NL East Notes: Carrasco, Watson, Smyly
Carlos Carrasco pitched a rehab outing for Triple-A Syracuse today, with Mets manager Luis Rojas telling reporters (including The New York Post’s Mike Puma) that the veteran righty’s “stuff was great.” It now seems like Carrasco is finally ready to make his Mets debut, as a source tells Puma that Carrasco is likely to be activated from the 60-day injured list for his next outing, which would seem to line up for next weekend’s series against the Reds.
Acquired along with Francisco Lindor in perhaps the biggest trade of the offseason, Carrasco suffered a torn right hamstring during Spring Training. Initially expected to miss roughly six to eight weeks, Carrasco has now missed the majority of the season after his recovery took longer than expected. Assuming Carrasco is healthy and able to return to his usual above-average form, he’ll be able to provide immediate help to a Mets rotation that has been shorthanded by injuries.
More from the NL East…
- The Marlins have offered first-round draft pick Kahlil Watson a $4.5MM bonus, The Miami Herald’s Craig Mish reports (via Twitter). This figure would put the Marlins in excess of their overall draft pool limit, but under the five percent penalty threshold with a bit of room to spare, according to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis (Twitter link). Any team that exceeds their draft spending pool by more than five percent would be penalized future picks, so in staying under the five percent line, the Marlins would only have to pay a 75 percent tax on the overage. Miami’s offer is well above the $3,745,500 assigned slot price for the 16th overall pick, but extra money was likely to be necessary considering that many pundits expected Watson to be selected near the top of the draft board, before he surprisingly fell to the Marlins’ pick.
- Drew Smyly left yesterday’s game after four innings due to soreness in his left knee, but testing today revealed no structural damage, The Athletic’s David O’Brien tweets. Assuming no setbacks, the Braves left-hander should be able to take the ball for his next start. Smyly didn’t pitch well over the season’s first two months but he has quietly regained his form, posting a 2.19 ERA over his last seven starts and 37 innings.
Dodgers Place Mookie Betts On 10-Day Injured List
Mookie Betts has been placed on the Dodgers’ 10-day injured list due to right hip inflammation, the team announced. In the corresponding move, right-hander Jimmy Nelson was activated from his own 10-day IL stint to take Betts’ spot on the active roster.
There was no mention made of a retroactive placement date, which is somewhat curious since Betts hasn’t played since July 19. Teams are allowed up to three days of back-dating on IL placements, so Betts would have been eligible to return to action in a week’s time. Instead, the star outfielder is now set to miss 10 full days beginning today.
Manager Dave Roberts said last week that Betts was dealing with multiple “nagging” injuries beyond just his hip, so it could be that this 10-day break might be necessary to get Betts fully healed up and ready for the stretch drive. Betts has also missed a couple of games this year with such maladies as a sore shoulder and a sore back, though this represents his first actual IL placement since a minimal 10-day stint in 2018.
After a slow start to the season by his standards, Betts is now back producing at his usual superstar level. The outfielder has 14 home runs and a .270/.374/.502 slash line in 374 plate appearances, and his absence will create another notable gap in the L.A. lineup. Corey Seager and Gavin Lux are also on the injured list, and while Cody Bellinger is dealing with a balky hamstring. Pitching is thought to be the Dodgers’ primary focus at the trade deadline, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the club added another bat to the bench.
Nelson’s return will provide some reinforcement to the bullpen, as the righty missed a little over two weeks due to a back strain. Nelson had another 10-day IL trip earlier this year, but health aside, it has been a very successful comeback year. After missing the entire 2020 season due to back surgery, Nelson has become a full-time relief pitcher and delivered a 2.00 ERA and 41 strikeouts over 27 innings.
Twins, Byron Buxton Unable To Reach Extension
The Twins and franchise cornerstone Byron Buxton have been unable to come to terms on a contract extension, increasing the likelihood of a full-scale sell-off before Friday’s trade deadline. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Dan Hayes report that the Twins’ initial offer was for $73MM over seven years with an unspecified number of incentives. The Twins “increased the guarantee slightly,” but not enough to come to a long-term agreement. The final guarantee increased to $80MM, tweets The Athletic.
The end result here is not surprising, given the muddled valuation process for a talent like Buxton. When he’s at his best, he’s one of the best players in the game, a five-tool player capable of anchoring a first-division lineup on both sides of the ball from a premium position. The injury concerns, however, have limited his contributions and saddled him with a tricky long-term risk profile.
This season perfectly illustrated the dichotomy of Buxton as a team-building asset. In 27 games, he made 110 trips to the plate and accrued an insane 2.7 fWAR with a .369/.409/.767 line, good for a 217 wRC+. But 27 games of MVP-caliber production from Buxton wasn’t enough to keep the Twins anywhere near contention. They currently have a 0.0% chance to make the playoffs, per Fangraphs.
