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Dodgers Place Yency Almonte On 15-Day Injured List

By Mark Polishuk | August 7, 2022 at 4:40pm CDT

The Dodgers announced that right-hander Yency Almonte has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow tightness.  In the corresponding move, righty Andre Jackson was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Almonte will get an MRI to investigate the injury, manager Dave Roberts told The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya (Twitter links) and other reporters.  On the plus side, Almonte said that he is familiar with this type of tightness, and isn’t overly concerned about his status.

After spending his first four Major League seasons with the Rockies, Almonte was outrighted off Colorado’s 40-man following last year, and he chose free agency.  That led to a minor league deal with the Dodgers and an excellent bounce-back season for the 28-year-old.  Almonte has a 1.15 ERA over 31 1/3 relief innings for Los Angeles, inducing a lot of soft contact and limiting the long ball (only two homers allowed) despite a below-average 24.6% strikeout rate.

Almonte showed flashes of such performance in Colorado, posting impressive results in both 2018 and 2020 when he has been able to keep the ball in the park.  In 2021, however, he gave up nine homers over 47 2/3 innings, and between the home runs and an inflated walk rate, Almonte posted an ugly 7.55 ERA.

Jackson made his MLB debut in 2021, with 11 2/3 innings over three games for L.A.  He was briefly on the Dodgers’ active roster back in April but didn’t get any game action, so his 2022 resume consists of a 5.20 ERA over 55 1/3 innings at Triple-A.  Jackson battled control problems earlier in his minor league career, and those issues returned with a vengeance this year, as he has 48 free passes in his 55 1/3 innings (against 59 strikeouts).

Still, Roberts suggested that Jackson might receive a spot start for the Dodgers on Wednesday, filling in for the injured Clayton Kershaw.  It will depend on whether or not Jackson is needed in relief over the next couple of days, and the Dodgers also have an off-day Monday to factor into their rotation set-up.

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Los Angeles Dodgers Transactions Andre Jackson Yency Almonte

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Anthony Banda Elects Free Agency

By Mark Polishuk | August 7, 2022 at 3:43pm CDT

Left-hander Anthony Banda has chosen to become a free agent, rather than accept an outright assignment to the Blue Jays’ Triple-A team.  Toronto designated Banda for assignment after the trade deadline, and he cleared outright waivers yesterday.  Since Banda has previously been outrighted in his career, he was eligible to reject the Jays’ assignment in favor of testing the open market.

The Blue Jays acquired Banda from the Pirates for cash considerations in early July, adding a bit of left-handed relief depth to the bullpen.  Banda appeared in seven games with the Jays (including one appearance as an opener), and posted a 4.26 ERA over 7 1/3 innings.  For the 2022 season as a whole, Banda has a 5.88 ERA in 26 combined frames with Toronto and Pittsburgh.

Just a couple of days away from his 29th birthday, Banda now hits the open market in search of another change of scenery.  A veteran of seven different MLB organizations, Banda has had playing time at the big league level with five of those clubs since debuting in 2017.  Given that Tim Mayza was just placed on the 15-day injured list, it might not be surprising to see the Blue Jays pursue a quick reunion with Banda, in order to add another left-hander to Toronto’s thin array of southpaws.

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Toronto Blue Jays Transactions Anthony Banda

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Blue Jays Place Tim Mayza On IL With Dislocated Right Shoulder

By Mark Polishuk | August 7, 2022 at 11:40am CDT

Aug. 7: The Blue Jays announced Mayza’s placement on the 15-day IL, with righty Trent Thornton recalled to take his place on the active roster.

Aug 6: The Blue Jays announced that reliever Tim Mayza dislocated his right shoulder during a play in tonight’s 7-3 loss to the Twins.  In the sixth inning, Sandy Leon bunted in front of the mound and Mayza grabbed at the ball to try and tag Nick Gordon, who was running from third base.  Mayza missed the ball and Gordon slid into his outstretched arm, leaving Mayza in obvious pain before he was naturally removed from the game.

Mayza will certainly be placed on the 15-day injured list, and now the only question is just how long the left-hander could be out of action.  Though the injury was to his non-throwing shoulder, the severity of the dislocation could potentially put the rest of Mayza’s season in jeopardy.

Heading into tonight’s game, Mayza had a 2.41 ERA/3.01 SIERA over 33 2/3 innings, missing a month of action due to inflammation in his left forearm.  With only a 20.9% strikeout rate, Mayza was relying on grounders (a strong 58.2% groundball rate) and soft contact to get results.  While a .277 wOBA that sat well below his .322 xwOBA indicated that Mayza was getting some good fortune, it marked the southpaw’s second consecutive year of quality results since returning from the Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2020 season.

