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Braves Acquire Ty Tice

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The Braves have acquired right-hander Ty Tice from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations, according to ESPN.com’s Kiley McDaniel (Twitter link).

Tice was designated for assignment earlier this week when the Jays selected the contract of the recently-signed Carl Edwards Jr.  In a sense, today’s transaction serves as a Tice-for-Edwards swap, as Edwards and the Braves parted ways after Atlanta DFA’ed him in early May, with Toronto then adding Edwards on another minors contract a few days later.

Tice was a 16th-round pick for the Jays in the 2017 draft, and the Arkansas native made his MLB debut this season with seven innings out of the Toronto bullpen (posting a 5.14 ERA).  Over 143 1/3 career innings in the minors, Tice has an impressive 2.07 ERA and 25.75% strikeout rate, though his 10.96% walk rate is on the high side.  He also has all of his minor league options remaining, giving the Braves some flexibility in shuttling him back and forth from Triple-A if necessary.

Marlins Place Elieser Hernandez On 10-Day IL

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2:15PM: Hernandez has indeed been placed on the 10-day injured list, with outfielder Lewis Brinson called up to take his spot on the active roster.

8:08AM: Marlins right-hander Elieser Hernandez left last night’s game due to a right quad strain suffered while running the bases.  In the sixth inning of Miami’s 5-3 loss to the Pirates yesterday, Hernandez ran home from third base on an RBI grounder from Jesus Aguilar, but Hernandez fell to the ground after crossing the plate and had to be helped off the field.

The injury cut short a strong start (five innings, one ER on three hits, six strikeouts and no walks) for Hernandez, and it was his first outing since a two-month stint on the injured list due to biceps inflammation.  Hernandez will undergo some more tests today, but manager Don Mattingly indicated to MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola and other reporters that the righty is probably headed back to the IL.

In a Miami organization with several intriguing arms, Hernandez has already enjoyed some success at the big league level.  After a lackluster 5.11 ERA over 148 innings in 2018-19, Hernandez posted a 3.16 ERA and an above-average 32.1% strikeout rate and 4.7% walk rate over six starts and 25 2/3 innings in 2020.  Unfortunately, injuries have now curtailed his ability to follow up on that semi-breakout, and Hernandez could now be facing another pretty lengthy absence depending on the severity of his quad strain.

Between Hernandez’s injury and the recent shutdown of Sixto Sanchez’s throwing program, it may yet be a while before the Marlins have their full starting five intact.  Trevor Rogers, Sandy Alcantara, and Pablo Lopez have all pitched well, and rookie right-hander Cody Poteet has recently emerged as a viable option for the back end of the rotation.  Miami has until Tuesday to figure out who could take Hernandez’s next start, and De Nicola notes that Braxton Garrett and Daniel Castano are possibilities since Jordan Holloway and Nick Neidert are still on the injured list.  The Marlins have also used openers on multiple occasions this season, though it remains to be seen if the team would regularly use an opener every fifth day.

Rangers Claim Tyson Miller From Cubs

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The Rangers have claimed right-hander Tyson Miller off waivers from the Cubs.  Miller has been optioned to the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock.  Righty Hunter Wood was shifted from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL to open up a 40-man roster spot for Miller.

Miller was designated for assignment earlier this week.  A fourth-round pick for Chicago in the 2016 draft, Miller made his MLB debut last season, appearing in two games and tossing five innings for the Cubs.  He posted generally solid numbers while working his way up the organizational ladder, though Miller hasn’t fared well at Triple-A Iowa, posting a 7.33 ERA over 54 innings at the top minor league level.  The righty has mostly been used as a starter throughout his career, so Texas could deploy him in a similar capacity, or perhaps use him as a long reliever or swingman out of the bullpen.

After initially going on the 10-day IL due to right elbow discomfort on May 23, Wood’s injury has now been termed as a mild right UCL sprain.  He’ll now be sidelined until well after the All-Star break recovering, with the hope being that the mild sprain doesn’t worsen and lead to a longer-term elbow problem.  Wood signed a minor league contract with Texas this offseason and has a 3.60 ERA in his first five innings in a Rangers uniform.

AL East Notes: Zombro, Choi, Kluber, Blue Jays, Ward

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Rays pitching prospect Tyler Zombro was struck in the head by a line drive last night during the eighth inning of Triple-A Durham’s game against Norfolk.  Zombro was taken off the field on a stretcher and taken to hospital, as the game was suspended and then later officially halted.

