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Indians Release Joe Thatcher

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The Indians have released left-hander Joe Thatcher, as announced by the club’s Triple-A affiliate (Twitter link).  Thatcher had signed a minor league deal with the Tribe last month.

This is the third time since last March that Thatcher has been released, and the second time Cleveland has parted ways with the veteran southpaw.  Thatcher signed a minors deal with the Tribe in the offseason but was released at the end of Spring Training, then caught on with the Dodgers in late April before another release in June.  He hasn’t pitched in the majors this season, as his 2016 stats consist of a 3.60 ERA over 17 innings with the Dodgers’ Triple-A team.

Thatcher’s nine-year MLB career has seen him post a 3.38 ERA, 2.97 K/BB rate and 9.3 K/9 over 260 2/3 innings with the Padres, Diamondbacks, Angels and Astros.  He put good numbers (3.18 ERA, 10.3 K/9, 2.17 K/BB rate) over 22 frames with Houston last season, though he didn’t quite display his usual dominance against left-handed hitters.

AL Central Notes: Tigers, A-Rod, Twins, Frazier

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Here’s the latest from around the AL Central…

  • The Tigers aren’t likely to pursue outfield help unless Cameron Maybin has a setback, manager Brad Ausmus told reporters, including MLB.com’s Jason Beck.  Maybin is on the 15-day DL with a sprained left thumb and hasn’t begun swinging a bat yet, so while a return by the end of the 15-day period (on Friday) doesn’t appear to be in the cards, Ausmus is optimistic that Maybin will be back sooner rather than later.  Tyler Collins has been filling while Maybin is out, though as Beck notes, there was speculation that Carlos Gomez could be a fit for Detroit.
  • The Twins don’t look like a match for Alex Rodriguez, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes.  Minnesota probably isn’t in any position to give at-bats to a veteran when the team has so many young players, and A-Rod’s inability to play the field is also a factor.  “We’ve got a lot of DHs.  If you’d ask me if he’d be a fit here, I don’t see how we could find any place to get him much of an opportunity,” manager Paul Molitor said.
  • Todd Frazier hopes to stay with the White Sox even if the team undergoes a rebuild, as Frazier tells MLB.com’s Scott Merkin that he would embrace the role as veteran leader of a younger clubhouse.  “If I was here, shoot man, it would be great.  I know what it takes to lead a team….These guys understand that I care for all of them.  If that’s the way [GM Rick Hahn’s] going, and I’m still here, I’ll take that with open arms,” Frazier said.

Marlins Considering Carlos Gomez

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In the wake of Giancarlo Stanton’s season-ending groin injury, the Marlins are exploring several hitters, including the Astros’ Carlos Gomez, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports.  Gomez would presumably join Ichiro Suzuki in a platoon, with one of the two veterans playing with regulars Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna.

Since being designated for assignment earlier this week, Gomez has drawn interest from other NL contenders like the Cardinals and Mets, though New York may have simply been doing due diligence.  Given that the Mets, Cards and Marlins are all battling for wild card spots, there could also be some gamesmanship between the three teams on the waiver wire to block a trade, which could force Houston to pull Gomez back on waivers and then release him outright.

It speaks to Gomez’s impressive track record that he is still getting consideration from contending teams despite his disastrous tenure with the Astros.  In a little over a year in an Astros uniform, Gomez has hit just .221/.277/.342 in 323 plate appearances and posted subpar defensive numbers in center field.  Gomez has dealt with a couple of notable injuries in that time, though it’s still a stunning decline considering that Gomez was still posting strong numbers as recently as the first half of the 2015 season, and was an All-Star in 2013 and 2014 with the Brewers.

While nobody expects him to replicate Stanton’s production, it’s possible a change of scenery and a return to the National League could help Gomez regain some of his old form.  The Astros and Marlins have collaborated on a pair of trades since Jeff Luhnow has been Houston’s general manager, such as the July 2014 deadline deal that saw such notables as Jarred Cosart, Enrique Hernandez, Colin Moran and Jake Marisnick switch teams, plus the July 2012 trade that saw Carlos Lee go to Miami.

Also from Frisaro’s piece, Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill confirmed that the team has interest in Alex Rodriguez, though the Fish want to learn more about A-Rod’s future plans.  “I have no idea what his interest level is to continue playing,” Hill said. “He has something set up to move into the [Yankees’] front office.  I don’t know where his head is on that, but where we are now, this team has played too well for too long.  We’re right in the thick of this thing, and we’re going to do everything in our power to help in any way we can.  If it’s him, or if it’s someone else, we’re going to try to find a way.”

