Diamondbacks To Promote Dominic Fletcher
The Diamondbacks are planning to recall outfield prospect Dominic Fletcher, according to The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan. Fletcher is already on the 40-man roster, though a corresponding move will be necessary to clear space for Fletcher on the active roster nonetheless. Per a team announcement, that move will come in the form of left-hander Anthony Misiewicz being optioned to Triple-A. Fletcher’s first appearance with the club will be his big league debut.
Fletcher, 25, is rated 15th in a loaded Diamondbacks system by MLB Pipeline. Known primarily for his quality defense in center field, Fletcher has also posted big numbers at the plate in the minors to this point in his career, with a .305/.378/.472 slash line in 558 plate appearances at the Triple-A level. That includes an absolutely torrid start to the 2023 campaign for Fletcher, who has dominated Triple-A pitching in his first 109 plate appearances this season. During that time, Fletcher has slashed .323/.417/.559 with three home runs, four triples, and five doubles in just 22 games.
Buchanan notes that Fletcher’s call up could be related to budding star Corbin Carroll leaving last night’s game against the Rockies with a left knee contusion. Carroll is not headed for the injured list, but it’s possible that Fletcher will fill in for Carroll in the outfield in the event he misses a game or two due to the injury. Carroll is off to a torrid start this season, slashing .309/.374/.536 in 107 plate appearances that have put him toward the front of the NL Rookie of the Year race.
As for Misiewicz, the 28-year-old has a career 4.40 ERA in 108 1/3 innings of work since he debuted with the Mariners in 2020. That being said, he sports a far more palatable career FIP of 3.70 and has pitched solidly for Arizona so far this season, posting a 3.86 ERA in four appearances. The left-hander figures to act as bullpen depth for the Diamondbacks going forward.
Cubs Select Ryan Borucki
The Cubs have selected the contract of left-hander Ryan Borucki, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro. In a corresponding move, right-hander Caleb Kilian has been optioned to Triple-A. The club had an open spot on the 40-man roster following their decision to designate catcher Luis Torrens for assignment, so no 40-man roster move was needed to add Borucki.
Borucki, 29, made his major league debut as a starter with the Blue Jays back in 2018. He pitched to a solid 3.87 ERA in 97 2/3 innings of work across 18 starts. Unfortunately, injuries limited Borucki to just 6 2/3 innings in 2019, leaving him to convert to relief ahead of the 2020 season. Since his move to the bullpen, Borucki has struggled, posting a 4.66 ERA and 5.30 FIP over 65 2/3 innings across the past three seasons. He joined the Cubs on a minor league deal this past offseason, and gives the club a left-handed option out of the bullpen while Brandon Hughes is on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation.
Kilian, 26 in June, heads back to Triple-A after a brutal spot start yesterday where he surrendered seven runs on 10 hits, two walks and two hit batsmen in just 3 1/3 innings against the Marlins. Acquired from the Giants alongside Alexander Canario in the deal that sent Kris Bryant to San Francisco, Kilian was considered one of Chicago’s top prospects headed into last season. Things started to unravel for Kilian when he made his big league debut last summer. The right-hander posted a 10.32 ERA across three starts in the majors before heading back to the Triple-A, where he posted a 6.54 ERA in 63 1/3 innings for the remainder of the 2022 campaign.
Things haven’t gone much better for Kilian in 2023, as he had posted a 7.15 ERA in three starts at Triple-A prior to yesterday’s disastrous call up. Kilian was needed yesterday as both Jameson Taillon and Kyle Hendricks are on the shelf, though Taillon threw a bullpen yesterday per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun Times and Hendricks is currently rehabbing at Triple-A, leaving room to return Kilian to Triple-A in hopes he can return to his 2021 form.
Blue Jays Acquire Tyler Heineman
As noted by Kevin Gorman of Tribune-Review Sports, the Pirates have traded catcher Tyler Heineman to the Blue Jays in exchange for minor league infielder Vinny Capra. Capra was assigned to Triple-A. Per The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath, Toronto assigned Jordan Luplow outright to Triple-A to make room on the 40-man roster for Heineman, who was optioned to Triple-A. Heineman had been designated for assignment by the Pirates earlier this week.
