Injury Notes: Ross, Teixeira, Salazar, Soler, Angels
While Padres righty Tyson Ross is progressing through his throwing program, he is not expected to make it back until after the All-Star game, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com tweets. The expectation is that Ross will begin throwing bullpens in a few weeks, and his timeline should gain more clarity once he reaches the mound. A return in mid-July could in theory put him in play at the trade deadline, but it seems increasingly likely that Ross won’t be shopped until after the season.
Here are a few more injury notes from around the game:
- Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira will forego surgery on his right knee in hopes that he’ll be game-ready in three weeks’ time, as Roger Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll be expected at the major league level at that point, as the length of his layoff could require at least a brief rehab stint. The struggling veteran has already been placed on the 15-day DL after being diagnosed with a cartilage tear.
- Indians righty Danny Salazar will miss his next start due to shoulder fatigue, the club announced. It seems that the hope is it won’t be much more than that, as he’d likely be placed on the DL to free a roster spot otherwise. Salazar’s status remains worth watching, however. The 26-year-old has been outstanding in his first 11 starts. Cleveland will go to Cody Anderson for the spot start. While he’s struggled at times this year in the majors, Anderson has dominated in three Triple-A starts and is as good an insurance policy as you’ll find around the game.
- The Cubs had to pull outfielder Jorge Soler from tonight’s action due to a hamstring injury, as Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. He’s headed in for an MRI tomorrow, but it seems as if a DL stint could be in his future. Veteran minor-leaguer Matt Murton could get consideration if that proves necessary, but skipper Joe Maddon also suggested that prospect Albert Almora could receive consideration.
- Meanwhile, the Angels continue to sort through a host of pitching ailments, as Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports. Of immediate concern, set-up man Joe Smith is hoping to stave off a trip to the DL with a hamstring injury. Starters Tyler Skaggs and C.J. Wilson are both in different stages of the rehab process. The former is expected to head out on a rehab assignment after a five-inning extended spring appearance tomorrow. And the latter hopes to re-start a throwing program this week.
- The Angels are also waiting for some position players, as Fletcher further covers. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons (thumb surgery) could return to the majors as soon as Friday; outfielder Daniel Nava (groin) has only just returned to baseball activities; and catcher Geovany Soto (knee surgery) is throwing but has yet to hit or get into the crouch.
MLBTR Poll: The James Shields Trade
It’s not often we see significant players swapped in June — read this if you don’t believe me — but the White Sox made an early strike on Saturday to acquire James Shields from the Padres. Chicago gave up controllable righty Erik Johnson and young infielder Fernando Tatis Jr., with San Diego keeping about $31MM of the $58MM owed to Shields.
From Chicago’s perspective, Shields represents a dependable — if diminished — rotation piece who can help keep the team in contention this year. He’ll also likely be around for the next two seasons to come, though Shields has the right to opt out at year end. While there’s little reason to believe that he’s still a top-of-the-line starter, Shields is incredibly durable, still reasonably effective, and quite fairly priced with the discount included in this swap. He certainly deepens a rotation that has some questions at the back end.
If the White Sox felt that Johnson was a viable option to play that sort of role, they surely wouldn’t have parted with him. The 26-year-old has failed to stick in four stints at the major league level, so he’s had his chances. On the other hand, he’s been much more effective at Triple-A — even if he hasn’t maintained a promising strikeout rate bump from a year ago — and none of those four stints included more than six appearances. With just 89 days of service coming into the year, the Cal-Berkeley product could be a long-term asset for the Padres; on the other hand, he’ll also soon be out of options. As Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs explains, Johnson has a “mediocre” arsenal but still carries a bit of upside. Tatis, meanwhile, is a quality prospect in Longenhagen’s evaluation, though there are some limits to his ceiling and he remains a long ways from the majors.
So, MLBTR readers, did it make sense for the Sox to give up that package and take on that much salary? Were the Pads wise to act quickly to save some cash and get something back for Shields? Vote here (link for mobile app users):
How Do You Evaluate The James Shields Trade?