The Jays added Zach Pop, Anthony Bass, and Mitch White to their pitching mix at the deadline, and yet all of those hurlers are right-handed.  That left Mayza as the only left-hander in the Toronto bullpen, though the Blue Jays have done respectably well against left-handed batters this season despite the overload of righty relievers.  The Jays relief corps has a cumulative 3.44 ERA (10th-best in baseball) against lefty swingers, as closer Jordan Romano, David Phelps, and particularly Yimi Garcia are all doing very well against the opposite side of the plate.

Still, operating without any lefties at all isn’t ideal for any bullpen, and Mayza’s absence reveals a lack of proven southpaw depth on the organizational depth chart.  Tayler Saucedo is on the 60-day IL and has been rehabbing at Triple-A Buffalo since mid-June, plus Matt Gage, Anthony Kay, and Foster Griffin are also at Triple-A and on the 40-man roster.

Left-hander Ricky Tiedemann is Toronto’s top minor league pitcher and has shot up prospect rankings in his first pro season.  However, Tiedemann was only just promoted to Double-A, so moving him up to the majors this early in his development (he turns 20 later in August) would perhaps be too risky a move, even for a Jays team in win-now mode.

Looking at the big league roster, Yusei Kikuchi could get some consideration for a bullpen role, assuming Ross Stripling returns from his current IL stint in around the minimum 15 days.  If Stripling is healthy and White (currently taking Stripling’s rotation spot) is pitching capably, the Jays could look to shift Kikuchi to relief pitching.  A move to the pen could both help the lack of left-handed pitchers, and also help Kikuchi get on track during what has been a difficult first season in Toronto.

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Toronto Blue Jays Tim Mayza

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MLBTR Chat Transcript

By Mark Polishuk | August 6, 2022 at 10:19pm CDT

Click here to read the transcript of tonight’s live baseball chat

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MLBTR Chats

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Matt Dermody To Sign With KBO League’s NC Dinos

By Mark Polishuk | August 6, 2022 at 7:53pm CDT

Cubs left-hander Matt Dermody has agreed to sign with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization, according to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors (Twitter link).  While Dermody was signed with the Cubs, it isn’t uncommon for teams to release players for opportunities overseas if that player isn’t in the team’s long-term plans.

Dermody is no stranger to pitching outside of affiliated baseball, as he pitched the independent Sugar Land Skeeters in 2020 and then in Japan with the Seibu Lions in 2021.  (In between, he also made a few appearances in Dominican Winter League ball.)  Returning to the MLB ladder on a minor league deal with the Cubs in January, Dermody made one appearance on the big league roster.  Just this past Thursday, Dermody was the 27th man for the Cubs’ doubleheader against the Cardinals, and he tossed an inning in the second game.

That cup of coffee marked Dermody’s fourth appearance in a Major League season, with 27 1/3 total big league frames pitched — to a 5.60 ERA — since the start of the 2016 campaign.  The southpaw had some decent numbers at Triple-A Iowa this year, with a 3.74 ERA, 51.2% grounder rate, and 5.2% walk rate over 79 1/3 innings (starting 13 of 20 games).

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Chicago Cubs Korea Baseball Organization Transactions Matt Dermody

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Mariners Reinstate Mitch Haniger From 60-Day IL

By Mark Polishuk | August 6, 2022 at 7:23pm CDT

In between games of today’s doubleheader with the Angels, the Mariners reinstated outfielder Mitch Haniger from the 60-day injured list.  Abraham Toro was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.

Haniger has played in just nine games this year, due to both a two-week stint on the COVID-related IL to begin the season, and then this extended trip on the 60-day IL because of a Grade 2 high ankle sprain.  Tonight’s game will mark just the second time Haniger has been able to take the field since April 15.  2022 has been another injury-plagued year for Haniger, who missed over half of the 2019 season and the entire 2020 season due to a ruptured testicle.

Haniger had emerged as a productive bat for the Mariners in 2017-18, and was named to the AL All-Star team in 2018.  Returning from his long layoff last year, Haniger basically picked up right where he left off, hitting .253/.318/.485 with 39 home runs over 691 plate appearances and 157 games in 2021.

