The White Sox claimed southpaw Nik Turley off waivers from the A’s, Scott Merkin of MLB.com was among those to note (Twitter link). Right-hander Jimmy Cordero has been placed on the 60-day injured list to create 40-man roster space.
Turley, 31, tossed 21.2 relief innings of 4.98 ERA/4.82 SIERA ball with the Pirates in 2020. The A’s acquired him from Pittsburgh for cash considerations in January. Oakland evidently didn’t plan on carrying the out-of-options Turley on the active roster to begin the season, so they placed him on waivers. Turley will have to break camp with the Sox or else again be offered to other clubs.
Cordero underwent Tommy John surgery this week. He’ll miss the entire 2021 season.
Please review my previous comments from the Pirates to Athletics trade for many facts about Nik Turley.
mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/pirates-trade-nik-turle…
Didn’t Nik Turley live in a van down by the river?
He did, but he turned his life around and now goes by “Nicholas Turley.”
Whose choice was this nonsense pick?
He’s going to be on the opening day roster.
Lopez has pretty much pitched himself out of a job. He can’t start, and he can’t be relied upon in the bullpen.
Rodon continues to amaze. I am stunned, seriously. He hasn’t pitched this well in years. He would make one of the best stories of the year, not just for the Sox, but in all of baseball. He’s thrown what now, like 10 scoreless innings with 11+ K’s or something and only like 5 hits? Against regular Padres and Diamondback hitters. Does not mean he will stay healthy but at least he has shown that there is some hope for him if he does. He will be one heck of a 5th starter if something indeed has clicked with him. He might turn into their 4th and relegate Cease to 5th. And with all the criticism of Cease, he is a more than adequate 5th starter without any improvement if that’s all they need him to be. I think he will be better as the season goes on, with some patience. He has only had like 24 major league starts, which is not many at all.
I had hoped that one of Rodon/Lopez would be decent, and would consider that a miracle. I don’t want Lopez to fail but on the other hand, at least it has been made very clear who their 5th starter should be, and that Lopez needs to work his stuff out at AAA. He gives up runs just about every inning he is out there. I don’t know if it means this Turley character will be on the opening day roster, but I get where you are coming from. I don’t see how Lopez should get a roster spot at all, he can’t get anybody out. They could even go with one less pitcher for the time being, and kick off the extra position player once Frye is ready to return hopefully in May.
@jhomeslice
I agree about Rodon. I know it’s ST, but if he pitches even close to that in the regular season (and stays healthy), the Sox will be in really good shape with their rotation (barring injuries).
Rodon has always had great stuff.
The problem is he can’t stay healthy. I hope he proves me wrong this season, because that would be huge if he can get back to form.
@maximumvelocity
I have to agree with you. I thought when they gave him $2MM this Winter, he was assured of a job in the pen.
I know it’s only ST, but he looks worse every time out. They can’t afford to mess around with him if he’s going to give up runs every time he goes out there once the games start counting.
Meh. Just don’t put him out there with two runners on and in a high leverage situation
@Dumpster Divin Theo
I definitely agree with you there.
Lefty was needed to fill roster. Left handed mop up man
Did I miss them not keeping Fry, Crochet, and Bummer? They didn’t need another lefty. They saw an opportunity to snag a guy who even the athletics beat reporters were surprised was let go. It’s pretty damning that a guy who hasn’t ever really had good numbers, but rather good peripherals, is more coveted than a José Ruiz or Tayron Guerrero
@donopolis
Fry’s out until May (unless something’s changed recently I don’t know about).
I saw Carson Fulmer, Dylan Cease, Don Cooper the past few spring trainings, Rodon has been very good, but past seasons scare you.