This moves marks Heineman’s second stint with the Blue Jays. An eighth round pick by the Astros in the 2012 draft, Heineman was on his fourth organization by the time he made his major league debut with the Marlins in 2019. He then appeared in 15 games for the Giants during the shortened 2020 season before signing a minor league deal in Toronto ahead of the 2022 season. Heineman appeared in ten games with the Jays before the Pirates claimed him off waivers from the club last May.
Heineman played in 52 games for the Pirates, by far the longest stint in the majors of his career. During that time, he slashed just .211/.277/.254 over 158 plate appearances. Following the 2023 campaign, Heineman was non-tendered by the Pirates but re-signed with the club on a minor league deal. He was selected to the roster early in the season and appeared in three games for the club before being DFA’d, a move which opened the door for his return to Toronto. Heineman figures to serve as catching depth for the Blue Jays in Triple-A. Prior to the addition of Heineman, the Blue Jays had no catchers on the 40-man roster besides their current tandem of Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen.
Going the other way is Capra, a 26-year-old who made his MLB debut one year ago tomorrow. While he slashed just .200/.429/.200 in eight games with the Blue Jays last year, Capra has a solid .263/.347/.393 slash line over five seasons in the minors. Capra also brings versatility to the table, with considerable time in the outfield corners in addition to regular work at shortstop, second base, and third base. Capra was non-tendered by Toronto back in November, but re-signed with the club on a minor league deal just days later.
As for Luplow, the 29-year-old outfielder is in his seventh season in the big leagues. Toronto claimed him off waivers from the Braves earlier this season, but he struggled in a four game stint with the club, striking out four times and drawing a walk but recording no hits during that time. Luplow has since been optioned to Triple-A, and will now need to be re-added to the 40-man roster before he can return to big leagues with the Blue Jays. Despite his struggles this season, Luplow has been a solid bat in the past, with a career wRC+ of 101 including a 123 mark from 2019-2021.
Nationals Select Andres Machado
The Nationals have selected the contract of right-hander Andres Machado, per a team announcement. To make room for Machado on the 40-man and active rosters, the club designated left-hander Anthony Banda for assignment.
Machado, 30, made his MLB debut with the Royals during the 2017 season. Machado struggled badly in his first taste of big league action, surrendering nine runs on 10 hits (two home runs) and three walks while striking out just one in 3 2/3 innings of work. After that disastrous debut, Machado wouldn’t return to the big leagues until he joined the Nationals in 2021. Machado has put up solid numbers for Washington since then, with a 3.41 ERA (117 ERA+) in 95 innings of work the past two seasons, though his 4.55 FIP leaves plenty of reason for caution.
Heading out in favor of Machado is Banda, a 29-year-old lefty currently in his seventh season in the majors. The journeyman has a 5.69 ERA in 118 2/3 innings of work during his career, during which he has played for seven different clubs. That includes what has been a very difficult stint in Washington during which Banda has allowed five runs in seven innings of work. Without Banda, the Nationals have no left-handed relievers in their bullpen, though Jose Ferrer and Matt Cronin are both on the 40-man roster as possible options down the road.
AL East Notes: Rays, Orioles, Red Sox
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times recently dug into the factors behind the Rays‘ decision to demote top pitching prospect Taj Bradley to Triple-A last week. Topkin notes that Bradley’s call to the majors came primarily due to the young right-hander being on full rest when starters were needed to sub in for Zach Eflin and Jeffrey Springs. With Eflin back in action and bulk arms Yonny Chirinos and Josh Fleming joining him, lefty Shane McClanahan and right-hander Drew Rasmussen as rotation options, Bradley was no longer needed to fill out the rotation in Tampa.
Despite Bradley’s strong trio of starts in the big leagues, where he posted a 3.52 ERA and 2.65 FIP over 15 1/3 innings of work, that left the Rays free to send Bradley back to the minors. Topkin highlights Bradley’s need to adjust to pitching every fifth day and maintain his velocity throughout the season as major factors in the decision, though he also notes that the Rays are hoping to avoid a situation similar to the one the Nationals had with Stephen Strasburg in 2012. That season, the club made the difficult decision to shut down their young ace ahead of the playoffs despite a 3.16 ERA in 28 starts, as the right-hander was on an innings limit following Tommy John surgery. Topkin notes that Bradley through 133 1/3 innings in 2022, and may be limited to 160 innings this season.