A healthy and in-form Haniger is an enormous boost to the Mariners’ chances of finally returning to the postseason for the first time 2001.  It’s probably safe to assume that he’ll get a few extra DH days to ease back into the lineup, but Haniger’s return as the regular right fielder will move Adam Frazier back into full-time second base work.  Julio Rodriguez is still recovering from a wrist injury, but a Seattle outfield featuring Rodriguez and Haniger is a much more daunting challenge for opposing pitchers.

With a little less than two months remaining in the regular season, Haniger will get at least some kind of a platform to post some numbers and add to his market as a free agent this winter.  Between his injury history and his age (Haniger will be 32 on Opening Day), the outfielder will need a big finish to give himself a shot at a lucrative multi-year contract.  With the qualifying offer now back in play for all free agents, Haniger could be an intriguing candidate to receive and perhaps accept a QO, presuming the Mariners are willing to make what would be a $18MM-$19MM investment in Haniger on a one-year deal.

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Seattle Mariners Transactions Abraham Toro Mitch Haniger

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AL Central Notes: Guardians, Hosmer, Kepler, Brieske

By Mark Polishuk | August 6, 2022 at 5:30pm CDT

It was a quiet trade deadline for the Guardians, as Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that the club “at times…felt they were close” to landing Sean Murphy from the Athletics, yet no deal was completed.  Murphy was known to be a trade target for the Guards, though another somewhat surprising name was at least briefly on their radar, as Hoynes reports that Cleveland and San Diego had some talks about first baseman Eric Hosmer.  However, those discussions didn’t get far, as the Guardians are one of the 10 teams on Hosmer’s no-trade list.  Hosmer also used his no-trade protection to scuttle his involvement in the Padres’ blockbuster deal with the Nationals for Juan Soto, so the Padres instead moved Hosmer to the Red Sox.

San Diego dealt Hosmer and two prospects to Boston for lefty pitching prospect Jay Groome, and the Padres also covering basically all of the $44MM remaining on Hosmer’s deal (which runs through the 2025 season).  It’s fair to guess that the Guardians might have had interest in something similar, with Hosmer joining Josh Naylor and Owen Miller as part of the first base/DH mix.  Hosmer might have been viewed by the Guards as just a one-season fill-in now that the team is seemingly willing to part ways with Franmil Reyes, but with the Padres footing the bill, Cleveland could have kept Hosmer around as a veteran complement to their younger players.

More from around the AL Central…

  • The Twins activated outfielder Max Kepler from the 10-day injured list, and optioned outfielder Mark Contreras to Triple-A.  Kepler is making a relatively quick return from a fracture in his right baby toe, after he was hit by a pitch on July 24.  Kepler has generated 2.0 fWAR over his 85 games this season, thanks to solid defense and an above-average (113 wRC+) offensive line of .244/.344/.390 in 337 plate appearances.
  • Tigers right-hander Beau Brieske had a Triple-A rehab start yesterday, and manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including The Detroit News’ Chris McCosky) that Brieske is perhaps on track to be activated from the 15-day injured list in time to start the Tigers’ game with the Guardians on Wednesday.  Forearm soreness sent Brieske to the IL on July 18, but it appears as though the rookie has avoided any serious setback — a rare bit of good health news within an injury-plagued season for Detroit pitchers.  All of these injuries open the door for Brieske to make his Major League debut, and the righty posted a respectable 4.19 ERA over his first 15 starts and 81 2/3 innings in the Show.
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Cleveland Guardians Detroit Tigers Minnesota Twins Notes San Diego Padres Transactions Beau Brieske Eric Hosmer Mark Contreras Max Kepler

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Blue Jays Place George Springer On 10-Day Injured List

By Mark Polishuk | August 6, 2022 at 4:47pm CDT

The Blue Jays have placed outfielder George Springer on the 10-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation, with the placement retroactive to August 5.  Utilityman Otto Lopez has been activated from the taxi squad to take Springer’s place on the active roster.

Springer has been dealing with a sore elbow for much of the season, with the injury apparently worsening over the last six weeks.  The Jays have frequently rested Springer or used him as a DH, but since he has played in only two of Toronto’s last seven games, it seems as though a full IL stint was necessary to allow Springer to fully heal.  Over his last 29 games and 130 plate appearances, Springer had a modest .226/.310/.409, so his bad elbow clearly seemed to be impacting his production.