Managerial News & Rumors: Collins, Cash, Ventura

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Here’s the latest on the job security of a trio of big league managers…

  • The Mets have no plans to make a managerial change, a front office source tells Peter Botte of the New York Daily News.  There had been some whispers about Terry Collins’ job security in the wake of the club’s underwhelming season, though in fairness to Collins, he has been hampered by a lackluster offense and some key injuries (most notably to Matt Harvey and David Wright).  The Mets are 59-58 after today’s victory but they’re just two games behind Miami for the last NL wild card slot, and the Marlins got some bad injury news themselves today.
  • Rays owner Stuart Sternberg gave manager Kevin Cash a strong vote of confidence, telling Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that there is “zero” chance of Cash’s job being in danger.  The Rays are just 127-151 under Cash, who is in the second year of a five-year deal to manage the club.  It was an unusually strong commitment for a first-time manager, yet it was a sign of the confidence Sternberg and team executives had in Cash.  Even in regards to the team’s recent struggles, “to go through these sort of times will only make [Cash] a better manager,” Sternberg said.  “We knew coming in, he was here as a long-, long-term guy….But he handled things extraordinarily. As I would expect he would. And it makes him even more valuable going forward.”
  • Robin Ventura wants to return as the White Sox manager in 2017, though he tells Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times that “you have to have somebody ask you to do it and all that. That’s stuff that happens after the season is over, if you get there.”  The Sox are on pace for the fourth straight losing season of Ventura’s tenure, and the skipper is in the last year of his contract.

NL News & Rumors: CarGo, Utley, Rizzo, Roark, Giants

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Here’s the latest from the senior circuit…

  • Carlos Gonzalez was removed from the second inning of tonight’s game due to left ankle inflammation, as noted by several reporters (including MLB.com’s Thomas Harding).  The Rockies star sprained that same ankle last Wednesday and has missed two of Colorado’s four games in the interim.  It’s a situation worth monitoring given Gonzalez’s checkered injury history, not to mention the Rockies’ attempt to stay afloat in the NL wild card race.  Losing Gonzalez for any extended amount of time is an obvious blow for the Rox, naturally, though the club did get some outfield reinforcements when Gerardo Parra was activated off the DL today.
  • Chase Utley told reporters, including Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times (Twitter link), that he intends to play in the 2017 season.  Utley, who turns 38 in December, will be a free agent at season’s end and was still putting up above-average offensive numbers as recently as 2014.  He has somewhat rebounded (.250/.327/.372 with seven homers in 395 PA) this season after a very rough 2015, and he is still providing solid glovework at second base.  Utley could have a tough time matching the one-year, $7MM contract he got from the Dodgers last winter, though teams will certainly take a look at a respected veteran with Utley’s excellent career track record.
  • The trade that brought Tanner Roark to the Nationals may be the best of GM Mike Rizzo’s career with the club, as MASNsports.com’s Mark Zuckerman gives his ranking of Rizzo’s top 10 trades.  Roark and Ryan Tatusko were acquired in a July 2010 deadline deal that sent Cristian Guzman to the Rangers, and Guzman’s 15 games with Texas ended up being the last of his career.  Roark wasn’t a heralded prospect at the time (Tatusko was actually a better-regarded arm) but the right-hander has blossomed into a major contributor on Washington’s staff.
  • The Giants aren’t likely to add any major pieces during the August waiver trade period, Grant Brisbee of the McCovey Chronicles opines.  Exceptions could be made in the case of injury or if the Giants unexpectedly end up with a player they claimed only as a blocking maneuver (a la their pickup of Cody Ross in 2010), though Brisbee notes that there are seemingly few cost-effective players available at San Francisco’s positions of need who would actually be upgrades.

AL East News & Rumors: A-Rod, Rays, Marlins, Pearce

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Here’s the latest from around the AL East…

  • Alex Rodriguez didn’t close the door on continuing his career beyond his final game as a Yankee on Friday, but playing in his home state of Florida might not be in the cards.  The Rays don’t have interest in A-Rod, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports, while MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro believes it is “highly doubtful” that the Marlins sign the veteran slugger. (Both links to Twitter.)
  • The two Florida teams were listed by ESPN’s Buster Olney (subscription required) as speculative fits if Rodriguez decided to keep playing, with the Twins and Astros also being cited.  A-Rod could help on the field if he has anything left in his bat, though Olney noted that Rodriguez’s vaunted game preparation could make him a mentor for young players on the four teams.  Once Rodriguez is released, of course, a new team would only owe him a prorated minimum salary, with the Yankees responsible for the rest of his hefty remaining contract.
  • Steve Pearce left the fifth inning of yesterday’s game due to a right elbow strain, and Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters (including MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko) that Pearce was feeling much better after receiving a cortisone injection.  The team will wait a couple of days to gauge Pearce’s improvement, though Showalter hinted that Pearce could still be worked into games in a non-throwing capacity.  The O’s re-acquired Pearce in a deadline trade with the Rays, adding the veteran to provide versatility and to boost the team’s productivity against left-handed pitching.

