Rosenthal’s Latest: Astros, A’s, Indians, Phillies
If the Astros don’t recover from their 17-26 start, they could become interesting sellers as the trade deadline approaches, says FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal (video link). As pending free agents at season’s end, outfielder Colby Rasmus, right-handers Doug Fister and Scott Feldman, and catcher Jason Castro could all be on the move. Center fielder Carlos Gomez‘s deal is also set to expire, though his value is close to nonexistent at the moment, according to Rosenthal. Gomez has rapidly fallen from grace since the Astros surrendered a handful of youthful pieces for him and righty Mike Fiers at last year’s deadline. Thanks to both that trade and the offseason acquisition of reliever Ken Giles, the Astros have lost several young players and could replenish their system this summer by moving at least some of the aforementioned veterans.
More of the latest rumblings from Rosenthal:
- Athletics lefty Rich Hill, third baseman Danny Valencia and reliever John Axford are all potential deadline chips, reports Rosenthal. The only member of the trio unsigned beyond this season is the 36-year-old Hill, who is on a $6MM salary and has performed like an ace since his red-hot September with Boston in 2015. Valencia is currently making $3.15MM and has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining, and he has been quietly spectacular going back to last season. Over his past 475 plate appearances, Valencia has slashed .302/.352/.531 with 24 homers. With third base prospect Matt Chapman waiting in the wings, the A’s could sell high on Valencia, per Rosenthal. Axford, meanwhile, has gotten solid results in 18 2/3 frames this year (2.89 ERA) while recording a career-worst strikeout rate (5.79 per nine) and a personal-best walk rate (1.45). He’s making $4.5MM this season and is set to rake in another $5.5MM in 2017.
- The Indians could try to upgrade their bullpen by acquiring a left-hander or a dominant late-inning arm, but two factors are working against them: Other contenders will be in the hunt for similar help, and the Indians are “notoriously cautious” when discussing trades.
- The Phillies are prepared to deal right-hander Jeremy Hellickson if a solid offer comes along, though they’re also focused on limiting the innings thrown by some of the younger members of their rotation. Thanks to Charlie Morton‘s season-ending injury, the 28-year-old Hellickson is now the elder statesman of a Phillies rotation that has been among baseball’s best in 2016. Hellickson, who’s on a $7MM salary and is scheduled to become a free agent at season’s end, has put up a 3.99 ERA to accompany significantly improved strikeout and walk rates (9.06 and 2.36, respectively) in 49 2/3 innings this year.
Reds Designate Steve Delabar For Assignment
The Reds have designated right-hander Steve Delabar for assignment, tweets C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer. They’ve also optioned relievers Jumbo Diaz and Keyvius Sampson to Triple-A Louisville.
Delabar, whom the Reds promoted from the minors earlier this month, gave up six earned runs on five hits and a whopping 10 walks in just eight innings as part of the club’s historically awful bullpen. Prior to his promotion, Delabar issued 11 free passes in just 12 1/3 innings for Louisville. As evidenced by this season, the 32-year-old has experienced an appreciable decline in performance since his 2013 All-Star campaign with the Blue Jays. In 62 innings dating back to 2014, Delabar has recorded a 5.37 ERA, 8.71 K/9 and 6.1 BB/9. One of those frames came Saturday for Delabar, who allowed one base runner (on a walk) and picked up a strikeout in a scoreless showing.
The Reds are hopeful that Delabar will clear waivers and remain in the organization, said manager Bryan Price (Twitter link via Rosecrans).
Braves Sign Lucas Harrell, Rob Wooten To Minor League Deals
The Braves have signed a pair of right-handers – Lucas Harrell and Rob Wooten – to minor league contracts, the team announced. Harrell is a client of Frontline Athlete Management, while the Ballengee Group represents Wooten.
