Dodgers Sign Austin Wynns To Major League Deal, Place Will Smith On 7-Day Concussion IL
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers have signed catcher Austin Wynns to a major league deal and placed him on the active roster as catcher Will Smith heads to the 7-Day Concussion IL, retroactive to April 13. According to Juan Toribio of MLB.com, the Dodgers have transferred right-hander Alex Reyes to the 60-day IL to make room for Wynns on the 40-man roster.
Wynns appeared in one game this season for the Giants before being designated for assignment earlier this week. Wynns had accepted an outright assignment from San Francisco earlier in the offseason rather than elect free agency, but opted to test the open market after finding himself blocked by Joey Bart, Blake Sabol, and Gary Sanchez on the catching depth chart for the Giants. Wynns sports a career 67 wRC+ in 510 plate appearances since his MLB debut with the Orioles in 2018, but flashed the bat of a serviceable backup with San Francisco last season, slashing .259/.313/.358, good for a wRC+ of 92.
Smith, 28, is among the game’s premiere catchers, with a career wRC+ of 130, a 10.9% walk rate and 18.8% strikeout rate to go with his 25-homer power. Ardaya notes that manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Smith reported symptoms of a concussion on Thursday, and those symptoms have persisted despite him passing SCAT5 testing on Friday. Smith is set to undergo more tests and Roberts is hopefully he will be able to rejoin the club in time for the club’s road trip on Thursday, but if his symptoms persist he may be out for longer. While Smith is on the shelf, Austin Barnes figures to get the lion’s share of starts behind the plate, with Wynns acting as the backup.
As for Reyes, he signed with the Dodgers this offseason on an incentive-laden major-league deal and is still working his way back from shoulder surgery he underwent last May. His placement on the 60-day IL isn’t much of a surprise, as he was not expected to be a contributor for the club until sometime midseason.
Reds Notes: Santillan, Votto, Sims
The Reds have halted the rehab of right-hander Tony Santillan, as noted by The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosencrans. Santillan was limited to just 19 2/3 innings of work in 2022 due to low back pain, and was diagnosed with a Pars stress fracture in his low back this spring that has kept him out of action ever since. He appeared to be on the verge of returning to big league action, as he had begun a rehab assignment in Triple-A recently, but Santillan is now dealing with discomfort in his right knee that will keep him out of action for longer, according to Rosencrans.
Santillan struggled to a 5.49 ERA during his injury-plagued 2022 season, but impressed in his 2021 rookie season with a 2.91 ERA (162 ERA+) in 43 1/3 innings, though it came with a concerning 4.62 FIP thanks to Santillan stranding an unsustainable 90% of baserunners, though he did post an impressive 29.5% strikeout rate that season. When healthy, Santillan could join the likes of Alex Diaz and Fernando Cruz in covering late-inning duties for the Reds.
First baseman Joey Votto is also halting his rehab process, per a club announcement. Votto returned to Cincinnati and spoke with reporters today, with Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer noting that Votto has not suffered any setbacks and MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relaying that the first baseman remains optimistic about returning to big league action in the near future, though he isn’t ready to do so yet. As Nightengale notes, Votto could begin another rehab assignment in five days if he’s ready to do so.
Votto underwent surgery on his rotator cuff and bicep last season after struggling to a slash line of just .205/.319/.370 in 91 games last year, the worst performance of his future Hall of Fame career. Following his surgery, Votto took things slowly this spring, and has continued to work his way back at a careful pace as he has repeatedly expressed a desire to not return to the club until he’s fully healthy and ready to return. The Reds have given their veteran slugger the latitude to guide his own rehab process, including leaving the decision about whether he would start the season on the Opening Day roster up to him.
In more positive injury news, reliever Lucas Sims is scheduled to pitch for a second day in a row at Triple-A today, according to Nightengale, with a return to the big leagues later this week a possibility if all goes well. A first round pick by the Braves in the 2012 draft, Sims was part of the return for the trade that sent Adam Duvall from Cincinnati to Atlanta at the 2018 trade deadline. Since then, Sims has been a bullpen regular for the Reds, posting a 4.44 ERA (107 ERA+) and 3.87 FIP in 127 2/3 innings of work with the club. Sims pitched just 6 2/3 innings last year before being placed on the IL with lower back spasms last May, an issue he’s dealt with ever since. Fortunately, it appears Sims is primed to return to big league action and join a bullpen that currently features the likes of Derek Law and Buck Farmer covering the middle innings.