The Rays released a statement on Zombro’s condition earlier today: “As of this morning, Tyler remains under the care of the nurses and doctors at Duke University Hospital. The updates from overnight have been positive, and he remains in stable condition. We are overwhelmed by the support for Tyler and the wishes for his full and speedy recovery from fans and the baseball community alike. We will provide additional updates as he progresses.”

We at MLBTR add our voices to the chorus of support for Zombro, and we’re hoping for all the best in his recovery.

More from around the AL East…

  • Ji-Man Choi has been battling left groin tightness and might require a trip to the injured list.  Choi missed Thursday’s game with the Yankees due to the issue, and Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) that “I don’t think that he necessarily felt that great today” even after Choi received treatment throughout the game.  Arthroscopic knee surgery in March delayed Choi’s season debut until May 16, and he has been making up for lost time with a scorching .304/.448/.522 slash line in his first 58 plate appearances.  [UPDATE: the Rays have placed Choi on the 10-day IL with a left groin strain.]
  • Corey Kluber’s recovery from a rotator cuff strain is still projected to keep the righty out of action until around the last week of July, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone did provide some positive news in an update with reporters (including Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News).  After receiving second and third opinions from doctors, Kluber is expected to start throwing on flat ground within a few days’ time — his initial diagnosis would have kept him from throwing whatsoever for four weeks.
  • Pitching is the most obvious need for the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, yet Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith suggests that the Jays should also look to add bench help.  As much as the returns of George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and Cavan Biggio will help matters, adding another bat would guard against any future injuries.  Specifically, a left-handed bat would also balance out a Toronto lineup that leans heavily to the right.
  • Red Sox pitching prospect Thad Ward recently underwent Tommy John surgery, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.  A fifth-round pick for the Sox in the 2018 draft, Ward posted some impressive numbers in his first two pro seasons before making his Double-A debut this season (posting a 5.63 ERA over eight innings).  Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America ranked Ward as a top-ten prospect in Boston’s farm system, but the right-hander will now be on the shelf for the next 13-15 months, and his entire 2022 could be in jeopardy in the event of a rehab setback.

Latest On Michael Lorenzen

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Michael Lorenzen has yet to pitch this season due to a shoulder strain suffered during Spring Training, and it will still be a while before the right-hander takes the field.  Reds manager David Bell told reporters (including MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon) that Lorenzen could “maybe” return to action around the All-Star break, though Lorenzen did provide a positive update on his rehab work.  “He said everything he did yesterday felt like he was never injured,” Bell said.

When Lorenzen does get back to Cincinnati, Bell noted that the right-hander “will come back as a reliever.  He’s not going to have to build up to be a starter.  We’ll get him back quicker that way.”

The shoulder strain was initially thought to be relatively minor when Lorenzen was sidelined back in March, though a setback during his rehab led to multiple PRP injections and a move to the 60-day injured list.  It also cost Lorenzen a potential chance at a rotation spot, as he was auditioning as a starter during Spring Training.  Lorenzen has also been used as a pinch-hitter and fill-in outfielder in recent years, but Bell didn’t mention whether or not Lorenzen would continue in any sort of two-way role upon his return.

The righty is no stranger to relief pitching, of course, after spending several seasons as a prime set-up weapon out of Cincinnati’s bullpen.  Lorenzen had never entirely closed the door on starting pitching, however, making three starts during the 2018 season and two turns in the Reds rotation last September, which led him to firmly set his sights on being a full-time starter in 2021.

Assuming he does get back around the All-Star break, Lorenzen will at least have the second half of the season to bank some quality innings and hopefully help the Reds compete for a postseason berth.  However, Cincinnati is just 25-29 at the moment, sitting in fourth place in the NL Central and six games back of the first-place Cubs.  If the Reds can’t get into the playoff race and decide to sell at the trade deadline, Lorenzen is scheduled for free agency this winter and would be an obvious trade chip.

Lorenzen would only have a couple of weeks between the All-Star break and the July 30 deadline to pitch effectively and prove his health for any interested suitors.  That said, he does have a solid track record as a reliever, and would be inexpensive — a team acquiring him on July 30 would be on the hook for roughly $1.49MM remaining on Lorenzen’s $4,437,500 salary for the year.  Even if Lorenzen is a bit shaky in his first couple of outings back from the injured list, it’s easy to imagine another team taking the calculated risk of trading for him anyway.

