Anthony Franco | MLB Trade Rumors

Major League Baseball Job Openings

By Anthony Franco | June 27, 2022 at 6:47pm CDT

From time to time, as a service to our readers, MLB Trade Rumors will post job opportunities of possible interest that are brought to our attention. MLBTR has no affiliation with the hiring entity, no role in the hiring process, and no financial interest in the posting of this opportunity.

Position: Manager, On-Field Strategy

Location: New York, NY

Major League Baseball is looking to hire a Manager, On-Field Strategy in the Baseball Operations Department. The position is full-time and is based in New York City.

Primary Responsibilities:

Provide analytical and administrative support to the On-Field and Competition Committees
Analyze trends in gameplay and strategy
Evaluate the effectiveness of experimental playing rules and the impact of new technologies and other on-field initiatives
Collaborate with departments across the Commissioner’s Office to provide support for day-to-day operations and relevant projects
Other projects as assigned by the On-Field Strategy department

Desired Skills:

Demonstrated interest in baseball and baseball-related analysis
Detail oriented with very strong quantitative background, including experience working with large data sets and leading complex analysis
Experience with SQL—or other relational database platforms—and statistical modeling software (R, STATA, Python, etc.)
Strong written and oral communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to manage relationships in a fast-paced business environment

Experience:

Undergraduate degree with strong academic performance, including significant quantitative coursework
Several years of work experience in data science, finance, or other quantitative field

To Apply: Please visit this site and complete the LinkedIn application.

* * * * *

Position: Coordinator, Baseball Economics

Location: New York, NY

Major League Baseball is looking to hire a Coordinator, Baseball Economics in the Baseball Operations Department. The position is full-time and is based in New York City.

Primary Responsibilities:

Complete valuation analysis of player contracts and other analysis related to baseball labor markets
Assist with the administration of Major League player payroll accounting for Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) and Labor Relations Department (LRD) purposes
Provide analytical and administrative support to Clubs in negotiations and hearings with salary arbitration-eligible players
Collaborate with internal Baseball Operations department staff, as well as other departments throughout the Commissioner’s Office, to provide support for day-to-day operations and relevant projects
Serve as liaison to Commissioner’s Office baseball operations IT systems, ensuring data accuracy across baseball applications, and assisting with departmental IT strategy
Other projects as assigned by the Baseball Economics department

Desired Skills:

Demonstrated interest in baseball and baseball-related analysis
Detail oriented with very strong quantitative background, including experience working with large data sets and leading complex analysis
Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint)
Experience with SQL—or other relational database platforms—and statistical modeling software (R, STATA, Python, etc.)
Very strong written and oral communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to manage relationships in a fast-paced business environment

Experience:

Undergraduate degree with strong academic performance, including significant quantitative coursework

To Apply: Please visit this site and complete the LinkedIn application.

* * * * *

Position: Fellow, Baseball Operations

Location: New York, NY

Major League Baseball is looking to hire a Fellow in the Baseball Operations Department from any discipline or background as long as the individual has the curiosity, open-mindedness, and perseverance to take on new challenges. This position is open to people of color, female candidates and those who identify as non-binary. The position is full-time and is based in New York City.

Primary Responsibilities:

Provide support for Minor League player transaction and contract administration and serve as a point-of-contact for Club player development staffs on these topics
Assist in coordinating MLB’s affiliated minor league system and Partner Leagues, including related on- and off-field initiatives
Provide support with central office administrative duties for Major League player transactions, waivers and roster management, including assisting Club baseball operations staff with the interpretation of Major League Rules, Major League Regulations and the Basic Agreement
Review and approve Major and Minor League transactions leading up to game-time throughout the season and disseminate waiver bulletins during the season
Stay abreast of player development and Minor League operations trends occurring throughout the league with a focus on enhancing and improving the broader player development system
Work with MLB baseball IT systems group and outside software consultants to ensure and enhance data accuracy and system functionality across relevant baseball applications
Other projects as assigned by the Baseball Operations department

