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NL Injury Notes: Giants, Floro, Ahmed, Simmons
The Giants provided updates on some veteran names who have yet to appear in Spring Training games, though Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria are both expected to be ready for Opening Day, manager Gabe Kapler told MLB.com’s Maria Guardado and other reporters. Longoria has been dealing with right index finger tendinitis, while Belt has inflammation in his right knee. The latter issue might be the bigger problem on paper, given Belt’s history of knee injuries, but Kapler said “We don’t really have concerns. It’s just going to be a later start for Brandon.”
Tommy La Stella has also yet to take the field this spring, but is running the bases and taking part in other baseball activities. After undergoing Achilles surgery in October, La Stella is now “getting very close to being ready,” Kapler said, and “Tommy has shared strongly that he wants the opportunity to be ahead of schedule and be ready for Opening Day.” The final call will be up to La Stella and the team’s training staff, but even if La Stella isn’t quite ready to go when San Francisco begins play, Kapler intimated that the infielder wouldn’t miss too much time.
Some other injury notes from around the National League…
- Dylan Floro has yet to pitch during Spring Training, as the right-hander is dealing with some arm soreness. Marlins manager Don Mattingly was non-committal about Floro’s readiness for the Opening Day roster, telling MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola and other reporters that “We’ll just have to see how that goes,” though Mattingly did note that Floro worked through some similar issues last year with no ill effects during the season. One of baseball’s more underrated relievers of the last four seasons, Floro posted a 2.81 ERA over 64 innings in 2021, his first year in Miami. This performance had put Floro in line for perhaps the majority of ninth-inning work for the Marlins this season, though Mattingly said “I think we’re going to be more of a mix-and-match club” for save situations. Some new faces could also be joining the bullpen, as GM Kim Ng has stated the Marlins are exploring the relief market.
- Nick Ahmed’s bothersome right shoulder is “good enough” for the Diamondbacks shortstop “to be out there right now,” but Ahmed told The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro that his shoulder still isn’t 100 percent after almost two years of intermittent soreness. Even after receiving two injections in his shoulder this past offseason, Ahmed said the treatment “didn’t go great, how I wanted them to go. I just ended up rehabbing it most of the offseason.” Surgery doesn’t appear to be an option at this point, as Ahmed said he has been working out a training regiment to help keep his shoulder strong and capable of holding up over 162 games. Between his nagging shoulder injury and a knee problem, Ahmed admitted that injuries played a big part in his steep dropoff at the plate, as the shortstop batted only .221/.280/.339 in 473 plate appearances in 2021. On the plus side, Ahmed’s health didn’t hamper his fielding, as he was still one of the game’s better defensive shortstops.
- Speaking of Gold Glove shortstops, Andrelton Simmons is also dealing with some right shoulder soreness, Cubs manager told reporters (including The Chicago Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro). Simmons hasn’t played the last two days and was in Thursday’s lineup only as the DH. Simmons joined the Cubs on a one-year, $4MM deal soon after the lockout ended.
Yankees Notes: Cashman, Judge, Gardner, Payroll
Yankees GM Brian Cashman met with reporters yesterday, discussing numerous Bronx Bombers-related topics with Newsday’s Erik Boland (Twitter links), MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, The Associated Press, and other media members.
Aaron Judge’s contract was one of the subjects addressed, as the star slugger didn’t agree to terms with the club on his 2022 salary before last Tuesday’s deadline to file arbitration figures. As it stands, Judge and the Yankees will now head to a hearing, with Judge seeking $21MM and the Yankees offering $17MM — the $4MM gap is the largest between any player and team slated for an arb case this spring.
However, a much larger contract could be in the offing. Judge is set for free agency next winter, and Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has already stated that the club will discuss a long-term extension. Cashman said the same Saturday, with a nod to Judge’s preference to have all negotiations wrapped up prior to the start of the season.
“Between now and Opening Day we’ll make an offer and he’ll obviously receive an offer and all the conversions will have taken place and will either resolve into a multiyear deal or it won’t,” Cashman said. “We’re committed. We’ll make an offer and hear what he has to say in response and then it will be pencils down before Opening Day.”
It should be noted that the opener probably isn’t an absolute deadline, as the two sides aren’t likely to cease talks if they’re on the proverbial two-yard line towards finalizing an extension. Most players have shared Judge’s preference to restrict contract talks to the offseason, yet it isn’t uncommon for major extensions to be announced a few days or even a few weeks beyond Opening Day.
