The Astros remain optimistic that right-hander Gerrit Cole will avoid a stint on the injured list, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com writes. Cole, who has been dealing with hamstring discomfort this week, played catch Friday and will do so again this weekend, manager A.J. Hinch said. Hinch added that the Astros are hopeful the AL Cy Young contender will return near the end of their upcoming series against Detroit, which runs from Monday to Thursday. Meanwhile, righty Brad Peacock could come off the IL as early as Sunday. Peacock had been in the Astros’ rotation before going down with shoulder discomfort June 28, but he’ll revert to his previous role as a reliever when he makes it back to the majors.
Here’s more from around the AL…
- Yankees first baseman Luke Voit expects to start a Triple-A rehab assignment Thursday, per Jack Curry of the YES Network. Voit has been dealing with core issues since late June, which have forced him to the injured list multiple times and could’ve ended his season. Now, though, Voit “feels he’s in the clear,” Curry writes. He hasn’t suited up for the Yankees in almost three weeks, and they’ve turned to DJ LeMahieu and Mike Ford at first in the absences of Voit and fellow injured Bomber Edwin Encarnacion.
- Blue Jays outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is hoping to return from the IL at the end of the month, Scott Mitchell of TSN reports. Gurriel went down Aug. 8 with a strained left quadriceps, cutting off a breakout campaign for the 25-year-old. With a .279/.331/.548 line and 19 home runs in 321 plate appearances, Gurriel has been one of several young Toronto hitters who look as if they’ll be long-term building blocks for the club.
- Twins left-hander Ian Krol has received a 50-game suspension after his second positive test for a drug of abuse, J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group tweets. Krol last appeared in the majors a year ago with the Angels, though he only threw two innings for the club. He previously received far more MLB work with the Nationals, Tigers and Braves from 2013-17. The 28-year-old has spent this season in Triple-A ball, where he has struggled to a 5.67 ERA with 11.3 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 in 46 innings between the top affiliates of the Twins and Reds.
- The Tigers will reinstate righty Jordan Zimmermann from the IL on Saturday, the team announced. Zimmermann will end up missing two weeks with a right cervical spasm. The 33-year-old has missed time with injuries in each season since the Tigers awarded him an five-year, $110MM contract entering 2016. To make matters worse, the former Washington standout hasn’t been productive when healthy since he joined Detroit.
- The Rays have turned infield prospect Jermaine Palacios into a two-way player – the fourth in their system – according to John Vittas, broadcaster for the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs. The 23-year-old Palacios fired 95 to 96 mph fastballs during his debut on the mound, Vittas adds. Palacios joined the Rays in their Jake Odorizzi trade with Minnesota prior to last season. While Palacios boasted a decently regarded bat at the time of the deal, he hasn’t hit much since then, which likely played a role in the Rays’ decision to try him as a pitcher.
Well that’s unfortunate. Krol’s always had an up and down career.
I’d agree with the down part. If he’s smoking weed, I suppose that would qualify as up.
Jordan Zimmerman’s contract is the single biggest reason the Tigers are no longer competitive. Please DFA him.
They have way bigger problems than just his contract
What problems do they have? They’re rebuilding.
Rebuilding? No, they are stuck in an old building that is crumbling around them.
Miguel Cabrera comes to mind
The teams best hitter is the problem?
Miggy
Miggy is an old trophy of DD. The current versions include Sale and Price. Even if the numbers look good when you watch these players you see players that will need surgery and rehab long before the contract is up. That will be followed by subpar performances as they become a shadow of the player that was signed to a contract that was TOO long.
Everybody’s for Sale at the right Price.
I’ll place Betts on that…..
Badda Bing!
In DD we trust. For the first few contract years, anyway.
Jordan Zimmerman’s contract barely scratches the surface on why they aren’t competitive.
Young illich saw other teams succeed with tanking. A team like the tigers can tank and still make money because tiger fans support the team when they are bad. The owner saw a chance to gut payroll, build a farm system and be a strong team in 5 years. He could then either invest in winning again or sell the team for a huge profit. We will see which he chooses.
What else was he going to do now? Spend a bunch of money and suck? Ilitch actually opened the checkbook and signed a bunch of flip candidates this offseason. They didn’t pan out but he at the least spent some money on an attempt. I don’t really get the issue with him. He couldve spend another 100 million dollars on payroll and you would’ve been a laughing stock. The Tigers have 0 offense.
They’re rebuilding, they aren’t trying to be competitive.
There’s more than Jordan Zimmerman’s contract. Zimmermann get $25M this year and next. Justin Verlander gets $8M this year to play elsewhere, Prince Fielder gets $6M this year and next to stay home. Meanwhile, Tyson Ross gets $5.75M; Michael Fulmer gets $2.8M; Matt Moore gets $2.5M; Josh Harrison gets $2M, Blaine Hardy gets $1.3M. That’s $53.35M for players to not play this season. Then, we can’t overlook that extreme underperforming Jordy Mercer gets $5.25M and Miguel Cabrera gets $30M the next 3 years plus $32M each of the two years after that to bring the total to $88.6M in 2019. Not many blue chip businesses on Wall Street can bleed so heavily and hope to survive.
For 2020, the waste starts at $61M before the season begins. I would not expect it to be less than $50M every year for the next 5 years..
Hey, the dadster overpaid trying to win it all. Billionaires get to do that.
Now the kids get to deal
with the aftermath.
It happens…..
Miguel Cabrera’s contract is a much larger impediment. The largest impediment is the lack of offensive talent in their pipeline though.
It was a bad one but they have other problems…..
Brad Peacock is a #2 or #3…Astros need a good season out of him for a good return
Peacock is a #2 or #3 option as a 5th starter? Because he sure as hell isnt a #2 or 3 starter.
I thought the same thing, but on some teams he could be a 2 or 3.
He’s an ace on the Jays.
1 year of control for a guy who never pitched more than 133 innings. Houston’s better off keeping him as their #5 next season than dealing him for what they’d get in Return.
The minor league drug policy has to change. Especially if Krol tested positive for marijuana.
But Zimmerman is the biggest reason the Tigers are not/have not been competitive.
To DFA him wont help tho.
Palacios hasnt hit since joining the Rays system. they should just make him a reliever. you don’t need everyone to be a two-way player.
Goldbricker Zimmerman’s return brings us that much closer to the 1/1 pick.
Ahh for the days of Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Bill Freehan, Mickey Lolich, Denny McClain, and Tiger Stadium!
Norm Cash! Tiger Stadium! Loved that
overhanging outfield
upper deck! Mickey (you cant pull fat) Lolich!
Memories!
Oh my… Brett Gardner tossed again for banging his bat like a child. When will he grow up? Roid Rage?
Gardner hitting
.105 Vs Clevland
.111 Vs Minn
.238 Vs Houston
.274 Vs Tampa
Biggest mistake will be playing him in the PS. STAY TUNED
Always have to wonder what goes into somebody’s thinking when they are popped a second time for a drug of abuse and suspended (the first time only comes with a warning). Questionable commitment, which will lead to a short career. Idiot!