Desired Skills:

Demonstrated interest in baseball and baseball-related analysis
Familiarity with transactions, Major League Rules, the Basic Agreement and Major League Club operations regarding the minor leagues is a plus
Strong administrative, organizational and communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to manage relationships in a fast-paced business environment
Must possess highly proficient skills in the use of Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Power Point)

Experience:

Undergraduate degree with strong academic performance

To Apply: Please visit this site to complete the application – www.mlb.com/fellowship

Trevor Larnach To Undergo Core Surgery, Expected To Miss Six Weeks

By Anthony Franco | June 27, 2022 at 5:52pm CDT

Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach will undergo a bilateral surgical repair to address a core muscle strain, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey informed reporters (including Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press). Falvey estimated it’ll be six weeks before Larnach is ready to return to the major league team.

It’s a setback for a Minnesota club holding a two-game edge over the Guardians in the AL Central standings. A former first-round draftee and top prospect, Larnach has appeared in 51 of the club’s 74 games. He’d settled in as manager Rocco Baldelli’s primary left fielder over the past few weeks and is amidst a decent season.

Through 180 plate appearances, Larnach owns a .231/.306/.406 line that checks in right around league average by measure of wRC+. While the left-handed hitter has continued to strike out at an alarming rate (31.7%), he’s walked at a quality 10% clip and collected 18 extra-base hits. Defensive metrics have judged his corner outfield work favorably as well, making for a nice start to the Oregon State product’s second season in the big leagues.

With Larnach out of action for the past few days, Baldelli has turned to utilityman Nick Gordon in left field. The 26-year-old has just a .250/.287/.365 line with a pair of homers through 56 games, making him an imperfect fit for regular action at a bat-first position. Alex Kirilloff is capable of working in the corner outfield, but he’s kicked to first base while Luis Arraez has moved to second after the club lost Jorge Polanco to the IL last week.

Red Sox Select Yolmer Sanchez

By Anthony Franco | June 27, 2022 at 5:08pm CDT

The Red Sox announced they’ve selected infielder Yolmer Sánchez onto the major league roster. They’ve also recalled righty Connor Seabold from Triple-A Worcester. In corresponding moves, righty Tanner Houck and outfielder Jarren Duran are going on the restricted list. That’s typical procedure for players who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 on teams heading for a series in Toronto, as the Canadian government prohibits unvaccinated athletes from crossing the border.

Sánchez makes it to the majors for the first time in two years. A longtime member of the White Sox, the Venezuela native is a career .245/.300/.360 hitter over parts of seven seasons. He’s a highly-regarded defensive infielder who has logged significant time at both second and third base in his career. Sánchez claimed the American League’s Gold Glove Award at the keystone in 2019.

Signed to a minor league deal over the offseason, the 29-year-old has spent the entire season in Worcester. He’s hitting .253/.381/.424 with eight home runs and an excellent 16.6% walk rate over 265 plate appearances with the WooSox. Sánchez has played each of second, third and shortstop in the minors this season.

The Sox didn’t announce whether he was being brought to the majors as a designated COVID “substitute.” Players with that designation — which can only be granted by the commissioner’s office — occupy temporary spots on the roster and can be sent back to the minor leagues without being exposed to waivers or optioned.

That’d be a meaningful distinction in Sánchez’s case, as he has more than five years of MLB service time and thus cannot be optioned without his consent. If he were tagged with the substitute designation, he’d likely head back to Worcester when Houck and Duran are eligible to return on Friday. If not, he’ll have to remain on the active roster or be designated for assignment from this point forward.

Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reported the moves before the team announcement.

Blue Jays Select Shaun Anderson

By Anthony Franco | June 27, 2022 at 4:50pm CDT

The Blue Jays announced they’ve selected righty Shaun Anderson onto the MLB roster, with reliever Jeremy Beasley optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. A 40-man roster spot was created by transferring Hyun Jin Ryu from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list.

