On the heels of an overnight trade, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Rendon to be activated:
The Angels are poised to return one of their highest-paid players from the injured list today… although it’s not the one fans are surely pining to see back in the lineup. Manager Ron Washington told reporters (including MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger) yesterday that veteran third baseman Anthony Rendon “could” be activated from the 60-day injured list today. Anaheim plans to give the 34-year-old veteran alternating starts at third base and DH until he’s healthy enough to resume third base duties on a full-time basis. The Angels will need to clear space for Rendon on the active and 40-man rosters prior to activating him from the IL.
Rendon was a perennial candidate for MVP votes during his time with the Nationals, but frequent trips to the shelf in recent years have limited him to just 219 total games since he signed a seven-year deal with the Halos during the 2019-20 offseason. After a healthy inaugural campaign in an Angels uniform where he slashed an impressive .286/.418/.497 (152 wRC+) during the shortened 2020 season, Rendon has hovered around league average offensively when healthy enough to take the field for Anaheim with a .239/.336/.356 line (95 wRC+). After going hitless in his first five games of the 2024 season, Rendon heated up with a .357/.413/.411 slash for two weeks until he landed on the IL with a partially torn hamstring. The Angels are currently using Willie Calhoun at DH and a platoon of Luis Guillorme and Miguel Sano at the hot corner.
2. D-backs to select pitching prospect:
As was first reported on Friday, the Diamondbacks will call up right-hander Yilber Diaz for a start against the Braves in Arizona this evening. Diaz figures to take the 40-man roster spot vacated by Tucker Barnhart, who was designated for assignment last week, but the club will still need to clear space for the righty on their active roster before tonight’s game.
Diaz, 24 in August, has enjoyed a breakout season. He’s struck out a whopping 33.2% of batters faced in 76 innings of work across the Double- and Triple-A levels this season. The power pitcher’s high strikeout totals have been mitigated somewhat by his elevated 12% walk rate, but he nonetheless has been a generally valuable rotation arm for the club’s upper-level affiliates with a combined 4.03 ERA and a FIP below 4.00 at both levels. The righty’s first assignment in the majors will be a tough one. He’s slated to take the mound opposite veteran lefty Chris Sale, who is in the midst of a resurgent season with Atlanta and sports a 2.71 ERA in 16 starts.
3. Meadows headed to the IL?
Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows suffered a hamstring injury while sliding into second base during last night’s game against the Reds. Manager A.J. Hinch told reporters after the game that the club planned to evaluate Meadows further before making any sort of decision on his status, though he seemed to hint that a trip to the IL was possible when he told reporters (per MLB.com’s Injury Tracker) that he “didn’t love” what he had heard to that point in conversations with Meadows and the club’s medical staff.
Meadows, 24, just returned to the big leagues last week after spending the past two months in Triple-A. His return has been going quite well, as he’s gone 4-for-11 with a double, a home run, and a walk in 12 trips to the plate since being recalled. If Meadows requires a trip to the IL, the club could turn to fellow lefty outfielder Akil Baddoo to take the youngster’s spot on the roster.
Those are release material
Rendon can run to the bathroom and pull something. That guy checked out as soon as he signed the contract. Some players are injury prone and that wont change.
Rob
Did he “check out” or is he “injury prone”?
Seems like two different things
Robw5555: Now if the Angels can acquire Robert, Eloy and Moncada, you’d have the best IL team in professional baseball.
He can check out anytime he likes but he can never leave.
While I understand that baseball is not that important to Rendon, it’s good to see him getting back doing gig work. Nice little side hustle to make a few extra bucks.
I just hope Rendon gets paid a decent wage for moonlighting as the Angels’s 3B…
Rendon has generated 3.6 bWAR since signing his contract with the Angels. By the end of the year, he’ll have made $167.9 million from that contract.
That works out to the Angels paying $46.6 million per 1 WAR. Painful
Fun Fact: Chris Davis’ last contract with the O’s netted him $161 million and he produced -2.8 bWAR during that time…
So the O’s paid $57.5 million per 1 NEGATIVE WAR.
They paid him a handsome sum to hurt them.
Not that important?
It’s not everything somehow equals not that important. People’s hyperbole kills me.
The Angels are a better team when Rendon is playing, therefore I’m glad he’s back.
“Anthony Rendon’
:Trolls and ignoramuses come out of the woodwork:
How so?
CBeisbol: We’re not making this up. Rendon has been on the IL almost continuously since 2021. I’m guessing signing that big fat contract isn’t causing him to rush back.
Cbeisbol is an idiota. This clown knows nothing about the game …. Adios
No Mike Trout at the All Star Game.