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Win-Win: both teams did what they should have 35% (3,755)
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ChiSox did well here; what were the Pads thinking?! 30% (3,282)
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Nice haul for San Diego; Shields wasn't worth it for Chicago 20% (2,177)
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Lose-Lose: the trade came too early for both teams 15% (1,570)
Total votes: 10,784
20 Top Prospects Whose Call-Ups Could Impact The Trade Market
June and July are notable not just for the run-up to the trade deadline, but also a typically robust set of promotions of top prospects. These things are intertwined, of course: teams are motivated at least in some part to see what they can expect out of their top-level talent before deciding whether to pull the trigger for veterans.
There are other factors at play, too. Developmental prerogatives are important, and at this stage clubs have a better idea whether certain players are ready for the challenge of a full run at the majors. And service time is always a critical consideration. While there is no firm Super Two cut-off, teams can generally expect players called up for the first time in early June to fall shy of qualifying for an added year of arbitration. Those youngsters who have already had a taste of MLB action, meanwhile, will at some point no longer have a chance of reaching a full season’s worth of service time by the end of the year.
Several impactful players were brought up last year in the months of June and July. Youngsters like Carlos Correa, Kyle Schwarber, Steven Matz, Michael Conforto, Luis Severino, and Stephen Piscotty all played significant roles for organizations that made the post-season. And others — Miguel Sano, Francisco Lindor, Joe Ross, Aaron Nola, Ketel Marte — were quality performers at the game’s highest level.
We’ve already seen several youngsters reach the majors in recent weeks. Julio Urias, for instance, has made two starts for the Dodgers, exhibiting his immense talent while also struggling to record outs. And Byron Buxton recently received another shot with the Twins after underwhelming early results.
With less than two months to go until the trade deadline, here are some other top names whose potential promotions could have a big impact on the market:
Ready For A Second Shot
Trea Turner, Nationals: It seemed for a moment that the 22-year-old was set for his first real shot at earning a full-time job at shortstop. Instead, he only saw action in one game while filling in over the weekend. Turner has proven himself at Triple-A already; he reached the level last year, and owns a .310/.376/.472 batting line with 17 steals in 17 attempts thus far in 2016. If he is able to gain traction in the majors, then Washington could comfortably forego pursuit of an outside alternative to supplement its defensively-proficient but offensively-challenged shortstop duo of Danny Espinosa and Stephen Drew.
Blake Snell, Rays: The talented lefty already made an impressive debut earlier this year, but that spot start only suggested what he could do with an extended opportunity. Snell has seen his walk rate move in the wrong direction at Triple-A, but he’s still proving extremely difficult to hit. Of course, Tampa Bay is blessed with a number of rotation options — all the more so once Alex Cobb is back. But that’s precisely what makes Snell so interesting: if the team is willing to give him a shot, it could free up other arms for trade bait.
Joey Gallo, Rangers: He appeared briefly with Texas in 2016 after a lengthier stint last season, but Gallo still hasn’t been given a full shot at the majors since an excellent start to the year at Triple-A in which he’s shown new-found plate discipline while maintaining his eye-popping power. What’s interesting about Gallo’s situation is that he could conceivably impact Texas by stepping in for Mitch Moreland or Prince Fielder, either of whom could theoretically be traded, or by turning into a huge trade piece in his own right if the team decides to chase a top-end starter.
Jose Peraza, Reds: Cincinnati may face a tough question with shortstop Zack Cozart, who has another year of control remaining and is playing at a high level on both offense and defense. He could potentially bring an appealing return — as might Brandon Phillips, if he’ll waive his no-trade clause — but the Reds may be hesitant to throw too much uncertainty into the infield mix. That’s where Peraza could come in. He’s received a taste of the majors in each of the last two years, though he’s struggled. While he’s not exactly tearing up Triple-A, Peraza is hitting at a reasonable enough rate (.295/.335/.389, with eight steals) to warrant a full opportunity.
Clamoring For A First Call-Up
Jameson Taillon / Tyler Glasnow, Pirates: While the Bucs have had some ups and downs in their major league rotation, they have two high-powered righties tearing up Triple-A. Either or both could be throwing in the majors sooner rather than later. Pittsburgh will need to watch their innings, but could conceivably utilize them from the pen as well as in the rotation to maximize the impact. If that takes place, the Pirates may even end up with some excess arms at the deadline.
