3:09pm: The Marlins have recalled Tommy Nance from Triple-A and placed him on the 60-day injured list, thus opening up a 40-man roster spot for Matt Moore, reports Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. The 32-year-old Nance last appeared for Triple-A Jacksonville on September 6, and he has not appeared in a major league game since last October.
1:35pm: The Marlins have claimed left-hander Matt Moore off waivers from the Guardians, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN. It’s the second waiver claim in recent weeks for Moore, who just went from the Angels to the Guardians at the end of August. He won’t be eligible to play in the postseason for the Marlins but will give their bullpen a boost for the final weeks of the regular season.
Moore, 34, has had an up-and-down career as a starting pitching but recently underwent a bullpen renaissance. He posted a 1.95 earned run average with the Rangers last year and parlayed that into a one-year, $7.55MM contract with the Angels. His ERA has ticked up a bit this year, but is still quite good at 2.77. He’s striking out 28.5% of opponents and walking just 7%.
He’s now set to join his third club of the year, which says more about his teams than anything he is doing. The Angels hovered around contention through the summer and decided to go for it at the deadline, holding onto Shohei Ohtani as well as giving up prospects for players like Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López and others. But they then suffered a miserable August, losing both games and players. They fell back in the standings as Mike Trout was unable to get healthy in the wake of his hamate surgery, while Ohtani suffered a tear of his ulnar collateral ligament that kept him from pitching.
Ohtani would also suffer an oblique injury in September that stopped him from hitting as well, but that was after the club had already waved the white flag on the season, putting six players on waivers at the end of August. Since the trade deadline had already passed and each player was an impending free agent, the Angels were hoping other clubs would grab them and take on their contracts, allowing the club to save some money and dip under the luxury tax.
Moore was one of those players and he was claimed by the Guardians along with Giolito and López. It was a bit of a surprising landing spot, as that club has generally shied away from significant spending and were sporting a record of 64-70 at the time. But in the weak American League Central, they were actually only five games back of the division-leading Twins and decided to take a shot. By grabbing those three pitchers, they added roughly $3.727MM to their payroll but hopefully increased their odds of chasing down Minnesota.
But it now seems that they are following the Angels and waving their own white flag, having fallen to seven games back of the Twins with now less than two weeks left to play. It wasn’t known prior to this report that Moore was on waivers, but it seems the Guards put him on the wire with the hope of shaving off some of that money they took on. Moore is still owed about $529K for the remainder of the season.
It seems the Marlins consider that to be an acceptable expense for a handful of games from Moore. Since he is being acquired after the September 1 cutoff date, he won’t be able to pitch for them in the postseason, making this a very temporary bullpen upgrade. But unlike the Angels and Guardians, their season is still very much alive. The National League Wild Card race is extremely tight right now, with the Phillies in the top spot but a tangled mess beneath them. The Diamondbacks, Cubs, Reds and Marlins are all within one game of each other, with the Giants just a game and a half back of that pack. While all those clubs want to win, the Marlins are arguably the most motivated. Leaving aside the shortened 2020 season, they haven’t finished above .500 since 2009 and haven’t been in the playoffs since 2003.
Miami’s relievers have a collective ERA of 4.19 on the year, which places them 18th. It’s also been a bit worse of late, with a 4.45 ERA since the start of August. Adding in Moore will hopefully give the group a bit of a boost, though it’s not really about his left-handedness. The club already has four strong southpaw options in the bullpen but the Marlins seem to have decided they are willing to put some cash on the barrel in the hopes of squeezing out any possible upgrade, with the importance of each game magnified down the stretch.
Wtf is Cleveland doing?!!! I know they’re 7 games out with 11 to go, but this guy has been mostly effective since coming over from ANA. Are we trying to save 11 days salary?
Yes, the cheap Guardians owner is definitely doing that.
No other reason. He’ll save potentially………thousands??? Seriously? The team gets worse but he’ll still want you to show up.
If Im correct (and Im not sure this is how they calculate it) 11/162 x 7.55M = $512,654. Thats over a half million in savings. Do you seriously think they can make up 7 with only 11 games left?
Wonder if Giolito and Lopez have been put on waivers too. Apparently we’d only know if they’re claimed.
Seems like the Guardians are basically the Angels 2 weeks later…
It’s likely Terry Francona’s last hurrah. The least the FO can do is hold onto Moore for another week and a half to give him a chance to pull off a miracle. If they have to get rid of someone, let it be Giolito. Would have been a better move to keep Syndergaard and pass on LG.