Buxton went on the injured list with a hip strain from May 7th to June 16th, by which point Minnesota’s shot at the playoffs was already slim to nil. He was back for less than a week before breaking his hand and returning to the injured list. Because he’s still out, there’s very little chance that the Twins might move Buxton now.
Instead, they’ll wait for the offseason and re-evaluate. Even just one season of a healthy Buxton ought to pique the interest of a few teams around the league who might be willing to take a chance on keeping him healthy.
The question now is whether Minnesota’s inability to lock up Buxton long-term will push them to be more aggressive in offloading assets like Jose Berrios and Taylor Rogers. Both are under team control through 2022, like Buxton. Both are key cogs in a potential contender in 2022, like Buxton.
With Nelson Cruz already gone and the rest of the present-day roster not looking much like a contender, the Twins may already doubt their chances to battle an increasingly indomitable White Sox team next season.
If Berrios ultimately gets moved in the next week, we’ll know the Twins’ thoughts about next season. If he stays, the Twins may be preparing for one final run with Berrios and Buxton under contract. Either way, it’s looking increasingly likely that Buxton’s long-term future resides somewhere other than Minnesota — where he can tantalize and frustrate a different fanbase.
NL Injury Notes: Lamet, deGrom, McNeil, Sims, Bote
The Padres are planning for an early August return to the hill for Dinelson Lamet, though he’s likeliest to come back in the bullpen, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Said Lamet about a possible role change, “At the end of the day, the rotation is some place I want to get back to, but I’m here to help the team. I’m here to help the team win. So, if that’s what my role is right now and that’s what I need to do to help, of course I’m going to do it.” Lamet’s primary concern is being available for the playoffs, where he could prove a vital weapon as a multi-inning shutdown reliever.
- Jacob deGrom threw off a mound, and he’s feeling good, per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo (via Twitter). deGrom was placed on the injured list with forearm tightness, one of many seemingly minor maladies that have derailed his epic campaign at various points this season. There’s not yet an exact timetable for his return.
- In other Mets’ news, Jeff McNeil will miss his third consecutive game with left leg fatigue, though he will be available off the bench, which is better than the previous two days, per Tim Healey of Newsday (via Twitter). The Mets hope that McNeil will be back in the lineup tomorrow.
- Lucas Sims will head to Triple-A on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, per Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer (via Twitter). Sims has seven saves, but just a 5.02 ERA in 28 appearances.
- The Cubs have activated David Bote from the injured list and optioned Trevor Megill to Triple-A, per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). Bote started today’s game at third base, pushing Patrick Wisdom to left.
Astros Designate Ryan Hartman For Assignment, Reinstate Brooks Raley
The Astros have reinstated Brooks Raley from the COVID-related injured list. To create a spot on the active roster, catcher Garrett Stubbs was optioned to Triple-A. To make room on the 40-man roster, Ryan Hartman was designated for assignment, per The Athletic’s Jake Kaplan (via Twitter).
Hartman, 27, made one appearance, the first of his Major League career and perhaps his last with the Astros. He threw 2 1/3 innings on June 30th against the Orioles, allowing one earned run on three hits and no walks while striking out two.
Stubbs doesn’t have much of a role with Martin Maldonado and Jason Castro on the roster. He does have 25 plate appearances, hitting .182/.217/.227 while starting five games behind the dish.
Raley, 33, has just a 5.93 ERA in 30 1/3 innings, though his peripherals suggest a much stronger performance. The southpaw has a solid 30.1 percent strikeout rate, 6.8 percent walk rate, and 2.80 FIP.
Rays Claim Jake Reed Off Waivers From Dodgers, Place Collin McHugh On 10-Day Injured List
The Rays have claimed right-hander Jake Reed off waivers from the Dodgers, per the team. Reed’s time with the Dodgers was short, but memorable. He began the year in the Angels’ minor league system, but he was released on June 2. He signed with the Dodgers two days later and made his Major League debut with the Dodgers little more than a month later.
The Tucson native appeared in six games from July 6-18, starting one as an opener. He tossed 5 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five. He will head to Triple-A to join the Durham Bulls.
Earlier today, the Rays placed Collin McHugh on the 10-day injured list with arm fatigue, replacing him on the active roster with Ryan Sherriff, who joined the taxi squad yesterday, per the team.
In his first action since leaving the Astros after 2019, McHugh has been a tremendous swingman for the Rays. He’s logged 41 2/3 innings in 23 appearances (including four starts) with a 1.51 ERA/1.36 FIP, good for a chunky 1.5 fWAR. The 34-year-old allows his share of fly balls with just a 40.0 percent groundball rate, but his strikeout and walk numbers are sterling. McHugh has a 36.6 percent strikeout rate and a 5.0 percent walk rate.