Alex Reyes, Cardinals: After missing the start of the year due to a marijuana suspension, Reyes has turned in three quality starts at Triple-A. The 21-year-old could obviate the need for the Cards to make an addition to the rotation or the pen, depending upon how their needs shake out. While the lost time early sapped some developmental opportunity, it did also serve to slow Reyes’s innings, which will be controlled since he’s only barely topped 100 total frames in prior years. St. Louis will also need to consider his still-high walk rate, too, though all those concerns would be lessened if Reyes were deployed as a late-inning reliever.
Matt Chapman, Athletics: In his first full shot at Double-A, Chapman owns a .243/.345/.495 slash with 14 home runs in just 238 plate appearances. As a third-year pro who was taken out of college, and is seen as a quality fielder, it seems fair to think he could be ready for a big league chance in the relatively near term. If Chapman proves ready, then Danny Valencia or Jed Lowrie could become trade pieces.
Alex Bregman, Astros: As it seeks to climb out of an early hole, Houston could go in any number of directions. Bringing up Bregman could conceivably provide a boost at the major league level while also turning Luis Valbuena into a trade piece. While he’s destroying Double-A pitching, though, the recent draftee is still learning a new position in his first full season as a professional. (For those wondering: yes, I also considered A.J. Reed, but Jon Singleton could now be first in line for a first base promotion.)
Hunter Renfroe / Manuel Margot, Padres: The Friars could stand to give their fans something to look forward to upon arriving at the park while getting a look at some of their rising talent. Renfroe has twice cracked twenty long balls in a season, and he’s already got a dozen through his first 212 plate appearances in his first full attempt at Triple-A. He owns a .950+ OPS in over 300 trips to the plate at the minors’ highest level over the last two seasons. Margot, meanwhile, is just 21, but he’s impressed with a .305/.363/.436 slash and 16 stolen bases in his first 248 Triple-A plate appearances. Adding either or both to the big league mix could help free the team to deal Melvin Upton, Jon Jay, and/or Matt Kemp.
Orlando Arcia, Brewers: One of the game’s best shortstop prospects, the 21-year-old Arcia has continued to produce upon reaching the highest level of the minors. He’s off to a .309/.344/.420 start, with four long balls and nine stolen bases, over 221 plate appearances. It’s unclear whether Milwaukee will choose to start his service clock, but adding the talented youngster to the infield mix could accompany a trade of veteran Aaron Hill.
Ready To Come Up, But Held Down?
Tim Anderson, White Sox: Chicago is already said to be looking for early trade strikes, so it appears that the time is now for the South Siders. Anderson is not exactly destroying Triple-A pitching, with a .297/.321/.392 slash and ten swipes, but the Sox could choose to gamble on his talent. On the other hand, though Jimmy Rollins isn’t doing much with the bat, he’s a sturdy defender, and Tyler Saladino has been a solid all-around contributor.
Bradley Zimmer / Clint Frazier, Indians: The Indians outfield always looked short on strong options and susceptible of upgrades, and despite some sturdy performances from surprising places that still appears to be the case. Recent developments only increase the need. Though it’s said to be unlikely that Cleveland will bump up either of its top prospects, both are currently laying waste to Double-A pitching. It’s worth remembering, too, that the Mets got a huge boost last year from Conforto after he skipped the highest level of the minors. And giving a shot to one or both of these top youngsters could allow Cleveland to avoid paying a high price to acquire a veteran at the deadline.
Albert Almora, Cubs: The Cubbies are already loaded with high-performing, young talent, but they could add to that group with Schwarber down for the year. Almora only recently turned 22, but is putting up a strong .322/.339/.450 batting line with ten stolen bases in his first attempt at the Triple-A level. Of course, the opportunity won’t come easy — though Jason Heyward is scuffling, he’s not going anywhere, and the Cubs are getting outstanding production from reserves Matt Szczur and Tommy La Stella. The same goes for 24-year-old Willson Contreras, who is putting up Schwarber-esque numbers at Triple-A but is still looking up at Miguel Montero, David Ross, and Tim Federowicz.
