Click here to read a transcript of Tuesday’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.
Archives for June 2023
Braves Sign Charlie Culberson, Seth Elledge To Minor League Deals
The Braves re-signed veteran utilityman Charlie Culberson to a new minor league contract just days after he rejected an outright assignment in favor of free agency, per the team’s transaction log at MLB.com. Righty Seth Elledge, who also elected free agency following a recent DFA (by the Tigers), has also signed a minor league deal with Atlanta. It’s his second stint in the organization.
Culberson, 34, didn’t appear in a game with the Braves after being selected to the big league roster earlier this month. He’s spent the season in Triple-A Gwinnett, where he’s batted .204/.234/.255 in 107 plate appearances. A veteran who’s accrued more than seven years of MLB service over parts of ten big league seasons, Culberson also spent the 2018-20 seasons in Atlanta, hitting .265/.314/.454 in 473 plate appearances. Along the way, he endeared himself to the Atlanta faithful with a series of clutch hits, including multiple memorable walk-off home runs.
While Culberson hasn’t hit especially well this season, he’ll return to the Braves organization to remain on hand as a possible depth option and a mentor to up-and-coming infielders like Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake. And, if the Braves feel they need some additional infield depth but don’t want to take either of those young players out of an everyday role to sit on the big league bench, Culberson could again be summoned for a short-term look at the MLB level. His versatility would make him a reasonable addition when rosters slightly expand in September, too.
Elledge, 27, was with the Braves in 2022 and opened the season in the organization this year. Atlanta designated him for assignment on April 8, and he’s since bounced to the Mets and Tigers on waivers before being designated in Detroit and electing free agency after clearing waivers.
In 23 1/3 career innings at the MLB level — all with the Cardinals — Elledge has a 4.63 ERA, 24% strikeout rate and 14.4% walk rate. In 2022, he posted a 3.88 ERA and gaudy 33.7% strikeout rate for the Braves’ Gwinnett affiliate, but he’s found rougher waters so far in 2023. Through 28 2/3 frames between the Triple-A affiliates of the Braves, Mets and Tigers, Elledge has been tagged for a 5.34 ERA. He’s had more success with the Braves’ Triple-A club than any other stop in his tour of the upper minors, so he’ll return to what’s seemingly a comfortable setting and look to build on that success with an eye toward a return to the big league roster.
Cubs, Shane Greene Agree To Minor League Deal
The Cubs have agreed to a minor league deal with veteran right-handed reliever Shane Greene, per the transaction log at MLB.com. The Ballengee Group client been assigned to Cubs’ affiliate in the Arizona Complex League for now, presumably to build up before joining the their Triple-A club in Iowa; Greene has yet to pitch for any team this season.
Greene, 34, had a strong run as a setup man and closer from 2017-20 between the Tigers and Braves. In 221 1/3 innings during that four-year peak, he posted a 3.25 ERA with a 24.2% strikeout rate, 8.6% walk rate, 33 holds and 64 saves. All but one of those saves came with Detroit. Atlanta acquired Greene at the 2019 trade deadline — sending lefty Joey Wentz and outfielder Travis Demeritte to the Tigers in return — but deployed him primarily as a setup man following the swap.
Following the trade, Greene posted a serviceable 4.01 ERA down the stretch for them in ’19 and went on to enjoy a solid 2020 campaign with Atlanta. However, that marks the most recent bit of MLB success for the right-hander. Greene was a late signee in May 2021, ultimately returning to the Braves only to see his results crater. He was torched for 16 runs in 17 innings to begin his ’21 season (8.47 ERA), and things were only marginally better in a brief nine-game cup of coffee with the Dodgers after being released in Atlanta.
Greene saw brief looks with the Dodgers and Yankees in 2022 but only pitched a total of three MLB innings. Overall, since the conclusion of the 2020 campaign, he has just 29 2/3 innings with a dismal 7.09 ERA to show for it. His sinker, which averaged 95 mph during his best year with the Tigers, averaged just 92.6 mph in 2021 and sat at 91.3 mph during last year’s tiny sample of big league work.
Swift decline notwithstanding, Greene represents a no-risk flier for a Cubs team that regularly rolls the dice on veteran rebound candidates in the bullpen. It hasn’t always worked in their favor, of course, but the Cubs have netted strong returns on minimal investments for names like Andrew Chafin, David Robertson, Ryan Tepera, Mychal Givens and Mark Leiter Jr. (among others) in sticking to this approach in recent years. They’ll hope to add Greene’s name to that list of successes in the coming months.