Twins Option Louie Varland, Recall Brent Headrick
Per a team announcement, the Twins have optioned right-hander Louie Varland to Triple-A following his spot start against the Yankees yesterday. In a corresponding move, the club recalled left-hander Brent Headrick.
Varland, 25, pitched effectively against the Yankees yesterday, turning in a quality start of six innings and three runs allowed, each of which came on a solo home run. Those were the only hits allowed by Varland, who walked one and struck out eight. Varland also made five starts for the club in 2022, posting a solid 3.81 ERA in 26 innings of work. With six successful big league starts under his belt and a career 2.59 ERA in the minor leagues, Varland figures to continue to be a top option for spot starts in the future for the Twins, though their deep group of potential rotation options leaves him unlikely to get a longer look this season without multiple rotation injuries. Varland is the Twins’ #10 prospect, according to MLB.com.
As for Headrick, the 25 year-old lefty has been added to an MLB roster for the first time in his career and appears poised to make his big league debut in the near future. A ninth round pick in the 2019 draft, Headrick has a 3.52 ERA in 184 innings of work in the minors. The club’s #25 prospect, per MLB.com, Headrick is a soft-tossing lefty who has added velocity in recent years, leading to something of a breakout at Double-A in 2022 where he impressed by striking out 31.9% of the batters he faced. Most of his work in the minors has come as a starter, but Headrick did pitch four innings of relief in his first Triple-A appearance this year.
Padres Notes: Rotation, Wacha, Engel
Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove is expected to make his final rehab start today for the organization’s Single-A affiliate, as noted by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune. That would put Musgrove on track to return to the Padres sometime later this week, a welcome development for a club that has seen its current six-man rotation set-up lead to an overly taxed bullpen.
With only seven relievers on the roster, the club needs its starters to be able to go deeper into games and cover more innings, but that hasn’t been the case early in the season. San Diego starters have failed to complete six innings in nine of the club’s 16 games this season, with just three starts lasting into the seventh inning. The return of Musgrove, who pitched at least six innings in 22 of his 30 regular season starts last season, should help relieve some of the load off the bullpen, but the question remains as to who Musgrove will replace in the rotation.
Ken Rosenthal suggested on FOX Sports yesterday that right-hander Nick Martinez could head to the bullpen as the odd man out, while Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union Tribune suggested that it could be young left-hander Ryan Weathers who is either optioned to Triple-A or pushed to the bullpen in order to make room for Musgrove, though Sanders notes that the club’s schedule, which includes two off-days in the final week of April and five throughout the month of May, could make the current six-man rotation setup untenable in the longer term and force the club to look at moving Martinez or righty Seth Lugo to the bullpen.
Weathers, 23, struggled to a 5.49 ERA with a 5.42 FIP the past two seasons, with all of that work except for a single 3 2/3 inning spot start coming during the 2021 campaign. He’s done well so far in 2023, posting an strong 2.70 ERA in two starts (10 innings) so far this season, though he’s struck out just five batters so far and failed to record an out in the sixth inning. By contrast, Martinez has struggled in terms of run prevention, with a 5.60 ERA across three starts, but has been able to go deeper into games, failing to make it out of the fifth inning just once while recording six and seven innings in his other two appearances.
More from San Diego…
- As noted by Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Padres right-hander Michael Wacha entered the offseason hoping to return to the Red Sox, for whom he posted a 3.32 ERA in 127 1/3 innings in 2022. Cotillo notes that the Red Sox never appeared close to re-signing the 31 year-old righty, who eventually signed in San Diego on a complex four-year, $26MM deal with multiple team and player options involved. Wacha noted that Boston expressed interest in retaining him for the 2023 season, but ultimately did not get into specifics of his negotations with the club, saying that “you might have to ask [Red Sox GM Chaim Bloom] about that one.” That being said, Wacha did note the importance of San Diego’s willingness to offer a multi-year deal held in his ultimate decision to sign with the club.
- As noted by Sanders, outfielder Adam Engel, who’s been sidelined to this point in the season with a hamstring injury. began a rehab assignment in Triple-A yesterday. With David Dahl having recently joined Engel on the injured list, the club’s outfield depth has been tested, with the likes of Rougned Odor and Brandon Dixon making recent starts in the outfield alongside Juan Soto and Trent Grisham. Engel’s impending return should provide some much-needed support to the Padres outfield, as should Fernando Tatis Jr., who is set to return from his suspension later this week.
