Nationals Place MacKenzie Gore On 15-Day IL
The Nationals placed left-hander MacKenzie Gore on the 15-day injured list earlier today with finger blisters. Fellow lefty Joe La Sorsa was recalled in the corresponding move. As relayed by MLB.com, manager Dave Martinez told reporters this afternoon that Gore is likely done for the season as a result of the injury, though he added that he wasn’t going to rule anything out “right now.”
2023 was Gore’s first full season with the Nationals after coming over from the Padres as a part of the deal that sent Juan Soto to San Diego. Overall, Gore looked like a solid, rotation-caliber arm in 27 starts this season, though his 4.42 ERA clocked in right around league average (96 ERA+) and his peripherals (4.90 FIP, 5.08 xERA) hardly looked like those one would expect from an arm who was once considered the top pitching prospect in all of baseball.
That being said, Gore did post a solid 25.9% strikeout rate along with a perfectly manageable walk rate of 9.8% this year. Most of Gore’s struggles this season stemmed from problems with the long ball; a whopping 18.4% of Gore’s fly balls left the yard for home runs this season, double the 9.2% rate he experienced in 2022 as a member of the Padres.
Digging a little deeper into Gore’s numbers, it seems the 24-year-old hurler may have worn down during his first wire-to-wire big league season as the year went on. Gore made sixteen starts in the first three months of the season, and looked like a quality mid-rotation arm during that time. Despite hitters managing an elevated .341 BABIP against him, Gore posted a 3.89 ERA and 4.07 FIP in 85 2/3 innings of work, with a fantastic 28.5% strikeout rate.
In his final eleven starts of the season from the start of July onward, Gore looked like a completely different pitcher. Despite his BABIP misfortunes from earlier in the season turning around in his favor (.261), he posted a 5.33 ERA and 6.30 FIP across his final 50 2/3 innings of work this year while striking out just 21.7% of batters faced. His home run rate also ballooned, as he allowed more dingers (14) in those final 50-plus innings than he did in the entire first half (13).
Given this downturn in production as the season wore on, it’s hardly surprising that the Nationals would consider pulling the plug on Gore’s season with three weeks left to go. At the same time, it could provide some reason for optimism for Nationals fans as they look to the future, as Gore is sure to be a member of the 2024 rotation alongside the likes of Josiah Gray and Jake Irvin. If Gore’s late-season struggles were a product of working beyond what Martinez indicated the club expected his innings limit to be coming into the year, it’s possible his 2024 season could wind up looking more like his impressive first-half numbers.
As for La Sorsa, the 25-year-old lefty made his MLB debut for the Rays earlier this season. In 23 2/3 innings of work at the big league level this season between the Tampa and Washington bullpens, the lefty sports a 6.08 ERA and 4.74 FIP. Despite those ugly numbers, he’ll nonetheless provide the Nats with an additional lefty out of the bullpen to pair with Jose Ferrer.
NL Central Notes: Donaldson, Stroman, Davis, Marte
The Brewers inked veteran third baseman Josh Donaldson to a minor league deal just before the calendar flipped to September, allowing the club to bring him up sometime this month for the stretch run and possibly into the postseason should they choose to do so. Donaldson, who slashed just .142/.225/.434 in 33 games with the Yankees this year before being released in late August, is not guaranteed a roster spot by any means, as MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy relays that manager Craig Counsell told reporters no call-up is imminent for the former MVP.
“In order for Josh to best be prepared to make a contribution here, we need to get a foundation of at-bats for him in the Minor Leagues.” Counsell said. Things are moving somewhat slowly on that front, as Donaldson has appeared in just four games for the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Nashville, with a .143/.294/.357 slash line across 17 plate appearances. Current third baseman Andruw Monasterio has provided the Brewers with roughly league average production in 254 trips to the plate this year, slashing .271/.343/.371 with a wRC+ of 97. Given the power Donaldson showed during his brief healthy stint with the Yankees this year, it’s feasible that he could provide the lineup with a boost compared to Monasterio’s low-power profile. Regardless of that possibility, however, it seems the 37-year-old will have to prove himself in the minors before joining the big league club in Milwaukee.
