Rays Outright Ryan Weber
Rays right-hander Ryan Weber has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Durham, Bill Chastain of MLB.com tweets. Weber had been in limbo since the Rays designated him for assignment Friday.
Because Weber was outrighted in the past (by Seattle in 2016), he could have refused this assignment in favor of free agency. But it seems the St. Petersburg native will stay with his hometown organization, which added him on a minor league deal in the offseason. Tampa Bay selected Weber’s contract last week, and he went on to make just one appearance – during which he yielded three runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk while only recording a single out – before losing his 40-man spot.
While Weber has only racked up 68 1/3 major league frames of 5.11 ERA ball since debuting in 2015, he has been a success in Triple-A. The 27-year-old has managed a stingy 2.16 ERA with 5.1 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 across 167 innings at the minors’ highest level.
Injury Notes: T. Walker, Brewers, S. Perez, DeShields
Here’s the latest injury news from around the majors:
- Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker left his start against the Dodgers on Saturday with forearm tightness, Arizona announced. Walker departed after throwing two innings, during which he experienced a drop in velocity, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. While the severity of Walker’s injury is not yet clear, forearm tightness often leads to more serious elbow troubles. The D-backs are left to hope this isn’t a major issue for Walker, who impressed with them last year – his first with the club – and has begun 2018 with 13 innings of 3.46 ERA pitching.
- Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday, but the club won’t activate him then, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com tweets. Yelich, who suffered an oblique injury last week, isn’t yet 100 percent, McCalvy notes. Meanwhile, fellow corner outfielder Ryan Braun left Saturday’s game against the Mets with back tightness, Adam Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel was among those to report. Whether it’s problematic enough to lead to a DL stint isn’t yet known. Braun, of course, missed 58 games last year while dealing with various injuries.
- Royals catcher Salvador Perez could make his 2018 debut during the team’s next homestand, which runs from April 24-29, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com writes. Perez, who suffered a Grade 2 MCL tear in his left knee on March 28, began a rehab assignment at the Double-A level on Saturday. The Perez-less Royals have gotten terrible offensive production early this year from behind-the-plate fill-ins Drew Butera and Cam Gallagher, who combined for a .175/.227/.250 line entering Saturday. Thanks in part to their struggles, Kansas City’s a woeful 3-10.
- Rangers center fielder Delino DeShields could come back earlier than expected from the broken left hamate bone he suffered March 31, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News relays. DeShields was slated to miss four to six weeks at the time of the injury, but he’s aiming for an April 23 return – which would be three weeks. The Rangers’ reserve options, Drew Robinson and Carlos Tocci, haven’t exactly stepped up during DeShields’ absence. Robinson has hit a meek .167/.255/.262 in 47 plate appearances, while Tocci has collected only one hit in 10 trips to the plate.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Phillies, Mets, Brewers, Pirates, Cards
This week in baseball blogs…
- SportsTalkPhilly.com ponders Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez‘s future.
- Big Three Sports scouts several prospects, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Brendan Rodgers.
- The First Out At Third takes an early season look at the exit velocities of the Brewers’ hitters.
- The Point of Pittsburgh examines Starling Marte‘s newfound ability to draw a walk.
- STL Hat Trick evaluates Yadier Molina‘s excellent offensive start.
- DRays Bay polls readers on the futures of the Rays in Tampa Bay, the Athletics in Oakland, and Montreal’s chances of getting a franchise back.
- MLB & Fantasy Baseball Analyzed looks into whether a slew of players will be able to sustain their early 2018 success.
- District On Deck analyzes the April success Bryce Harper has enjoyed during his career.
- Mets Daddy says the red-hot club is in perfect position to take advantage of the division-rival Nationals’ slow start.
- The Loop Sports responds to the negative comments Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made about the Cubs’ Javier Baez on Thursday.
- The Sports Tank writes about a resurgent Rick Porcello.
- Jays From the Couch offers a retrospective of Roberto Osuna‘s career to date.