AL West News & Rumors: Paxton, Walker, Angels

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Here’s the latest from around the AL West…

  • Mariners lefty James Paxton was two outs away from a complete game victory yesterday when he was hit on his throwing elbow by an Andrelton Simmons line drive.  Fortunately for Paxton and the M’s, x-rays were negative and manager Scott Servais told reporters (including Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune) that he’s hoping Paxton may not even miss a start, thanks to an off-day this week in Seattle’s schedule.  The injury has been diagnosed as a deep bruise, and Paxton will be able to pitch if the swelling subsides.  Paxton has been a big part of the Mariners rotation, posting a 3.53 ERA, 4.06 K/BB rate and 8.04 K/9 over 81 2/3 IP this season, and any missed time for Paxton would undoubtedly be a blow to Seattle’s wild card hopes.
  • In other Mariners pitching news, Taijuan Walker was optioned to Triple-A to create a 25-man roster spot for the newly-acquired Arquimedes Caminero.  Ariel Miranda will continue in the Mariners’ rotation filling Walker’s spot.  [Updated Mariners depth chart at Roster Resource.]  Walker got off to a strong start this season that fueled his solid year-long stats (4.10 ERA, 8.0 K/9, 4.0 K/BB rate), though he has had trouble pitching deep into games.  Walker has also struggled in his last two outings, sandwiched around a month-long DL stint due to right foot tendinitis, and the M’s couldn’t allow for Walker time to regain his form with the team in a playoff race.  “His last 13 starts, he’s had three quality starts.  It may be different if we were 10 or 15 games below .500.  We’re not,” Servais told Dutton and other reporters.
  • Despite the demotion, the Mariners haven’t given up on Walker and aren’t looking to trade him, Dutton tweets in response to a reader question.  Walker received a lot of attention from other teams prior to the trade deadline but GM Jerry Dipoto said the young hurler wasn’t available.
  • With the Angels already looking ahead to 2017, both MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez and the Los Angeles Times’ Pedro Moura addressed the team’s future in separate mailbag pieces.  Gonzalez believes the Halos will have an offseason similar to last, when they look to upgrade with relatively low-cost or cost-neutral moves since the payroll will still be bogged down by several large contracts (albeit with some relief since C.J. Wilson and Jered Weaver will be off the books).  Aiming for contention in 2018 may be a wiser move since Josh Hamilton’s contract will also be up, and Gonzalez feels Kole Calhoun could be an interesting trade chip to address other needs, though Calhoun is obviously a valuable piece of the current roster.
  • Moura’s mailbag addresses such topics as whether or not Arte Moreno would consider selling the team (Moura doesn’t believe so), the possibility of Yunel Escobar being traded and Kaleb Cowart possibly stepping in as a low-cost third base option in his place, plus how Angels GM Billy Eppler really can’t be judged on his job performance since Eppler is still dealing with poor organizational decisions made prior to his hiring.

Mets Make Two Waiver Claims; Place D’Arnaud, Flores, Three Others On Revocable Waivers

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The Mets have made waiver claims on two unknown players, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports, though they haven’t been able to work out a trade with either player’s team.  One of the players is a relief pitcher, which isn’t surprising given how the Mets were unable to land a desired bullpen upgrade prior to the August 1 trade deadline.  Teams have 48.5 hours to work out a trade once a player is claimed, and it is unclear if that deadline has already in the case of either player claimed by the Mets, or if the club still has time to work something out.  The fact that trades were being discussed between the two sides implies that the Amazins had at least some interest in the players, and the claims weren’t made just to block a rival club.

In other Mets waiver news, Ackert hears from an industry source that the club has also placed five players on revocable waivers: catcher Travis d’Arnaud, infielder Wilmer Flores, utilityman Ty Kelly and relievers Erik Goeddel and Josh Edgin.  The New York Post’s Mike Puma reports (Twitter link) that the Mets will eventually put their entire roster on waivers throughout August, a procedural move commonly used by several teams so they can either gauge the market for several players or keep hidden the identities of the players they’re actually interested in trading.  As a team can pull back any claimed player, it costs the Mets nothing to put their entire club on the waiver wire.

Still, d’Arnaud’s presence in the first wave of Mets waiver placements is notable given that the catcher has already been linked to one high-profile trade rumor prior to the deadline.  New York reportedly offered d’Arnaud to the Brewers both straight-up and as part of a trade package for Jonathan Lucroy, prior to Lucroy eventually being dealt to the Rangers.  D’Arnaud has shown glimpses of his hitting potential when healthy, though those instances have been rather few and far between, as d’Arnaud has been plagued by multiple injuries over his brief MLB career.  While it’s understandable that the Mets would be interested in parting with d’Arnaud for a proven star like Lucroy, it’s fair to wonder if the Mets are considering parting ways with d’Arnaud entirely since he can’t seem to stay healthy.