The Opener: Jackie Robinson Day, Rays, Braves
As MLB’s regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the weekend:
1. Jackie Robinson Day:
Tomorrow is Jackie Robinson Day, an event across the baseball world that commemorates the day the Hall of Famer and cultural icon first stepped onto the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 and, in doing so, integrated Major League Baseball. This year, the day is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Jackie Robinson Foundation‘s creation. As is tradition, all players, coaches, and managers across baseball will wear 42 in honor of Robinson. Additionally, a panel discussion will be available live on MLB.com at 9:30am CT tomorrow featuring commissioner Rob Manfred, six time All-Star CC Sabathia, Robinson’s granddaughter Sonya Pankey, and Devin Johnson, who serves as President of Lebron James’s SpringHill Company. More details on the events planned to celebrate Robinson and his legacy can be found here.
2. Rays Streak Continues Without Springs:
The Rays won their game against the Red Sox yesterday to tie the 1987 Brewers and 1982 Braves for the modern opening win streak record, with all three clubs having opened their respective seasons 13-0. The Rays will attempt to secure a record-breaking 14th victory against the Blue Jays this evening at 6:07pm CT. In the meantime, however, Rays left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who left yesterday’s game with ulnar neuritis, will be undergoing further evaluation. It’s an injury which has a wide range of possible recovery times, with more minor issues only requiring a short stay on the IL, while those that require surgery can have a recovery timeline of three months or longer.
3. Arcia Injury Opens The Door For Grissom:
With shortstop Orlando Arcia out due to a microfracture in his wrist, the Braves have lost their everyday shortstop who opened the season on a tear, slashing .333/.400/.511 in 13 games prior to the injury. In his place, the club is seemingly poised to call up youngster Vaughn Grissom, who was optioned to Triple-A alongside prospect Braden Shewmake after the pair lost out on the shortstop gig to Arcia. Grissom was called up midseason last year and largely impressed with a 121 wRC+ in 41 games as Atlanta’s primary second baseman while Ozzie Albies was injured. The biggest concern regarding Grissom appears to be his defense, which has drawn considerable criticism, leading the Braves to task infield coach Ron Washington with working on defense at short with Grissom over the offseason.
The Opener: Rays, Twins, Brewers
As the regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Rays approach history:
With yesterday’s win over Boston, the Rays improved to 12-0 on the season. That twelve-game winning streak not only ties the record for longest in franchise history, it puts them just one win away from tying the modern MLB record for a win streak to open the season. The 2004 Devil Rays won 12 straight games in 2004, while the aforementioned MLB record is held by the 1987 Brewers and 1982 Braves, both of whom went 13-0 to open the regular season. The Rays will try to tie the Brewers and Braves today at 12:10pm CT this afternoon, as Jeffrey Springs takes on former Ray Corey Kluber.
2. Twins injury struggles continue:
The Twins opened the 2023 season dealing with a heap of injuries to their positional group, as each of first baseman Alex Kirilloff, second baseman Jorge Polanco, shortstop Royce Lewis, and outfielder Gilberto Celestino opened the season on the injured list. Two weeks into the season, that quartet has been joined by outfielders Max Kepler and Joey Gallo. Now, infielder Kyle Farmer is set to join them after being struck in the jaw by a fastball in yesterday’s game against the White Sox. He underwent surgery on his lower lip and bottom four teeth following the game. Star outfielder Byron Buxton was involved in a collision at second base in yesterday’s game, but appeared to avoid serious injury. The Twins will likely have an update on him today.
The club is expected to select outfielder Kyle Garlick later today to replace Farmer on the active roster, joining Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, and Edouard Julien in holding down the fort while much of Minnesota’s everyday lineup battles injuries.
3. Who’s taking the ball for the Brewers?
Following ace Brandon Woodruff‘s placement on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, the Brewers called up right-hander Janson Junk to replace him in the rotation. Junk struggled through his start yesterday, allowing five runs (four earned) over 4 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks. After the game, manager Craig Counsell did not name a starter for today’s game against the Padres. With Aaron Ashby, Adrian Houser and Jason Alexander all on the IL and Ethan Small pitching in relief this season at Triple-A, the club may be forced to settle for a bullpen game today unless they’re willing to clear space on the 40-man roster to further tap into their minor league depth. Speculatively speaking, veteran righty Colin Rea, in Triple-A with the Brewers, would be properly rested if the team wants to go that route.