Toronto grabbed Anderson off waivers from the Padres last November. They passed him through waivers a couple weeks later, keeping him in the minor leagues without necessitating a 40-man spot. The right-hander had been a fairly desirable bullpen depth option, having bounced between Minnesota, Texas and Baltimore before landing in San Diego. Altogether, he struggled to an 8.49 ERA through 23 1/3 innings with three clubs.

Anderson has spent this season with the Bisons, working 46 innings over 14 appearances (including six starts). The 27-year-old has a 3.91 ERA, striking out a below-average 19.7% of opponents but demonstrating strong control as a multi-inning pitcher. Anderson still has a minor league option year remaining, so the Jays can bounce him from Toronto to Buffalo for the remainder of the season.

Ryu’s IL transfer was a formality whenever the club needed a 40-man roster spot. The veteran southpaw recently underwent Tommy John surgery. He’ll miss the rest of this season and most or all of next year as well.

Cardinals Place Jack Flaherty, Harrison Bader On Injured List

By Anthony Franco | June 27, 2022 at 4:25pm CDT

The Cardinals announced this afternoon that both Jack Flaherty and Harrison Bader are headed to the injured list. Flaherty, as a pitcher, lands on the 15-day IL with what the team is calling a right shoulder strain. The position player Bader heads to the 10-day IL as he battles plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

To replace the duo on the active roster, the Cards selected outfielder Conner Capel and reliever James Naile onto the big league club. St. Louis had a pair of vacancies on the 40-man roster after placing southpaws Génesis Cabrera and T.J. McFarland on the COVID-19 list in recent days. Each of Capel and Naile would be making their major league debuts if they get into a game.

Flaherty’s injury is the most notable development. The star right-hander has spent a good chunk of the last two years on the IL, most recently as he’s battled continued shoulder problems. He lost a month last season due to a shoulder strain (in addition to a longer stint with an oblique injury), then spent the first two-plus months of this year on the shelf with what the pitcher identified as bursitis in Spring Training. Flaherty was only just activated for his season debut a couple weeks ago, and he made three appearances before leaving yesterday’s start after the second inning.

It’s an alarming recent injury history, and it seems the 26-year-old is going to miss a notable chunk of time yet again. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters (including Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat and Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) that Flaherty’s again dealing with bursitis. Mozeliak said the club was “pretty optimistic” Flaherty will be able to return at some point this season, but he didn’t provide more specifics on a timeline.

Flaherty joins Steven Matz on the injured list, leaving the club with a starting four of Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Dakota Hudson and Andre Pallante at the moment. Top prospect Matthew Liberatore would seem the logical candidate for the fifth spot, but he has just four MLB appearances under his belt. The Cards sit a game back of the Brewers in the NL Central and seem likely to at least dabble in the trade market for starting pitching before the August 2 deadline, particularly if Flaherty’s indeed looking at another months-long recovery process.

In addition to losing arguably their best pitcher, St. Louis will be down their primary center fielder for at least a week and a half. Bader has started 65 of the team’s 75 games this season, hitting .256/.303/.370 with five home runs through 264 plate appearances. That’s a step back from his offensive production of 2020-21, but he’s swiped 15 bases and consistently rates as one of the game’s top defensive outfielders.

Bader’s absence leaves the club without a true center fielder, as right fielder Dylan Carlson looks likely to slide up the middle for now. That figures to be a notable defensive downgrade, although the Cards do have players like Lars Nootbaar and designated hitter/corner outfielder Juan Yepez capable of subbing in for Carlson in right.

Capel joins that mix, having spent much of his minor league career in right field. Originally selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2016 draft, the Texas high school product was dealt to St. Louis in the Oscar Mercado trade in 2018. He’s spent the past few seasons slowly moving through the ranks in the upper minors, and he earns a big league call with a career-best 2022 showing for Triple-A Memphis.

