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Guardians Designate Eric Haase, Peyton Battenfield For Assignment

By Steve Adams | August 31, 2023 at 1:42pm CDT

The Guardians have designated catcher Eric Haase and right-hander Peyton Battenfield for assignment, tweets Zack Meisel of The Athletic. Their removal from the 40-man roster will clear space for the addition of waiver claims Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Matt Moore. (Cleveland already had one open spot on the 40-man roster.)

Haase, 30, only recently returned to the Guardians, his original organization, after being claimed off waivers from the division-rival Tigers, who’d also designated him for assignment. He went 2-for-10 with a walk in three games in what looks like it’ll be a brief return to Cleveland.

From 2021-22, Haase turned in a .242/.295/.451 batting line with his hometown Tigers, swatting 36 home runs, 29 doubles and a pair of triples in 732 plate appearances. That offense clocked in about six percent better than league average, by measure of wRC+, and Haase showed some defensive versatility along the way. In addition to his work behind the plate, the Tigers frequently used him in left field (in addition to a pair of one-off appearances in right field and at first base).

The 2023 season has been a rough one for Haase, however. In 93 trips to the plate, he’s slashing .201/.247/.281. Haase has seen his ground-ball rate increase, while his exit velocity and hard-hit rate have both trended in the wrong direction. He’s also popping the ball up to the infield at a career-high rate. He’ll be placed on outright waivers or released within the coming days.

If Haase goes unclaimed on waivers, he’d remain with the Guardians and could yet be postseason-eligible if added back to the 40-man roster. He’d also have the right to reject the assignment in favor of minor league free agency. If he clears, stays with the Guards and is not added back to the 40-man by season’s end, he’ll be able to become a free agent, as is the case with all outrighted players who have three or more years of service time.

Battenfield, 26, was a ninth-round pick by the Astros in 2019 who’s since been traded to the Rays (for Austin Pruitt) and to the Guardians (for Jordan Luplow). He made his big league debut earlier this season and has appeared in seven games (six starts), pitching to a 5.19 ERA with an 18.5% strikeout rate, 8.2% walk rate and 43% ground-ball rate in 34 2/3 innings of work. He’s also struggled in 47 2/3 Triple-A frames this year, recording a 5.66 ERA with a 10.3% walk rate that’s nearly as high as his uncharacteristically low 11.8% strikeout rate.

While the 2023 season has been a rough one, Battenfield was quite solid in Triple-A just a year ago. He piled up 153 2/3 innings in Columbus during the 2022 season and notched a 3.66 ERA with a 17% strikeout rate, 8.9% walk rate and 39.1% ground-ball rate. Battenfield has never been regarded as one of the organization’s top prospects, but he has a nice minor league track record prior to the 2023 season and has a pair of minor league option years remaining beyond the current campaign. Teams in search of rotation depth could potentially give him a look on waivers in the coming days. If he goes unclaimed, he’d remain with the Guardians but no longer occupy a spot on the 40-man roster.

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Cleveland Guardians Transactions Eric Haase Peyton Battenfield

Mike Clevinger Clears Waivers
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Reds Designate Michael Siani, Alejo Lopez For Assignment
View Comments (13)

Comments

  1. Long Suffering Guardians Fan

    1 month ago

    Guess Haase just couldn’t hack it compared to Gallagher’s .132 average.

    2
    Reply
    • In nurse follars

      1 month ago

      Galagher caught Giolito with Chicago (I believe) so he is a better choice to stay than haase.

      Reply
      • Bill nd

        1 month ago

        Gallagher was never with the White Sox.

        1
        Reply
      • In nurse follars

        1 month ago

        Thats right. It was KC. My bad.

        Reply
  2. CO Guardening

    1 month ago

    It’s the .171 OBP. Bruh.

    2
    Reply
  3. BizzyDat

    1 month ago

    Cam Gallagher has an OPS+ of 1

    Haase can out-hit Austin Barnes (and Cam Gallagher by default) though

    3
    Reply
  4. Clevelandian

    1 month ago

    Seriously, is Gallagher’s D really that good? He’s making me miss Hedgey’s production at the plate. Great with the staff I guess

    2
    Reply
    • EonADS

      1 month ago

      The short answer is no. The long answer is f*** no. The actual answer is that the FO and Tito are completely unwilling to have an offensively capable backup if any other option is a better framer.

      1
      Reply
  5. CO Guardening

    1 month ago

    Or he’s got dirt in Tito.

    Reply
  6. stymeedone

    1 month ago

    Sad to see this happen to Haase. Good guy and fan favorite in Detroit. Hope he get a shot to help a team next year.

    3
    Reply
  7. gluedogg

    1 month ago

    Both of us know it, love is a Battenfield.

    9
    Reply
    • gotigers68

      4 weeks ago

      Ouch !

      Reply
  8. gotigers68

    4 weeks ago

    Cleveland not messing around…..

    1
    Reply

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