- Chin Music Baseball details the early career peaks and valleys of Rhys Hoskins.
- Know Hitter names a couple catchers the Mets could target via trade.
- Pirates Breakdown is impressed with new Bucs Colin Moran and Corey Dickerson.
- Camden Depot regards Richard Bleier as the unsung hero of Baltimore’s bullpen.
- Notes from the Sally scouts Nationals outfield prospect Juan Soto.
- The 3rd Man In profiles and interviews Arkansas righty Blake Wright, one of the top prospects in this year’s draft class.
- Dodgers Way previews the club’s top three minor league teams.
- Good Fundies wonders what an ideal Mets lineup would look like.
- Minor League Ball scouts Yankees righty prospect Glenn Otto.
- The Redbird Daily sees elite potential in the Cardinals’ offense.
- 216Stitches focuses on Shohei Ohtani‘s slider.
- Bronx Bomber Ball and The Runner Sports each recap this week’s Yankees-Red Sox dust-up.
- Friars On Base is pleased what the Padres have gotten from Eric Hosmer thus far.
- The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2) hopes for a breakout from the Twins’ Max Kepler, and
profiles Astros shortstop prospect Freudis Nova. - East Village Times lists six Padres who deserve playing time this season.
- MetsMerizedOnline.com sees Asdrubal Cabrera as a key piece for the Mets.
- Call to the Pen opines that the Phillies are starting to gel.
- MadFriars reports on Padres lefty Joey Lucchesi‘s major league debut.
- Rising Apple wonders if Mets reliever Hansel Robles will be able to continue his early season success.
- Real McCoy Minor News covers the opener for the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate.
- Pinstriped Prospects talks with young Yankees lefty Josh Rogers.
- Everything Bluebirds observes that Yangervis Solarte is quickly emerging as a fan favorite in Toronto.
- The K Zone is optimistic about Mets shortstop Amed Rosario.
- Chris Zantow remembers the Brewers’ Opening Day snowout in 1973.
Submissions: ZachBBWI @gmail.com
West Notes: Astros, Dodgers, A’s, Giants, Mariners
In a lengthy Q&A with Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required), Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow touches on a slew of topics relating to the defending world champions, including the futures of shortstop Carlos Correa, center fielder George Springer, left-hander Dallas Keuchel and right-hander Justin Verlander. There’s no word on whether the Astros have begun extension talks with any of those players, but Luhnow would unsurprisingly like to retain each of them for the long haul. “If I could wave a magic wand and keep all three of those guys, plus others here for the foreseeable future and possibly for their entire careers, I would do it! It’s amazing to watch them,” he said of Correa, Springer and Keuchel. Luhnow added that he’d also like for Verlander to finish his career in Houston, which only has him under wraps through next season. Correa’s under control through 2021, meanwhile, and Springer isn’t slated to hit free agency until after the 2019 campaign. Keuchel could be gone sooner, though, as he’s scheduled to reach the open market next winter.
More from the majors’ West divisions…
- Injured Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner is taking dry swings, but the team remains unsure when he will make his 2018 debut, manager Dave Roberts told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com and other reporters Saturday. The superstar has been out since late March with a broken left wrist, and the defending NL champion Dodgers have clearly missed him during a 4-8 start. In Turners’s absence, their third basemen have hit an ugly .250/.293/.382 (65 wRC+) in 82 plate appearances.
- The Athletics sent righty reliever Liam Hendriks to the disabled list on Saturday with adductor tendinitis in his groin. Before that, he was in danger of being designated for assignment, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Hendriks was a solid reliever for the A’s from 2016-17, but he then gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks over his first three innings this year and dealt with a drop in velocity. The injury had something to do with that, according to Hendriks. “It was always kind of there and I felt like I was doing everything right,” he said, “but I went back and looked at the video and my mechanics were completely different, trying to overcompensate.”