A healthy Springer is critical to the Blue Jays’ chances of reaching the postseason and making a deep run into October, so the outfielder and the team can only hope that this IL trip will finally correct the elbow issue.  Springer’s injury surely influenced the Jays’ decision to acquire Whit Merrifield at the trade deadline, and Merrifield now looks to get the bulk of center field time while Springer is out, with Raimel Tapia and backup Bradley Zimmer providing further depth.

Lopez could also be in the mix, as center field is one of four positions (along with left field, second base, and shortstop) he has played this season at Triple-A Buffalo.  Lopez has also hit .267/.357/.424 over 246 PA with the Bisons.  MLB Pipeline ranks Lopez as the fourth-best prospect in the Jays farm system, impressed by his plus speed and contact-hitting, even if Lopez seems to be lacking in power.  The 23-year-old has appeared in exactly one MLB game in each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

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Toronto Blue Jays Transactions George Springer Otto Lopez

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Phillies Release Odubel Herrera, Jeurys Familia

By Mark Polishuk | August 6, 2022 at 4:01pm CDT

The Phillies have released outfielder Odubel Herrera and right-hander Jeurys Familia.  Righty Ryan Sherriff has also been outrighted to Triple-A.  All three players were designated for assignment earlier this week.

This is the second time within the last year that the Phils have officially parted ways with Herrera, as they declined their $11.5MM club option last fall and then re-signed him for only $1.75MM in March.  It would seem like today’s release will bring an end to Herrera’s run in the organization after seven-plus years, as Philadelphia is certainly hoping that trade deadline acquisition Brandon Marsh can be a long-term answer in center field.

Herrera hit .238/.279/.378 over 197 PA this season, seeing time in center field and left field.  Familia was also struggling, with a 6.09 ERA in 34 innings after signing a one-year, $6MM free agent deal with the Phillies during the offseason.

Familia is still owed around $2MM of that salary, though a new team will have to cover just the prorated MLB minimum salary, while the Phillies absorb the rest.  The same is true of the roughly $580K owed to Herrera on the remainder of his deal.  Claiming either player off DFA waivers would have put the new team on the hook for the rest of the remaining salary, so while neither Herrera or Familia represents a huge financial outlay, it is still understandable why other teams would prefer to stick the Phillies with much of the bill.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see either player catch on elsewhere, though Familia is seemingly the likelier of the two to land with a new club.  Herrera hasn’t been a terribly effective player since 2017, while Familia still had solid bottom-line numbers with the Mets as recently as 2021.  With pretty much all of Familia’s secondary metrics trending downward, however, clubs must have concerns over what the 32-year-old still has in the tank.

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Philadelphia Phillies Transactions Jeurys Familia Odubel Herrera Ryan Sherriff

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Giants Reinstate Brandon Crawford, Joc Pederson; Designate Dixon Machado

By Mark Polishuk | August 6, 2022 at 3:02pm CDT

The Giants announced that shortstop Brandon Crawford has been activated from the 10-day injured list, while outfielder Joc Pederson is also back after being activated from the seven-day concussion IL.  To create roster space, San Francisco optioned infielder David Villar to Triple-A and designated infielder Dixon Machado for assignment.

Crawford has been battling soreness in his left knee for most of the season, and the injury has resulted in two trips to the IL for the veteran shortstop within the last six weeks.  This latest IL stint sidelined Crawford for a little over three weeks, and it is possible that the lingering nature of this problem could lead to Crawford getting a few more days off than usual over the final two months of the regular season.

Coming off a career year in 2021, Crawford’s knee issues could be partially to blame for his dropoff this season, as the shortstop is hitting only .215/.297/.332 over 279 plate appearances.  There’s still time for Crawford to get on track and finish the year in more respectable fashion, even if it might be too late for the Giants to get back into the wild card race.

With the Giants moving some veteran players at the trade deadline, it is quite possible he might’ve been moved had it not been for his concussion symptoms.  The good news, however, is that Pederson is able to make a quick return after hitting the concussion-IL on July 29, so he doesn’t appear to be dealing with any lingering after-effects.  The slugger is hitting .242/.319/.492 with 17 home runs over 285 PA, and his first-half performance earned a slot on the NL All-Star roster.

It could be a very short stay in the Giants organization for Machado, who was just acquired in a trade with the Cubs on July 31.  San Francisco was in a crunch for shortstop depth with Crawford and Thairo Estrada both on the IL, and thus Machado provided some short-term help.  Machado’s five games with the Giants represented his first MLB playing time since 2018, as he has since been playing in the KBO League and with the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate.

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San Francisco Giants Transactions Brandon Crawford David Villar Dixon Machado Joc Pederson

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