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Archives for July 2020

Rockies To Select Contracts Of Daniel Bard, Matt Kemp, Chris Owings

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The Rockies will carry long-lost MLB reliever Daniel Bard on their Opening Day roster, GM Jeff Bridich tells reporters including Nick Groke of The Athletic (Twitter links). He’ll have to be selected to the 40-man roster in order to be activated.

Also making the Rox were outfielder Matt Kemp and utilityman Chris Owings. They’ve had much more recent MLB activity than Bard, but are also looking for redemption after crashing out with other organizations.

Once an exciting young reliever, Bard ended up with irredeemable control problems after an attempted rotation conversion. His path back to the majors has been anything but straightforward. Remarkably, Bard’s last MLB pitch came more than seven years ago, in late April of 2013.

Rockies To Release Bryan Shaw, Jake McGee

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The Rockies have requested release waivers on relievers Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (via Twitter) and Thomas Harding of MLB.com (Twitter link). Barring the extremely unlikely event of a claim, both players will return to the open market.

When last these veteran hurlers tested the waters, they found irresistible bait dangling from the Rockies’ line. Both were lured to Denver with three-year, $27MM deals in December of 2017. Closer Wade Davis followed soon after with a three-year, $52MM pact.

At the time, the hope was that installing a trio of established late-inning arms would put the Rox over the top. It’s not as if any of the hurlers took down much more than was anticipated entering the offseason. But it was a significant risk to add all three. The Rockies were obviously prepared to accept the downside scenario, but surely didn’t think it could work out as poorly as it did.

Shaw, long a high-quality setup man, has limped to a 5.61 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 over 126 2/3 innings in Colorado. The 32-year-old struggled in Cactus League action this spring. McGee, soon to turn 34, carries a 5.54 ERA in his 92 2/3 frames since re-signing. While he owns a sturdy-enough combination of 8.0 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9, he has allowed two dingers per nine over the past two years.

So, is Coors Field to blame? Shaw was actually quite a lot better at home than on the road last year, so it doesn’t seem to explain much in his case. The opposite is true of McGee. Then again, the more revealing split may be in the platoon department. He was tuned up by right-handed hitters (.326/.390/.663) in 2019.

This move won’t really save the Rockies any money, but it’ll clear the deck for other players and wipe out some final earning possibilities for each of the two veterans.

Shaw’s deal promised him $9MM this year, so he’s still due the pro-rated portion of that. He’ll also get a $2MM buyout on a $9MM option, which would’ve been guaranteed with just forty appearances (had it been a full 2020 season). McGee needed 65 appearances (full season) for his $9MM option to vest. Instead, he’ll earn a pro-rated portion of his $9.5MM salary for 2020 and will also still be due a $2MM buyout.

Cubs Select Jason Kipnis, Return & Re-Acquire Trevor Megill

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The Cubs have announced a pair of 40-man roster moves, with Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic among those to cover things on Twitter. The club selected the contract of veteran infielder Jason Kipnis, ensuring he’ll be on the Opening Day roster when the season gets underway.

To create 40-man roster space, the club made a two-part move with respect to recent Rule 5 pick Trevor Megill. After he cleared waivers — any other team could’ve stepped into the R5 rights by committing a 40-man spot — the Cubs sent cash to the Padres to secure Megill’s permanent rights. He’ll remain in the team’s 60-man player pool.

Kipnis has long seemed likely to crack the Cubbies’ roster and that’s now in the books. The 33-year-old struggled in spring action but offers ample versatility and veteran guile while also carrying a hint of upside. Kipnis has hit at a below-average rate for each of the past three seasons, but was a star-level performer before that. He has long carried heavy platoon splits, so the Cubs may see value in limiting him to deployment against right-handed pitching.

As for Megill, 26, the Cubs obviously saw merit in not only drafting him but pursuing his long-term rights. He did carry 12.7 K/9 against 3.4 BB/9 last year in 50 1/3 Triple-A frames, though he managed only a 4.47 ERA. The club was clearly also concerned with being required to carry Megill on the active roster this year. This way, it can allow him to continue developing and call upon him only if it seems prudent. If he doesn’t earn his way to the majors in 2020, Megill will be eligible again for the Rule 5 draft this winter.