- The Giants expect righty Johnny Cueto to come off the DL for a start Tuesday against Arizona, manager Bruce Bochy informed reporters, including Kerry Crowley of the Mercury News, on Saturday. Cueto landed on the shelf this past Tuesday, retroactive to April 7, with a sprained ankle. As a result, the Giants have been missing their three best starters – the injured Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija are the others – though the only one who’s not nearing a return is Bumgarner, whom the club moved to the 60-day DL earlier this week (fractured finger).
- The Mariners activated designated hitter Nelson Cruz prior to Saturday’s game against Oakland, sending right-hander Casey Lawrence to Triple-A to clear roster space, the team announced. Cruz went on the DL on April 3 with an ankle sprain, before which he opened the year with two home runs in just six at-bats.
AL East Notes: Rays, Ramos, Yanks, Torres, Red Sox
The Rays “would love to talk” with the Mets about catcher Wilson Ramos if New York is interested in absorbing most of his $10.5MM salary, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes. Whether the Mets are eyeing Ramos is unclear, but the NL-best club (11-1) is without its top two backstops, the injured Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki, which could put it in the market for help behind the plate. D’Arnaud won’t play again this year (Tommy John surgery), though Plawecki should return within a month from a fracture in his left hand. Therefore, the Mets might not feel the need to do anything drastic, such as taking on most of Ramos’ money.
Here’s more from the AL East:
- The Yankees’ best prospect, infielder Gleyber Torres, could end up in the majors soon if the Miguel Andujar–Tyler Wade tandem doesn’t start producing for the club, George A. King III of the New York Post observes. Andujar, also one of the Yankees’ top prospects, collected a double and a triple in their win over the Tigers on Friday. The third baseman has just five hits in 34 plate appearances, though, while Wade – primarily a second baseman – has even fewer knocks (three) in 35 PAs. Torres could play either third or second, thus bumping either Andujar or Wade. The Yankees wouldn’t need help at the hot corner had Brandon Drury not gone on the DL ith severe migraines on April 7. Drury could return April 17, but that’s not likely, according to King. It just so happens that the Yankees could gain an extra year of team control over Torres, 21, by waiting until April 18 to promote him, King points out. Torres has made his case for a call-up this year, having batted a tremendous .387/.412/.548 over 34 PAs at the Triple-A level.
- The Red Sox have managed an American League-leading 12-2 record without left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who’s on the DL with a forearm flexor strain. But Pomeranz is nearing his 2018 debut, according to Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. The 29-year-old made a Double-A rehab start Friday, and his next outing will be the Red Sox, according to manager Alex Cora. Pomeranz will take the hill either Thursday against the Angels or Friday versus the Athletics. This could be the last season in Boston for Pomeranz, who’s scheduled to hit free agency next winter.
- The Red Sox selected lefty Trey Ball seventh overall in 2013 with the hope that he’d make an impact in the majors as a starter. Five years later, they’ve moved him to the bullpen, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. The 23-year-old has taken to his new relief role thus far, having pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings at the Double-A level this season. Smith’s piece, which is worth checking out in full, contains several quotes from Red Sox vice president of pitching development and assistant pitching coach Brian Bannister regarding Ball’s transition.
Pitching Notes: Lincecum, Musgrove, Wheeler
A few pitching notes from around the majors…
- Rangers right-hander Tim Lincecum‘s ongoing blister issues forced him to postpone a bullpen session Sunday, according to TR Sullivan of MLB.com. Given that he didn’t pitch at all last season and then went without a contract until March 7, Lincecum was already behind schedule before the blister on his right middle finger cropped up last month. It’s now unclear whether he’ll be ready by the beginning of May, the Rangers’ target for him entering the season.
- Pirates righty Joe Musgrove is eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list Monday, but that’s not going to happen, manager Clint Hurdle told Jerry Dipaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and other reporters Sunday. Musgrove, who’s dealing with a muscle strain in his right shoulder, will first need to make multiple rehab starts, per Hurdle. Right now, though, he’s in a “no-throw” period, the skipper revealed. Musgrove, 25, was arguably the headliner in the Pirates’ return for righty Gerrit Cole, whom they traded to the Astros over the winter. Cole’s thriving in Houston, yet the 7-2 Pirates have held their own without him thus far.