The Oakland A’s did something similar in 2012 when the Rangers lost 7 of their last 9 games, including 5 to Oakland, and finished one game behind the A’s for the division lead. Not saying it’s likely, but it’s doable.
A+ move. Save salary. Let future players gets reps. Help some teams make playoff spot run.
No Soup:
With 11 games to play, Oakland was 4 games out, not 7, in 2012. Thats a big difference. And you had to go back 11 years with 6 divisional races each year to find this one.
baseball-reference.com/boxes/?month=9&day=22&…
My point is that collapses happen. They’re not especially likely but they do happen. Here’s another one that your know-it-all butt can’t nitpick as easily. The 1962 Phillies led by 6.5 games with 12 to go, and lost 10 in a row. Yes, a lot went into that collapse that doesn’t make a repeat especially likely, but the great thing about baseball is that anything can happen. So chuckling to yourself, “Haha, you had to go back X years for that,” doesn’t mean anything because it actually happened at some point, which means it could technically happen again. The Twins aren’t exactly known for being clutch performers anyway. They’re some of the biggest cholesterol artists in baseball right now.
“Haha, you had to go back X years.” Right on cue. The Twins suck so just because a collapse this extreme hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it can’t right now with the least clutch team in baseball. Again, it’s not likely and almost certainly won’t happen, but in 1962 you probably had people dismissing the very idea the Phillies could fold because a collapse that historic had never happened, until then that is.
““Haha, you had to go back X years for that,” doesn’t mean anything because it actually happened at some point”
I dont recall saying “Haha”. But I will now HAHA you had to go back to 1962 and STILL COULD NOT find a team that did it. Its 7 games with 11 remaining, not 6.5 in 12 games
So NO it didnt “actually happen”. And if I was the owner I would risk a half million dollars on hopes that it might.
Including 5 games between Oakland & TX. 5 in a row against one team is a lot easier than you winning 5 in a row and them losing 5 in a row.
If I had billions of dollars, saving half a million wouldn’t be at the top of my list of concerns.
No soup:
Youre very generous with other peoples money. Good for you.
Not all billionaires running a baseball team seem to have issues with spending their money, but Cleveland’s owner certainly does.
Yes, the cheap Guardians owner is definitely doing that.
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So they spent the money to claim him, which demonstrates their cheapness? Heck, you might as well call Cohen and Preller cheap for clearing out a couple of players.
The Guardians owner is cheap, is he not?
Yes…..
Unlike you he likes to cut the amount of money his team loses in a year down.
The Guardians owner is cheap, is he not?
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I don’t know. What is his overall revenue, his total net earnings, and his payroll, and I will let you know.
But the quick and dirty analysis is that the Guardians are 22nd in payroll and 23rd in attendance. Seems pretty balanced.
Bob – this is not a ownership-level decision. Yeah, yeah.. I know everyone loves the ‘cheap owner’ narrative.. but it clearly doesn’t fit here.
Perhaps not immediately, but they are likely getting Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie back soon from the 60-day IL. Both will require roster spots – so they are going to need to jettison somebody.
Instead of releasing someone with club control in 2024 and beyond, a rental player makes a lot more sense.
A reliever also makes sense because there is a restriction to the number of pitchers you can carry on your roster.
So all signs pointed to one or both of the rental relievers being the odd men out, regardless of money.. but if you can have someone else pay their remaining salary, why not? Don’t be surprised if the same happens to Lopez.
The alternative would be to open a roster spot by releasing a prospect.. then shift another reliever back to the minors.. just so you could keep Moore with the club for a few more games before he hits free agency.
.. but if you can have someone else pay their remaining salary, why not?
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Because the “hate the rich owner” contingent in here are pure as the driven snow, and would reach deep into their personal wealth to support the team.
Despite being the sort that probably attends one game every two years, and doesn’t understand why the broadcasts aren’t free.
Need to make room on the 40 for Bieber/TMac
Is it required they activate them at this point? Might be better to let them heal fully and start up in the spring.
Stymeedone – I think that is usually a collaborative decision between the medical staff, team and player. If the player is medically cleared, ready to go and wants to play – the team cannot just keep them on the 60-day IL for no reason.
It’s essentially throwing the deck chairs overboard, right before the Titanic sinks for the last time. What’s the big deal? Moore probably doesn’t care who writes his checks, since he gets paid the same either way.
I think he cares. His personal life must suck, bouncing all over the place. He probably just finished moving. Now what with 2 weeks left in the season, I suppose he just lives out of Ohtani’s van under some random bridge.