More from around the NL Central…
- Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman hasn’t pitched for the big league team since the end of July due to hip inflammation and a rib cartilage fracture, but continues to make progress on his return. With manager David Ross having indicated yesterday that Stroman is ahead of schedule following a successful live batting practice session on Thursday, it’s still nonetheless an encouraging sign for fans on the north side that Stroman is set to throw a second live BP at the club’s Arizona complex on Monday, per The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney. It seems reasonable to expect that if Monday’s session goes well, Stroman could advance to a rehab assignment in fairly short order. While it’s not clear if there’s enough time left in the regular season for Stroman to build up to a starter’s workload, it’s becoming increasingly likely the veteran righty returns to the mound in Chicago before the season comes to a close. With the Cubs currently in the thick of the playoff hunt, it’s possible Stroman could impact the team into October even if he isn’t able to return before the end of the regular season.
- Pirates youngster Henry Davis didn’t see his big league career start off the way he surely hoped it would, as the first overall pick from the 2021 draft slashed just .213/.306/.339 (74 wRC+) in 209 trips to the plate before hitting the injured list with a muscle strain in his hand back in August. Fortunately for Davis, it seems like he’ll have a chance to end his rookie year on a high note, as Kevin Gorman of the Tribune-Review was among those to relay that the catcher-turned-outfielder will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A this evening. With Davis on the shelf, the club has mixed-and-matched between Miguel Andujar, Joshua Palacios, Ji Hwan Bae, and Connor Joe in the outfield alongside regulars Bryan Reynolds and Jack Suwinski.
- Reds infielder Noelvi Marte was scratched from the lineup just before today’s game against the Cardinals after an incident occurred on the field during pre-game warmups. As relayed by Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Marte was playing catch with shortstop Elly De La Cruz when Marte was caught unaware and struck in the face by a ball from De La Cruz. The club announced that Marte was day-to-day with a face contusion. Marte has performed decently in 70 plate appearances since having his contract selected late last month, with a .254/.329/.381 slash line that’s good for a wRC+ of 90. Infielder Alejo Lopez took over for Marte in the starting lineup this evening, with Spencer Steer sliding from second base to third base to accommodate Lopez. With Jonathan India, Matt McLain, and Kevin Newman all on the injured list already, a significant absence for Marte would be a brutal turn of events for the injury-plagued Reds.
Luis Rengifo Suffers Bicep Tendon Rupture, Won’t Return In 2023
The Angels placed infielder Luis Rengifo on the 15-day injured list earlier today with a bicep tendon rupture. As noted by The Athletic’s Sam Blum, Rengifo will not return in 2023 but figures to be ready for Spring Training in 2024, as Rengifo himself told reporters that he hopes to be fully recovered by the end of the calendar year. Right-hander Gerardo Reyes replaced Rengifo on the active roster.
It’s yet another in a long line of brutal injuries for the Angels this season, as virtually every key position player has spent significant time on the injured list except for Shohei Ohtani, who had his season on the mound end prematurely due to a UCL injury. While the Angels have been in a tailspin ever since the calendar flipped to August, Rengifo has been a rare bright spot for the club over the past few weeks. While the 26-year-old entered the month of July slashing a dismal .202/.292/.298 on the season, he’s been on fire ever since with a fantastic .327/.388/.592 slash line in 219 trips to the plate since the start of July. Over that 56-game stretch, Rengifo sports a strikeout rate of just 18.3% and 25 extra base hits including 12 home runs.
Rengifo’s torrid second half has lifted his season numbers up to a respectable .264/.339/.444 that’s 13% better than league average by measure of wRC+. While Rengifo has mostly played second base and shortstop in his career, he was used as something of a swiss-army knife by the Angels this year and received reps at third base and all three outfield spots in addition to his usual positions. While defensive metrics haven’t been kind to Rengifo this season, his breakout with the bat in recent months combined with his ability to play almost anywhere on the diamond makes him a huge asset for the Angels as they look ahead to the 2024 season. Rengifo, who made $2.3MM this year in his first trip through arbitration, is under club control for the next two seasons.
With Rengifo, Gio Urshela, Anthony Rendon, and Zack Neto all on the injured list, the Halos are currently relying on 21-year-old rookie Kyren Paris at shortstop while utilizing Brandon Drury, Eduardo Escobar, Mike Moustakas and 2023 first-round pick Nolan Schanuel to mix and match throughout the rest of the infield. The club’s position player group has been stretched particularly thin in recent days thanks to the absences of Ohtani and outfielder Mickey Moniak, both of whom have been considered day-to-day for several days at this point.
As for Reyes, the 30-year-old righty sports a 7.45 ERA and 6.36 FIP in 9 2/3 innings of work with Anaheim this year, with similarly rough figures at the Triple-A level. In 36 innings of work with the club’s Salt Lake City affiliate, Reyes has mustered a 6.25 ERA with an elevated 12.3% walk rate. Nonetheless, he’ll offer the club pitching depth as they finish out the remainder of the 2023 campaign.