- The Mets will recall righty Zack Wheeler for a start in Miami this upcoming Wednesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post was among those to report on Twitter. It’ll be the first time the ballyhooed quintet of Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom Steven Matz, Matt Harvey and Wheeler have taken consecutive turns through New York’s rotation, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com notes. Wheeler, whose career fell off track after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2015, opened the year in the minors and tossed five innings of six-strikeout, one-run ball in his initial Triple-A start of 2018 on Friday. He’s likely to be a short-term fill-in for the Mets, who are awaiting the season debut of Jason Vargas. The southpaw underwent surgery on his right hand last month.
Rays Place Brad Miller On DL, Select Ryan Weber’s Contract
The Rays have placed first baseman Brad Miller on the 10-day disabled list, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. The club selected the contract of right-hander Ryan Weber from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move, thus giving it a full 40-man roster.
Miller suffered a groin injury while running the bases Sunday against the Red Sox, who overcame a 7-2 deficit in the eighth inning to post six runs and pull out an 8-7 win over the Rays. It was the most disappointing defeat yet in a slow start for Tampa Bay, which is a major league-worst 1-8 through the first week-plus of the season. Miller hasn’t exactly helped the Rays’ cause, having hit a so-so .222/.300/.370 (96 wRC+) through 30 plate appearances. However, that’s better production than Miller logged in 2017, a season in which he slashed .201/.327/.337 (83 wRC+) in 407 PAs. C.J. Cron stands out as the most logical replacement for Miller on the Rays’ 25-man roster.
Weber, a Tampa Bay native who signed a minor league pact with the Rays in the offseason, has thrown 68 1/3 innings (22 appearances, eight starts) since debuting with the Braves in 2015. The 27-year-old has registered a 5.00 ERA/4.47 FIP with 5.53 K/9, 1.45 BB/9 and a 55.7 percent groundball rate between Atlanta and Seattle. Weber has been far better at preventing runs at the Triple-A level (2.16 ERA, 5.1 K/9, 1.5 BB/9 in 167 innings), and he’ll hope for that type of success with the Rays, whose bullpen took a beating Sunday.
Eugenio Suarez Diagnosed With Fractured Thumb
4:50pm: Suarez will go on the DL on Monday, per MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, who expects the Reds to replace him with Pennington and Gosselin.
2:39pm: Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez has suffered a fractured right thumb, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic was among those to report. The injury occurred when Suarez took a pitch off the hand from the Pirates’ Jameson Taillon on Sunday.
It’s unclear how much time Suarez will miss, though he’s likely to head to the disabled list, thus depriving the Reds of one of their top players. The 26-year-old has gotten off to an excellent start this season, having batted .296/.424/.630 with a pair of home runs in 33 plate appearances, after landing an extension last month. The Reds guaranteed Suarez $66MM over seven years on the heels of a breakout 2017 in which he posted 4.0 fWAR and slashed .260/.367/.461 with 26 HRs in 632 trips to the plate.
The Reds replaced Suarez with veteran infielder Cliff Pennington on Sunday. He could continue to man third while Suarez is out, then, while Phil Gosselin represents another potential replacement on the club’s 25-man roster. Forty-man options in the minors include Alex Blandino and Shed Long, both of whom are with Triple-A Louisville. Infielder Nick Senzel, one of the best prospects in baseball, is also at the highest level of the minors in the Reds’ system. Senzel, 22, could be a candidate for a promotion, though he’s not on Cincinnati’s 40-man roster.
AL East Notes: Red Sox, Bogaerts, Yankees, Didi
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts suffered a left ankle injury Sunday, causing him to leave their game against the Rays, the team announced (via Rob Bradford of WEEI, on Twitter). Boston’s further evaluating Bogaerts, who has been one of the driving forces behind its 8-1 start this season. The 25-year-old’s hitting a red-hot .368/.400/.711 with two home runs through 40 plate appearances. The Red Sox replaced Bogaerts on Sunday with utilityman Brock Holt.