One other potential factor Topkin mentions is service time. By optioning Bradley, the Rays have assured themselves an additional season of team control over the 22-year-old, who now figures to be a free agent for the first time during the 2029-2030 offseason. That, of course, could change if Bradley finishes in the top two of Rookie of the Year voting this season, as he would be awarded a full year of service time in that case.
More from around the AL East…
- The Orioles today optioned infielder Joey Ortiz to Triple-A, recalling outfielder Kyle Stowers, per a team announcement. Ortiz, who was promoted to the big league club just this past Thursday, appeared in just three games for the Orioles during his first big league cup of coffee, recording two hits and striking out once in 8 at-bats. Stowers, meanwhile, impressed with a .253/.306/.418 slash line in 34 games at the big league level last season but did not record a hit in six at-bats with the big league club prior to being optioned to Triple-A during the second week of the season.
- The Red Sox expect to be without their closer for the next few days, as veteran Kenley Jansen noted to reporters (including Alex Speier of The Boston Globe) that he will be unavailable until at least Tuesday after pitching through back spasms in last night’s blown save against the Guardians. John Schreiber and Josh Winckowski have worked the late innings alongside Jansen in the early going this season, but with Chris Martin likely coming off the injured list today, the 36-year-old veteran may get the ninth inning while Jansen is down.
The Opener: Dodgers, Injuries, World Series Rematch
As the month of April approaches its close, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Dodgers roster moves incoming:
The Dodgers are expected to make a handful of roster moves in the near future, with infielder Max Muncy and reliever Brusdar Graterol likely set to come off the paternity list. It’s possible that catcher Will Smith will also be activated from the 7-day concussion IL, but it seems as though he isn’t expected to return to work behind the plate just yet. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic) that if J.D. Martinez, who hasn’t played in a few days due to back soreness, requires an IL stint of his own, Smith could be an option at DH while Martinez is on the shelf. Each of Muncy, Graterol, and Smith will require a corresponding move to clear space on the active roster, though if Martinez does hit in the injured list that would clear one spot.
2. Injuries to watch this weekend:
Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez (neck discomfort) and Giants catcher Joey Bart (groin tightness) have both missed three games due to injury at this point. Given stints on the IL can only be backdated a maximum of three days, it seems likely that each player will be re-evaluated by their club today to determine if they need to make a trip to the IL. Other injury situations to keep an eye on are those of AL MVP Aaron Judge, who left yesterday’s game with right hip discomfort but expects to only be sidelined for a few days, and Twins right-hander Tyler Mahle, who left yesterday’s game with elbow soreness. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters (including The Athletic’s Dan Hayes), Mahle is day-to-day, but was unsure if Mahle would require an MRI.
3. 2022 World Series rematch series:
The Phillies are headed to Minute Maid Park for a rematch of the 2022 World Series against the world champion Astros, with the series set to kick off tonight at 7:10pm CT. Both teams struggled to open the season, spending most of the month under .500. Both now appear to be finding their footing, with the Astros pulling into a first place tie with the Rangers in the AL West while the Phillies rebounded from a 5-10 record to win seven of their last ten, returning the club to an even record. The teams will match up this weekend in Houston, with left-hander Framber Valdez squaring off against right-hander Aaron Nola to kick the series off tonight at 7:10 CT.
The Opener: Pitching Matchup, MRIs, MLB Debuts
With the 2023 regular season around 15% complete, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:
1. Marquee pitching matchup in Chicago tonight:
The Rays are headed to the south side of Chicago this evening for the beginning of a three game set against the White Sox. The series will open with a pitchers’ duel between aces, with Tampa Bay sending lefty Shane McClanahan (1.86 ERA) to the mound to face right-hander Dylan Cease (2.73 ERA). The White Sox return to their home ballpark looking to stop a seven-game losing streak, but to do so they’ll have to beat a Rays club that swept them as recently as this past weekend. The Rays, meanwhile, have the best winning percentage in the majors with a fantastic 20-5 record, though the club is coming off its second series loss of the season against the Astros. The game will begin at 6:10pm CT.