The Opener: Manning, Muncy, MLBTR Chat
With two weeks remaining until the All Star break, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Manning to return:
The Tigers are poised to welcome one of their young starters back from the 60-day injured list today, as right-hander Matt Manning is expected to start tonight’s game against the Rangers. Manning, out since April with a fractured foot, posted a 4.63 ERA in 11 2/3 innings of work across two starts prior to the injury. He’ll need to be added back to the 40-man and active rosters before he can make his start today, teeing up the possibility of multiple corresponding transactions ahead of this evening’s game.
Detroit’s rotation has been ravaged by injuries. Alex Faedo, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Spencer Turnbull are each currently on the injured list in addition to Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, who both have yet to throw a pitch this season. Those rotation woes could worsen yet, as left-hander Matthew Boyd left yesterday’s start in Texas with elbow discomfort. As noted by Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, manager AJ Hinch indicated to reporters that Boyd will undergo testing today to determine if he will need a trip to the injured list.
2. Muncy to return:
Dodgers slugger Max Muncy is expected to return to the lineup today, with manager Dave Roberts having previously indicated the infielder will play third base upon his return. Muncy’s return figures to provide the Dodgers with a significant power boost, as the 32-year-old has connected for 18 home runs in just 251 plate appearances this season.
Muncy’s return to the lineup figures to displace 25-year-old Michael Busch, who has been covering third base in the absence of Muncy and utilityman Chris Taylor. However, Roberts recently indicated to reporters (including Jack Harris of The L.A. Times) that Busch could continue to draw starts by shifting over to second base following Muncy’s return. That would take playing time from 23-year-old Miguel Vargas, who has struggled to a .150/.246/.300 slash line in 70 plate appearances this month. Busch has also struggled since his June 16 recall from Triple-A, posting a similar slash line of .192/.250/.308 in a smaller sample of 28 plate appearances. Using both players in a timeshare at second base could offer Roberts the opportunity to optimize matchups for the youngsters going forward.
3. MLBTR Chat Today:
With MLB’s trade deadline just over a month away, many expected contenders headed into the season are finding their paths to the playoffs getting slimmer and slimmer. If the events of the season so far have spurred any questions in your mind about your favorite team or the league as a whole, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.
MLB Announces Futures Game Rosters
Major League Baseball announced rosters for the 2023 Futures Game this evening. The contest — a seven-inning exhibition between some of the sport’s most talented minor leaguers — kicks off All-Star festivities in Seattle on Saturday, July 8.
As Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com notes, 28 of the 50 players on the roster are included on MLB Pipeline’s recent Top 100 prospects list. Six of Pipeline’s top ten will participate. The full rosters (MLB Pipeline prospect rank included, if applicable):
American League
- Clayton Beeter, Yankees RHP (AAA)
- Lawrence Butler, A’s OF (AA)
- Junior Caminero, Rays INF (AA), #17 prospect
- Jonathan Cannon, White Sox RHP (High-A)
- Joey Cantillo, Guardians LHP (AAA)
- Jonatan Clase, Mariners OF (AA)
- Shane Drohan, Red Sox LHP (AAA)
- David Festa, Twins RHP (AA)
- Harry Ford, Mariners C (High-A), #29 prospect
- Drew Gilbert, Astros OF (AA), #76 prospect
- Jackson Holliday, Orioles INF (High-A), #1 prospect
- Spencer Jones, Yankees OF (High-A)
- Colt Keith, Tigers INF (AA), #43 prospect
- Heston Kjerstad, Orioles OF (AAA), #40 prospect
- Will Klein, Royals RHP (AAA)
- Justyn-Henry Malloy, Tigers INF (AAA)
- Kyle Manzardo, Rays INF (AAA), #42 prospect
- Marcelo Mayer, Red Sox INF (AA), #5 prospect
- Kyren Paris, Angels INF (AA)
- Edgar Quero, Angels C (AA), #72 prospect
- Sem Robberse, Blue Jays RHP (AA)
- Tyler Soderstrom, A’s C (AAA), #37 prospect
- Owen White, Rangers RHP (AAA), #48 prospect
- Nick Yorke, Red Sox INF (AA), #91 prospect
- Yosver Zulueta, Blue Jays RHP (AAA)
National League
- Mick Abel, Phillies RHP (AA), #46 prospect
- Ryan Bliss, Diamondbacks INF (AA)
- Jackson Chourio, Brewers OF (AA), #3 prospect
- Justin Crawford, Phillies OF (Low-A), #90 prospect
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs OF (AA), #10 prospect
- Yanquiel Fernandez, Rockies OF (AA), #97 prospect
- Kyle Harrison, Giants LHP (AAA), #14 prospect
- Tink Hence, Cardinals RHP (High-A), #66 prospect
- Brady House, Nationals INF (High-A), #75 prospect
- Jordan Lawlar, Diamondbacks INF (AA), #7 prospect
- Noelvi Marte, Reds INF (AA), #19 prospect
- J.P. Massey, Pirates RHP (High-A)
- Jackson Merrill, Padres INF (High-A), #12 prospect
- Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers RHP (High-A), #93 prospect
- Patrick Monteverde, Marlins LHP (AA)
- B.J. Murray, Cubs INF (AA)
- Nasim Nunez, Marlins INF (AA)
- Jeferson Quero, Brewers C (AA), #79 prospect
- Endy Rodriguez, Pirates INF/C (AAA), #39 prospect
- Dalton Rushing, Dodgers C (High-A), #51 prospect
- Victor Scott II, Cardinals OF (High-A)
- Spencer Shwellenbach, Braves RHP (Low-A)
- Mike Vasil, Mets RHP (AAA)
- Carson Whisenhunt, Giants LHP (AA)
- James Wood, Nationals OF (AA), #6 prospect
No Extension Talks To Date Between Reds, David Bell
The upstart Reds have been one of baseball’s best recent stories. Cincinnati’s influx of young position player talent has pushed them to a 15-9 showing this month. They’re three games above .500 overall, battling for the NL Central title and positioned as surprising deadline buyers.