The Opener: Prospect Debuts, Seager, MLBTR Chat
As the MLB season continues to move swiftly along, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Prospects set to make MLB debuts:
The big news of the prospecting world is that top Rays pitching prospect Taj Bradley is expected to make his MLB debut today in a start against the Red Sox. The Rays, of course, have opened the season on a historic tear, winning their first eleven games in a row. Bradley will be tasked with preserving that win streak against Chris Sale tonight at 5:40pm CT. Bradley has a 2.66 ERA in 317 2/3 minor league innings of work, including at 3.82 ERA in 82 innings of work at the Triple-A level. He currently ranks as the game’s No. 42 prospect at Baseball America.
Looking beyond Bradley, two AL Central prospects could make their MLB debuts today. The Twins are set to call up top infield prospect Edouard Julien to replace Joey Gallo on the active roster ahead of their 12:10pm CT game against the White Sox this afternoon. Julien, BA’s No. 97 overall prospect, has a phenomenal .437 OBP in the minors to this point in his career, fueled by a 20.2% walk rate. He’s opened the season with a .290/.421/.548 slash and a pair of homers in his first 38 plate appearances with Triple-A St. Paul.
Meanwhile, Guardians right-hander Peyton Battenfield is slated to start this afternoon’s game against the Yankees and righty Clarke Schmidt at 12:10pm CT. Battenfield isn’t considered one of the organization’s premier prospects, but he was very solid in 28 Triple-A starts last year, posting a 3.63 ERA with a 17% strikeout rate and a walk rate of 8.9%.
2. Seager update expected today:
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager left yesterday’s game with hamstring tightness, and manager Bruce Bochy said the team expects to know more about the severity of Seager’s injury and his potential timetable for return today. The Rangers’ star was off to a hot start to open the season, slashing .359/.469/.538. Ezequiel Duran and Josh H. Smith are among the potential options to fill in at shortstop for the Rangers if Seager misses any time. Marcus Semien has spent the bulk of his career at shortstop, but Bochy said last night that he’d likely keep Semien at second base should Seager be sidelined (Twitter link via Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News).
3. MLBTR Chat:
Yesterday, MLBTR’s Steve Adams fielded questions during a live chat (transcript here). If you still have unanswered questions about your favorite team or the league as a whole in the early going of the season, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting another chat this evening. You can submit a question in advance here, and you can use the same link to check back in and participate live once the chat begins.
In addition, the second episode of the MLB Trade Rumors podcast is now available! MLBTR’s Simon Hampton hosts MLBTR’s Steve Adams as they answer listener questions and discuss the undefeated Rays, recent prospect promotions, and the Angels’ bullpen. You can listen to today’s episode on Spotify or Apple Podcast.
The Opener: Wright, Marquez, MLBTR Chat
As the regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Wright to make season debut:
Braves right-hander Kyle Wright figures to make his season debut today, starting this evening’s game against the Reds. Wright was slowed during camp due to shoulder soreness, but dominated for Atlanta in 2022, posting a 3.19 ERA (128 ERA+) with a 3.58 FIP in 180 1/3 innings of work, a performance strong enough to earn him downballot votes in NL Cy Young Award voting. To make room for Wright on the 26-man roster, the club will need to make a corresponding move of some sort before tonight’s game. Wright figures to help stabilize a Braves rotation that has battled injuries and uncertainty early in the 2023 season, with Max Fried suffering a hamstring strain during his first start of the season and rookie southpaws Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd both struggling in their first taste of big league action.
2. Marquez to be reevaluated:
Rockies right-hander German Marquez left his start yesterday after just 62 pitches due to forearm tightness. While both Marquez himself and manager Bud Black expressed optimism that the issue is a minor one, any discomfort in a pitcher’s forearm is cause for concern. While it’s unknown if Marquez will undergo any imaging at this point, the plan is for right-hander to be reevaluated today. Should Marquez miss any time, Peter Lambert and Noah Davis are both possible options to take his turn in the rotation. Both are already on the 40-man roster and are stretched out as starters in Triple-A.
3. MLBTR Chat today:
If the beginning of the regular 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.
In addition, the next episode of the MLB Trade Rumors podcast is set to release tomorrow morning. MLBTR readers are encouraged to submit questions to be answered on the podcast by sending an email to mlbtrpod@gmail.com. In the meantime, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Athletics Recall Kevin Smith, Place Seth Brown On IL
April 10: The A’s made it official today, recalled Smith and placing Brown on the 10-day IL with a strained left oblique.