AL Central News & Notes: Twins, Buxton, Ryan, Royals, Indians

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Here’s the latest from around the AL Central…

  • The Twins demoted Byron Buxton to Triple-A yesterday, the fourth time the heralded prospect has been sent back to the minors since his initial call-up in June 2015.  Buxton has simply not been able to figure out big league pitching, hitting just .199/.248/.319 over 356 Major League plate appearances.  It’s too soon to panic over Buxton, however, as Fangraphs’ August Fagerstrom notes in an analysis of Buxton’s various issues at the plate.
  • Braves director of baseball operations Billy Ryan is one of the names under consideration in the Twins’ general manager search, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports (Twitter link).  Despite being in his mid-thirties, Ryan has an extensive resume in the game, working in the Commissioner’s office as well as in the front offices of the Rangers, Indians and Diamondbacks, including four seasons as Arizona’s assistant GM.  As Nightengale notes, Ryan is one of “several young executives” on the Twins’ radar as a replacement for former GM Terry Ryan (no relation).
  • Cheslor Cuthbert has played well as Mike Moustakas’ replacement at third base, leaving the Royals with some depth options for next season, Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star writes.  Beyond Moustakas and Cuthbert, top prospect Hunter Dozier is hitting well and getting close to a promotion.  The hot corner is still slated to belong to Moustakas in 2017, as the others have more defensive versatility — Dozier has been action at first and in both corner outfield spots, plus the Royals feel Cuthbert is capable of handling several spots around the diamond.  The DH spot could also be open if the Royals led Kendrys Morales go in free agency.  Long-term, it seem as though K.C. could be prepared at third if Moustakas himself leaves as a free agent after the 2017 campaign.
  • In a mailbag piece, MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian feels the Indians won’t be too active in the August waiver trade market, though the club will keep an eye on potential bench or bullpen help.  Yankees catcher Brian McCann is an unlikely fit, as while the veteran has cleared waivers, Bastian feels McCann is much too pricey for the Tribe’s liking (whereas trade target Jonathan Lucroy had a much less expensive contract).

Injury Notes: Bochy, Pillar, Withrow, Guerra, Cobb

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Giants manager Bruce Bochy was checked into hospital this morning after feeling ill, according to a statement from the team.  Bochy will be monitored overnight and is expected to return to the dugout tomorrow, while bench coach Ron Wotus will manage the Giants tonight against the Marlins.  Let’s check in on some on-field injury situations…

  • The Blue Jays have placed center fielder Kevin Pillar on the 15-day DL with a left thumb sprain.  Darrell Ceciliani has been recalled from Triple-A to fill a backup outfield role while Melvin Upton Jr. will take over regular duty in center.  [Updated Blue Jays depth chart at Roster Resource.]  Pillar told reporters, including MLB.com’s Alykhan K. Ravjiani, that he expects to be back after the minimum 15 days.  Even if it’s only a short-term absence, however, the Jays’ pre-deadline acquisition of Upton looms large in the wake of this injury, as Toronto previously lacked a solid backup center field option.  Upton hasn’t provided much at the plate since joining the Jays, and even his good center field glove will be a defensive downgrade from Pillar, who leads all MLB outfielders in UZR/150 (32.9) and is tied for second in Defensive Runs Saved (17).
  • The Braves placed righty reliever Chris Withrow on the 15-day DL with an inflamed elbow, and the recently-claimed Chaz Roe will take Withrow’s spot on the roster.  [Updated Braves depth chart at Roster Resource.]  Withrow has posted a 3.31 ERA, 6.9 K/9 and 1.79 K/BB rate over 32 2/3 IP for Atlanta this season.  He drew some trade attention from the Mets prior to the deadline, though this injury could scuttle the Braves’ chances of dangling Withrow as trade bait in the August waiver period.
  • The Brewers will place Junior Guerra on the 15-day DL on Tuesday due to right elbow inflammation, manager Craig Counsell told media (including Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).  Wily Peralta had already been announced as the starter for Tuesday’s game, taking Guerra’s scheduled turn in the rotation.  Guerra, a 31-year-old rookie, has been a surprise breakout performer for Milwaukee this season, posting a 2.93 ERA, 7.55 K/9 and 2.43 K/9 over 107 1/3 innings for the Brew Crew.
  • Rays starter Alex Cobb will take the next step in his injury rehab by moving to Triple-A starts, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (Twitter link).  Cobb will start for Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.  The righty underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2015 and his rehab has taken slightly longer than expected, though he is still tentatively slated to return to the Rays in late August or early September.

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