White Sox Release Robbie Ross
The White Sox have released left-handed reliever Robbie Ross, according to an announcement from their Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte (h/t: James Fegan of The Athletic).
The 28-year-old Ross joined the White Sox on a minor league deal in March, which came after he saw MLB action with the Rangers (2012-14) and Red Sox (2015-17) over the previous six seasons. Ross had some success during that span, particularly during the 2012, ’13 and ’15 campaigns, and combined for a 3.92 ERA with 7.46 K/9, 3.27 BB/9 and a 52.2 percent groundball rate in 330 2/3 innings. He didn’t show a significant platoon split, either, as he held same-handed hitters to a .250/.331/.381 line and righty-swingers to a .269/.344/.376 mark.
Injuries, including elbow and back problems, limited Ross to nine major league frames a year ago. In his return to the mound this season, he struggled in Charlotte, where he logged an 11.81 ERA with 9.28 K/9 and 14.34 BB/9 in 10 2/3 innings.
Yankees Sign First-Rounder Anthony Seigler
The Yankees have signed their first-round pick, 23rd overall choice Anthony Seigler, George A. King III of the New York Post reports. The high school catcher’s bonus is worth $2.815,900, the exact value of the pick, Jim Callis of MLB.com tweets.
Seigler, an 18-year-old Georgia native, ranked among the top 50 prospects entering the draft, according to FanGraphs (28th), Baseball America (41st), ESPN’s Keith Law (43rd) and MLB.com (46th). Seigler’s “agile behind the plate, has a quick transfer that helps his arm play as plus at times and shows promise as a receiver and pitch framer,” per MLB.com, which likens him to Austin Barnes of the Dodgers. Barnes has shown an ability to play second base, and Seigler also has the athleticism to line up at the keystone, according to MLB.com.
Offensively, the switch-hitting Seigler is a contact hitter capable of using all fields, and he could develop into a double-digit home run threat, MLB.com notes. He’s also relatively fast for a catcher. Interestingly, like major leaguer Pat Venditte (also of the Dodgers), Seigler has switch-pitching capability. He brings upper-80s heat and equal effectiveness from both sides, though he’ll sink or swim in the pros as a catcher.
White Sox Activate Carlos Rodon, Designate Chris Beck
The White Sox have activated left-hander Carlos Rodon from the 60-day disabled list and designated righty Chris Beck for assignment, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times was among those to report.
The 25-year-old Rodon will make his season debut against the Red Sox on Saturday after missing the first couple months of 2018 while working back from arthroscopic left shoulder surgery. Rodon underwent the procedure last September to repair a “significant” case of bursitis that helped limit him to 69 1/3 innings. However, he looked strong during his four-start rehab assignment, including three outings with Triple-A Charlotte, where he pitched to a 1.42 ERA with 22 strikeouts against five walks in 12 2/3 innings.
Rodon hasn’t been nearly that dominant during his major league career, but he has emerged as a solid starter since going third in the 2014 draft. Overall, Rodon has recorded a 3.95 ERA, 9.22 K/9, 3.76 BB/9 and a 45.1 percent groundball rate across 373 2/3 innings. He’s currently making a $2.3MM salary in the first of four potential arbitration-eligible seasons.
Beck, 27, has been a member of the White Sox since they selected him in the second round of the 2012 draft. He debuted in the majors in 2015, the same year as Rodon, but hasn’t been nearly as successful as his teammate. Beck has registered a 5.94 ERA with 6.09 K/9, 4.96 BB/9 and a 42.1 percent grounder rate in 119 2/3 innings (97 appearances, one start). He opened 2018 with 23 2/3 innings of 4.18 ERA ball and 6.08 K/9 against 4.18 BB/9 prior to his designation.
AL Notes: Tanaka, Hamels, Kiermaier, Orioles
Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka left his start against the Mets on Friday after five innings because of stiffness in both hamstrings. He’ll undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the severity of the issue, though odds are he’ll require a stint on the disabled list, Randy Miller of NJ.com suggests. Tanaka suffered the injury on the bases, thus cutting short a performance in which he allowed one run on one hit and a walk and struck out eight. The 29-year-old’s amid a second straight underwhelming season from a run prevention standpoint (4.58 ERA), but losing him would still be a significant blow for the starter-needy Yankees, who already lost lefty Jordan Montgomery for the season (and some of 2019) earlier this week.