April 9: Oakland outfielder Seth Brown is headed for the injured list with an oblique issue, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Brown was unavailable during today’s game against the Rays after feeling discomfort during a check-swing in last night’s game, and it appears the issue is serious enough to warrant an IL-stint, though no details regarding Brown’s timetable for return have been revealed. Gallegos also reports that infielder Kevin Smith is set to join the club in Baltimore, presumably to replace Brown on the active roster.
Brown, who is entering his age-30 season in 2023, was the best hitter in the A’s lineup last season who returned this season as he posted a 25 homer season while slashing .230/.305/.444 in 150 games last year, good for a wRC+ of 117. Only Sean Murphy, who the A’s traded to the Braves in a three-team deal with the Brewers over the offseason, had a better year in terms of wRC+ among A’s regulars. Though he still has three seasons of team control left prior to free agency after 2023, Brown entered the year as a plausible trade candidate for the A’s come July due to his age and the club being in the midst of a rebuild that saw the likes of Murphy, AJ Puk, and Cole Irvin traded this past offseason.
Brown hits the injured list without having gotten going at the plate, having posted a wRC+ of just 71 in his first eight games this season, but with strikeout and walk rates roughly in line with last season and a deflated .238 BABIP, there was plenty of reason for optimism that his production would return to 2022 levels with a larger sample size. Those hopes will have to be put on hold for now, however, though it’s currently unclear if Brown will require only the minimum stay on the IL or miss a longer period.
That leaves the A’s likely to turn to Smith, who struggled mightily in 47 games at the big league level with Oakland last season, slashing just .180/.216/.302 in 151 plate appearances. That being said, Smith has a career .817 OPS in the minor leagues and, at 26 years old, could still put it together at the major league level. Acquired from the Blue Jays in the trade that sent Matt Chapman to Toronto, Smith provides the A’s with a great deal of versatility off the bench, as he has experience at all four infield spots in addition to the outfield corners.
Any time missed by Brown will likely stand to benefit outfielders Brent Rooker and Conner Capel, each of whom have drawn a start at Brown’s usual spot in left field over the past two games. It’s also possible that an infielder, like Tony Kemp, could move to left, allowing shortstop Nick Allen to get extra at-bats in the infield.
The Opener: Cruz, Rays vs Red Sox, Adell
As the baseball season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. How much time will Cruz miss?
The Pirates suffered a massive blow yesterday as their young star shortstop Oneil Cruz suffered a fractured ankle sliding into home plate against the White Sox. In 401 major league plate appearances since the start of the 2022 season, Cruz has slashed .234/.302/.444 with 18 home runs and 13 stolen bases. More details about the specifics of Cruz’s injury and timetable for return could be available later today, though it already seems all but certain Cruz will miss significant time. The Pirates figure to go with Rodolfo Castro at shortstop while Cruz is on the shelf, though it’s possible a call-up from the minors such as Tucupita Marcano or Chris Owings could factor in as well.
2. Potential injury updates ahead of Rays/Red Sox game:
A four-game set between the Red Sox and the Rays figures to begin this evening, with the possibility that both clubs will have injury updates available before the game on players who recently underwent imaging. Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall injured his wrist on a diving play in center field yesterday, and though an X-ray was done on Duvall after he was removed from the game, no results have been announced to this point. Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe notes that infielder Bobby Dalbec is expected to join the club in Tampa, meaning he could be the next man up in the event that Duvall requires a stint on the injured list. As for the Rays, shortstop Taylor Walls did not play over the weekend after suffering an elbow injury on Friday, and is set to undergo imaging today. Young infielder Jonathan Aranda is traveling with the team and figures to take Walls’s spot on the roster should he require an IL stint.
3. Adell tearing up the minors:
Former top prospect Jo Adell has long struggled to make the jump from the minor leagues to the majors, as shown by his career wRC+ of just 68 in 161 big league games. After getting an extended run of playing time in 2022, Adell finds himself somewhat buried on the Angels’ depth chart, as the club sports a trio of everyday outfielders in Mike Trout, Taylor Ward, and Hunter Renfroe. That hasn’t stopped Adell from making a case for himself to get another opportunity in the early going this season, however, as he has hit seven home runs over his past six games for the Salt Lake Bees, Anaheim’s Triple-A affiliate. According to the Bees, Adell’s streak of six consecutive games with a home run was a record for the franchise. It’s somewhat difficult to imagine Adell receiving everyday starts in Anaheim this season barring an injury in the outfield, but it’s possible he could work his way into the Angels’ outfield mix later in the season if his hot start continues. In the meantime, Adell will try to keep his homer streak alive for a seventh game on Tuesday in Las Vegas.