Good.
I think you have actually play some games to qualify.;)
Ok
@The Headliner (2025)
MLB requires all teams be represented at the game so guys who don’t belong there are still on the team.
Trout will continue to have injries and headlines will say what teams he wantsa to get traded to? What? At 40mm?
No team is stupid enough to take on the rest of Trout’s albatross contract.
The Tigers can’t have good things….
Skubal and Greene are good things so that is not true.
Just wait……
@Trevor is Waiting
True, it’s unfortunate that disinformation is so rampant in our society. We need a Ministry of Truth to ensure we are presented with all the absolute truth.
Trevor: Love him or hate him, if George Steinbrenner was still around I’m pretty sure Bauer would be wearing a Yankees uniform right now, which I wouldn’t mind.
I read that Robinson Cano, who is no longer a MLB-caliber player, is hitting .460 in the Mexican League.
Given that minor league level of competition, it’s a pretty big leap of logic to assume that Bauer is still a MLB-caliber player.
That might well be why no team has signed him and none likely will sign him.
@Blue Baron
I was above MLB-caliber pitcher and was rejected by the commissioner because I would have embarrassed the league with my 130 mph fastball. They would have had to demote most of the players to single-A if I was pitching.
@Old York, are you the “real life” Sid Finch?
@For Love of the Game
While SI did an April fools joke, they actually were talking about me. I’m just that good, boys!
Bauer is never coming back. Its not worth it for any team.
It’s the reason no one will sign Kapernick.
I thought it was because Kapernick doesn’t pitch.
With the present conversion rate that .460 equates to .230
Manager Ron Washington III told reporters yesterday that veteran third baseman Anthony Rendon “could” be activated from the 60-year injured list today. Anaheim plans to give the 94 year-old veteran alternating starts at third base and DH until he’s healthy enough to resume third base duties on a full-time basis.
Thanks for the tip. Did not know this.
whyhayzee: I had to wait to post this until I stopped laughing! I can see it now: Rendon using a walker to take his position at third. The ball oy takes it
whyhayzee: I had to wait to post this until I stopped laughing! I can see it now: Rendon using a walker to take his position at third. Rendon folds it, pinching his little finger in it in the process, sending him once again to the IL. It never stops with this guy.
Over someone’s head who has the initials DDT, eh?
RIF…
Let’s be real, the accusations aren’t the only thing stopping Bauer from pitching in the MLB, there always seems to be some drama with him. His social media presence, his seemingly inability to control his anger, reported (whether or not it’s true) issues with teammates, releasing a diss track because he didnt agree with his catcher, and calling out MLB for their “sticky stuff” issue (which needed to be done,) certainly doesn’t help his case. Personally, I never liked the guy and I am still a little shocked so many people fawn over him. He has the most abrasive personality I’ve ever seen and there is so much more likeable personalities then him! But, even if you love him, you have to admit it would be a distraction. I get why front offices are hesitant to sign him, even though he would make some teams better and even though I don’t like him it would be interesting to see if he still has his stuff.
Jesse Chavez: After 3 years, it’s highly unlikely that he still has MLB-caliber stuff.
Blue Baron, Your assessment is based on facts?
Guard the Vogt: Based on how hard the game is to play at the MLB level and that age and time away from competing at that level reduce and/or eliminate the ability to do so.
Pretty good facts, wouldn’t you agree?
Bro, he’s a former top 5 draft guy with a cy young, who never stopped playing. He’s probably fine.
Also, those are by definition implications.
Still an opinion
Guard the Vogt: And? Anything we each post on here is an opinion.
But you said they were facts earlier… I’m aware of what we post on here being our opinions. That was quite literally what I was telling YOU after you stated your opinion and tried to disguise it as facts
It’s my opinion. However, the difficulty of playing at the playing and competing at the MLB level and the effects of age and time away are commonly known facts acknowledged by players themselves.
That’s not what you said tho the first few times. But the story changes now, got it.
“After 3 years, it’s highly unlikely that he still has MLB-caliber stuff.”
What part of that is not based on the facts I cited?
But that’s OK if you don’t understand. I am not obligated to explain myself or anything to you.
You literally posted your opinion again and said it’s a fact. I don’t understand because you don’t know the difference between a fact and your opinion. You’re all over the place with your words champ.
Performance wise he’s had two and one half really good seasons and five mediocre seasons. He’s not that attractive of a pitcher given his inconsistency and his character flaws go beyond the acceptable to just about any team. So he’s in Mexico. It’s all good that way.