- Given that it’s likely in the market for a starter, New York has come up as a speculative fit for Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. However, if Hamels’ home run issues don’t subside, the Rangers will have trouble getting much back for him in a trade, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News observes. The 34-year-old is currently yielding 1.93 homers per nine, well above his career mark (1.04) and the American League average for starters (1.23). Hamels has still logged a respectable 3.86 ERA, but his secondary numbers are less encouraging. He’s not exactly teeming with trade value, then, especially considering Hamels’ ability to block deals to 20 teams and his $22.5MM salary this season (plus either a $20MM club option or a $6MM buyout in 2019).
- Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier expects to return from the disabled list around June 20, according to Bill Chastain of MLB.com. The defensive standout has been on the shelf since suffering a torn ligament in his right thumb on April 15, thus limiting him to 48 plate appearances so far. Fill-in Mallex Smith has performed respectably in the aggregate (.271/.340/.351 with 11 steals in 211 PAs), but his production has dropped off a cliff this month. The Rays, meanwhile, have lost eight in a row since May 31 to fall six games below .500.
- The Orioles will activate reliever Darren O’Day from the DL on Saturday, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. O’Day has been out for over a month with a hyperextended right elbow. With Baltimore well out of contention, the 35-year-old O’Day could spend the next several weeks auditioning for other teams as the deadline nears, though he’s still under contract at $9MM for next season. Meanwhile, teammate and impending free-agent reliever Zach Britton could return as early as Monday, Matheson notes. Britton hasn’t pitched at all this season after suffering a ruptured Achilles during the winter.
Nationals Activate Adam Eaton, Release Rafael Bautista
The Nationals have activated outfielder Adam Eaton from the 60-day disabled list, per a team announcement. In corresponding moves, the Nationals released outfielder Rafael Bautista and optioned right-hander Wander Suero to Triple-A.
Eaton hasn’t played since April 8 because of a right ankle issue, one which required surgery in early May, thus continuing an injury-plagued tenure in Washington for the 29-year-old. Since the Nationals acquired Eaton from the White Sox in a December 2016 blockbuster, he has played in just 31 of a possible 223 regular-season games. Eaton missed all but 23 games last season after tearing both his left ACL and meniscus at the end of April.
When Eaton has been healthy enough to take the field for the Nationals, he has continued to post the type of strong production he offered in Chicago from 2014-16. Across 140 plate appearances since last year, the lefty-swinger has slashed .308/.400/.508 with four home runs and nearly as many walks (17) as strikeouts (20). He’ll now rejoin a crowded outfield in D.C. that also consists of right fielder Bryce Harper, stunningly great 19-year-old left fielder Juan Soto, center fielder Michael Taylor and reserve Brian Goodwin.
It’s unclear how the Nats will divvy up playing time among their outfielders, though Soto and Taylor do have minor league options remaining. Soto has perhaps been too effective to demote, however, having batted .339/.431/.571 with three homers, nine walks and 10 strikeouts in the first 65 PAs of his career.
Bautista, 25, had been occupying a spot on Washington’s 40-man roster, but a serious knee injury derailed his season and, barring a re-signing, his career with the franchise. He tore the ACL, LCL and meniscus in his left knee while playing with Triple-A Syracuse three weeks ago. Bautista had been a quality prospect before then, though, as Baseball America (15th), FanGraphs (16th) and MLB.com (19th) each placed him among the Nationals’ top 20 farmhands in recent months.
NL East Notes: Strasburg, Syndergaard, Phillies, Braves
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg left his start Friday after two innings with “a little inflammation” in his pitching shoulder, manager Dave Martinez told Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post and other reporters. Strasburg revealed that the issue began bothering him a few starts ago, and he’ll undergo an MRI on Saturday. Injuries have long been a concern for the 29-year-old Strasburg, though he has always delivered terrific results when healthy. He has once again offered high-end production this year, having notched a 3.46 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 2.12 BB/9 in 80 2/3 innings. The Nats can ill afford to lose Strasburg as they seek a third straight division title, then, especially with fellow starter Jeremy Hellickson currently on the disabled list with a hamstring strain.