@hemlock
you forgot down by the river,
he’s living under the bridge in a van down by the river
brodie-bruce,
Too much to tap on this hobbit-sized keyboard. But yes, that. Thanks
You think he owns, leases or rents said van/ and or bridge?
> “You think he owns, leases or rents?”
> said van/ and or bridge
I don’t think the van or bridge can talk
All good still got a laugh and it made me think of the snl skit with Chris Farley
Matt Foley could have been Matt Moore’s agent.
Nobody is disputing anything about Moore.
@solaris602: We? How much of his salary are you paying?
About $800 in ticket revenue and another $400 on merchandise and concessions.
In other words, virtually none.
My opinion worth about as much as yours – ZERO.
I assume that Bieber and/or McKenzie will be rejoining the team soon. I imagine they are simply clearing roster spots for their return.
If that is indeed the case, it makes sense to let a rental guy go, opposed to someone with team control beyond 2023.
the MLBPA needs to step in, all these players that are having strong seasons are getting screwed over for money reasons. This is something new so im guessing its like some misight in the CBA
How is the player getting screwed if he is still getting paid either way?
cause they’re getting shipped off across the country within weeks even though their performances show they deserve a spot. They’re losing a chance at pitching in the playoffs.. Overall its just messy and is done without any respect to the player
“Without any respect to the player”.. It’s done according to a mutually agreed upon CBA. if you don’t like travel, Major League Baseball is a bad career choice, because it always involves lots of travel.
if you don’t like travel, Major League Baseball is a bad career choice,
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Honestly, I enjoyed almost all my travel. But sometimes having a job interferes with one’s personal life. I got a call one morning asking me to fly to Minny to wrap up some details on some minor deal. When I go there, I got a call asking me to return that evening because there was going to be a closing meeting.in the morning.
That’s what happens when you get paid. And believe me, a lot of folks have it worse than me.
Player plays with whomever employs and pays his salary. RELAX
Baseball is a business which the players understand. If one doesn’t want to get traded, they can negotiate for a no-trade clause in their contracts. Ballclubs often have conversations with players right before they get traded/released. It’s not like they just post a pink slip above their lockers.
The union could have tried to bargain for more restrictions on roster-churning if the membership wanted that, if repeated DFAs were something they want to reduce. Rules limiting or discouraging DFAs and waiver placements would reduce the number of players receiving major league salaries while no longer holding a spot on 40-man rosters. Instead, the union is maximizing the number of players receiving major league salaries while accepting the current waiver/DFA system with the resulting repeated trips through the waiver wire..
Moore wasn’t going to pitch in the playoffs for either the Angels or the Guardians, as neither team is making the playoffs. In fact, at the time of the Angels move, it was done to hopefully allow him to pitch for a contender. That’s the opposite of what you are arguing. It just didn’t work out. No hot streak in Cleveland.
They’re not machines. They’re actually human. A vet like Moore will survive, part of the deal.
Mr. tinfoil conspiracy theorist, You care to elaborate how players are getting “screwed over” when they have a CBA, a union, a grievance procedure and will receive every last dime due in their contracts?
Mr Tinfoil Conspiracy Theorist’s username, CubsWin108, is a sure sign of how delusional he is.
I was thinking that maybe we should set up a GoFundMe page for these unfortunates.
Back when I was a commoner, I came home from my honeymoon to a phone message asking if I could fly out to Houston that night. A couple of times I had about 15 minutes notice to fly to London or again, Houston.
And I was a commoner. When someone gets paid $7.75M a year, they have to put up with the inconvenience of living out of a hotel room for a month.
“Oh no, I’ve gotten claimed by a team with a chance of making the playoffs!”
“He won’t be eligible to play in the postseason for the Marlins but will give their bullpen a boost for the final weeks of the regular season”
He’s probably more upset he was claimed by Cleveland in the first place than being dumped 3 weeks later. But I suppose he should have been asked what team he preferred to go to, and the rules for claiming guys been ignored so he got what he wanted…
But I suppose he should have been asked what team he preferred to go to
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He has no choice. Whoever claims him, gets him.
@joe that’s my point. The OP seems to think Cleveland did something wrong by waiving him, so I took it one step further and implied they were wrong to claim him in the first place.
Nothing that has transpired was wrong, unethical or unfair. It sucks for him, but as has been stated, if Cleveland had kept him he wouldn’t be pitching in the postseason either.
Players union doesn’t need to battle over things that don’t help them. Cleveland is toast. He can help another team. Can’t pitch in playoffs but can still get a ring. Being traded isn’t a big deal for a professional.