Jose De Leon, Dodgers: Los Angeles has shown little hesitation in relying on young players in big roles — Urias being the most recent example — but it’s unclear what they intend to do with the 23-year-old right-hander. He was handled with care early this year, and only has a single Triple-A appearance on his ledger … but it was a doozy, as he allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out nine in five innings of shutout work. That slow start also means that De Leon has plenty of innings left in the tank after reaching a career-high of 114 1/3 frames a season ago.
Pick It Up For A Call-Up
Jose Berrios, Twins: Berrios has dominated at every level during his steady rise, but was knocked around in four big league starts earlier this year. He has uncharacteristically walked 29 batters in 48 total innings on the year between the bigs and the top level of the minors, so he’ll need to re-establish his command before earning another chance. If Berrios can do that, though, he’d possibly help the club ship out a veteran starter over the summer.
Carson Fulmer, White Sox: While Fulmer doesn’t profile as a near-term rotation options, the scuttlebutt was that he could reach the pen in short order. But he’ll need to turn things around quickly at Double-A to make it to the majors as swiftly as had been hoped. Fulmer has walked nearly as many batters as he’s struck out while posting a 5.54 ERA in a starting role.
Aaron Judge, Yankees: We’ve heard some chatter that New York could look to trade away a veteran such as Carlos Beltran to clear the way for Judge while still remaining competitive. I remain skeptical of that scenario, particularly since Judge has yet to conquer Triple-A through nearly 500 plate appearances over the last two seasons.
Hunter Pence To Undergo Surgery For Hamstring Tear
TODAY: Pence’s surgery has been scheduled for Thursday, the Giants told reporters (including Alex Pavlovic).
FRIDAY: Giants outfielder Hunter Pence is expected to require surgery for a fully torn hamstring, Alex Pavlovic of CSNBayArea.com was among those to report. He’ll likely miss at least two months after undergoing the procedure, but the veteran tells Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle that it may be longer (Twitter links).
For now, the expectation is that the team will look to internal options to step in with Pence (and also Angel Pagan) sidelined. But manager Bruce Bochy says that he’s already had discussions with GM Bobby Evans about possible trade targets.
The diagnosis does seem to suggest that San Francisco will be shopping for a corner outfielder. Some might have suggested that was already a reasonable position to pursue an upgrade. And with Pence likely out until after the trade deadline, the club may not have the luxury of just waiting to see how he bounces back.
Pence is among the organization’s best and most respected players, and the loss will tell regardless of what the team can do to replace his production. Barring a major trade, though, there’s little chance that San Francisco will find anything close to what Pence provides from its fill-ins. Over his 208 plate appearances on the year, the 33-year-old owns a .298/.375/.486 batting line with seven home runs.
Fortunately, the Giants do have several well-regarded young players on hand to fill in. Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker are both active and figure to get a legitimate opportunity at the major league level for the first time after showing real promise in the upper minors. The club can also turn to utilityman Kelby Tomlinson and utilize first baseman Brandon Belt in the corner outfield.
Despite those options, it will be interesting to watch what the Giants aim to accomplish in the summer trade market. Several corner outfielders appeared in the first iteration of MLBTR’s Top 10 Trade Candidates series, including Jay Bruce of the Reds and Ryan Braun of the Brewers. Any number of other players could join them over the months to come, with San Francisco’s options likely ranging from platoon pieces to long-term assets.
Mariners Release Joel Peralta
SATURDAY: Seattle has released Peralta, according to a club announcement.
THURSDAY: The Mariners have designated righty Joel Peralta for assignment, the team announced. Fellow right-hander Cody Martin will take over his spot in the Seattle pen.
Peralta, 40, joined the M’s on a minor league deal over the winter. He is owed $1.25MM, but presumably hasn’t earned much (if any) of the $2.5MM incentive package.
Seattle hasn’t received the reliable production it hoped for out of the veteran. Peralta’s velocity, contact, and zone numbers all look similar to prior seasons. But he’s always allowed a lot of flyballs, and this year more than ever (20.0%) have turned into home runs.