Rays Owner Discusses Stadium Deal Progress, Sale Inquiries
Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg recently spoke to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times regarding the club’s progress in its search for a new stadium and rumors earlier in the year of bids from outside investors to buy the team, with Sternberg providing clarity regarding both matters.
Perhaps most importantly, Sternberg noted that the Rays are willing to cover the costs of more than half of a proposed domed stadium in St. Petersburg, with the project estimated to cost $1.2 billion in total. The comments give fans a window into what the Rays’ total commitment might look like if a deal is worked out for the first time while providing an update on the negotiations, which Sternberg says he is “highly optimistic” about. Topkin notes that a deal could get done before the end of the year.
Such a deal would seemingly leave the Rays owing over $600MM for the stadium, which Topkin notes would open in 2028, the year following the expiration of Tampa’s lease at Tropicana Field. Sternberg says that the club has been seeking investors to raise the necessary funds in exchange for a stake in the team. Topkin adds that those discussions have been the catalyst for inquiries regarding the possibility of a sale of th entire team, and Sternberg has not shut those offers down entirely.
Regarding the possibility of selling the team, Sternberg told Topkin that he doesn’t intend on selling and expects to remain the club’s principal owner. That said, Sternberg expressed a willingness to listen to offers, saying that “when you’re talking about people raising potentially hundreds of millions of dollars, they’re going, ‘Well, maybe we can buy the whole damn thing.’ So they take a run at you.” Sternberg likened his approach to inquiries regarding the team to that of his front office regarding the club’s players, saying that “if you want to make an offer, I always listen” but adding that no deal is in the works despite the club receiving plenty of offers over the years.
Sternberg added that he has no intentions of moving the team, though he did simultaneously indicate that without a new stadium agreement the Rays would likely be on the move, explaining that he would sell the team if the club fails to reach a new stadium agreement in the Tampa Bay area and that he would expect a hypothetical new owner to explore relocation for the team following the expiration of the club’s current lease in 2027. Fortunately for Rays fans, that eventuality seems unlikely to come to fruition as things stand. Sternberg describes the negotiations with St. Petersburg as “moving along at a very nice pace” and says that he “feel[s] pretty good” about where the talks are at with just under four months left in the year.
Along with the A’s, who seem all but certain to relocate to Las Vegas in the coming years, the Rays’ stadium situation has been perhaps the biggest roadblock to an expansion effort by MLB. Commissioner Rob Manfred indicated as recently as last year that he would “love” to see the league expand to 32 teams, though he’s previously noted that the league won’t considering expanding beyond its current 30 teams until stadium issues in both Oakland and Tampa are resolved.
With the timeline for expansion uncertain and fees exceeding $2 billion being floated as a possibility, it’s hardly a surprise that potential ownership groups would also have interest in purchasing and relocating the Rays. Topkin notes that a Nashville-based investor explored buying the Rays this past summer with a potential price tag of $1.85 billion. Massive as that figure is, it would still be less expensive than the aforementioned rumored expansion fees, lending credence to Sternberg’s suggestion that potential buyers have interest in exploring relocation for the franchise.
Austin Meadows Will Not Return This Season
Tigers outfielder Austin Meadows won’t return from the injured list this season, as manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including MLB.com’s Jason Beck) this afternoon. Meadows initially was placed on the injured list back in April due to anxiety, and has been away from the team since June.
It’s been a long road for Meadows since the Pirates selected him with the ninth overall in the 2013 draft. He made his MLB debut in 2018 with Pittsburgh but was traded to the Rays as part of the Chris Archer deal after just 165 plate appearances in the majors with the club that drafted him. Once in Tampa, he quickly rose to prominence as an All Star in 2019, even garnering down-ballot MVP votes thanks to a sensational .291/.364/.558 slash line across 138 games that season.
Meadows struggled badly during the shortened 2020 season, slashing just .205/.296/.371 while being limited to 36 games by an oblique strain. He bounced back somewhat in 2021, posting a 112 wRC+ as the Rays’ everyday left fielder. That said, he was rated brutally by defensive metrics that season, and combined with the reduced offense relative to his peak in 2019 he was worth just 1.6 fWAR that season. With Meadows due to be eligible for arbitration for the first time in 2022, the Rays shipped him to Detroit in exchange for struggling infielder Isaac Parades before the season began.
