A couple of recent DFA resolutions to start the morning here at MLBTR…
- Utilityman Willians Astudillo went unclaimed on waivers and has been assigned outright to Triple-A Jacksonville by the Marlins, per the team’s transactions log at MLB.com. The 30-year-old Astudillo appeared in 17 games with the Fish, posting a .270/.289/.351 batting line in 38 plate appearances. True to form, Astudillo struck out just twice and walked only once in that span. That’s par for the course, as Astudillo uncanny bat-to-ball skills and overwhelmingly free-swinging nature have resulted in minuscule 4.7% strikeout and 1.9% walk rates through 571 Major League plate appearances, mostly coming with the Twins from 2018-21. Unfortunately, while he is perhaps more adept than anyone in the game at putting the ball in play, he rarely does so with any authority (career 86 mph average exit velocity, 31% hard-hit rate). The catcher-turned-super-utilityman has also played every position on the diamond, including six innings of mop-up relief in blowouts over the past few years. Astudillo technically reached three years of Major League service time just days before being designated for assignment, so he should have the ability to reject the assignment in favor of free agency if he chooses.
- Outfielder Stefen Romero has been assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City by the Dodgers after clearing outright waivers, per the team’s transaction log. Romero made it back to the Majors last week after a six-year absence and a lengthy run in Japan, so it was somewhat deflating to see that the Dodgers never actually used him in a game before designating him for assignment. Romero doesn’t have three years of service and hasn’t been previously outrighted, so he’ll head back to OKC in hopes of earning another look at a later date. After hitting .264/.331/.497 in five seasons over in Japan, Romero has posted a similar .270/.337/.461 slash through 102 plate appearances so far in Triple-A with the Dodgers.
I swear. Somewhere in Willians, there’s a .300 hitter. Hope he can figure it out.
Explains what happend to Mauer…
Lol. Honestly, if he just lost 30 pounds it would be a great start.
True. He does need to lose weight. In the very least, he could play the field and stop being the shortest DH type in the league.
As for hitting approach, it’s intriguing. The guy is not going to stop swinging at everything, especially when he doesn’t miss often with his low strikeout numbers in his career. I could see him being a guy that, if he ever has a good enough streak for an entire year for a team to justify playing everyday, and he contends for a batting title, he’d be a guy that would post a crazy statline along the lines of .320 avg, .335 OBP, 15 BBs, 30 strikeouts in 700 PAs and 685 ABs, with about 220 hits (200 singles).
The Turtle deserves to be in the majors based on his average and versatility! GO TURTLE GO! Unfortunately, my Brewers already have Jase Peterson, who is similar to him.
With the Astros horrid offensive production at catcher and weak bench, Astudillo would’ve made a great pick up
Unfortunately the Astros could sign Salvy Perez or even Mike Piazza in his prime and they would still start Martin Maldonado behind the plate everynight. The has repeatedly said they don’t care if he doesn’t hit and only about his defensive play and handling of the pitching staff
He isn’t even that good of a defender anymore. -2 DRS and like -2.5 framing runs.
Didn’t say anything about replacing Maldy. He obviously doesn’t start every game and he’s pinch hit for in later innings. Look over at Castro’s pitiful stats.
Willians could have made sense in Philly with so few guys hitting.
@darkside
His defense would blend in there
Cubs should try and get La Tortuga when they ship Contreras off. He’d reach legend status from the jump.
With so many dodgy backs in Miami, I reckon he fancies his chances of playing some more with the Big League club this year
Yermin Mercedes lasted 2 days before he was sent down, his position is designated hitter, I’ve never seen him with a glove, Turtle was fun to watch on the Twins, hope he’s back soon