Cardinals Acquire T.J. Zeuch From Blue Jays
The Cardinals have reportedly acquired right-hander T.J. Zeuch from the Blue Jays, per Robert Murray of FanSided (via Twitter). Zeuch was recently designated for assignment. The Blue Jays will receive cash considerations, and Zeuch will be assigned to Triple-A, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
St. Louis has been extremely active in the waiver market, already snagging T.J. McFarland and Justin Miller from the Nationals. Zeuch, however, brings the ability to log innings in the rotation. That fits a particular need for the Cardinals, who currently have four starters on the injured list (Jack Flaherty, Miles Mikolas, Carlos Martinez, Dakota Hudson).
He’s been fairly reliable, for what he provides. Basically, Zeuch offers innings and groundballs. Zeuch figured to be a popular target on the waiver wire given his relatively reliable production, pedigree as a former first-round draft pick, and contract, as he not only is pre-arb, but also comes with two options remaining. The Cardinals also had a 40-man roster spot open after losing Roel Ramirez off waivers to the Mets.
Indians Transfer Shane Bieber To 60-Day Injured List, Reinstate Cam Hill
Indians right-hander Cam Hill was reinstated from the injured list and optioned to Triple-A, per Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal (via Twitter). Hill has been out for the entire season after having arm surgery that was the result of a car accident. He made the first 18 appearances of his career last season, tossing 18 1/3 innings with a 4.91 ERA/5.43 FIP.
Shane Bieber was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster for Hill, per the team. Bieber has been out for 39 days with a subscapularis strain. When he went on the injured list (June 14), it was not at all clear how long Cleveland would be without their ace. The earlier’s he’ll now return is three weeks from today around August 15th.
At the time of his injury, the reigning AL Cy Young was the Major League leader in innings pitched with 90 2/3 IP. He worked to a 3.28 ERA with a 33.9 percent strikeout rate that ranked seventh in the Majors. Since Bieber went down, the Indians have fallen from 4.5 games behind the White Sox to now trailing the division leader by nine games.
Latest From The Nationals
The Nationals’ will to compete is being tested this trade deadline. After back-to-back losses to the Orioles, the Nats don’t look at all like a contender. They have one of the worst farm systems in baseball, and two cornerstone players in Trea Turner and Juan Soto whom they’ll want to sign long-term in the coming season. Restocking the farm system could go a long way to providing Turner and Soto with the future competitive security they may need to ink long-term deals, writes The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
The most significant deadline question, of course, revolves around Max Scherzer. Mad Max missed his start yesterday with triceps discomfort, but it’s a minor injury and nothing that should derail a potential trade, if there were to be one. A decision has not yet been made about making his next start, per Dougherty.
Joe Ross will come off the injured list without a rehab assignment to start tomorrow’s game against the Phillies, per Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post (via Twitter). Ross hasn’t been talked about much in terms of the trade market, but he’s put up a solid season — 4.02 ERA/4.51 FIP in 87 1/3 innings — as he finally looks to be rounding back into form as the guy who debuted with the Nats back in 2015. He’s making just $1.5MM, and he has one more season of arbitration eligibility. Scherzer is obviously the big fish in Washington, but for teams looking for cheap, controllable help in the rotation, Ross has mid-rotation upside.
Whether Ross would be available or not is unclear. If indeed the Nats decide to sell, Daniel Hudson and Brad Hand would presumably be the two names of interest, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). Hudson has been excellent once again this year and could solidify a contender’s pen as he did for the Nats in 2019. The Blue Jays are among the teams to ask about the Nats’ pair of back-end arms, per Jon Morosi of the MLB Network (via Twitter).
Tanner Rainey is beginning a rehab assignment today, tweets Dougherty. Rainey’s had a tough season to date — 6.93 ERA in 24 2/3 innings — and he’s less likely to be dealt than the names above. That said, if Hudson and/or Hand are moved, Rainey would be a prime contender to take on some high leverage duties.
If Scherzer and/or Ross do get moved, the Nats would have to dig deep to find enough starters to fill out their rotation. Stephen Strasburg does not seem any closer to making his return from a neck strain and other various ailments. He will see another specialist this week, per Pete Kerzel of MASNsports.com.
Roster Notes: Marlins, Phillies, Royals
Let’s round up some roster moves made ahead of today’s ballgames…
- The Marlins will reinstate Sandy Alcantara from the bereavement list today. To create a roster spot, Braxton Garrett will be optioned to Triple-A, per MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola (via Twitter). Garrett made the most of his spot start yesterday, tossing seven innings to get the win against the Padres. He gave up just two earned runs on four hits while walking one and notching 10 strikeouts.
- The Phillies announced a number of roster moves today. Mickey Moniak has returned to the Major League roster in place of Travis Jankowski, who was placed on the COVID-related injured list. Chase Anderson, meanwhile, was reinstated from the COVID-related IL, and Cristopher Sanchez was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
- The Royals optioned Tyler Zuber to Triple-A today to make room for Daniel Lynch, who has been recalled to start today’s ballgame, per MLB.com’s Anne Rogers (via Twitter). Lynch is hoping for better results today after getting shelled in his first three career starts. He’s lasted just eight total innings while yielding 14 earned runs on 18 hits and five walks while recording seven strikeouts.