The result is that Peralta owns an ugly 5.40 ERA over 23 1/3 innings, and that mark has been on the rise of late. On the other hand, he’s running out an impressive 10.8 K/9 against 2.7 BB/9, so it won’t be surprising to see him earn another opportunity at some point this season — though that may come with another organization.
Marlins Release Edwin Jackson
SATURDAY: Jackson cleared waivers and has been given his unconditional release, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).
TUESDAY: The Marlins have designated righty Edwin Jackson for assignment, the club announced. His roster spot will go to southpaw Mike Dunn, who will be activated from the DL for the first time this season.
Jackson, 32, signed on with Miami on a league-minimum MLB deal over the winter. He had previously been released by the Cubs, who are still paying out the final season of the four-year, $52MM contract he inked with Chicago before the 2013 campaign.
While the 14-year veteran had solid results last year working out of the pen, he’s scuffled to a 5.91 ERA in 10 2/3 innings thus far in 2016. Jackson has managed just seven strikeouts against six walks in his eight appearances on the year.
Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Dunn will be looking to bounce back from a tough 2015 season and forearm issues earlier this year. He was one of the game’s more effective left-handed relievers over 2013-14, when he compiled a 2.89 earned run average in 124 2/3 innings, with 10.0 K/9 against 3.6 BB/9. Dunn is in his final season of arbitration eligibility.
NL Notes: Turner, Giants OF, Mets 3B, Peralta, Wong, Jenkins
Nationals infielder Trea Turner had an impressive season debut today, but the plan is for him to return to Triple-A once Ryan Zimmerman is back from paternity leave, manager Dusty Baker told reporters including MLB.com’s Jamal Collier (Twitter link). That’s not to say that he won’t play a more significant role later in the year, of course. Danny Espinosa and Stephen Drew have been solid defensively but have combined for an anemic 65 wRC+ on the year.
Here’s more from the National League:
- With the news that Hunter Pence will miss two months or more, the Giants are facing some uncertainty in the corner outfield. While the organization sees some “attractive options externally,” GM Bobby Evans tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter), it has no intentions of plunking down a high price for a temporary fill-in (let alone a long-term piece).
- The Mets‘ plans at third base appear to be somewhat up in the air with David Wright out of action. Per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, via Twitter, the club will “explore” the market for trade candidates, but is also glad to give Wilmer Flores the majority of the time at present. New York could find some options via trade, as MLBTR’s Steve Adams explained earlier today, but it’s fair to wonder whether any of the presently-available players would represent an upgrade over Flores.
- Cadinals GM John Mozeliak says that Jhonny Peralta will take over primary duties at third base when he returns in the coming days, Luke Schnake of 101ESPN reports. The club will keep breakout rookie Aledmys Diaz at short while shifting veteran Matt Carpenter to second. That raises yet more questions about the struggling Kolten Wong. While Mozeliak wouldn’t say whether he could be optioned to Triple-A, he did note that “overall this game is about performance” while adding that “everything has to be on the table when considering how to improve.”
- Braves right-handed pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins will move to the bullpen at Triple-A Gwinnett, as David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Manager Brian Snitker says the decision was made to “get him a different look,” not out of any displeasure with his work in the rotation. Jenkins, who came to Atlanta along with Shelby Miller in exchange for Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden, has worked to a 2.97 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 over 57 2/3 innings on the year.
Dodgers Place Yasiel Puig On 15-Day DL
The Dodgers have placed outfielder Yasiel Puig on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain, per a team announcement (via Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, on Twitter). Scott Van Slyke has returned from his own DL stint to join the club in Puig’s stead.
It has been a trying year for the 25-year-old. Hopes were that he’d return to the stellar play he showed over 2013-14, but Puig has fallen shy even of the reduced version of himself that was on display last season.
Over his first 198 plate appearances, he’s compiled a meager .237/.283/.360 batting line with a handful of home runs and four steals. On the positive side, defensive metrics have been quite high on his work in right field, representing a turnaround in that regard.
It doesn’t appear that the injury is a serious one, as the club waited until the last minute to decide on the DL placement. But this is hardly the first time that Puig has been felled by this particular injury, increasing the level of concern. If there’s a silver lining, it could be that Puig may end up with a chance at a rehab stint to sort out some of his issues at the plate.