A former starter for multiple teams, primarily the Astros, Harrell has pitched to a 4.84 ERA and an underwhelming 1.34 K/BB over 401 2/3 big league innings (62 starts). Harrell’s best showing came in 2012, when he amassed 193 2/3 innings of 3.76 ERA/3.75 FIP/3.89 xFIP pitching as a member of Houston’s rotation and posted a 6.51 K/9, 3.62 BB/9, and 57.2 percent ground-ball rate.
With a 54.2 percent career rate, Harrell has consistently generated grounders, but that wasn’t enough to keep him in the majors after poor showings in 2013 and ’14. Harrell spent last season in Korea and logged a lofty 4.93 ERA in 171 2/3 innings with the LG Twins, though it’s worth noting that the KBO is a tough environment for pitchers.
Harrell returned to the United States earlier this year when he signed a minor league deal with the Tigers. He threw a combined 29 2/3 innings (six starts) at the Double-A and Triple-A levels and put up a terrific 3.34 ERA, but his trend of posting below-average strikeout (6.1 per nine) and walk (4.9) rates continued. The Tigers subsequently released Harrell, who could nonetheless figure into the Braves’ rotation mix at some point this season.
As for Wooten, this will be the reliever’s second stint with the Braves organization this season. The club released him May 9 after he threw 7 1/3 innings of three-run ball for Triple-A Gwinnett. Almost all of his career has been spent with the Brewers organization since going in the 13th round of the 2008 draft. The 30-year-old owns a 4.07 ERA with 8.3 K/9 against 2.3 BB/9 in 185 2/3 Triple-A innings and a 5.03 ERA, 7.0 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 68 big league frames.
Angels Designate Al Alburquerque For Assignment
The Angels have designated right-handed reliever Al Alburquerque for assignment, according to the team’s director of communications, Eric Kay (Twitter link). Additionally, the Halos have selected the contract of fellow righty reliever Deolis Guerra from Triple-A Salt Lake City.
Los Angeles signed Alburquerque to a one-year, major league contract in January, but the former Tiger ultimately pitched for the Angels’ minor league affiliate instead. In 15 innings, the 29-year-old struck out a batter per frame and posted an outstanding 2.40 ERA, though the control problems that have long plagued him continued to do so (5.40 BB/9). In 225 career major league innings, all with Detroit, Alburquerque has recorded mostly solid numbers (3.20 ERA/3.34 FIP/3.44 xFIP, 11.04 K/9, 5.00 BB/9), but his run prevention left quite a bit to be desired in both 2013 and ’15.
Guerra’s major league experience consists entirely of the 16 2/3 frames of 6.48 ERA ball he racked up with Pittsburgh last season. He logged a solid 3.5 K/BB, though, and began this season with five scoreless innings for Salt Lake.
Red Sox Designate Sean O’Sullivan For Assignment
The Red Sox have designated right-hander Sean O’Sullivan for assignment, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald was among those to report (Twitter link).
Before the Red Sox designated him, the 28-year-old O’Sullivan made his second major league start of the year Sunday. In a 10-9 win over Houston, O’Sullivan threw 4 1/3 ugly innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits – including two home runs – along with three strikeouts and two walks. O’Sullivan’s first start, in Boston’s 13-5 victory over Oakland this past Tuesday, was a more successful outing. He still surrendered 12 hits and four earned runs in six innings, however. All told, O’Sullivan threw 11 1/3 innings for the Red Sox prior to today and compiled an unsightly 7.94 ERA.
In parts of seven big league seasons, O’Sullivan has racked up 309 1/3 career major league frames and pitched to a 5.96 ERA. His struggles have come thanks in part to a lack of strikeouts, as O’Sullivan has averaged just 4.34 per nine innings.
Quick Hits: Beltran, Reyes, Blue Jays
History was made Sunday when Yankees right fielder Carlos Beltran slugged his 400th home run, becoming the 54th player to reach the milestone and just the fourth switch hitter to accomplish the feat. Beltran is now in a group with three other switch-hitting baseball luminaries in Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones. Two of those three are already in the Hall of Fame, and the other (Jones) is all but certain to get there eventually. Whether Beltran should join them in Cooperstown is up for debate, but as a 400-homer, 300-steal, 66-fWAR player, he certainly has a legitimate case.