2. MRIs scheduled for Marquez, Maeda:
A pair of right-handers are set to undergo MRIs today. Rockies right-hander German Marquez exited yesterday’s game, his first start since returning from the injured list due to a forearm issue, after just 58 pitches due to a triceps injury. Significant missed time for Marquez would be a major concern for a Rockies club that has few quality rotation options beyond the injured right-hander, lefty Kyle Freeland, and perhaps 26-year-old Noah Davis. Further complicating matters is Marquez’s contract situation, as the club holds a net $13.5MM decision on a $16MM option ($2.5MM buyout) for Marquez’s services in the 2024 campaign.
In the American League, Twins veteran Kenta Maeda is set to undergo an MRI of his own after feeling soreness in his elbow during yesterday’s start against the Yankees. After missing the entire 2022 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, the 35-year-old Maeda was tagged for a whopping 10 runs in yesterday’s outing, ballooning his ERA to 9.00 (16 runs in 16 innings). Fortunately for the Twins, the club is deep in potential rotation options who could take over in the event that Maeda misses time, with right-hander Bailey Ober standing as the likely top option. Ober, who posted a solid 3.21 ERA and an even stronger 2.92 FIP in 11 starts last season, came up to the majors for a fill-in start last week and allowed just one run over 5 2/3 innings of work.
3. MLB debuts pending for Bolton, Cosgrove:
The Pirates and Padres each called up a pitcher yesterday who has yet to make their MLB debut. The Pirates, who saw minor league veteran Drew Maggi make his big league debut just yesterday after 13 seasons in the minors, selected the contract of right-hander Cody Bolton yesterday. Bolton, 25 in June, was a longtime starting pitching prospect who recently converted to relief, and has posted a 2.58 ERA at the Triple-A level when coming out of the bullpen. Meanwhile, the Padres recalled lefty Tom Cosgrove, who was added to the 40-man roster this past offseason ahead of the Rule 5 draft. Cosgrove struggled in his first taste of work at Triple-A last year, but has opened the 2023 season with 7 1/3 scoreless innings of work.
The Opener: Prospect Debuts, IL Activations, MLBTR Chat
As MLB’s regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Prospects to watch:
A’s right-hander Luis Medina, who came over from the Yankees as part of the Frankie Montas trade at the deadline last year, is expected to make his major league debut today after the club added him to the active roster yesterday. Medina, 24 next week, is known for his power arsenal (including a triple digit fastball) but has struggled badly with command to this point in his career, as evidenced by a career walk rate north of 15% in the minor leagues.
Medina may not be the only prospect who will debut today, however, as The Athletic’s Zack Meisel notes the Guardians are considering promoting right-hander Tanner Bibee for today’s start against the Rockies. Bibee, who was selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, made his professional debut just last year but has rapidly ascended through the minor leagues, starting the 2023 season at Triple-A after posting a sterling 1.83 ERA in 73 2/3 innings at the Double-A level last year. Bibee’s hot start to his career has continued in the early going so far this season, with a 1.76 ERA in three starts (15 1/3 innings) for the Guardians’ affiliate in Columbus.
2. Gonsolin, Marquez to be activated:
A pair of starters are set to return to action in the NL West today, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya) that right-hander Tony Gonsolin will be activated from the injured list to make today’s start against the Pirates. Gonsolin, who posted an excellent 2.14 ERA (192 ERA+) in 130 1/3 innings of work last season, will likely go no longer than four innings in his season debut according to Roberts.
Meanwhile, the Rockies are expected to reinstate right-hander German Marquez from the injured list today to start against the Guardians. Marquez, who went on the IL with forearm tightness earlier in the season, has posted a 4.41 ERA in 16 1/3 innings across the three starts he’s made in 2023. The Dodgers will need to make space on the active roster for Gonsolin ahead of today’s game, but there’s no such need for Marquez, as the Rockies designated right-hander Jose Urena for assignment last night.
3. MLBTR chat today:
Yesterday, MLBTR’s Steve Adams fielded questions during yesterday’s live chat, the transcript of which can be found here. If you still have unanswered questions about the beginnings of the 2023 season, you’re in luck, as MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting a live chat of his own today at 5pm CT. You can submit a question in advance here, and you can use the same link to check back in this evening and participate live once the chat begins.
