply needed a new scenario. He reminds me of Grady Sizemore (with his skill set). I’m hoping he stays healthy because he’s really a dynamic player that they thought they had with KK.
They gave him ~130 innings in the big leagues, and he walked 5+ per 9. Whether it be change of scenery, a new pitching coach, or change in organizational philosophy (or a combination of all 3), the trade to Tampa pretty clearly had a HUGE impact on his career trajectory.
And Meadows has played in more than 90 games only twice in his 6 year career coming into this year. It shouldn’t surprise anybody that he’s hurt again.
I’m not saying it was a good move for Pittsburgh by any means – it wasn’t, they aren’t good enough to win the NL Central even with Archer – but the value of both these guys was down pretty substantially compared to where it was at their high points.
Moral of the story for 29 GMs. Never trade with Tampa. Ever.
I’m sorry if I disagree with nearly all of you including the writer here on the supposed heist by the Rays. Glasnow May have corralled his wildness, good for him but as a Pirate he was a total mess. He had zero control, he just threw it & no one, including him, knew where it was going. Meadows was good but not good enough to supplant any of the OF’s, or really even Adam Frazier, who can play anywhere. The Pirates tried a 4- person OF platoon which made all 4 guys decline. So, Archer for Wild man Glasnow & no place to play Meadows was a good trade. Both young guys have had more opportunity & done well, so like I said, good for them. But that doesn’t mean the Pirates got heisted.
Extended spring training is what the Blue Jays are doing at the moment, 2 games out of last place and descending rapidly. The Blue Jays a few years ago were an old crappy team, now they are a young crappy team. How long will Rogers tolerate empty seats before Shapiro and his losers get kicked out of Toronto.
Bout a dumb comment made by luhnow…“The same people who were clamoring for Kyle Tucker to come up because he was destroying AAA pitching are the same people now clamoring for Yordan Álvarez to come up.”..tucker didn’t get it done with his opportunity..so Alvarez, what, Won’t either?? come on..
You’re seemly surprised by Luhnow’s comment, or as we choose to call him, Losenow. That abundance of “talent” in the outfield included the “hot dog” Tony Kemp, who has in his career had one good half season. Combine that with Hinch’s (or as we refer to him, the “Village Idiot”) inability to understand what a DH is we don’t really have the talent Losenow proposes. There are several options, waive Kemp, use Alvarez as LF or 1B and name Yuli or Brantley as your DH. Not really that tuff a decision.
ofcourse, the real “problem” :
Your Astros have the best record in the league
“Losenow” has engineered a World Series victory and an ALCS in the past two years and his team currently owns the best record in baseball. Hinch is arguably the best manger in MLB. I think I’ll continue to have a little faith in them. Álvarez will be up at some point. I’d guess the front office is doing due diligence on trying to find a trade home for White first instead of just placing him on waivers. They probably won’t have much luck, but they’d be remiss if they didn’t try.
Here’s a thought to ponder. Why not bring Alvarez to replace Gurriel at first base permanently and and let Gurriel be our Marwin Gonzalez of the past as a utilility player. Just a thought What say you? A bad idea or not?