The Astros have placed right-hander Roberto Osuna on outright waivers, reports Jake Kaplan of The Athletic (Twitter link). The right-hander missed most of the 2020 season with an elbow injury and was initially recommended to undergo Tommy John surgery, although a second opinion caused him to attempt to rehab the injury without surgery. Osuna was projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to repeat his $10MM salary in his final trip through arbitration, and his salary and injury have made an obvious non-tender candidate. That’s what this move effectively boils down to.
Given Osuna’s injury, projected salary and prior suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy, it’s all but a lock that he’ll clear waivers and become a free agent.
Still just 25 years of age, Osuna pitched only 4 1/3 innings in 2020 before landing on the injured list with what proved to be a season-ending elbow ailment. He’s been consistently excellent every season he’s been on the mound — career 2.74 ERA, 9.9 K/9, 1.6 BB/9 — but Osuna also served 75-game suspension in 2018 after his girlfriend filed domestic violence charges against him. Osuna eventually agreed to a peace bond in Canada, which resulted in the charges being dropped.
Per the Canadian Department of Justice’s web site, peace bonds are generally used when “an individual (the defendant) appears likely to commit a criminal offence, but there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has actually been committed.” The Canadian Department of Justice further specifies that peace bonds are obtainable by “any person who fears that another person may injure them, their spouse or common-law partner, or a child, or may damage their property.”
All of that will be factored into any future negotiations between Osuna and a new team once he reaches the market, although Osuna’s own track record shows that teams will look past allegations of abuse and assault in order to acquire a productive Major Leaguer. The Astros embarrassingly walked back their own “zero tolerance” policy for domestic abuse in order to acquire Osuna at a lower cost in the middle of his suspension, and we’ve seen other teams pay premium prices to sign players who’ve served suspensions under the domestic violence policy (most notably the Yankees with Aroldis Chapman).
The most immediate determining factor in Osuna’s next destination will be the health of his right elbow (or lack thereof). He began a throwing program about a month after initially being shut down, but he’ll have a ways to go before he’s ready to rejoin a bullpen.
Bum
This has bugged me for a while. Since the assault happened in Canada, was it Foreign or International Violence?
When does the forgiveness start?
When he buys a time machine and undoes it.
Your little world must be a real trip.
It doesn’t. He shouldn’t have assaulted a woman and forced her to flee the country to avoid testifying against him. Hitting someone is never the answer. Ever.
No one saying it is! There’s a difference between forgiveness and calling wrong, wrong.
I don’t know what world you grew up in. There are and have always been People that only understand a Kick in the A$$. They can’t be talked to or they choose not to listen.
The World is not a Utopia and nor will it ever be.
It doesn’t have to be that way, nor should it.
He should have had the surgery. Almost a foregone conclusion that he’ll need it next year so he’s throwing away 2 years of his career/earnings instead of one.
Good.
bring him back home Jays!
NFW
Why? It be cool to see him closing for the Jays again. Memories of 2015!
That was when he was just beating opponents, right?
Yes
When he came to the team, it became proof that Verlander was a fraud. He called out other players re domestic violence, but his virtue signaling suddenly ended when Osuna went to the Astros. Then he also remained mum re the Astros trashcan-related cheating. A true phony!
Out of curiosity what did you expect Verlander to do?
Maybe call out that Osuna committing domestic violence was wrong too? Out of curiosity why do you think that would be such a crazy thing to do?
If he is healthy I would take a flier on him
I have what is, I suppose, a pretty basic question: If am arbitration-eligible player is outrighted off the 40-man roster and remains with the organization rather than choosing free agency, what is his contract status? Would he be receive a low-pay minor league salary for the next season? What would his salary be if he later is added back to the 40? To the active roster? Would he get the league minimum, and thus would be unlikely to accept the outright? These may be unusual situations, but I can see an injured player wanting to stay with a team’s medical team during rehabilitation.
In regard to Osuna’s situation, he will be released and become a free agent. He can sign a contract with any other team for whatever price.
If he’s able to re-hab his arm and throw like he did previously he should be able to get an incentive based contract. Tanaka has thrown the last several years with a partially torn UCL so it’s plausible Osuna can pitch again without surgery.
So, just like players and teams can reach a contract agreement to avoid arbitration, whatever contract he signs with a new team will also avoid arbitration. He signs for whatever he signs for.
I can’t say a dang thing cause I laughed.
Angels future closer
Well to be fair he does have the traits of an Angels pitcher: he comes w a pedigree and the potential to suffer a long term serious injury 3 starts into his Angels career. Sorry, couldn’t resist
I’m not an Angels fan, but they seem to have more character and class than that.