While Parades has taken off with the Rays, Meadows has made it into just 42 games with Detroit since the trade. He was limited to just 36 games of league average offense (100 wRC+) with the Tigers last year due to vertigo. Meadows then managed just six games this year before heading to the injured list. Overall, the 28-year-old outfielder has slashed just .248/.333/.322 in 168 trips to the plate since first suiting up for the Tigers. With Meadows likely due for a raise on his $4.3MM salary in his final trip through arbitration this offseason and the Tigers flush with young outfield talent like Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and Meadows’ younger brother Parker Meadows, it’s fair to wonder if Detroit will consider non-tendering the elder Meadows brother this offseason, allowing him to hit free agency rather than retaining him for the 2024 campaign.
That being said, Hinch’s comments indicated nothing but support for Meadows as he works through his struggles. As relayed by MLB.com, Hinch said that “We have to continue to be supportive of him and others that are going through experiences that none of us really know unless you’ve done it… And so, rather than judge him, we need to support him, and we’ve continued to do that as an organization. We will continue to do it.”
Reds Make Several Roster Moves
The Reds made a handful of transactions this afternoon, placing outfielder Stuart Fairchild on the COVID-19 injured list while transferring left-hander Alex Young to the COVID IL. Players on the COVID IL do not count against the 40-man roster, allowing the club to add infielder Alejo Lopez to the big league roster from Triple-A as a replacement player. As a replacement, Lopez can be taken off the 40-man roster and returned to the minors without being placed on waivers.
The news serves as a continuation of Cincinnati’s injury woes, with sixteen players now on the injured list. Fairchild, 27, is in his third season as a big leaguer and has looked like a decent fourth outfielder in 242 trips to the plate with a .223/.322/.379 with a wRC+ of 87, ten stolen bases, and solid outfield defense. Young, meanwhile, posted a 3.31 ERA in 49 innings of work for the Reds this year before going on the injured list with a hamstring issue back in August. He had just begun a rehab assignment earlier this week but now will surely be delayed in his comeback attempt.
Joining the roster for the time being is Lopez, who appeared in 59 games for Cincinnati last season, slashing .262/.314/.331 while playing second base, third base, and the outfield corners. While Lopez is hardly an impact bat, a 13.5% strikeout rate in the majors last year indicates he could provide contact off the bench, and his walk rate at Triple-A this year has ballooned to a career-high 13.4%. If that improved discipline can carry over to the majors and earn him extra free passes at the big league level, it’s possible that Lopez could be an interesting contributor for a Cincinnati infield that is currently without Matt McLain, Jonathan India, and Joey Votto.
That being said, Lopez’s stay on the active roster may be a short one, as Reds manager David Bell indicated to reporters (including those at MLB.com) yesterday that both Votto and India have begun rehab assignments and Triple-A and could be nearing a return to action, with Votto in particular a potential option as soon as tomorrow’s game against the Cardinals. Also likely to return tomorrow is right-hander Hunter Greene, who is currently on the COVID IL but is listed as tomorrow’s probable starter opposite St. Louis righty Miles Mikolas.
The Opener: Betts, Royals, Means
As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Betts on crutches:
The Dodgers are facing an injury scare with superstar Mookie Betts, as Isaac Azout of Fish On First noted last night that the MVP candidate left loanDepot Park on crutches. Jack Harris of the L.A. Times echoed that report while also indicating that Betts underwent x-rays on his foot after fouling a pitch off of it earlier in the game. Those x-rays came back negative, with MLB.com’s Juan Toribio indicating that they were precautionary. Betts will be re-evaluated today.
With so little time left in the regular season, even a fairly short absence would impact both the NL MVP race and the Dodgers’ odds of catching the Braves for the top seed in the NL this postseason. Betts, teammate Freddie Freeman, and Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. are the favorites in the Senior Circuit’s Most Valuable Player race. Betts trails only Shohei Ohtani in wins above replacement this year, per both FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference, thanks to his sensational .314/.411/.609 batting line, 38 home runs and solid defense around the diamond (right field, second base, shortstop). Acuna is hitting .331/.411/.579 and is the first player to ever hit 30 home runs and steal 60 bases in the same season.
From a team vantage point, an absence of any note would be devastating for a Dodgers club that has leaned heavily on Betts and Freeman for offensive production throughout the season; the duo have combined for a whopping 14.7 fWAR this year, while the rest of L.A.’s 23 total position players used this season have combined for 15.0 fWAR.