More injury notes from the NL East…
- Mets righty Noah Syndergaard won’t come off the DL to make his scheduled start against the Yankees on Sunday, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Syndergaard, who has been out since May 26 with a strained finger ligament, experienced a setback after playing catch this week. It’s unknown how much more time Syndergaard will miss, but with him unavailable, the Mets will start fellow righty Seth Lugo on Sunday.
- Phillies left fielder Rhys Hoskins could return from the DL on Saturday, Matt Breen of Philly.com reports. That would represent a quick comeback for a player who suffered a fractured jaw May 28. In other positive news for the Phillies, the club has ruled out the possibility of thoracic outlet syndrome for injured righty Jerad Eickhoff, general manager Matt Klentak announced. Still, even though the Phillies have “ruled out a lot of bad stuff” for Eickhoff, according to Klentak, they’re unsure what’s causing the numbness in his fingers. Both that problem and a strained lat have shelved Eickhoff for the entire season thus far.
- Braves third base prospect Austin Riley is set to miss “several weeks” after suffering a sprained PCL in his right knee, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. The promising 21-year-old had been faring nicely in his first action at Triple-A, where he has slashed .284/.345/.431 in 113 plate appearances (with a 33.6 percent strikeout rate, however). It’s possible Riley’s injury could affect his chances at a major league promotion this season and influence the Braves’ trade deadline plans. Atlanta’s top two options at third are Johan Camargo and Ryan Flaherty, but both players’ numbers have fallen off as the season has progressed. In the event the Braves seek a veteran upgrade at the hot corner over the summer, there should be some proven commodities available, as MLBTR’s Jeff Todd and Steve Adams pointed out Friday.
Minor MLB Transactions: 6/3/18
Sunday’s minor moves from around the game:
- The Mets have assigned Scott Copeland to Double-A after the right-hander cleared waivers, The Athletic’s Tim Healey reports (Twitter link). Copeland was designated for assignment on Friday after just a two-day stint in the majors, though he did chalk up his first MLB appearance since the 2015 season. The 30-year-old has a 3.22 ERA over 22 1/3 IP (all as a starter) at the Double-A level this season.
- The Diamondbacks have acquired right-handed reliever Brad Goldberg from the White Sox for cash considerations, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com and Zach Buchanan of The Athletic. Goldberg, 28, will now head to his second organization after initially joining Chicago in the 10th round of the 2013 draft. The hard thrower debuted in the majors last year with 12 innings of 8.25 ERA ball, but other than that, he has worked exclusively in the minors (including a 22 1/3-inning run at Double-A this season). Goldberg owns a 3.07 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 91 Triple-A innings.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Archer, Cubs, Tribe, Barria, Hanley, Brewers, Villanueva
This week in baseball blogs…
- Rays Colored Glasses sees the Cubs as logical suitors for Chris Archer.
- MLB & Fantasy Baseball lists Archer and 20 other players who could end up on the move at the trade deadline.
- Always The Jake wants the Indians to revolutionize their pitching staff.
- Angels Avenue examines the early success of Halos rookie Jaime Barria.
- Know Hitter names the seven best fits for Hanley Ramirez.
- Bronx To Bushville (links: 1, 2) analyzes the performance of the Brewers’ rotation.
- East Village Times focuses on Padres third baseman Christian Villanueva‘s highly productive rookie season.
- Rox Pile goes through starting pitchers the Rockies could acquire.
- The Pinch Runner contends that the Pirates misused Charlie Morton.
- FSH Baseball writes an “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” episode called “The Gang Gets Chase Utley into the Hall of Fame.”
- Rotisserie Duck checks in on the WAR leaders from the season’s first two months.
- Believeland Ball argues that the Indians should pursue Athletics closer Blake Treinen.
- The Sports Tank regards Max Scherzer as the best pitcher in the game.
- Camden Depot looks into the reasons for Chris Davis‘ drastic decline.
- Jays From the Couch assesses Toronto’s season to date.
- Rising Apple offers early grades for the Mets’ offseason free-agent signings.
- Bucs Dugout focuses on Josh Bell‘s middling season thus far.
- Chin Music Baseball names the 10 best players of May.
- PhoulBallz interviews Phillies pitching prospect JoJo Romero.
- Notes from the Sally scouts Marlins pitching prospect Trevor Rogers.