Jesse – I don’t think people fawn over him, I think people recognize that being falsely accused can happen to any of us (especially men). therefore it’s simply supporting a victim regardless of their jerky history.
Should a convicted bank robber serve life in prison for murder even though it’s been proven he didn’t kill anyone?
@fever pitch
People absolutely fawn over him, even/especially before the allegations. False accusations absolutely suck I agree 100%. But if this situation happened to someone like Logan Gilbert for example, there wouldn’t be people pleading for a team to sign him on every single baseball thread.
Jesse – I dunno, seems like a lot of people feel the same way as me …. always thought he was kind of a jerk.
I think it could be just one person who has been doing the pleading, using different accounts. And I wouldn’t rule out it being him, he does have a history of spending a lot of time online.
People are fawning over Bauer for political reasons. He has become a hero. These days everything is political. He has been in the middle of a great deal or troubles and issues. Many yrs ago there was a rogue owner that would go for publicity. Right now the stakes are far greater. What owner wants to flip an entire clubhouse upside down so they can get Bauer. Some think he was jammed up. They dont know the big picture with him. Same for Pete Rose who I actually dealt with in the late 1980s. I have axe to grind with him, but he also is a political hero by those who dont know the real details.
rob – How is this political? I don’t even know which way he leans, and I don’t care either.
I assume you’re implying he’s a Trump lover?
Jesse: Not being able to control his anger, issues with his teammates and his abrasive personality are things you can’t possibly know are true. As for the “sticky stuff” Manfred the hypocrite is so against it on the major league level that he’s having teams in the minors experimenting with a “sticky ball” with an eye on bringing it to the majors. Try to get into Bauer’s mind. What if he didn’t do what his accuser said he did? What if they just wanted to get a big chunk of Bauer’s money? You know you didn’t do it. The court said you didn’t do it yet here you are, a Cy Young on your mantle, and no team will listen to you or the official ruling by the court. You’ve played the game since you were a little kid. You’re good at what you do, yet you’re flitting around the globe playing for teams that do believe you. So what do you do now?
@avenger65
Not being able to control his anger is evident, anything from screaming at an infielder for an error to throwing a ball over the center field wall when you have a bad game, is it a huge deal? Not really in the scheme of things, but I also can’t say that front offices don’t notice these things. Especially when Cleveland traded him right after. As for issues teammates, yeah I can’t 100% say it’s true, I can only go off what is reported. You can’t say it’s not true either! I don’t know why you seem to believe I think he’s guilty, I don’t. Im just listing the reasons why teams would be hesitant in bringing him in.
Jesse: It might be true that teams are avoiding him because of his temper, but the issues off the field also play a big part. Players with his ability, just like left-handed pitchers, will always find a home. So far, Bauer’s home has been overseas and Mexico and I haven’t seen him P in any of those leagues so I don’t know if he can still P at a high level. Whether he does or not, whether he deserves another shot in MLB, I don’t see it happening
The perfect fit is Milwaukee. Zero media and that could be the postseason answer.
Louholtz: Maybe the Brewers should play in Green Bay. It seems to work for the Packers.
Are you saying that the fans in Mexico don’t deserve to see him?
There will always be a “best pitcher not in MLB.” Do all of them deserve to pitch in MLB? Just an endless line of next-best guys forever worthy of a chance?
Amazing they’re still fielding a team in Anaheim, when coastal Southern California slid into the sea in 2052.
Uh, thanks?
Next New Madrid earthquake will kill more than 5 million people. As the seawater temp increases there will be 20 times more Hurricanes hitting Eastern Seaboard and naturally more tornados in midwest. Good luck dying all of a sudden whereever you live.
Yes, but will the Cardinals and Reds keep playing? Stick to important stuff….
Could anyone see the Nationals making a deal for Rendon if in contention, where Angels eat almost all of his contract AND throw in interesting prospects?
No
So the Angels still pay for Rendon, while he doesn’t play for their team AND give up prospects? They are already paying him to not play for their team, why would they do this?
Squeeze: Plus, the Nats are rebuilding. I don’t think reacquiring Rendon would fit the profile.
Tigers and Angels should swap Baez for Rendon. Change of scenery or they can both suck in new locations!
Could anyone see the Nationals making a deal for Rendon…”?
No, just you.
Tough break for Meadows. Playing these two series at home with him would have been great for the team. The draft is coming up with the trade deadline as well. Getting to .500 to finish the season has to be the teams goal now. Injury to Carpenter has really hurt the team, but they need more than a healthy Carpenter.