In fact, Judge himself told The New York Post’s Dan Martin and other reporters Saturday that there could be some flexibility to his April 7 deadline. “If there are negotiations [after Opening Day], I won’t be talking to [the media] about it at all. We haven’t decided yet, but for right now, that’s what we’ve got.”
Given that the Yankees have rarely extended players in the Hal Steinbrenner era, the fact that the two sides are talking long-term is itself notable, and a nod to just how well Judge has performed over his first six seasons. If a multi-year pact can’t be arranged, it isn’t out of the question that the two sides might still just work out a one-year pact in order to sidestep the potential awkwardness of an arbitration hearing. As Martin notes, the Yankees haven’t gone to a hearing since 2016.
“Our position has always been, we wind up only in a hearing if we’re dragged there,” Cashman said. “We only go when forced to go. We’re not afraid of going. Our history shows that we stay out of that arena unless we’re compelled to get there.”
Judge’s situation might dominate the headlines for the Yankees in their final days of camp, as the team could be finished with its major offseason work. “We’re prepared to go with what we have here,” Cashman said, while acknowledging that the door is always open in some respect for potential new moves: “We’ve stayed in touch and engaged a lot of clubs about our needs. If something comes out of those discussions, great.”
In terms of what any new additions might cost, Cashman noted the financial “flexibility” provided by ownership “doesn’t mean it [the payroll] won’t get higher but that doesn’t mean it will either.” Team spending has been a hot issue in the Bronx over the last two years, as the Yankees looked to get under the luxury tax line in 2021, then largely sat out free agency both before and after the lockout. (This isn’t to say that the offseason has been all that quiet, given that the Yankees’ five-player blockbuster deal with the Twins is arguably the winter’s biggest trade.)
Cashman did point out, however, that the Yankees are set to have their highest-ever payroll. Roster Resource projects the club for roughly $245.9MM in actual dollars spent on payroll, with a luxury tax number of just under $262.3MM. That latter figures not only puts New York back in excess of the $230MM tax threshold, but beyond the first tier ($250MM) of penalization. That means that the Yankees are currently slated to pay a 32% surtax on every dollar spent beyond the threshold, given they reclaimed “first-timer” status after getting under the tax line last year.
A new deal with longtime Yankee Brett Gardner isn’t likely to cost all that much, though it remains unclear if Gardner is a candidate to return for a 15th season in the pinstripes. “Right now we’re focused on what we have,” Cashman said in regards to the roster, while also adding that he has had multiple talks with Gardner’s representatives since Spring Training opened.
In theory, New York already has plenty of outfield depth on the roster, between the starting trio of Judge, Aaron Hicks and Joey Gallo, Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Andujar capable of playing on the grass, and Marwin Gonzalez, Tim Locastro and Ender Inciarte all in the mix. With injuries an ever-looming threat, a reunion with Gardner could be feasible, especially since Gardner has been such an important clubhouse leader.
James Karinchak, Luke Maile Likely To Begin Season On Injured List
Two notable Guardians players are likely to start their 2022 season on the 10-day injured list. Reliever James Karinchak has a strain in his teres major muscle and will be shut down for 7-10 days, while Luke Maile has a left hamstring strain. (MLB.com’s Mandy Bell was among those to report the news.)
Maile is a lock to hit the IL, as he will be out of action for three to four weeks. Karinchak’s timetable isn’t yet known outside of his shutdown period, as if he returns after seven or even 10 days with no ill effects, he might only need a minimal 10-day IL stint at the start of the season to get fully ramped up.
It all depends on the severity of his strain, as teres major muscle issues can vary greatly in terms of necessary recovery time. Cleveland fans have become all too familiar with the teres major muscle in recent years, as Mike Clevinger, Emmanuel Clase, and (just yesterday) Cody Morris have all spent time on the IL due to similar injuries.
The Guardians surely hope Karinchak’s injury is just a matter of days or weeks rather than months, as the hard-throwing righty’s big strikeout numbers hint at his potential as a dominant bullpen arm. Karinchak has a huge 38% strikeout rate over his 87 2/3 career innings, as well as a 3.49 ERA. However, Karinchak also has a 13.4% walk rate, and both those control problems and the home run ball led to a dropoff in production last season after a strong start. Cleveland ended up optioning Karinchak to Triple-A for September, in an effort to try and get him sorted.
Maile only joined the team two weeks ago on a one-year, $900K free agent deal. The veteran backstop’s guaranteed deal gave him a leg up on minor league signing Sandy Leon in the battle to be Austin Hedges’ backup, though Leon may now have the inside track on breaking camp. Depending on what other names become available as other teams make their spring cuts, the Guardians could possibly add another experienced catcher to add further depth, or as more competition for Leon.