Giants News & Notes: Longo, Belt, Hamilton, Madero, Bishop

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The Giants may have to open the season without their starting corner infielders, Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group explains. First baseman Brandon Belt is dealing with a right heel problem, and third baseman Evan Longoria has a moderate oblique strain.

Manager Gabe Kapler said Belt took groundballs and ran Thursday, but he gave no timeline for when Belt or Longoria could make their season debuts. Pablo Sandoval and Wilmer Flores, who each have first and third base experience, seem like logical fill-in candidates if the Giants are shorthanded at one or both positions. Right now, it does seem as though the Giants will be without a good portion of their most established veterans on Opening Day. Before Belt and Longoria were in jeopardy, they lost Buster Posey for the entire season when he decided to opt out a week ago.

In better news for the club, outfielder Billy Hamilton and righty Luis Madero were cleared Thursday to participate, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic relayed (Twitter links). Hamilton landed on the injured list for an undisclosed medical reason July 9, while Madero tested positive for COVID-19 on July 3. Between the two, only Hamilton had a chance at a season-opening roster spot, but because of the time he missed, Kapler no longer sees that as a realistic possibility.

Outfield prospect Hunter Bishop was another of the Giants’ recent positive COVID tests, but he’s also coming along. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets that Bishop “feels great” and hasn’t dealt with any symptoms of late. But Bishop hasn’t rejoined the team because, as Schulman writes, he has had “trouble navigating the testing process in Arizona to get the negative tests he needs to be activated.”

Yasiel Puig Tests Positive For Coronavirus; Deal With Braves Reportedly Off

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Outfielder Yasiel Puig will not be signing with the Braves after all, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Puig reportedly agreed to a contract with the Braves earlier this week, but he announced Friday on Twitter that he has tested positive for the coronavirus. That was enough to scuttle the deal for Atlanta, which Rosenthal writes never actually reached an agreement with Puig.

Of course, this is a stunning turn of events for the Braves and Puig. First and foremost, though, is the 29-year-old’s health. Fortunately, he tweeted that he’s asymptomatic and feeling fine. Puig will need two negative tests before he’s eligible to return to action, which suddenly looks in jeopardy of happening at all in 2020 now that his pact with the Braves won’t go through. It’s unclear whether the Braves will circle back to the righty-swinging Puig in the near future. For now, they’re looking for a left-handed-hitting bench option to supplement their offense, according to Rosenthal.

Even before this development, Puig went through a surprisingly difficult few months. While he has been a solid contributor for most of his career, which began with the Dodgers in 2013, a down 2019 between Cincinnati and Cleveland led to a tepid market in free agency. The months-long COVID-19 shutdown that prevented teams from making transactions also didn’t help Puig’s cause. Once he regains his health, he’ll surely try yet again to land a contract with a major league team. Even if he does, he probably won’t be able to debut this season until at least sometime in August.

The Braves received great news Friday when first baseman and lineup linchpin Freddie Freeman was cleared to return to action, but their outfield depth has taken multiple hits of late. Before the failed Puig deal, veteran Nick Markakis opted out of the season over health concerns. They do currently have Ronald Acuna Jr., Marcell Ozuna and Ender Inciarte as starters in the grass, though, and their track records indicate they should make for a quality trio. Prospects Cristian Pache and Drew Waters may not be far off, but Pache is dealing with an ankle injury at the moment. Otherwise, Austin Riley, Adam Duvall and Charlie Culberson could be the team’s top reserves in the outfield.

DJ LeMahieu Rejoins Yankees

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JULY 17: LeMahieu is back on the field, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News tweets.

JULY 15: Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu has been on the shelf since July 4 because of a positive COVID-19 test, but he’s nearing a return to the club. LeMahieu is expected to rejoin the Yankees this week, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

It’s obviously a relief that LeMahieu has gotten past the virus in a relatively short amount of time. Considering the time LeMahieu missed, it’s unknown if he’ll be ready for the Yankees’ opener on July 23. Nevertheless, he’ll play a key role when he does make his 2020 debut.