- Minor League Ball picks out five minor league teams worth watching.
- The Runner Sports makes a case for the Astros to promote Double-A outfielder Myles Straw to the majors instead of the more touted Kyle Tucker.
- The K Zone features interviews with a few draft prospects.
- Collegiate Baseball Scouting Network profiles and interviews Cal State Fullerton righty/draft prospect Colton Eastman.
- The 3rd Man In talks to California-based high school pitcher/draft prospect Dominic Pipkin.
- A’s Farm shares a progress report on the team’s top 10 picks from last year’s draft.
- The Point of Pittsburgh gives odds on whom the Pirates will select with the 10th pick of the draft.
- Pro Baseball Detroit runs down five players the Tigers could draft after the first round.
- Pinstriped Prospects lists players the Yankees could redraft.
- Foul Territory Baseball asks if Odubel Herrera is an NL MVP candidate.
- SportsTalkPhilly.com looks at Herrera and the Phillies’ other All-Star candidates.
- Everything Bluebirds credits Russell Martin for his versatility.
- Mets Daddy assesses rookie manager Mickey Callaway’s first two months at the helm.
- Sports Talk Florida notes that the Rays have a rather daunting June ahead.
- Pirates Breakdown views the Bucs as an unpredictable team.
- Redleg Nation urges the Reds to retire Vada Pinson‘s number.
- Jays Journal makes a case for Toronto to move on from manager John Gibbons.
- Call to the Pen takes a look at the late-game setup of the Phillies’ bullpen.
- Motor City Bengals breaks down which colleges the Tigers have drafted the most players from.
- MetsMerizedOnline.com is hoping the Mets’ offense turns things around with RISP.
Submissions: ZachBBWI @gmail.com
Tigers To Select Drew VerHagen’s Contract
The Tigers will select right-hander Drew VerHagen‘s contract prior to their doubleheader against the Yankees on Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com tweets. VerHagen will start the first of those games, while the team will option reliever Johnny Barbato in a corresponding move.
The 27-year-old VerHagen is headed back to Detroit’s 40- and 25-man rosters just over a month after the team outrighted him on April 27. VerHagen had thrown 10 innings of seven-run ball at that point, contributing to the 5.04 ERA he has posted across 94 2/3 innings with the Tigers since his 2014 debut.
While VerHagen hasn’t produced in the majors, the hard thrower has been downright dominant with Triple-A Toledo this season. Over six starts and 27 1/3 innings, VerHagen has pitched to a 1.32 ERA with 13.5 K/9, 2.63 BB/9 and a 48.1 percent groundball rate. Those numbers are substantially better than the production he registered last year in 97 1/3 innings at the minors’ highest level (4.90 ERA, 6.38 K/9, 3.98 BB/9, 44.5 grounder percentage).
Reds’ Anthony DeSclafani To Make Season Debut Tuesday
Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani will make his long-awaited return to the Reds’ rotation with a start on Tuesday against the Rockies, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. It’ll be DeSclafani’s first major league appearance since Sept. 28, 2016. Given that DeSclafani’s currently on the 60-day disabled list and the Reds’ 40-man roster is full, they’ll need to make a corresponding move prior to activating him.
Injuries have beset DeSclafani over the past couple years, as a sprained ulnar collateral ligament kept him out for all of 2017 before a left oblique strain shelved him for the first two months of this season. DeSclafani was a quality mid-rotation starter before then, combining for 308 innings of 3.74 ERA/3.79 FIP ball from 2015-16 – the ex-Marlin’s first two seasons as a Red. Although, DeSclafani’s injury troubles began in earnest in the latter of those years, when an oblique issue cost him two months and limited him to 123 1/3 frames.
Now, if the 28-year-old DeSclafani is able to revisit his old form upon his return, it would be a boon to a rebuilding Cincinnati club that has struggled mightily to develop starting pitching. The Reds’ DeSclafani-less rotation has logged a league-worst 5.59 ERA since last season, and bright spots have been hard to find this year – especially with 2017 breakout starter Luis Castillo amid a disappointing campaign. Among the rotation pieces the Reds have used this season, only Matt Harvey (4.44) and Tyler Mahle (4.38) have managed ERAs under five, but even they’re well below the National League average for starters (3.98).