2. Royals roster move incoming:
The Royals transferred lefty Daniel Lynch to the 60-day injured list yesterday and optioned infielder Matt Beaty to Triple-A yesterday, creating openings on both the 40-man and active roster. With a roster move necessary before tonight’s game in Toronto and 60-day IL moves typically followed by a corresponding 40-man addition, Kansas City seems likely add a player to the 40-man today. That could be an activation from the 60-day IL like right-hander Brad Keller, or it could be a contract selection of a player in the minors. Of course, it’s also possible that the club could leave the 40-man roster spot open and simply activate Nick Pratto from the 10-day IL to replace Beaty on the roster. Both Keller and Pratto have been on rehab assignments since August.
3. Means to be activated this weekend:
As noted on MLB.com, the Orioles intend to move to a six-man rotation upon the return left-hander John Means, whom Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun indicates will be activated off the 60-day injured list at some point this weekend. The Orioles have announced Kyle Bradish, Jack Flaherty, and Grayson Rodriguez as the starters for the club’s series in Boston this weekend, so it’s possible Means will pitch out of the bullpen as a long reliever rather than join the club’s rotation. Whatever role Means fills, he figures to help boost an Orioles pitching staff that recently lost closer Felix Bautista to injury and is looking to keep starters like Bradish, Rodriguez, and Kyle Gibson healthy ahead of the postseason.
The Opener: Lawlar, Garcia, Grichuk
As the stretch run of MLB’s 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:
1. Lawlar to debut:
The Diamondbacks are expected to promote top infield prospect Jordan Lawlar prior to tonight’s game against the Cubs. The club already cleared space for Lawlar on the active and 40-man rosters by designating Nick Ahmed for assignment last night, so no corresponding moves will be necessary to select Lawlar. A consensus top-25 prospect who even reaches the top-10 of some lists, the 21-year-old Lawlar was selected sixth overall in the 2021 draft and is widely considered to feature plus tools across the board. He’s had a particularly successful season in the minor leagues this year, slashing an impressive .278/.378/.496 in 490 trips to the plate between the Double-A and Triple-A levels despite facing much older competition. Going forward, Lawlar figures to slot into the Arizona lineup at third base. His first assignment will be taking on 25-year-old right-hander Javier Assad (2.69 ERA in 87 innings) at Wrigley Field this evening.
2. Garcia to undergo MRI:
As noted by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters following last night’s loss that outfielder Adolis Garcia is scheduled to undergo an MRI today. Garcia exited yesterday’s game with what was termed “right knee discomfort” after crashing into the outfield wall while trying rob a home run off the bat of Michael Brantley. With the postseason rapidly approaching and the Rangers now on the outside-looking-in of the playoff picture, half a game back of the Blue Jays for the final AL Wild Card spot, Garcia missing anything more than a couple of days would be nothing short of devastating for Texas.
A second-time All Star in 2023, Garcia has paired excellent outfield defense with a .244/.322/.494 slash line in 580 trips to the plate, good for a wRC+ of 118. His 34 home runs this season leave him with the third best total in the AL and tied for eighth on the major league leaderboard with Braves third baseman Austin Riley. Only the club’s big-money middle infield duo of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien have accrued more fWAR than Garcia for the Rangers this season. In the event Garcia misses significant time, the Rangers would likely have to turn to Travis Jankowski as a regular in their outfielder down the stretch or promote top prospect Evan Carter, who was only recently elevated to Triple-A after slashing .284/.411/.451 at the Double-A level.
3. Will Grichuk go unclaimed again?
The Angels have reportedly placed outfielder Randal Grichuk back on waivers, once again leaving the 32-year-old veteran’s future with the club up in the air. Grichuk was the only player to go unclaimed when the Angels placed half a dozen veterans on expiring contracts on waivers late last month, with Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Matt Moore, Dominic Leone and Hunter Renfroe each finding new homes.
While Grichuk is still just a league-average bat on the year and would be ineligible to join a club’s postseason roster, he’s gotten hot recently with a .333/.379/.630 slash line in eight games since first being put on waivers at the end of August. It’s at least conceivable that a team in the thick of the playoff race with a need for outfield help could claim him and look to ride his recent hot stretch through the remainder of the regular season. The Marlins, as one example, recently lost Jorge Soler to the injured list, while the Giants are in need of an offensive boost after posting league-worst figures since the All Star break. Grichuk has been particularly effective against lefties, slashing .314/.375/.559 in 112 plate appearances this season.
The Opener: Ohtani, Marlins, Pitching Matchup
As the final month of the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. When will Ohtani return?
Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup again last night, though after yesterday’s game Angels manager Phil Nevin indicated to reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register and The Athletic’s Sam Blum) that Ohtani’s situation is day-to-day. Nevin added that while Ohtani was dealing with some inflammation in his oblique, he had avoided a strain. The frontrunner for the AL MVP award is expected to play again this season, and even wanted to return to the lineup yesterday. He’ll be evaluated before today’s game to determine if he needs further rest before returning to the field. Ohtani avoiding a more significant injury is surely a relief for Angels fans, as the pending free agent is putting together a historic campaign with a 178 wRC+ in the batter’s box and a 31.5% strikeout rate on the mound, though he’s been shut down from pitching for the rest of the season.
2. Marlins to recall Cabrera:
The Marlins are expected to recall right-hander Edward Cabrera to start this evening’s game against the Dodgers, as relayed by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. 25-year-old Cabrera started the 2023 season as a member of the club’s rotation, but was then shelved by a shoulder impingement for a little over a month. Upon returning, Cabrera posted a 5.40 ERA and 6.06 FIP and struggled with stamina, pitching just ten innings across three starts. That led the club to option Cabrera to Triple-A, where he’s managed to build back up to 100-pitch outings while posting an impressive 2.22 ERA across five starts. If he’s able to continue his hot stretch in the major leagues, he could provide a spark for Miami, with the club just half a game back in the race for the final NL Wild Card spot.
3. Verlander and Scherzer face-off:
Future Hall of Famers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer were teammates for the second time in their careers just over a month ago, at which point both were traded to the AL West by the Mets. Scherzer, who was shipped to the Rangers a few days before the trade deadline, has dominated with a 2.21 ERA and 2.47 FIP across six starts since joining the club. Verlander’s reunion with the Astros has gotten off to a more pedestrian start, with a 3.86 ERA and 4.69 FIP in six starts. Despite the disparity in recent numbers, the pitchers’ duel is sure to make the season series’s rubber match between the two clubs an interesting one. The Astros currently sit half a game ahead of the Rangers in the AL West standings after taking the first two games in this three-game set.
Giants Release AJ Pollock
4:30pm: The Giants have now made it official, announcing Pollock’s release. His 40-man roster spot will go to right-hander John Brebbia, who has been reinstated from the 60-day IL, with righty Tristan Beck optioned to open an active roster spot for Brebbia.
7:39am: The Giants are releasing AJ Pollock, per a report by MLBNetwork’s Jon Morosi last night. The 35-year-old veteran has been on the injured list with a strained oblique for just under a month but began a rehab assignment at Triple-A last week, going 1-for-6 with a double, a walk and three strikeouts.
Pollock joined the Giants just before this year’s trade deadline in a fairly minor deal with the Mariners that also saw San Francisco acquire utility player Mark Mathias. San Francisco acquired him in hopes of improving the club’s offense against lefties, thanks to his career .836 OPS against lefties and a .286/.316/.619 slash line in 133 plate appearances when facing southpaws last year. That didn’t come to pass, however, as he ultimately suited up for the club in just five big league games, striking out two times in six at-bats without recording a hit or walk.
The brief stint in San Francisco was a continuation of what has been nothing short of a brutal year for Pollock at the plate. Since signing a one-year, $7MM deal with the Mariners this past offseason, Pollock has slashed a unsightly .165/.215/.305 in 144 trips to the plate this year. Pollock’s 22.2% strikeout rate is a career high, and while his awful .227 wOBA is much lower than his xwOBA, his rough contact quality numbers leave the expected figure at a still well-below par .267.
While Pollock began to decline somewhat with the White Sox last year, posting the first below-average offensive season of his career (aside from an injury-marred 2016 season in which he only suited up for 12 games with the Diamondbacks) since he became a full time player in 2013, his drop off in production this year has been staggering. After all, it was just two seasons ago that Pollock was posting excellent numbers with the Dodgers, slashing .297/.355/.536 with a wRC+ of 137.
As for the Giants, the club still has a pair of right-handed hitting outfielders on the roster in Mitch Haniger and Austin Slater, along with a pair of youngsters at Triple-A on the 40-man roster in Luis Matos and Heliot Ramos. San Francisco will have to put Pollock through release waivers, though he’ll surely go unclaimed between his performance, expiring and pricey contract, and the fact that he would be ineligible to participate in the postseason for the hypothetical-claiming club. Upon clearing release waivers, Pollock would become a free agent and be free to sign with any of the 30 clubs with an eye toward the 2024 campaign, though the veteran outfielder will likely have to settle for a minor league deal after this year’s performance.