More on Boston and its archrival:
- Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius, who’s in his penultimate year of team control, would like to remain in the Bronx for the long haul. Asked this weekend if he’d be open to signing an extension, Gregorius told Randy Miller of NJ.com, “If they offer me something and I get a chance to stay here, I’ll stay here.” The Yankees and Gregorius haven’t discussed a new deal to this point, the 28-year-old informed Miller. Whether that will happen is unclear, especially with Orioles star shortstop Manny Machado slated to hit free agency next winter. Machado could be a target for the Yankees next offseason, which would put Gregorius’ future in question. Gregorius has held his own since joining the Yankees in 2015, though, meaning they could be content with him at short. He has hit a tremendous .367/.513/.900 with three homers in 39 trips to the plate this season.
- Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is making progress in his recovery from the left knee surgery he underwent in October, manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com and other reporters Sunday. Pedroia is slated to begin running the bases Tuesday, which would be the final hurdle in his recovery, Browne notes. Should that go well, Pedroia would remain on track to return in May. The Red Sox have been well-equipped to go without Pedroia early this year, thanks to the presence of Eduardo Nunez.
- Yankees first baseman Greg Bird, out since undergoing right ankle surgery in late March, is on schedule to come back sometime within the original six- to eight-week timetable, Danny Knobler writes for MLB.com. “I don’t have a bad ankle,” Bird said Sunday. “That was told to me by the doctor. I just had a bone spur that had to be taken out.” Injuries have beset Bird since he debuted in 2015, having held him to a meager 94 regular-season games in his career. His latest issue has led New York to use Tyler Austin and Neil Walker at first base this year. Austin has been productive in Bird’s stead, though, with a .231/.310/.500 line and two HRs in 29 PAs.
Quick Hits: Duffy, Melky, Indians, Brewers, Giants
Royals left-hander Danny Duffy was a popular name in trade rumors during the offseason, but he ended up staying put. Duffy remains a trade candidate, however, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. It would take “the right package of prospects” to land the 29-year-old Duffy, Cafardo writes. Duffy’s under control through 2021 for a total of $60MM. He’s off to a rough start this year – albeit over two just two appearances – having allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits and five walks (with eight strikeouts) in 9 2/3 innings.
More from around the game…
- There are teams interested in signing free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera to a minor league deal, per Cafardo. It’s unclear, though, whether the 33-year-old would be open to signing a minors pact. An inability to contribute in the field or on the base paths have likely been the main culprits for Cabrera’s unemployment, and it doesn’t help that he hit an uninspiring .285/.324/.423 (98 wRC+) across 666 plate appearances between the White Sox and Royals in 2017.
- Indians outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall suffered a right calf injury Saturday and will likely head to the disabled list, manager Terry Francona told Joe Noga of cleveland.com and other reporters. Chisenhall previously missed 45 games last year with a right calf issue, notes Noga, who adds that the Indians could recall Tyler Naquin from Triple-A to take his place. Naquin went to the minors Friday to make room for the just-activated Michael Brantley.
- Left-handed reliever Dan Jennings‘ deal with the Brewers is worth $750K, and it includes up to $1.075MM more in games pitched incentives, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Jennings, whom the Rays released before the season, has already made five appearances and tossed 5 1/3 innings with Milwaukee. Thus far, he has allowed one run on four hits, with three strikeouts against two walks.
- Giants righty Jeff Samardzija is aiming to make his season debut around April 19, Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group writes. In the meantime, the plan is for Samardzija to pitch in extended spring training Monday and then make a minor league rehab start. The 33-year-old innings-eater has been out since late March with a strained pectoral muscle. Thanks to Samardzija’s injury and ace Madison Bumgarner‘s broken left pinkie, the Giants are without two of their best starters.