The Phillies announced that they have claimed righty Freddy Tarnok off waivers from the Athletics. Tarnok has been optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after first being activated off the 60-day injured list. To create room on the 40-man, the Phils moved right-hander Dylan Covey to the 60-day IL.
It wasn’t publicly known that Tarnok had been designated for assignment, but Oakland had to make some kind of decision since was nearing the end of his 30-day rehab assignment. Tarnok has pitched in six games for Triple-A Las Vegas since May 8, and with a 13.50 ERA to show for those 7 1/3 innings of work, Tarnok might have simply pitched himself out of the Athletics’ plans. Tarnok has been on the IL since Opening Day due to inflammation in his right hip, and he was moved from the 15-day to the 60-day at the start of May.
A third-round pick for the Braves in the 2017 draft, Tarnok made his MLB debut in the form of a single game and two-thirds of an inning pitched during the 2022 season. That winter, Atlanta dealt Tarnok to Oakland as part of the huge three-team, nine-player trade that sent William Contreras and Joel Payamps to the Brewers and Sean Murphy to the Braves, with Tarnok being one of the younger, controllable players the A’s landed in one of several fire-sale type trades during their latest rebuild.
Tarnok’s first (and officially only) season with the A’s consisted of five outings and 14 2/3 innings due to multiple injuries. Shoulder problems led to a 60-day IL stint to begin the 2023 campaign as well, and hip surgery then ended his season altogether in August. Recovery from that hip procedure lingered into the offseason and Spring Training, necessitating Tarnok’s IL stint at the start of this year.
Unsurprisingly, Tarnok has run into some troubles keeping the ball in the park in the Pacific Coast League, and his walk and strikeout rates have been average at best even prior to 2024 across his 71 career Triple-A innings. However, Tarnok has a solid 4.18 ERA in those 71 Triple-A frames, and is still only 25 years old. There’s no risk for the Phillies in having some more big league-ready rotation depth ready at Lehigh Valley in the event of injury, or if Philadelphia just wants to give some of its starters extra rest in advance of what the team hopes will be a deep postseason run.
Covey has yet to pitch this season after suffering a shoulder strain during Spring Training, and he likely would’ve been placed on the 60-day IL much earlier than today had the Phillies been in need of a 40-man roster spot. As a reminder, a 60-day IL placement is retroactive to the start of the initial 15-day placement, so Covey can now technically be activated at any time since it has already been more than 60 days since Opening Day.
If you’re the A’s why would you give up a pitcher who had at least 5 more years of control?
He’s never healthy, but Yes, that Sean Murphy trade is looking as bad as the Matt Olson and Matt Chapman trades.
It’s even more stupid because while they have a full 40-man right now, they could move Erceg to the 60 with his forearm tightness being a precursor to an arm injury.
Or DFA Tyler Ferguson who is 30, and just made his debut, and probably has less potential than tarnok.
Boneheaded move at least not trying to get a PBTNL or Cash Considerations for tarnok.
love this move
I like Freddy but the A’s are on fully retooling mode then there was not enough room for him at the major league level.
Does this guy throw gas?
Sits around 95MPH his best pitch is a change up if he can finally rid himself of the injury bug could be a nice little steal for Phils was also A’s 13th ranked prospect
Yes, injuries have been noted, but also wild. PHI likes their healthy BB/9 and a lifetime 6.5 BB/9. Affectioniately referred to as Tarnok the Hunter. With Pache and now Tarnok, PHI is benefitting from the Olson/Murphy trades, as well.
Time to bring in Votto? They could probably acquire him for their 2 best prospects or possibly just for Suarez alone.
No one is trading Suarez. That’s ridiculous
Why don’t they designate Trevor Gott?! They signed him to a 1 year deal and is out the entire season.
DFAing Gott wouldn’t do anything as he’s already on the 60-day IL and isn’t counting against the A’s 40-man roster.
DFAing him achieves nothing outside of if the A’s want to pay his guaranteed contract in may or over the course of the season, or if they wanna be dicks and prevent him from accruing service years.
Besides, I don’t think injured players like that can be waived or DFA’d they would need to be released, and then resigned to a minor league contract.
To add on even more, Gott has 5.057 service years, meaning he’s a vested veteran and could reject an outright assignment to the minors anyways while retaining his salary, even if he was healthy.
He’s on the Cristian Pache career path
I don’t understand WAR. This guy is above average with his stats? I mean allowing 4 homers and 11 walks in 14 innings is an 0.2 WAR?
Because WAR is the most idiotic “stat” out there.
“Most idiotic”…I couldn’t agree more. “WAR” is a simplified, “baseball for dummies” stat that WAY overvalues OBP and literally ignores the guys who drive in and produce the runs that win games. W.A.R rewards on base guys whether they’re good defenders or not.
“WAR” is for people that don’t watch much baseball but wish to talk baseball.
The problem isn’t with WAR,it’s that too many people look solely at WAR. As you pointed out, WAR doesn’t capture everything. WAR is useful when combined with other stats, but useless on its own
fWAR is superior. Has tarnok below replacement level.
WAR, good God almighty, who needs it, War
Edwin Starr, a song that will always come back to life…
Phil-a-GEL-phia
As a Braves fan, Phil. is my 2nd choice, they are gelling…
VonPurple, your team is looking incredible, if the Braves can’t win, let it be Philly
I fully expect the Braves offense to start getting hot towards the end of June, but those injuries will be tough to overcome.
Either way, I’m sure they’ll meet in the playoffs again.
…and the idiot convention has started. “WAR is dumb because I don’t understand it. I mean, I already don’t understand baseball and now I don’t understand something else about baseball.”
Freddy Tarnok: Dinosaur Hunter