Catching up on some players who were recently designated for assignment…
Latest Moves
- The Pirates outrighted left-hander Cam Vieaux and infielder Josh VanMeter to Triple-A after the duo each cleared waivers, according to John Dreker of Pirates Prospects (Twitter link). Vieaux and VanMeter were each designated for assignment earlier this week. VanMeter hit .187/.266/.292 over 192 PA with Pittsburgh this season, while playing all over the field as a defensive fill-in. Vieaux made his MLB debut this year, with a 10.38 ERA over 8 2/3 innings in his first taste of big league action.
- The Yankees announced that right-hander Luke Bard has been outrighted to Triple-A. Since this isn’t the first time Bard has been outrighted in his career, he can opt for free agency rather than accept the Triple-A assignment. The righty pitched one game in the pinstripes after being claimed off waivers from the Rays in early August, and for the 2022 season in total, Bard has a 1.80 ERA over 15 innings with Tampa Bay and New York.
Earlier Today
- The Orioles announced that infielder Jonathan Araúz cleared outright waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. He was claimed off waivers from the Red Sox in June and has gotten into 15 games at the big league level this year between the two clubs. The 24-year-old hit just .132/.150/.211 in that time but provided defensive versatility by playing second base, third base and shortstop. In 35 Triple-A games this year, he’s hit .192/.264/.238. Since this is the first outright of his career and he has less than three years of MLB service time, he won’t have the right to reject the assignment and become a free agent.
- The Mets outrighted right-hander Adonis Medina, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. Medina, 25, was acquired from the Pirates in April for cash considerations and has been tossed between Triple-A and the majors all year long. In 23 2/3 MLB innings, he has a 6.08 ERA, 15.5% strikeout rate and 5.5% walk rate. In 26 2/3 innings for Syracuse, he has a much better 3.71 ERA and 20.2% strikeout rate, though a much higher walk rate of 12.1%. This is the first outright of his career and he has less than three years of MLB service time, meaning he will have to accept the outright assignment to Syracuse.
- The Cubs sent right-hander Kervin Castro outright to Triple-A Iowa, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. The 23-year-old began the season with the Giants but went to the Cubs on a waiver claim in August. Between the two clubs, he’s thrown 12 1/3 MLB innings this year, but with a 10.22 ERA and 12.3% walk rate. In 34 2/3 Triple-A innings between the two organizations, he has a 5.19 ERA with a 16% walk rate. He has less than three years of MLB service time and this is his first career outright, meaning he will not be eligible to reject this assignment.
- The Twins sent right-hander Jake Jewell outright to Triple-A St. Paul, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. The 29-year-old began the year with the Guardians on a minor league deal, getting selected to the big league roster in August but getting optioned before appearing in a game. He lasted just over a week on the 40-man roster before getting designated for assignment and landing with Minnesota on waivers. In 48 2/3 Triple-A innings between the two organizations, he has a 3.14 ERA, 25.9% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate. Unlike the others on this list, he has been previously outrighted in his career. That gives him the right to reject this assignment and elect free agency, though it’s unclear at this point if he has done so.
The major leagues have too many AAAA players
Agree, never seen so many DFAed. Many picked up by Pirates for a few weeks and then let go again since they can’t perform at this level. Is the answer contraction which was talked about years ago.?
There will always be players at the end of the roster who could be replaced by a similar talent moving his way up through the minors. But there’s not a shortage of talent overall. There used to be just 16 teams of white Americans, while now there are 30 teams made up of the best players from around the world.
Most major league bullpens are AAAA players.
They have too many hitless wonders who can’t field but are kept on the roster only because they can play multiple positions.
But they’re cheap…
If you can play multiple positions but all with poor defense that makes no sense to me.
DFA Josh VanMeter…again
Now pirates have to DFA Shelton
Shelton, Cherington and Crowe should all hit the road
Crowe is not stable enough to pitch in close games having lost his 9th game in relief last night.
Shelton’s decision to use him in close games is a reflection of the manager’s incompetence
Oddly Crowe is one of the only guys on the team with a positive WAR. How? Even the parrot and the hot dog guy have negative WARs.
Can someone please explain why Red Shelton keeps playing Allen over Mitchell
So let me get this straight…..the Pirates kept Vanmeter around until September, he did nothing, they DFAd him, and no one picked him up for nothing? There’s the story of the Pirates. What did they see in him this long?
They. Are. Tanking.
Haha that picture the owner took with a fan
Come on, the Bucs are in their perpetual rebuilding mode, fans are expected to be gullible and patient as the team is worse this year than last year
Next year when they’re no better, Nutting will instruct Cherington to unload the high salary players for prospects and the rebuild will continue
Rebuild the rebuild
Newman, Gamel and Stephenson will all be gone since all paid over the league minimum. Besides Reynolds and Hayes, everyone else is pre arbitration. Reynolds maybe since the Pirates have a tendency to sell low and don’t have the patience to wait for a bounce back like they did with Bell.
Hayes won’t go anywhere since so far it looks like they overpaid for a good field, so so hitter who is often injured. Hopefully his hitting will improve along with his health.
Under $9M per year for a very good 3B who can hold his own with a bat is reasonable.
Last I looked Hayes was at the top for defense but near the bottom for offense compared to other third basemen. Third base is a position where more offense is expected.
Adonis Medina had plenty of chances to show he had “it” probably like most of these players, and he doesn’t. Disaster. Hope he works on his strike out pitch because he ain’t fooling anyone.
Adonis “Funky Cold” Medina is not a disaster. He had a few tremendous outings along with a few stinkers that blew up his ERA in the majors.
Why is red Shelton still playing Gamel and Newman…play the damn kids…you idiot