Given that performance, it stands to reason the front office and ownership are happy with the work of the coaching staff. Nevertheless, there doesn’t seem to be any urgency in hammering out a deal with manager David Bell. The fifth-year skipper is in the final season of a two-year extension he signed in September 2021.
“I think we’ll just talk about playing through the year and addressing (the contract situation) later,” general manager Nick Krall tells Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. “At this point, we haven’t done anything.”
Obviously, that’s not to say Bell’s in any danger of being let go. The GM expressed general happiness with the manager’s work, telling Sheldon that Bell has “done really well with the clubhouse culture.” One would expect such public praise from a front office executive, but the Reds have backed that up by retaining Bell through a handful of very tough years.
Cincinnati made the expanded 2020 playoffs in Bell’s second season at the helm, finishing seventh in the National League at 31-29. They’d missed the postseason in all three full schedules, going 75-87 in 2019 before narrowly coming up shy of a Wild Card berth in 2021. Amidst payroll constraints, the Reds embarked on a rebuild thereafter and lost 100 games last season.
The Reds stuck by Bell during those down seasons. With the club on the upswing, it’d seem likely they’ll try to get another multi-year deal done at some point. Krall’s comments suggest that’s not likely to happen until late in the season or after the year wraps up.
Angels Outright Chris Okey
The Angels announced that catcher Chris Okey has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake. He cleared waivers after being designated for assignment on the weekend.
Los Angeles signed the 28-year-old backstop to a minor league deal in April. They selected his contract a few weeks later while dealing with a number of catching injuries. Chad Wallach returning from the injured list pushed Okey back to the minors a few days later. He played twice, starting one game behind the dish.
The Clemson product has made 27 starts for Salt Lake on the season. He’s hitting .276/.325/.410 with three home runs in 116 trips to the plate in the Pacific Coast League. The former Red owns a career .233/.300/.362 slash in parts of four Triple-A campaigns.
Okey has previously gone unclaimed on waivers in his career. That gave him the right to test minor league free agency this time around. He’ll pass on that opportunity and rejoin the Bees as non-roster depth. Matt Thaiss and Wallach are the only healthy catchers on the 40-man roster, so any injury could afford Okey another quick opportunity at the MLB level.
Tigers Option Nick Maton, Plan To Reinstate Matt Manning Tomorrow
The Tigers announced this evening they’ve optioned infielder Nick Maton to Triple-A Toledo. Tyler Nevin was recalled to take his spot on the active roster. There’ll be more moves tomorrow, as the club informed reporters that Matt Manning will return from the 60-day injured list to start Tuesday’s game in Texas (via Cody Stavenhagen of the Athletic).
Maton heads to the minors for the first time this year. The left-handed hitting infielder was one of three upper level players acquired from the Phillies for Gregory Soto and Kody Clemens over the winter. He’s had a tough first season in Detroit, struggling on both sides of the ball.
The 26-year-old infielder has tallied a career-high 239 plate appearances, ranking fourth on the team in playing time. He’s hitting only .163/.289/.287. Maton is drawing plenty of walks but has gone down on strikes in a quarter of his plate appearances and hasn’t made much of a power impact. He has just six home runs with a middling 33.1% hard contact percentage.