Yankees Claim Jeisson Rosario From Red Sox
The Yankees announced that outfielder Jeisson Rosario was claimed off waivers from the Red Sox. Rosario has been optioned to the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate.
The 22-year-old Rosario was designated for assignment earlier this week when the Sox needed a 40-man roster space to accommodate Trevor Story. Rosario began his career in the Padres farm system, and came to Boston as part of the August 2020 trade that saw Mitch Moreland dealt to San Diego.
Rosario has a .256/.366/.332 slash line over 1675 minor league plate appearances. He hasn’t shown much power thus far, and his offensive contributions have mostly come in the form of on-base skills and speed (with 48 steals in 77 chances). Rosario is considered a good defensive center fielder, however, and has also spent some time in right field and a handful of games as a left fielder.
League Makes Proposals To MLBPA Restricting Sign-Stealing, On-Field Information
Major League Baseball has made a series of proposals to the players union about measures meant to restrict sign-stealing, and the use of information during games, The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli reports (Twitter thread). It isn’t yet known how the MLB Players Association will respond to these proposals, whether they accept or reject the league’s idea, or perhaps make some counter-proposals with some tweaks.
One proposal involves the PitchCom system currently being tested during Spring Training games, as the league is now offering that players can continue to use the system on a voluntary basis during the regular season. PitchCom is an electronic method for a catcher to communicate signs to the pitcher — the catcher enters the desired pitch (or pickoff throw, pitchout, etc.) on a specialized wristband, while the pitcher is wearing an audio device in his hat that tells him the pitch call via an automated voice. The catcher and as many as three other fielders can also be wearing the audio device, to ensure accuracy and to make the information known around the diamond.
Ideally, PitchCom is a way of addressing sign-stealing by simply removing signs altogether. The system also theoretically speeds up play by removing the need for some mound visits. Early reviews have varied from individual to individual, and it remains to be seen how many players (or the MLBPA as a whole) would be open to continuing the PitchCom tech during the season. The voluntary nature of the usage could be an obstacle, as a competitive advantage could be gained by some teams.
The league’s other proposals relate to the in-game use of scouting information. Under these new rules, a player at the plate couldn’t (to use Ghiroli’s example) review any information on a scouting card within his helmet, for instance. Also, team staff wouldn’t be allowed to print and deliver and new information to any on-field personnel during the game, whether on the actual diamond or in the dugout.
Specifying the use of printed information relates to how the league has already restricted the use of some electronic devices during a game, in the wake of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Still, while it would seem fairly easy to monitor whether or not a batter is using a “cheat sheet” during an at-bat, it would seem more difficult to completely police the flow of information between the on-field personnel and front office personnel over the course of a game. Of course, there may never be an entirely airtight way to prevent teams finding loopholes, though having direct rules in place could at least act as some kind of deterrent.
Padres Claim Kyle Tyler, Designate James Norwood
The Padres announced that right-hander Kyle Tyler has been claimed off waivers from the Red Sox. To open up space on San Diego’s roster, righty James Norwood has been designated for assignment.
It has been a whirlwind week for Tyler, who is now playing for his third different organization in the last four days. Tyler was designated by the Angels on March 19 when the Halos needed a 40-man roster spot for Ryan Tepera, and then after the Red Sox claimed Tyler on Tuesday, they DFA’ed him again on Thursday to claim Ralph Garza from the Twins in another waiver move.
Tyler is now headed back to SoCal, this time in a Padres uniform. The 25-year-old has worked almost equally as a starter and as a reliever over his 232 1/3 career minor league innings, so Tyler gives the Padres yet another option on a roster that is now quite loaded with rotation depth, even if there are plenty of injury questions. Tyler has a 3.25 ERA, 23.2% strikeout rate, and 7.4% walk rate over 232 1/3 innings as a minor leaguer, and he posted a 2.92 ERA over 12 1/3 MLB innings last season, in his first taste of big league action.
Norwood has pitched 27 innings spread over 28 games in the last four Major League seasons, with a 3.67 ERA to show for his brief time in The Show. Norwood has a 13.1% walk rate in that small sample size in the majors, continuing the control problems that have been a thorn in his side for much of his minor league career (in the Cubs and Padres organizations).
On the plus side, Norwood’s strikeout totals have been on the rise over the last few years, and he has an impressive 34.2% strikeout rate over 120 innings at the Triple-A level. That’s a number that could get another team’s attention on the waiver wire, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Norwood claimed before his DFA period is up.