Over 252 plate appearances this year, Capel is hitting .271/.361/.466. He’s popped nine homers, stolen 16 bags and drawn walks at an excellent 11.9% clip. The 25-year-old hasn’t appeared on an organizational prospects list at FanGraphs or Baseball America since 2019, and the Cards decided against adding him to the 40-man roster last winter — leaving him eligible for selection in a Rule 5 draft which never wound up transpiring. He’s elevated his stock enough in the past couple months to join the big league corner outfield rotation.

Naile, 29, is a seven-year minor league veteran. Originally a 20th-round selection of the A’s in 2015 out of UAB, he remained in the Oakland system through 2021. The right-hander never reached Oakland’s 40-man roster and hit minor league free agency at the end of last year. He signed a non-roster pact with St. Louis over the winter.

After working as a starter for much of his time in the A’s system, Naile has come out of the bullpen for 24 of his 27 outings with Memphis. He’s tossed 46 2/3 innings of 3.28 ERA ball in that new role, often working two innings at a time. Naile has a modest 21.1% strikeout rate, but he’s only walked 5.5% of batters faced. He’s also induced grounders on over 55% of batted balls, a trait the front office has prioritized given the club’s excellent infield defense. He’ll add a multi-inning arm to Marmol’s bullpen.

Jones first reported Naile’s and Capel’s promotions before the team announcement.

Mets Claim Kramer Robertson, Transfer Tylor Megill To 60-Day IL

By Anthony Franco | June 27, 2022 at 3:15pm CDT

The Mets have claimed infielder Kramer Robertson off waivers from the Braves, tweets Tim Healey of Newsday. He’s been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. That’s also true of reliever Colin Holderman, who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and sent to the minors. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Robertson, the Mets transferred Tylor Megill from the 15-day to the 60-day IL.

A former fourth-round pick of the Cardinals, Robertson made it to the big leagues last month. He appeared in two games, picking up his first plate appearance, before being optioned back out. St. Louis designated the 27-year-old for assignment not too long thereafter, and the Braves grabbed him off waivers.

Robertson has spent 13 games with Atlanta’s top affiliate in Gwinnett. Despite playing quite well over that stretch, he apparently landed on waivers over the weekend. (The club didn’t announce his removal from the 40-man roster at the time). The Braves’ attempt to slip Robertson through waivers and keep him in the organization as a non-roster player was thwarted by their division rivals.

In parts of three Triple-A seasons, the LSU product owns a .246/.369/.398 slash line. He’s walked in a stellar 14.3% of his plate appearances at the minors’ highest level and can cover anywhere on the infield. Robertson is in his first of three minor league option years, so the Mets will add a flexible upper level depth option if they keep him on the 40-man roster.

Megill’s IL transfer backdates to June 17, when he first landed on the shelf. The right-hander suffered a shoulder strain and won’t begin a throwing program until around the All-Star Break, and he’ll certainly need weeks to build up arm strength even in a best-case scenario. It never seemed likely he’d be back before mid-August given that initial timeline, and today’s move makes that official.

David Blitzer Purchases Minority Stake Of Guardians Franchise

By Anthony Franco | June 27, 2022 at 10:05am CDT

June 27: The Guardians formally announced Blitzer as a new minority owner this morning.

June 16: Major League Baseball owners have approved the sale of a minority stake of the Guardians organization to David Blitzer, commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed to various reporters this afternoon (via Bob Nightengale of USA Today). The agreement is still pending a closing, but Zack Meisel of the Athletic writes that it’s expected to be finalized in the coming days.

According to The Athletic, Blitzer will own somewhere between 25% – 30% of the team initially. Of greater interest is that he’ll have an option to acquire a majority stake six years from now, as Jon Heyman of the New York Post tweets. The sale price of the deal has not been announced.