More from around baseball:
- Jim Bowden of SiriusXM has asked a dozen teams whether they’d be interested in acquiring suspended Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes if Colorado were to pick up the remaining money on his contract, and all 12 have passed on the idea (Twitter link). One of those clubs is the Blue Jays, for whom Reyes played from 2013 until midway through last season. General manager Ross Atkins told Bowden on Sunday that Toronto has no interest in Reyes (Twitter link), who would likely have difficulty finding playing time on a team with Troy Tulowitzki at short and second baseman Devon Travis nearing a return from offseason shoulder surgery.
- Although no one Bowden has spoken with wants any part of Reyes, who is serving a suspension through May 31 because of a violation of the league’s domestic violence policy, a National League executive told John Perrotto of Today’s Knuckleball that he expects the 32-year-old to get another opportunity. “While I don’t condone what he did, he had a good reputation of being a good guy and a good teammate to that point,” said the executive. “I’m sure whoever take a chance on him is going to let him know right up front that there will be a zero-tolerance policy. One misstep and he’s gone.” Also of importance: Commissioner Rob Manfred wanted to give Reyes a longer suspension than the 52-game ban he settled on, but there wasn’t enough evidence to levy a harsher punishment, a source told Perrotto.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Cutch, Goldschmidt, Soler, Trumbo
Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere:
- Bucs Raise It delves into Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen‘s first month-plus at the plate.
- Inside The ‘Zona explains why the Diamondbacks should move first baseman Paul Goldschmidt up in their batting order.
- World Series Dreaming shows that there’s still plenty of hope for Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler.
- Baseball Hot Corner talks to International Olympic committee official Richard Pound, the former chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency, about Major League Baseball’s handling of performance-enhancing drugs.
- Athletics Farm interviews Athletics right-handed pitching prospect Daniel Mengden.
- Pinstriped Prospects chats with right-hander Kevin Gowdy, who could be a high pick in the upcoming draft.
- Now On Deck opines that the Orioles’ offseason acquisition of slugging outfielder Mark Trumbo looks like one of the best trades in team history.
- Dan Grant Of Same Page Team investigates how each member of the Blue Jays’ rotation has fared this year.
- Notes From The Sally scouts Braves right-handed pitching prospect Mike Soroka.
- Call To The Pen looks at Astros second baseman Jose Altuve‘s 2016 power surge and asks where he ranks among the game’s elite.
- The Jailhouse offers a detailed analysis of Cubs closer Hector Rondon‘s 2016 dominance.
- Camden Depot explores Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard‘s defensive performance thus far.
- Outside Pitch MLB thinks Red Sox ace David Price could be on the way to leaving his early season issues behind.
- Minor League Ball has a piece on controversial Rangers reliever Matt Bush, who’s in the majors for the first time since going No. 1 overall in the 2004 draft.
- The Point Of Pittsburgh evaluates the Pirates’ 2011 draft class, a group that features Gerrit Cole, Tyler Glasnow and Josh Bell.
- Jays From The Couch writes that Toronto’s relatively cheap offseason signings of starters Marco Estrada and J.A. Happ are paying major dividends for the team so far.
- BP Toronto touches on whether the performance of the Blue Jays’ rotation is sustainable.
- Wayniac Nation examines the American League’s second base depth.
- Sports Heaven compares the 2016 Cubs to the 2004 Red Sox.
- Super Two Sports proposes some changes to the replay system.
- Pirates Breakdown talks with Joe Klimchak, the in-game host at PNC Park.
- Philliedelphia points out that closer Jeanmar Gomez is unexpectedly on pace to break the Phillies’ single-season saves record.
