The Brewers announced they’ve acquired left-hander Kyle Lobstein from the Nationals in exchange for cash considerations. He’s been optioned to Triple-A Nashville. To create space on the 40-man roster, righty Ryan Weber was designated for assignment. Additionally, Milwaukee announced that infielder Daniel Robertson has passed through outright waivers.
Washington selected Lobstein to the roster late last month, marking his first major league action in five years. The 31-year-old made three appearances totaling 1 1/3 innings before the Nats designated him for assignment last weekend. Prior to his promotion, Lobstein had spent the year with Triple-A Rochester, where he impressively tossed 21 1/3 innings of 1.69 ERA ball, striking out a lofty 29.8% of opposing hitters against an average 9.5% walk rate.
That performance evidently intrigued the Milwaukee front office, which also has Brent Suter, Aaron Ashby, Hoby Milner and Angel Perdomo as left-handed options behind relief ace Josh Hader. Lobstein is in his final option year, so he can be shuttled between Milwaukee and Nashville for the remainder of the season if he sticks on the 40-man roster.
Milwaukee claimed Weber off waivers from the Red Sox a little more than a month ago. He’s made just one appearance with the Brewers, tossing a scoreless inning of relief against the Rockies. Weber has spent more of the year at Triple-A, pitching to a 5.02 ERA with an average 23.5% strikeout rate and a stingy 6% walk percentage over 43 frames split between Boston’s and Milwaukee’s affiliates. He’s appeared in the big leagues for five teams over the past seven seasons, compiling a 5.27 ERA/4.30 SIERA at the highest level. Milwaukee will have a week to trade Weber or place him on waivers.
The Brewers signed Robertson to a one-year, $900K deal over the offseason. The right-handed hitting utiltityman didn’t produce much in a limited look, though, hitting just .164/.303/.274 across 90 plate appearances before being designated for assignment last week. As a player with between three and five years of MLB service time, Robertson has the right to reject the outright assignment in favor of free agency. Doing so would mean forfeiting the remainder of his guaranteed salary, though, so he seems likelier to report to Nashville and hope to play his way back onto the big league roster before the end of the year.
Now there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while
Say it like Obiwan. “Now that’s a name I have not heard in a long time. A long time.”
I think my uncle knows him. he said he was dead.
“Oh he’s not dead… not yet!”
Hello there!
Great name for slow pitch softball!
Dave LaRoche is back!
Interesting the Brewers DFA’d a guy with a slightly better ERA in the majors than Lobstein. I guess they figure his stats in the minors are worth working on.
Two players born exactly one year apart.
This is irrelevant but Jason Heyward and Anthony Rizzo are exactly 1 day apart. And Sindey Crosby is exactly two year older than Mike Trout
Rizzo and Heyward are 729 and 728 days older than Mike Trout. I’m 5 years and 1 day older than Starlin Castro.
But again this all irrelevant.
I really liked Lobstein when he played for the Tigers. I thought he was going to be good. Then, I believe he just never made it out of Spring Training one year and I never heard of him again until now.
The Tigers traded him to the Pirates, and Lobstein put up decent numbers for Pittsburgh for part of 2016. But they traded Lobstein away towards the end of the 2016 season and he had been bouncing between AAA teams ever since until now.
Lobster boy is a brewer!
Must be planning to pound the Reds with lefties after the break. Need to build some cushion there quickly!
Bad name for a pitcher. Not Grant Balfour or Bob Walk but not great
He’ll do until Charlie Ephus is ready.
Consider him Left On Base Stein.
Lobstering? More like Kyle Gas
If I ever made it to the big leagues my last name would have been a joke in baseball and on these boards. Especially if I made it as a pitcher. By the way James is not it.
Let’s just say it’s not anything you want to catch.
Tommy Theclap?
Lol
Billy Don Gopheritis?
How can Lobstein still have options left? Dude is 31. He has had 6 seasons of minor leagues since hitting the majors in 2014.
AND BARKER GETS SCREWED AGAIN
No earned runs in 22 of his last 23 outings.