With Canha and Urschella playing first the obvious question if both are traded is who now on the team will learn to play first ? Carpenter ? Malloy ? Will the team draft a tall young first baseman ? Detroit has a nice outfield trio now with Perez, Meadows, and Greene. If Tork joins the platoon players it needs another first base option to fill that and at D.H.
Will the team use Carpenter’s injury time to try him at first base to keep him from running into walls in right or just being a D.H. ? That trio of Greene, Meadow’s and Perez has that full time feel to it. Fast on bases, and if Meadows can sustain his hitting quite the outfield for Detroit. Well the Tigers are developing in a positive trend so they are fun to watch.
Malloy is definitely telyvthe DH if he stays. Perez, looks more like a backup long term, the jury is still out on Meadows as a full time player and Carp has actually been decent in the OF.
I’d say Tork will be back after the deadline. They could look at Nick Kurtz in the draft as well if he drops down out of the top 10 or look at a bat like Alonso in the offseason.
There are two problems with Tork coming back. His batting mechanics are not said to have improved even though he’s hitting somewhat better against weaker competition. Second, he’s still a bad fielder — nobody is mentioning ANY improvement here. And the Tigers have much greater needs than at DH…
I wonder if they will be left with any other choice if they ship out Urshela and Canha. Shift Ibanez or Keith there?. Bring up Jung and play him out of position? Maybe they’ll get a bat for 1B at the deadline?
I’m hoping Diaz can complete the first inning relatively unscathed under 25 pitches, collect his breath in the dugout and throw five innings.
Rendons career high for games played as an Angel is 58. Entering tonight’s game, he is at 19 on the season and the Angels have 62 to play. Do MLBTR readers believe Rendon will exceed 58 games in 2024?
Right. Do you dislike Rendon? I only ask because I don’t dislike any player, yet I’m often accused of disliking players.
Are the Angels better or worse with Rendon in the lineup? They are, so I want him in the lineup.
The Angels need more hitters that can control the strike zone and hit situationally which Rendon can do. That said, he is a below average fielder and runner with no pop who will probably provide a negative WAR by years end. All up, as long as one of the best hitters in MLB for the past 162 games, Rengifo, is in the lineup, I have no strong feelings regarding Rendon.
Rendon sure is a better fielder than Rengifo who seems to be a darling of fans that think batting average is the most important stat in baseball.
fwiw, last season, Rengifo had a OAA of -10 in 363 chances at 6 positions. Rendon had a OAA of -5 in 128 chances at one position. If Rendon had 363 chances, as did Rengifo, his OAA would have been approximately -15. As a bonus, Rengifo is slugging approximately 140 points higher than Rendon and has 22 SBs.
I was talking about Facebook crowd but if want to join them who is stopping you?
I cant speak to the FB crowd, but in my defense, I never mentioned batting average. I simply used facts rather than the ol’ eye test to compare Rendons poor defense, running and slugging to Rengifo. I didnt even mention that from July 1 2023 to June 30 2024 Rengifo has one of the highest OPS+ in MLB.
Ok. I’m certainly not going to argue with what Rendon has been.
I am not sure what happened to Rendon after he left the Nats — his performance has been lackluster and his personality shittier than ever. Regardless, not bringing him back was one of the smartest decisions Rizzo and the Lerners ever made. Resigning Strasburg is a topic for another day.
The answer to that question is easy. Rendon led the team in WAR in 2020, since then he’s had several surgeries and hasn’t been healthy.
Some players just break down. Availability is a skill, some players have it, some don’t.
The best player not playing in MLB ain’t Trevor.
“Welcome to the majors, Yilber. Your first ever major league start will be against the Braves and Chris Sale, whose 2.71ERA puts your atrocious 4.03 in the minors in the shade.”
His 4.03 ERA in hitter’s heavens PCL and Amarillo combined really isn’t bad at all. His 5.03 ERA last year in Hillsboro is.
Bauer was only ok I. Japan. Best pitcher in baseball is hyperbolic. You could be a politician.
Only ok in Japan? He was an all-star that season and had a strong finish to the season, despite having no spring training and signing after the season started. If that’s the case, I’d say most MLB players are just okay in general. Not great, not legends like Ruth.
He was Okay in Japan. Certainly not close to being considered the best. He’s the best pitcher in the Mexican league, which is a far cry from being the best in real leagues.
Gteat to see Rendon coming back healthy this early.
Javy Baez is back ! His return is welcome as his replacement’s haven’t done enough for anyone to cry over. I think his hitting will be a good improvement over his fill ins. Baez absence showed the Tigers he’s the best option at shortstop for this year, and perhaps the near future. He’s a major league player so welcome back Javy.
Thumbs down Javier