Los Angeles does not figure to go looking outside the organization for help — unless, perhaps, it turns into a much longer absence than is expected. The team already cut loose Alex Guerrero recently because of its stock of outfielders, and the return of Van Slyke further bolsters a deep unit.
Injury Notes: Hill, Gallardo, Wheeler, d’Arnaud, Simmons, Sano
There’s a lengthy list of names whose injury situations warrant mention tonight:
- Rich Hill will miss his next scheduled start for the Athletics, as MLB.com’s Jane Lee reports. He’s dealing with groin soreness, and while that doesn’t appear to be a major concern, manager Bob Melvin made clear that the team “want[s] to make sure he is as close to 100 percent as he can be” before putting him back on the MLB bump. Hill is both a key to Oakland’s hopes and a top potential trade chip, but he’s already recorded more major league innings this season than in any single campaign since 2007.
- The Orioles may finally welcome back righty Yovani Gallardo late next week, as Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports on Twitter. Baltimore hopes that he’ll be ready for activation after his next Triple-A rehab start on Tuesday, per skipper Buck Showalter. Headed in the other direction is reliever Darren O’Day, who is expected to miss something close to the minimum after hitting the 15-day DL with a hamstring strain.
- The Mets have updated timetables for two important young players of their own, as Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports (here and here). Righty Zack Wheeler is not expected back until mid-July at this point. That’s a few weeks later than had been expected, but he is said to be progressing as hoped and there certainly isn’t much of a rush from the team’s perspective. The catching position is one where New York could use some help, though, and it’s certainly promising to hear that Travis d’Arnaud is ready to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. That would put him on track to return to the majors within the twenty-day period allowed for position-player rehab stints.
- Likewise, Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons is “close” to undertaking his own minor league assignment, as Mike Scioscia tells reporters including MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez (via Twitter). The basement-dwelling Halos badly need Simmons not only to return, but to pick up his pace at the plate when he does.
- Padres righty Cesar Vargas has been diagnosed with a flexor strain, per Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link). He won’t even get another check-up for three weeks, so it certainly seems that a fairly lengthy absence is to be expected.
- Miguel Sano of the Twins has a moderate hamstring strain that will keep him out for longer than the 15-day minimum, per LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (via Twitter). While Minnesota’s hopes for the present season appear to have all but evaporated, Sano remains both a critical future piece and a possible factor in the team’s deadline plans. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe looks like a plausible trade piece, which could lead the way to a return to the hot corner for Sano.
- Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira left today’s action with right knee pain, as Chad Jennings of the LoHud Yankees blog reports. He’s headed for an MRI to get a clearer idea of the issue. Teixeira was already dealing with a neck ailment, so the health questions continue to compile for the veteran. If a DL stint is required, New York could conceivably dip into its minor league system for Chris Parmelee or Nick Swisher — either of whom would require a 40-man spot. It doesn’t help that catcher (and occasional fill-in first baseman) Brian McCann is day-to-day with some elbow pain, as Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News tweets.
- Three-time Tommy John surgery recipient Jonny Venters is set to be activated by the Rays‘ High-A affiliate on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. The 31-year-old was once one an electric reliever for the Braves, but he last pitched professionally way back in 2012.
Cardinals Sign Jerome Williams
The Cardinals have added veteran righty Jerome Williams on a minor league deal, GM John Mozeliak tells Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispact (via Twitter). He can earn at a $2MM rate if and when he reaches the majors, per SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (via Twitter).
Williams seemingly waited to sign after undergoing a procedure on his Achilles tendon. He’ll now begin working towards making the Cardinals the eighth team with which he’s seen major league action. Williams will start out with the club’s top affiliate.
For St. Louis, Williams represents a swingman option. He has exceeded 100 innings in each of the last three seasons, and may be the type of steady piece needed for a staff has shown some cracks. Williams scuffled to a 5.24 ERA last year with the Phillies, but had carried a 4.54 earned run mark (with 6.1 K/9 against 2.7 BB/9) in the 466 innings he threw over the prior four seasons.