NL Central Notes: Wong, Cardinals, Pirates

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Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong left last night’s game after three innings due to a left oblique strain, after striking out swinging in what ended up as his final at-bat of the game.  Brewers manager Craig Counsell told MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy and other reporters that “at this point, it’s day to day.  It’s not bad, but it’s concerning because it’s the same spot” that Wong previously felt a strain earlier this season.  That initial oblique issue sent Wong to the injured list and caused him to miss 11 games in April.

Wong has been a strong part of Milwaukee’s success this season, delivering his usual stellar glovework at second base while hitting .280/.343/.441 (114 OPS+, 115 wRC+) over 178 plate appearances.  Ideally, Wong could avoid the IL altogether, but even another relatively minimal absence would count as a minor victory considering how oblique injuries can often be longer-term problems.  Keston Hiura, Luis Urias, or Daniel Robertson are fill-in options at second base if Wong indeed has to miss significant time, but none can match Wong’s all-around contributions.

Some more injury updates from around the NL Central…

  • With Miles Mikolas and Jordan Hicks both on the injured list, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters (including Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat) said the “best case” scenario is to have both right-handers back in August.  Mikolas is roughly 3-5 weeks from being re-evaluated after receiving a stem cell injection as he works his way back from forearm tightness, while Hicks is out until at least July 1 after being placed on the 60-day IL due to elbow inflammation.  Given that both hurlers have had significant long-term injury absences prior to these current health issues, the Cards will surely be as cautious as possible in bringing either Mikolas or Hicks back into action, despite the team’s pitching needs.
  • Max Moroff is considering surgery to address his ailing left shoulder, after the Cardinals infielder went on the 10-day IL with a shoulder subluxation last week.  If Moroff doesn’t opt for surgery, he’ll still be out of action for at least 4-6 weeks.
  • Pirates GM Ben Cherington hinted last week that outfield prospect Travis Swaggerty was leaning towards shoulder surgery, and the team announced yesterday (hat tip to The Athletic’s Rob Biertempfel) that Swaggerty indeed went under the knife and will miss the rest of the season.  Swaggerty is expected to be fully recovered in roughly five months, though it’s still a tough setback for the 10th overall pick of the 2018 draft.
  • Jose Soriano has also hit an injury speedbump, as the Pirates right-hander experienced “recurrent elbow discomfort” while on a minor league rehab assignment.  Soriano underwent Tommy John surgery in February 2020, though the Bucs still picked him off the Angels’ roster with the first pick in last December’s Rule 5 draft.  Despite the missed time, MLB Pipeline still ranked Soriano 24th among all Pirates prospect, highlighting his 70-grade fastball and a 55-grade curve.

Mets Sign Cheslor Cuthbert To Minor League Contract

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The Mets have signed infielder Cheslor Cuthbert to a minors contract, according to Levi Luna of TN8 Nicaragua (Twitter link).  Cuthbert didn’t last long on the open market, as the Reds just released him from a previous minor league deal on Tuesday.

While the Mets are slowly starting to get some injured personnel back onto the field, Cuthbert will help provide some depth for a club that is still very short-handed.  He has played most of his MLB career as a third baseman, with a good chunk of playing time at first base and a handful of games at second.

Cuthbert hit .250/.300/.378 over 1160 plate appearances with the Royals from 2015-19, coming up through the pipeline as a notable prospect in Kansas City’s farm system and working as the regular third baseman in 2016.  K.C. non-tendered Cuthbert following the 2019 season and he joined the White Sox on a minors deal, ultimately appearing in one big league game in 2020.

Marcell Ozuna Arrested On Assault, Battery Charges

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June 1: Michael Seiden of WSB-TV Channel 2 News in Atlanta obtained an arrest affidavit, providing additional details on the highly troubling incident. Of note, the court filings indicate that “the strangulation was witnessed by an officer” upon arrival at the scene.

Ozuna has been released on a $20,000 bond for the time being and is under court order to avoid contact with his wife, according to the Associated Press. The couple was in the process of divorcing at the time of Ozuna’s arrest, per the AP. Ken Rosenthal and David O’Brien of The Athletic lay out the reasons that it’s unlikely the Braves will be able to simply void Ozuna’s contract.

May 29, 8:52pm: The Braves released a statement: “We learned of Marcell Ozuna’s arrest earlier this evening and immediately informed the Commissioner’s Office.  The Braves fully support Major League Baseball’s policy on domestic violence which stresses to the fullest that our society cannot and will not tolerate domestic violence in any form.  Until the investigation is completed, we will have no further comment and all inquiries into the matter should be referred to the Office of the Commissioner.”