Blue Jays Pitching Coach Pete Walker Arrested On DUI Charges
Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker was arrested Friday morning on charges of speeding and driving under the influence, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. (WFLA’s Nathaniel Rodriguez broke the news.) Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling adds that Walker was released on a $500 bond later that morning, and that he will make a statement to media following the Jays’ game with the Yankees this afternoon.
According to the affidavit, Walker was allegedly driving 82mph in a 45-mph zone when pulled over by police. Walker failed sobriety tests, and told officers that he had been drinking at a local restaurant earlier that evening.
Walker has been a member of Toronto’s coaching staff for 10 seasons, working as the club’s bullpen coach in 2012 and then moving into his current role as pitching coach. He previously worked for the organization as a minor league pitching coach and instructor, and also pitched for the Jays during four of his eight MLB seasons as a player. Walker has been highly regarded for his work with Jays pitchers over the years, most recently credited with helping turn Robbie Ray into the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner after Ray suffered through a disastrous 2020 season.
Mariners’ Evan White To Undergo Sports Hernia Surgery
Mariners first baseman Evan White will soon be undergoing surgery to address a sports hernia, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. It’s another big setback for White, who underwent a hip surgery last July that cut short his 2021 season.
Though White’s specific case may differ, most sports hernia operations result in roughly 4-8 weeks of missed time. It’s probably safe to project towards the higher end of that timeframe, given that White is also on the way back from his hip procedure, and he has barely played during Spring Training. With these factors in mind, White could be looking at closer to a midseason debut.
The 17th overall pick of the 2017 draft, White drew plenty of top-100 prospect buzz heading into the 2020 season, and his rookie season was highlighted by a Gold Glove Award for his work at first base. At the plate, however, White has remained a major work in progress, hitting only .165/.235/.308 over his first 306 plate appearances against big league pitching.
Between his injuries and the lack of a 2020 minor league season, White’s development has already hit some significant speedbumps, and it was already looking like he would be starting 2022 as either a backup or perhaps even in the minors to get some regular playing time. The Mariners can afford to take their time, as White was already been signed to a six-year, $24MM extension back in November 2019. Much of the money on that backloaded deal has yet to kick in, as White made $2.6MM in the first two years of the extension and is set to earn $1.4MM in 2022.
Ty France is Seattle’s top option at first base, with utilityman Abraham Toro and Luis Torrens also capable of handling the position. Divish also reports that new acquisition Jesse Winker has been working out at first base, which could represent an interesting way for the M’s to juggle their lineup (especially when star prospect Julio Rodriguez is eventually called up). Winker has never played first base in his pro career, though gaining a foothold at a new position could be helpful for Winker considering that defensive metrics haven’t been too fond of his work in the outfield.
Cardinals Sign Blake Parker To Minor League Deal
The Cardinals announced that right-hander Blake Parker has been signed to a minor league contract. Parker will receive an invitation to the Cards’ Major League spring camp.
This will mark the third straight winter with a minor league deal for Parker, though he has produced good bottom-line results in each of the last two seasons. With the Phillies in 2020, Parker had a 2.81 ERA in 16 innings during the abbreviated season, posting a 36.2% strikeout rate but also an unwieldy 13% walk rate. Both of those latter numbers dropped with Cleveland last year, as while Parker’s control improved with a 7.6% walk rate, he only managed a 20% strikeout rate. Still, Parker did have a 3.09 ERA over 43 2/3 frames out of the Indians’ bullpen.
With a 3.47 ERA over 345 1/3 career innings in the majors, Parker has been a solid relief option for the majority of his nine big league seasons. He struggled through a rough year in 2019, however, as a lack of control and an inability to keep the ball in the park led to some poor results with the Twins (after beginning the season as Minnesota’s closer) and Phillies.
The 36-year-old Parker will now look to again win himself another trip to the majors via the St. Louis bullpen. Zach McAllister and Kyle Ryan are two of the other experienced non-roster candidates vying for jobs, and the Cardinals also brought the likes of Drew VerHagen and Nick Wittgren into the fold on MLB contracts. Aaron Brooks was another minor league signing, but the Cards have already locked him into a guaranteed by adding him to their 40-man roster.
All in all, there are plenty of arms competing for jobs on a staff that is still adjusting to the news that Jack Flaherty and Alex Reyes will begin the season on the injured list. Reyes is out until at least late May and Flaherty’s timetable is less certain, thus creating ripple effects in both the rotation and the bullpen.
