Twins right-hander Blake Parker has cleared waivers after being designated for assignment by the club on July 24th, according to a tweet from The Athletic’s Dan Hayes. Parker is currently mulling whether or not to accept an assignment to Minnesota’s Triple-A club in Rochester.
The 34-year-old Parker, a veteran of five organizations, has pitched 36.1 innings for Minnesota’s big club this season, with middling bottom-line results. His 19.4% HR/FB rate, 3.96 BB/9 mark, and .245 BAA are not the markings of an elite reliever, but he has still registered strikeouts at a respectable rate and is just two years removed from logging a 2.54 ERA in 67.1 innings for the Angels. It is also worth noting that Parker owned a 3.25 ERA on the season before being shelled for four runs in an appearance on July 23rd. With that in mind, it is somewhat surprising that no club placed a claim on Parker as a late-season dice roll, given the volatility of relievers and the currently tight-fisted relief trade market.
The $1.8MM guarantee Parker held with Minnesota probably goes some way toward explaining his clearance through the waiver portal. Had he been claimed, his acquiring team would have been on the hook for the remainder of that sum; if Parker rejects his Triple-A assignment and elects free agency, he will be eligible to sign a pro-rated league minimum pact with a new club, which would go toward offsetting the remaining money that Minnesota owes the pitcher.
Not surprised at all. Parker is the most frustrating pitcher to watch because he takes so long to throw the dang ball and he doesn’t throw strikes. He gives up a ton of hard contact and struggles to get big outs. He is declining mightily and should not pitch in the bigs
Cubs need bullpen arms!!
Shane Greene, Buck Farmer, Jimenez, and the greater Detroit Metro. It’s going to be a field day, garage sale for sale! You can’t beat these deals!
kind of shocking. guess he might as well accept the AAA assignment if no one wanted to claim him.
For those that felt Parker got some kind of “raw deal” by the Twins DFA’ing him earlier this week, which was long overdue….here’s proof that Falvey was correct in his decision. Not 1 MLB team…even the hapless Orioles and Tigers, wouldn’t take on the prorated portion of his $1.8mill contract…less than 1 million for the rest of this season. He needs to be looking into another career.
to be fair, what would a non-contender do with him if no one extended a trade offer to MIN for him? they werent going to flip him there after then.
Also it makes more sence for a team to sign him as a free agent because he will make league min. vs a team being on a hook for his remaining salary.
Sense
“Phillies interested in Blake Parker” would have been a more fitting headline. Who aren’t those shrimp in on!? Gotta prop up the $300 million dollar man!
Phillies have an entire ML bullpen on the IL. Currently pitching two starters every five days with injuries. Signing the “$300 million dollar man” accelerated expectations from the owner when the rest of the baseball people in the FO were gearing towards 2020 and beyond.
Not a fan of the manager here either , but when “expected breakout starts” flop and you keep running AAA starters up for bullpen duty, you only go so far….
and that’s “Mr. 330 million dollar man “ to you ….
Angels?