The Indians announced Friday that they’ve designated infielder Andrew Velazquez for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster goes to outfielder/designated hitter Domingo Santana, whose one-year deal with the Indians has now been formally announced.
Velazquez, 25, appeared in five games with the Indians in 2019 and went 1-for-11. He’s appeared sparingly at the MLB level between the Tampa Bay and Cleveland organizations, hitting .152/.222/.242 in a minuscule sample of 36 plate appearances. The Indians acquired him just this past July in exchange for international bonus pool allotments.
The versatile Velazquez is a shortstop by nature but has also logged ample time in center field, at second base and at third base throughout an eight-year minor league tenure. He’s a career .260/.316/.415 hitter in 648 plate appearances at the Triple-A level. Cleveland will have a week to trade Velazquez, place him on outright waivers or release him. He does have two minor league option years remaining, so a club seeking some versatile infield depth could place a speculative claim if it has the roster flexibility at present.
As an Indians fan I’m annoyed for a linked reason. This means they’re rushing Tyler Naquin back from injury. Because they could have simply put him on the 60 like most other teams are doing to clear spaces. They aren’t doing that probably because they think he’ll be back before then.
His tear was August 31. Recovery timetables for ACL tears are 7-9 months, which would get him on a rehab assignment beginning somewhere between April and June. Instead, he’s apparently already ramping up activities. The Indians recent history involving mishandling injured players – Chisenhall, Brantley, Salazar – show they should not get the benefit of the doubt here.
Naquin says he feels fine – and that’s the problem. People always feel fine at this point and are eager to be done with rehab. But waiting each month after 6 (until 9 months) decreases the risk of self-injury by 51% according to the British Journal of Sports Medicine. They are rushing to the short end of that timetable. It very well may not end well.
Chisenhall couldn’t heal a calf, Brantley had various physical ailments and Salazar’s problems were in his head after they gave him plenty of time/rehab, that’s not on them.
They rushed Chisenhall and Brantley back repeatedly. They both came back at the early end of their timetables. And lo and behold, they kept getting hurt again. Salazar’s problem isn’t mental (at least not entirely) – his shoulder is toast. He struggled to throw 88 when he used to throw 98. He can’t generate that force anymore.
He topped out at 87 in his return to the majors days after going into the 90s in the minors. They finally got tired of his antics and sent him home, his problems are definitely mental at this point.
This is because Valasquez isn’t very good, not because of anything to do with Naquin.
There’s no harm in keeping Naquin available just in case, because once you commit to putting him on the 60-day IL, you’re stuck with that.
Exactly.
You can always put Naquin on the 60 day DL at any starting point.
Leaping to conclusions because of two injury prone players who historically had problems healing and excoriating a teams training staff because of it is ridiculous.
Chisenhall was given every chance to succeed and, while he may have returned early a time or two, it wasn’t like the team NEEDED his bat,. Outside of 1 season, he wasn’t anything special.
Brantley, yes. His injuries may have been mishandled. But I’m not a doctor.
In the end, we aren’t talking about an impact player being lost with this guy. They got him for nothing.
Man they should of traded him to the dodgers for a platoon outfielder, Stripling and a prospect
Man they should of traded him to the dodgers for a platoon outfielder, Stripling and a prospect
Should have, should have, should have!
Ugh. Indians fan, also. Andrew looked like he could turn into an everyday player. Hope he gets a chance soon. He will prob be picked up sooner than later.
If you can’t make the organizations top 40 we shouldn’t be upset we won’t have him around for the 25-26 man roster.