The Orioles announced this afternoon that they’ve designated right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis for assignment. His spot on the roster will go to fellow righty Ryan Eades, whose previously reported waiver claim out of the Twins organization has now been formally announced by the Orioles.
Yacabonis, 27, has struggled substantially in the Majors despite solid, if unremarkable results in the upper minors. He’s in the midst of his final season with minor league options, so the Orioles seemingly value the flexibility that Eades brings to the table over a righty who has received numerous auditions in recent seasons.
Dating back to his 2017 MLB debut, Yacabonis has pitched 101 2/3 innings for the Orioles, mostly as a reliever or opener. In that time he’s turned in a 5.75 ERA while averaging 6.6 strikeouts, 5.0 walks and 1.68 home runs per nine innings pitched. Yacabonis’ heater has averaged 94 mph with slightly above-average spin in that time, but he’s given up far too much hard contact and struggled both throwing strikes and commanding the ball within the zone. He’ll be made available to the other 29 teams in the league via outright waivers in the coming days., though if he clears, the Orioles will be able to retain him and assign him to a minor league affiliate without dedicating a 40-man roster spot to him.
This made the most sense. He’s out of options next year and has literally shown nothing in the minors or majors in 2 years. I thought Tayler Scott’s last blowup might’ve sealed his fate but he’s been absolutely dominant for Norfolk. Glad elias went w Yack first.
Saw him start against the Yankees last year at Camden. He actually had decent stuff. Just got behind in counts too much and got torched.
I can’t say his name without an Italian mobster accent. “ayyy it’s Jimmy Yacabonis…..”
LOL
Why did they all of a sudden decide he was a starter last year after pitching his whole career in relief?
for the same reason they claim all the wrong players; they’re clueless.
Two completely different front offices buddy…..
“It’s a mystery to me…”-Roy Orbison.
They didn’t “decide” he was a starter last year. They were short of SP candidates and Buck and whoever was the pitching coach last year thought they saw something that they could stretch out. He had thrown some decent multiple inning outings. Unfortunately, he could not throw enough strikes in the major leagues.
What these pitchers for the Orioles are finding out is that if you can’t convince major league hitters that you can throw strikes, they will wait you out and either take walks or hit your mistakes.
Absolutely nothing special about Yacabonis. Throws 93-94, struggles w command, flyball pitcher who gives up too many Hrs. And he’s out of options at seasons end. Essentially Mike Wright 2.0. I figured he’d get DFA’d like Wright did at the beginning of next season after struggling but I’m glad we cut bait now.
Now all they have to do is release Chris Davis.
Aren’t you petrified someone will claim him?
Either way they’re on the hook for the money. Why would the claim matter?
IF and it’s a big if, they put Chris on waivers and someone claims him then the new/claiming club would be on the hook for the money. Now if they release him and another club signs him then the O’s would still be on the hook for the dollars. I believe that’s how it all works.
That’s right.
But no team
would EVER
claim him…..
That would never happen-unless the Angel’s were looking for another bad contract…..
Look for Davis to be let go as soon as Ryan Mountcastle joins the big club from AAA
Davis will finish the season in Baltimore. There’s no guarantee that Mountcastle will be promoted in September, and definitely not any sooner than that.
I would not be surprised to see another club claim Yacabonis and have him develop into being a decent pitcher. Not another Arrieta type but a decent pitcher.
If another team can figure out a way to get him to quit walking more than a guy every two innings and leaving 0-2 pitches over the middle of the plate, then they deserve to get a decent pitcher.
Yuk-a-bones had to go!
Mountcastle will be promoted in September, I would imagine; he needs to be protected this winter anyway, and you don’t lose any option years when you add a player like that in September (there’s nowhere to option him to, since the milb season is over).
And really, gang, I was only kidding about some GM claiming Davis. Any one that did would get that “special” cell in the New York prison.