None of this comes as a new development, as Sportico and Heyman reported last December that Blitzer was set to acquire a minority stake in the franchise with a long-term path to majority ownership. It’s nevertheless a notable step for the organization that the sale process appears to be reaching its end.

The Dolan family purchased the franchise back in 1999. They’ve remained in majority control since that point, but the Dolans have sought to sell a stake since former minority owner John Sherman divested his interest to purchase the Royals in August 2019. That search process eventually led to Blitzer, who also has stakes in the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Blitzer and partner Josh Harris had previously entered the fray during the 2020 sale of the Mets that eventually went to Steve Cohen; Meisel writes that, at least as of last week, Harris was not involved in the Guardians purchase.

Last summer, the Cleveland organization agreed to extend its lease at Progressive Field through at least 2036. Meisel writes that Blitzer could eventually oversee development projects around the ballpark, although it’s unclear if that’d take place before he assumes majority control.

It also remains to be seen whether Blitzer’s addition will have any impact on the team’s spending habits, although that seems unlikely to come into play unless/until he takes majority control. Dolan has come under fire throughout his tenure for the team’s low payrolls. According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the Guardians opened this season with an approximate $68.2MM player payroll. That’s the league’s fourth-lowest mark, ahead of only the noncompetitive Orioles, A’s and Pirates.

Salvador Perez Undergoes Thumb Surgery

By Anthony Franco | June 24, 2022 at 5:25pm CDT

5:25pm: Perez’s surgery was performed today, manager Mike Matheny tells reporters (Twitter link via Alec Lewis of The Athletic). Doctors expect he’ll need eight weeks to recover. Perez will also surely require a minor league rehab assignment before returning to the Royals. A return in late August or early September seems possible, based on the timeline provided by Matheny.

12:15pm: The Royals announced today that franchise catcher Salvador Pérez will undergo surgery to repair a ligament tear in his left thumb. He’s headed to the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 21, but the club noted he’s expected back at some point this season. Outfielder Edward Olivares has been reinstated from the IL to take his spot on the active roster.

It’s the second time this season that Pérez heads to the IL because of problems with his left thumb. He lost 11 days in May with what the team called a thumb sprain but returned to play for a bit more than three weeks. The seven-time All-Star reaggravated the issue on Tuesday, and this time his recovery will require surgical repair. The team hasn’t specified a timetable beyond noting that Pérez should return in 2022, but he’ll certainly miss multiple weeks and it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s eventually transferred to the 60-day IL.

This has been a down year for Pérez even when he’s been healthy enough to take the field. He’s hitting .211/.254/.426 through 236 plate appearances, well shy of the .284/.323/.561 mark he posted between 2020-21. Pérez has popped 11 home runs and posted a top-ten slugging figure for a catcher, but his on-base percentage ranks among the bottom 20 hitters leaguewide.

Last March, Pérez signed a four-year contract extension that took effect this season. He’s making $18MM this year, followed by successive $20MM salaries in 2023-24 and a $22MM mark in 2025. The deal also contains at least a $2MM buyout on a 2026 club option. The 32-year-old remains an integral part of the franchise’s future, and there’s little reason for the club to rush him back. The Royals enter play Friday with a 25-43 record that has them at the bottom of the AL Central.

While Pérez is out, highly-regarded rookie MJ Melendez will assume the bulk of the catching time. The 23-year-old entered this season among Baseball America’s top 50 overall prospects after a breakout 2021 showing in the upper minors. Melendez led all minor leaguers with 41 longballs between Double-A and Triple-A. He reached the majors last month and is off to a nice start, hitting .234/.333/.421 with an excellent 13.1% walk rate and a manageable 22.6% strikeout percentage through his first 43 games.

Melendez has seen time in right field and at designated hitter while sharing time with Pérez, but he figures to move to his typical catching position regularly now. Longtime K.C. backup Cam Gallagher is on the active roster as the #2 option, while Sebastian Rivero is on optional assignment to Triple-A Omaha as upper level depth.