LeMahieu, a former Rockie and Cub, signed a two-year, $24MM contract with the Yankees before 2019 and unexpectedly produced like one of the majors’ elite players. Along with hitting an exemplary .327/.375/.518 (136 wRC+) with 26 home runs and 5.4 fWAR in 655 plate appearances, he added great value as a defender, appearing in 40 or more games at second, third and first. LeMahieu will be the Yankees’ primary second baseman this year, joining shorstop Gleyber Torres to comprise their double-play tandem.

It’s in question what the future will hold for the 32-year-old LeMahieu after 2020, as he’s due to re-enter free agency in a few months. Before spring training shut down in March, LeMahieu told Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News he and the Yankees hadn’t engaged in serious extension talks. Nothing has changed on that front, per Ackert (though the league did halt all extension discussions during the shutdown).

Freddie Freeman, Touki Toussaint Cleared To Rejoin Braves

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Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and right-hander Touki Toussaint have been cleared to rejoin the club, Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. Both players have been out since July 4 because of positive coronavirus tests. Reliever Will Smith landed on the shelf when Freeman and Toussaint did, but he hasn’t been cleared yet, per David O’Brien of The Athletic.

It’s not known how long it will take for either Freeman or Toussaint to ramp up, though manager Brian Snitker said Thursday that the Braves hadn’t yet ruled out Freeman for the Braves’ season opener on July 24. Whether or not he plays then, it’s clear Freeman’s season debut should come sooner than later, which no doubt comes as an enormous relief for the team. After all, Freeman’s a four-time All-Star who continued his reign as one of the game’s most feared hitters last season.

Toussaint doesn’t carry that type of prestigious track record, having thrown 70 2/3 innings with a 4.97 ERA/4.49 FIP and 9.81 K/9 against 5.99 BB/9 since he first reached the majors in 2018. But the 24-year-old’s a former high-end prospect whose return is a welcome one considering the need for pitching in a pandemic-shortened season. And the Braves could use the depth with Smith’s status up in the air, injured lefty Cole Hamels unlikely to be available for the start of the season, and righty Felix Hernandez having opted out of the campaign.

Justin Anderson To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

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The Angels announced Friday that right-hander Justin Anderson has a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament. He’ll undergo Tommy John surgery as a result.

The 27-year-old Anderson is a former 14th-round pick of the Angels in 2014 who made his major league debut in 2018. Since then, only three Angels relievers (Noe Ramirez, Cam Bedrosian and Hansel Robles) have thrown more innings than Anderson’s 102 1/3. Unfortunately, though, injuries have been a frequent problem for Anderson dating back to last season. He dealt with a trapezoid issue then, which likely contributed to a 2 mph-plus drop in his average fastball (from 97.3 mph to 94.7), and then battled an oblique problem this past spring.

So far, Anderson has pitched to a 4.75 ERA and posted a bloated 6.33 BB/9 in the majors, though he does own a much better 4.10 FIP and an impressive strikeout rate of 11.17 per nine. He won’t have a chance to add to those numbers until late next year or perhaps in 2022, as TJ procedures typically require 12 to 15 months of rehab. In the meantime, Anderson is scheduled to reach arbitration for the first time during the upcoming offseason.

Gregory Polanco Tests Positive For Coronavirus

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Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco has tested positive for the coronavirus, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic was among those to report.

Polanco has been out of Pirates Summer Camp for almost the entire week, making this an unsurprising development. However, it’s unclear whether he’s dealing with severe symptoms or whether he’ll be able to return in short order. The same goes for two of his teammates, reliever Keone Kela (whom the team placed on the injured list Friday) and third base prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes. They’ve also been absent from camp.

From an on-field standpoint, Polanco is one of the Pirates’ most important players. He was a solid producer as recently as the 2018 season, in which he batted .254/.340/.499 with 23 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 535 plate appearances. But Polanco couldn’t build on that during an injury-plagued 2019 that saw him take just 167 PA and bat .242/.301/.425 with six HRs and three steals.

Now, as Jason Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote Thursday, the Polanco-less Pirates could turn to any of Guillermo Heredia, Socrates Brito, Adam Frazier or Jose Osuna in right field. Bryan Reynolds figures to start in left, while Jarrod Dyson should occupy center.

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