- Bronx Bomber Blogger believes the Yankees’ Austin Romine should be right-hander Nathan Eovaldi‘s personal catcher.
- The Runner Sports wonders about catcher Max Stassi‘s future with the Astros.
- RSN Stats explains how the Red Sox made history with their recent sweep of the Athletics.
- Jays Journal recaps the playing careers of the Blue Jays’ broadcast team.
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Diamondbacks DFA Cody Hall
The Diamondbacks have designated right-hander Cody Hall for assignment, per a team announcement. Arizona designated Hall to make room for outfielder Michael Bourn, whom it recalled from the minors earlier today.
Hall joined the Diamondbacks over the winter after they acquired him from the NL West rival Giants, but he didn’t appear in any games with the D-backs before his designation. Hall instead threw 14 2/3 innings for Triple-A Reno and struggled mightily, allowing 13 earned runs on 23 hits and seven walks. This season’s disastrous showing aside, the 28-year-old has enjoyed a successful minor league career. Across 269 innings, Hall has put up a 2.91 ERA, 10.1 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9.
Cafardo’s Latest: Trout, Trumbo, Reyes, Chapman, Ruiz
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is the latest to weigh in on the possibility of the Angels trading superstar center fielder Mike Trout, naming 10 teams capable of putting together packages for the 24-year-old. The Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Phillies, Nationals, Astros, Rangers, Mets, Giants and Cubs could all make a hypothetical Trout trade work, writes Cafardo.
Here’s more from the Boston-area insider:
- The Orioles haven’t begun contract talks with free agent-to-be Mark Trumbo, but that may change if the 30-year-old outfielder continues his torrid pace. Trumbo, whom the Orioles acquired from Seattle for a pittance in the offseason, has hit a tremendous .314/.365/.606 with 11 home runs in 148 plate appearances this year and is putting himself in position to earn an appreciable raise over his 2016 salary of $9.15MM.
- There’s seemingly interest around the league in shortstop Jose Reyes, whom the Rockies will make available when he’s reinstated from a domestic violence suspension at the end of the month. Reyes, 32, is still owed roughly $41MM – including a $4MM buyout in 2018 – and is coming off arguably the worst season of his career.
- The Yankees could make closer Aroldis Chapman available in late June if they’re not in playoff contention by then, according to Cafardo. The lights-out left-hander is on an $11MM-plus salary and is slated to hit free agency at the end of the season.
- Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz is reviving his stock, having hit .291/.371/.509 with three homers in 62 PAs, and could interest teams looking for a cheaper alternative to the Brewers’ Jonathan Lucroy – who will be the best backstop on the market if Milwaukee shops him. “He doesn’t have the arm he once had, so that aspect of his game won’t come back, but young pitchers love throwing to him,” a National League scout told Cafardo. The 37-year-old Ruiz’s contract includes a $4.5MM club option for 2017.
Diamondbacks Place David Peralta On DL, Select Contract Of Michael Bourn
The Diamondbacks have placed outfielder David Peralta on the 15-day disabled list with right wrist inflammation and selected the contract of Michael Bourn from Double-A Mobile, the team announced.
Bourn, whom the Blue Jays released Monday, quickly latched on with the Diamondbacks on a minor league deal and racked up 23 plate appearances in Mobile prior to today’s promotion. The Braves previously released Bourn last month after they couldn’t find a trade partner for the two-time All-Star.
Bourn owns a career .266/.331/.356 batting line in 4,910 major league plate appearances. In his prime, he was a respectable hitter who served as both a significant asset on the bases (326 career steals) and in the outfield. The 33-year-old hasn’t been particularly productive over the last three seasons, however, since inking a $48MM contract with the Indians in February 2013.
Before landing on the DL, Peralta hit a respectable .260/.321/.439 with three homers in 134 PAs. He had established himself as a greater offensive threat during the previous two campaigns, combining to hit .301/.351/.492 in 865 trips to the plate.