Arte has his flaws but he won’t touch Osuna. He has a history of bringing in players who contribute to the community: Pujols, Hunter, Wells, etc. When he signed Hamilton, Josh was considered a feel good story of redemption.
He doesn’t make all the right moves but character clearly matters to him.
@Marc_from_Brooklyn: Probably minor-league contract, then major league minimum if he makes the active roster. I don’t think being added to the 40-man has a financial impact – it just makes it easier to be called up.
Philly’s gotta be all overt him right? They’re beyond desperate for any semblance of bullpen stability.
if he’s healthy id take a look. i know the DV thing is there and im not applauding him for it or even condiong it, but he’s a darn good player when healthy.
In other words, character isn’t an issue for you.
Says a lot about you.
if that’s what you think, so be it. i dont know if i would employ him if i owned a team, but im not an owner. point is i wouldnt never give the team.a cent again if they signed him. not hiring someone, like cutting someone like this when they are expendable, (see Addison Russell and Odubel Harrera, but not Osuna earlier or Chapman now) is in my opinion a hollow gesture unless you will be consistent about it. and when it comes to the team, its not my choice, but i simply don’t think employing someone bad is a manner of condoning one’s actions. Osuna’s attraction is his production, not his character.
You’re so brave behind your keyboard Stevil. What’s sad about your existence is you believe people are incapable of change. You’re going to live a very lonely existence if that continues to be your outlook. I can’t imagine how you’ll treat yourself when you make your next big mistake in life.
It’s one of those slippery slopes.
Though his acts were horrible I find it hard to deny virtually anyone a second chance.
Tell you what. When I was his age I was serving my tours. I would absolutely hate if my worst moment from then became representative of my entire life.
Just something to think about.
Thank you for your service Ducky.
What Osuna did was reprehensible. Above I did ask when the forgiveness starts. Forgiveness is extremely hard in cases like this. Look at the Arizona Coyotes and what they did to a kid who did something very stupid as a teenager. Did he deserve to lose a spot in the NHL for something he did just after reaching puberty?
Who else will have their livelihood taken away for what we did in high school? I’m sure we’d have a very high unemployment if we cancelled people the way that hockey player was. As for Osuna, much worse situation; he was an adult and his act was a crime. But we’re still forgetting forgiveness in our society nor is this approach to cancel culture helping.
Cancel culture can be a good thing if you are canceling reprehensible behavior. There is no excuse to ever assault someone. We all know this. So no, I do not feel the need to forgive anyone who decides that this is ever an appropriate action. That part was not hard at all.
But you are correct that our approach to cancel culture is not helping. We should collectively revolt against “very stupid” behavior in general, so that people stop believing those acts are ok or that they can get away with them during any age. Young people should know from examples in society, parents, and worthless internet commenters like myself that at assaulting someone is never ok and it should, in fact, ruin your life. Then, yes, Ducky is right that it becomes a slippery slope. But for this guy, no. Especially, as you pointed out, since he was an adult.
You are technically correct.. Someone who committed an act of violence in society should never be allowed to work again, or live a happy day ever again.
The Astros require him in the middle of a suspension he help them win a World Series has been a model citizen ever since then and now just because he suffered an injury they want him off their books. Funny most organizations it’s the reverse effect they deal with the injury and not the suspension.
He never won a World Series.
Just business
Not one to applaud the allegations against him, but if healthy Giants should take a look at him. Their bullpen is a mess.
no way, people are still upset about kapler and he was just incompetent in dealing with people who committed assault. Fans would boo him from day 1, better to bring back romo , hand or someone else as a veteran presence than a cancer in the clubhouse
Only one team sunk low enough to acquire him on the cheap last time he was available. Let’s see if anyone matches Lunhow’s character.
I’m glad Arte won’t grab him. I’d never buy a ticket again.
That’s a nice sentiment, but unfortunately it is not true. People forgive if you are winning. You would certainly be back, especially if it meant seeing Trout in the playoffs. Owners, even Arte, know this. Hopefully your comment ages well.
There are people like that, particularly NFL fans, but I guarantee you I wouldn’t. As much as I love baseball there are far more important things to me.
I have a young son. Cheering a woman beater is not the example I will ever set for him.
The highest paid athlete of all time beat up multiple women, with actual deviance against him. And he’s still the free, car collecting, billionaire that he is. That’s our society.
Worth mentioning that Osuna has already had TJ surgery once before; 2013 when he was in A-ball.
As an Angel fan, I wouldn’t want the guy if he was healthy and received the minimum.
Do not feel bad for this piece of trash whatsoever. I hope he retires without ever throwing another pitch.
Surprisingly, the Giles/Osuna trade worked out quite equally despite the prospects not panning out. Both pitched a good year and a half and then got hurt.