Defense has been a similar issue. Maton has rated between five and six runs below average by measure of Defensive Runs Saved and Statcast over 303 innings at third base. Those struggles peaked yesterday, when he committed a throwing error with two outs in the eighth inning to allow the Twins to tie the game and couldn’t handle an extra-inning grounder that turned into a game-winning single for Minnesota. Jonathan Schoop draws into the lineup tonight at the hot corner.
As for Manning, he’ll need to return to the 40-man roster tomorrow. He’ll be making his third start of the season. The former ninth overall draftee worked to a solid 3.43 ERA in 12 outings last year. His 2023 campaign was thrown off in mid-April when he was struck on the right foot by a comebacker.
The Tigers could soon welcome back another pair of starters. Tarik Skubal is already on a rehab stint as he works back from last summer’s flexor tendon surgery. He’ll be joined this week by Eduardo Rodriguez, as Detroit announced the veteran southpaw will take the ball for Toledo on Thursday. Rodriguez has been out for just under a month with a finger concern.
Orioles Sign Meibrys Viloria To Minor League Deal
The Orioles announced to reporters, including Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com, that they have signed catcher Meibrys Viloria to a minor league deal. He’s working out at the club’s Sarasota facilities but will presumably move to a higher affiliate in the days to come. He had signed a minor league deal with the Angels in May but was released in early June, per his transactions tracker at MLB.com.
Viloria, 26, has bounced around the league quite a bit in the past couple of years. He was in the Royals’ system from 2014 to 2021, including 67 major league games from 2018 to 2020. He reached free agency and joined the Rangers in 2022. He was briefly claimed by the Giants at the end of last year but was designated for assignment and became a free agent again in the offseason.
This year, he signed a minor league deal with the Guardians. He cracked the Opening Day roster as part of a three-catcher setup alongside Mike Zunino and Cam Gallagher. By the start of May, he had yet to receive a start and only tallied 21 2/3 innings off work off the bench. He went 0-3 with a walk in four plate appearances before he was designated for assignment. He then latched on with the Angels, as mentioned, but hit .167/.265/.333 for their Triple-A club before being released.
The Orioles have made it clear that catching depth is important to them as they have frequently brought various guys aboard for that position. Adley Rutschman is the primary backstop at the big league level and James McCann the backup, though the latter is currently on the injured list. McCann’s injury paved the way for Anthony Bemboom to join the big league roster, though Mark Kolozsvary and José Godoy have each been with the club at various times.
Viloria is the latest to be brought into the fold for some extra depth. He’s hit just .198/.270/.279 in the majors but has a much stronger .249/.385/.406 line at Triple-A. He isn’t considered a plus framer by either Baseball Prospectus or FanGraphs, while Statcast likes his work with the running game but not his blocking. If he can get back to the big leagues, he is out of options but has yet to reach arbitration and can be cheaply retained for future seasons.
Nationals Select Amos Willingham
5:05pm: The Nationals have now made this official, selecting Willingham and optioning right-hander Paolo Espino to Triple-A as the corresponding move.
1:20pm: The Nationals are planning to call up right-hander Amos Willingham, reports Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post. The club has an open spot on their 40-man roster but will need a corresponding move to get Willingham onto the active roster.
Willingham, 24, has spent his entire professional career with the Nationals, who selected him in the 17th round of the 2019 draft. He made a brief professional debut in Low-A that year before the minor leagues were canceled by the pandemic in 2020. Since then, he has been climbing up the minor league ladder, working exclusively as a reliever and seemingly getting better at almost every stop.
He split 2021 between Single-A and High-A, tossing 60 1/3 innings with a 4.92 ERA, 21% strikeout rate and 9.4% walk rate. He spent all of last year in High-A with a 3.41 ERA over 34 1/3 innings, striking out 27.6% of opponents while walking just 4.8%. He began this year at Double-A and carved up hitters at that level, throwing 10 2/3 scoreless innings with a 35% strikeout rate and 2.5% walk rate. That excellent showing got him bumped to Triple-A, where he finally slowed down a bit, posting a 3.46 ERA through 13 innings with a 20% strikeout rate and 14.5% walk rate.
Despite the relatively tepid Triple-A performance, Willingham has clearly impressed the Washington brass with his ascent in recent years. He’s started getting noticed outside the organization as well, with Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs ranking him the club’s #25 prospect earlier this month. Longenhagen writes that Willingham’s fastball is “now sitting 94-95 mph with big ride at the top of the zone” and that he can take a step forward if he improves his slider command.
The Nats will give Willingham a shot to see how his stuff plays against big league hitters while giving manager Dave Martinez a fresh arm for the bullpen. When the club starts tonight’s game in Seattle, it will be their 14th day in a row taking the field with two more scheduled against the Mariners before an off-day on Thursday.