Astros Activate Jake Meyers From 60-Day IL, Designate Dillon Thomas

By Anthony Franco and Steve Adams | June 24, 2022 at 2:43pm CDT

The Astros announced they’ve designated outfielder Dillon Thomas for assignment in order to clear a 40-man roster spot for Jake Meyers, who is back from the 60-day injured list. Houston optioned Jose Siri to Triple-A Sugar Land to clear active roster space for Meyers.

Thomas, 29, went 0-for-2 with a walk and was a hit-by-pitch in four plate appearances during a very brief stint with the ’Stros. He’s logged just 13 total plate appearances in the Majors, also stepping to the plate nine times as a member of the Mariners a year ago. The 2011 fourth-rounder (Rockies) has split the rest of the 2022 season between the Triple-A affiliates for the Angels and Astros, posting a combined .293/.395/.492 batting line — numbers that generally align with his career .277/.382/.462 output in parts of three seasons at that level. Houston will have a week to trade Thomas, pass him through outright waivers or release him.

Meyers’ return should be a boon for the Astros’ lineup. The 26-year-old made his big league debut in 2021 and impressed with a .260/.323/.438 batting line, six home runs and eight doubles in 163 plate appearances. He also turned in well above-average work in the outfield according to each of Defensive Runs Saved, Ultimate Zone Rating and Outs Above Average.

Were it not for a shoulder injury sustained during last year’s ALDS — one that eventually required surgery after a torn labrum was discovered — Meyers could very well have been the Opening Day center fielder. Time will tell whether he’s able to approximate last year’s solid debut effort, but if he can indeed do so, there’s an opening for the former 13th-rounder to solidify himself as a long-term solution for the Astros alongside Kyle Tucker in the outfield.

For the 26-year-old Siri, the 2022 season has been a struggle. After kicking down the door to the Majors with a .318/.369/.552 batting line in Triple-A last year and subsequently hitting .304/.347/.609 in 49 big league plate appearances, Siri went from minor league signee to a viable big league outfield option. Unfortunately, he hasn’t come anywhere close to that production this season, hitting just .185/.248/.315 in 141 turns at the plate. Siri is in his final minor league option year, creating some further urgency for him to turn things around at the plate.

Pirates Designate Jerad Eickhoff For Assignment

By Steve Adams and Anthony Franco | June 24, 2022 at 2:26pm CDT

The Pirates announced they’ve selected reliever Austin Brice onto the MLB roster. Righty Jerad Eickhoff has been designated for assignment to open active and 40-man roster space.

Eickhoff, 31, appeared in just one game for the Pirates and was torched for 10 runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Cubs this week. Remarkably, that’s the second consecutive big league appearance in which Eickhoff has been tagged for 10 earned runs; he also yielded 10 runs (in 3 1/3 frames) to the Braves in his final outing of the year with the Mets last season.

Those two outings have combined to help balloon Eickhoff’s career ERA to 4.50 and mark the continuation of a recent decline in Eickhoff’s overall performance. While he was a solid rotation option with the Phillies from 2015-17, pitching to a 3.87 ERA over 376 1/3 innings during that time, Eickhoff has totaled just 87 2/3 Major League innings from 2018-22 and pitched to a collective 7.19 ERA along the way. The Pirates will have a week to trade Eickhoff, release him or attempt to pass him through outright waivers. He has enough service time to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency if he chooses.

Brice, meanwhile, will join the big league bullpen on the heels of a sharp 3.04 ERA through 26 2/3 innings in Triple-A Indianapolis. He’s posted strong strikeout and ground-ball rates in Indy (27.2% and 50.7%, respectively), but has also issued a walk to 11 of the 114 batters he’s faced (9.6%) and plunked another three. Brice is a veteran of parts of six Major League seasons — the best of which came with the 2019 Marlins (44 2/3 innings, 3.43 ERA). Overall, he carries a lifetime 5.17 ERA in 162 big league innings.

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