8:27pm: Marcell Ozuna was arrested today in Sandy Springs, Georgia on charges of aggravated assault strangulation and misdemeanor battery – family violence, according to WSB-TV’s Miles Garrett and ESPN.com’s Jeff Passan (Twitter links).  Passan provides a transcript of the police report detailing the allegations (on Twitter). Ozuna is expected to be investigated by the league under the provisions of the MLB/MLBPA’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.

Under the provisions of the joint policy, the league has the authority to issue discipline regardless of the outcome of the criminal charges leveled against Ozuna, though Ozuna could challenge any discipline to an arbitration panel.  Since the policy was instituted in 2015, suspensions have ranged from anywhere from 15 games to a full season, as per the discretion of the Commissioner’s Office.

Ozuna was placed on the 10-day injured list yesterday due to two dislocated fingers on his left hand, and he was expected to miss at least six weeks.  Should Ozuna be suspended, he would forfeit any salary owed to him during the missed games.  Ozuna re-signed with the Braves on a four-year, $65MM deal this past offseason, and he has roughly $8.12MM remaining on his $12MM salary for the 2021 season.

Luis Severino Targeted To Begin Rehab Assignment On Sunday

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Yankees right-hander Luis Severino continues to make his way back from Tommy John surgery, with a pair of big checkpoints on the horizon.  Manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record) that Severino will toss a three-inning simulated game today, and if all goes well, Severino is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Sunday.

Severino underwent his TJ procedure in February 2020, so while his recovery is taking a bit longer than the usual timeline of 13-15 months, that probably isn’t unexpected given that Severino also missed most of the 2019 season.  Shoulder and lat problems limited Severino to only 20 1/3 combined innings in the regular season and postseason in 2019, so the Yankees will have essentially gone almost two and a half seasons without Severino before he is finally able to get back onto a big league mound.

It’s been a tough haul for a pitcher who looked like one of the better arms in the sport in 2017-18, when Severino made two All-Star teams and posted a 3.18 ERA/3.26 SIERA and 28.8% strikeout rate over 384 2/3 innings.  The Yankees haven’t usually worked out contract extensions in recent years, but they were impressed enough by Severino’s work to lock him up on a four-year, $40MM deal covering the 2019-22 seasons, with a $15MM club option ($2.75MM buyout) for 2023.  Between the shoulder issues and the Tommy John surgery, of course, Severino has barely pitched since signing that extension.

Given the long layoff, it might be optimistic to assume that Severino will immediately look like a front-of-the-rotation arm upon his return, though the Yankees will happily take anything close to that form.  New York has gotten strong results from its rotation as a whole this season, but Corey Kluber will now be sidelined through July and Jameson Taillon (who is himself returning from a long Tommy John rehab) has been inconsistent over 42 2/3 innings.

Latest On Kevin Gausman

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MAY 31: Gausman’s MRI came back clean, and he’s optimistic he’ll make his next start, Kapler said (Twitter link via Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group).

MAY 30, 6:35PM: The hip problem has been bothering Gausman for weeks, manager Gabe Kapler told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter links) and other reporters after the game.  The feeling is that Gausman should be able to keep pitching through the issue, though Gausman will get an MRI “for some peace of mind.”

6:16PM: Giants right-hander Kevin Gausman left today’s start after six innings due to tightness in his left hip, the team announced.  The removal was specified as being precautionary in nature, so it remains to be seen whether or not Gausman’s issue is anything serious or if the Giants were just taking it easy with their ace.

San Francisco already held a 5-0 lead over the Dodgers at the time of Gausman’s removal and he had thrown six innings, though the righty wasn’t showing any signs of fatigue.  Gausman had tossed only 72 pitches while allowing two hits over six scoreless frames of work.  In his final out of the sixth, however, Gausman did have to make a stretch to field a Matt Beaty grounder, which may have led to the hip problem.

Counting his quality start today, Gausman now has a tiny 1.40 ERA over 70 2/3 innings in 2021.  With a 30.86% strikeout rate, 5.95% walk rate, and a host of impressive Statcast numbers, Gausman has put himself in the early running for Cy Young Award consideration.  In addition to helping the Giants contend for a playoff spot, Gausman is also positioning himself as one of the top arms available in next winter’s free agent market.

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