Angels and Guardians having the strangest seasons, I think they’ve been contenders and sellers multiple times throughout and alternated.
These are conditions/stipulations that the MLBPA/players agreed to during the last CBA negotiations. None of these MLB players are losing a penny from their contracts. Any grievances can be discussed for the next CBA.
They had more important things to battle for like the draft lottery to prevent teams from not trying to win.
This guy has been especially underrated. After a powerful 2022 campaign, he continues to be a solid reliever, starting with the Angels. Angels waive him during their yard sale, and Cleveland picks him up. Why would Cleveland give him up?
They’re conceding their season.
The likely reasoning is that Shane Bieber and/or Triston McKenzie will be returning to the club from the 60-day IL. This means the Guardians need to make a roster spot for them.. Moore seems like a good choice, since he is going to be a free agent at the end of the year.
Need roster space. Save $. With no chance of playoffs anyone who isn’t under control for 2024 is a easy dump.
If I had Matt Moore’s contract, they could move me to the moon. As long as I get those massive checks every 2 weeks. And you can go wherever you want in the off-season.
wow what is the point of claiming him in the 1st place
Guardians had about an 8% chance of making the playoffs when he was claimed.
I never understood it either, but it is their team and their prerogative to decide when they are “in it” or “out of it”. We as fans don’t always have to agree.
So you’re telling me there’s a chance.
I think the Commish and the rest of the MLB need to tighten up the rules here
This looks sloppy, I can see where it might help, but it just looks sloppy
Seems that the thing to do would be to allow these guys on the playoff rosters say, a week before the end of the season, instead of Sept 1st to me. It doesn’t feel right that Moore won’t be able to pitch in the playoffs after the season he’s had.
Guardians save $559,259 with this move. That’s like 20 firework shows.
Had he made it to Texas, I bet CY still would pass because that’s Texas’s luck.
Why are people up in arms , even Guardians fans ? Having Moore for the last 10- 11 games in Cleveland really gonna make a difference ?
Exactly. And while Moore may not be post-season eligible, he can still hang out on the bench with the guys and possibly get a ring.
Didn’t edit in time, but I would much rather do that than have to spend time in Cleveland lol
Matt Moore is a player several years ago – Seemed done! Last year with Texas – could have been thought as a fluke, but this year he was still productive. — Surprised CLV is throwing out the towel
Throwing out? I t ought it was throwing in when you give up.
Surprised they haven’t done the same to Reynaldo actually.
I wonder if Giolito was waived too. Would be interesting to see who would claim him. Reds definitely could use him.. He’s making more than Moore was.
Degaz – I’m guessing they hang onto Giolito, just so he can continue to absorb innings, but I would not be surprised if they put Gio and/or Lopez on waivers. They’ll likely need one more roster spot available.. and, since they are out of it, perhaps they use this opportunity to get a better look at someone else on the 40-man roster or reward a guy like Joey Cantillo with a call-up.
Reds could have used either rather than TBD bullpen days every five days (if they are lucky with injuries) that further burns out an already burned out bullpen.
I wonder if anyone has considered the possibility that Moore asked to be let go by Cleveland…
If Miami wins the World Series, Matt Moore gets a ring. Pretty cool.
Yes, because those 3-5 innings he pitches will really make him feel part of the team. How fast will it sell on ebay?
The Guardians owner will start charging for soda. 😉
Already does.
So do all the other owners.
How many freebies to you believe fans are entitled to?
How many games have you attended this year?
Did you see the film Moneyball and the soda machine?
Hint: This has nothing to do with freebies for fans.
Sadly a lot of really ignorant comments here today.
I can’t figure if these are teenagers that have learned in school and on TV that they are entitled to everything in life in America that they want, but the meanie rich people won’t give it to them as the government does – and when they overspend giving things away they simply print more money; or if they’re just adult failures in life that resent successful people….unless they’re ballplayers or player agents (somehow players getting hundred million dollar contracts with no investment on their part but time are hero’s that pulled themselves out of indentured servitude. Big shock coming in many peoples lifetimes.
Anyway, have been around the Internet the past 3 months, and this comment section as well of a lot of the tone of many of the articles here have sort of becoming a laughingstock. No wonder many of the posters knowing baseball have left.
Pro-ownership takes are…certainly takes.
What we need now is for the Twins to lose their final 10 games, and the Guards to win their final 10 games, causing the Guards to moan not having Matt Moore for their postseason.