The Opener: Giants, Dodgers, MLBTR Chat
As MLB’s regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Bart to be re-evaluated:
Giants catcher Joey Bart exited last night’s game against the Cardinals after the seventh inning due to groin tightness, telling reporters (including Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle) that he hopes to miss just a few days but will be re-evaluated today. Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster, meaning the club will need to make space on the 40-man roster for another catcher should Bart require a stint on the injured list.
In the event that Bart misses time, that would seem to pave the way for veteran catcher Gary Sanchez to join the major league roster after signing with the Giants on a minor league deal at the beginning of the season. Sanchez has scuffled to begin the season in Triple-A, slashing just .146/.327/.171. He has an opt-out date in his minor league contract on May 1.
2. Busch could make big league debut:
With infielder Max Muncy headed to the paternity list and a dearth of infielders available that has already forced Mookie Betts to spend time in the infield in recent days, the Dodgers are reportedly poised to promote top prospect Michael Busch ahead of today’s game against the Pirates. Busch was added to the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 Draft this past offseason, so there won’t be a need for a corresponding 40-man move to call Busch up to the majors today.
A first-round pick by the Dodgers in 2019, the 25-year-old Busch is a consensus top-100 prospect in the game. Busch tore up the Double-A level to open the 2022 season and ended up promoted after just 31 games at the level, during which he posted a 1.112 OPS. Since his promotion to Triple-A early last season, Busch has slashed .277/.363/.484, a solid slash line that includes a fantastic .337/.461/.506 slash in 21 games to start the 2023 season.
3. MLBTR Chat today:
We’re now around 15% of the way through the 2023 regular season, with plenty of interesting early season trends to discuss. If the beginning of this season has spurred any questions in your mind about your favorite team or the league as a whole, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.
The Opener: Extensions, Rockies, Injuries
As the end of the 2023 season’s first month draws near, here are three things to keep an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Extension season continues:
Typically, players and clubs set something of a deadline on extension talks for Opening Day, leaving extensions as a somewhat rare occurrence in the early months of the season. That trend has been bucked so far this season, however, as four players signed extensions in recent weeks: Ian Happ signed a three-year, $61MM extension with the Cubs, Logan Webb inked a five-year, $90MM extension with the Giants, Hunter Greene agreed to a six-year, $53MM extension with the Reds, and Pablo Lopez landed a four year, $73.5MM extension with the Twins.
It seems somewhat unlikely that another player from the 2023-2024 free agent class will join Happ in signing an extension just six months before free agency opens, at least without receiving top dollar. Still, there are plenty of players controlled by their clubs beyond the 2023 campaign who might look to extend their stay with the team, including Bryan Reynolds, with whom the Pirates continue to leave the door for extension negotiations open despite a series of roadblocks in contract talks. The Reds, in particular, seem interested in locking up their other young pitchers along with Greene, as the club has recently had extension talks with both left-hander Nick Lodolo and right-hander Graham Ashcraft.
2. Rockies to promote Doyle:
It’s been reported that Rockies outfield prospect Brenton Doyle is set to get called up to the majors today, with the possibility that he’ll make his major league debut as soon as this evening against the Guardians. Doyle, who has torn up the Triple-A level to the tune of a 1.123 OPS in 21 games (98 plate appearances) at the level, appears poised to get his opportunity thanks to injuries that have left both Kris Bryant and Yonathan Daza day-to-day. With two of the club’s regular outfielders potentially out of action, Doyle makes sense as a solution thanks to his solid defense at all three outfield spots and presence on the 40-man roster. Still, a transaction of some sort will be necessary to make room for Doyle on the active roster.
3. Injury updates expected today:
Updates on the availability of both Bryant, who suffered a glute injury on Saturday, and Daza, who was hit by a pitch during yesterday’s game, seem likely to come ahead of this evening’s Rockies game at 5:10pm CT. The Rockies aren’t the only club from which updates regarding injured players are expected, however. Santiago Espinal of the Blue Jays was recently hit by a pitch from Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole and, while x-rays on his wrist were negative, Espinal is expected to undergo additional testing today as manager John Schneider told reporters, including Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.
Meanwhile, Guardians prospect Daniel Espino, whose struggles with shoulder inflammation recently resulted in the right-hander being shut down for the second time this season, is expected to see a doctor in the coming days. While Espino doesn’t seem likely to impact the big league club this year, as an arm with front-end potential and an already checkered injury history at just 21 years old, his health is of great importance to the organization’s future.