Slusser’s Latest: Cespedes, Milone, Fuld
Here’s some background news and notes on the Athletics’ big trade deadline moves from Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle…
- It surprised many to see Yoenis Cespedes traded yesterday, but Slusser reports that the A’s were planning on dealing the outfielder this offseason anyway since the club didn’t think they would be able to extend him. Cespedes has a contract option that allows him to become a free agent following the 2015 season. In another piece, Slusser notes that “there never were very extensive talks” between Cespedes and the A’s about an extension.
- Sam Fuld was the only Major League player being offered by any of the teams interested in Tommy Milone, which is why the A’s swung the deal with the Twins to provide immediate outfield help given Coco Crisp and Craig Gentry‘s injury problems.
- Slusser notes that Oakland plans to keep Fuld for 2015, and he isn’t just a temporary solution while Gentry is on the DL with a broken hand.
- The Athletics are still looking to add a second baseman before the August 31st trade deadline.
A’s Designate Evan Scribner For Assignment
5:30pm: Scribner has only been removed from Oakland’s 25-man roster and he remains on the 40-man, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Twitter link). Because it has been more than three years since Scribner’s Major League debut, he must be put on optional assignment waivers in order to be sent to Triple-A. These waivers are revocable, so the A’s can pull Scribner back if another team claimed him.
3:38pm: The Athletics have designated righty Evan Scribner for assignment, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Twitter link).
Scribner has a 1.69 ERA over 5 1/3 relief innings for Oakland this season, and a 3.87 ERA, 2.7 K/BB rate and 6.9 K/9 over 81 1/3 career innings with the Padres and A’s from 2011-14. The 29-year-old was a 28th-round pick for the Diamondbacks in the 2008 draft.
Rays Release Jayson Nix
The Rays have released Jayson Nix, Baseball America’s Matt Eddy reports (via Twitter). Eddy notes that Nix was granted his release from the minor league deal that the veteran infielder originally signed with Tampa in May. The newly-acquired Nick Franklin was assigned to the Triple-A roster in a corresponding move.
This was the second of two minor league contracts Nix signed with the Rays in 2014, and in between he was acquired by the Phillies and appeared in 18 games, posting a .445 OPS in 43 PA. Nix, who turns 32 later this month, was originally drafted 44th overall by the Rockies in 2001 and he’s suited up for six different franchises over his seven years in the majors.
Orioles Sign Joe Saunders To Minors Deal
The Orioles have signed veteran left-hander Joe Saunders to a minor league contract, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports (Twitter link).
Saunders joins his third organization of the season after being released by the Royals and Rangers within the last month. The southpaw posted a 6.13 ERA in 39 2/3 innings with Texas earlier this year and also struggled in four starts with Kansas City’s Triple-A affiliate.
This is Saunders’ second stint in Baltimore, as he was first acquired by the O’s in late August 2012. He was a key part of the Orioles’ playoff push that year, posting a 3.63 ERA over seven regular season starts and then a 1.59 ERA over two postseason starts, earning the win in the Orioles’ wild card game victory over the Rangers. Baltimore had some interest in Saunders during the offseason and, according to Connolly, are looking at Saunders as a possible long relief option out of the bullpen.
Indians Designate Zach McAllister
The Indians have designated right-hander Zach McAllister for assignment, as per a team press release. Outfielder Tyler Holt has been recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
McAllister has only been designated off the Tribe’s 25-man roster (he’s still on the 40-man) as, since McAllister debuted in the majors more than three years ago, he must be put on optional assignment waivers in order to be sent to Triple-A.
It’s been a tough year for McAllister, who missed over a month with a back injury and has posted a 5.91 ERA, 7.3 K/9 and 2.08 K/BB rate in 14 starts for Cleveland. Looking at his advanced metrics, McAllister’s 4.04 FIP, 4.27 xFIP and 4.30 SIERA indicate that his real-world ERA has been unluckily inflated thanks to a .322 BABIP and only a 58.6% strand rate.
Rangers Designate Ryan Feierabend
The Rangers have designated lefty Ryan Feierabend for assignment, the club announced. Righty Phil Klein will take his spot on the active and 40-man rosters.
Feierabend, 28, threw to a 6.14 ERA in 7 1/3 frames for Texas this year, his first MLB action since 2008. Mostly a starter in his previous experience and in the minors, Feierabend threw from the bullpen for the Rangers. He owns a 4.54 ERA through 113 Triple-A innings on the year.
Braves Designate Jordan Schafer For Assignment
The Braves have designated outfielder Jordan Schafer for assignment, reports MLB.com’s Mark Bowman (via Twitter). He was expected to be a roster casualty after the team picked up Emilio Bonifacio yesterday via trade.
Schafer, 27, has struggled to a .163/.256/.213 line in 93 plate appearances this year for Atlanta, though he has racked up 15 stolen bases in that time. He was a valuable contributor last year, slashing .247/.331/.346 with 22 swipes. The Braves claimed him from the Astros in the fall of 2012 after originally shipping him to Houston in the Michael Bourn deal.
Top Prospect Promotions: Foltynewicz, Ranaudo
Two well-regarded young arms both got the call for their respective teams. At this point, even if both players stay on the MLB roster the rest of the way, they will of course not be able to accrue enough service time to set them up for eventual Super Two qualification. On the other hand, they’ll bank plenty of service days now and begin moving towards arbitration eligibility. Let’s take a look:
- Righty Mike Foltynewicz will get his call-up for a relief role with the Astros, reports Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The 22-year-old with a big fastball currently ranks 65th on MLB.com’s list of the game’s top 100 prospects, with Baseball America ranking him 59th coming into the year. With Foltynewicz, the big question is whether he can develop his secondary offerings to the point that he will stick in a rotation, but Houston will plan to use him in relief this season and give him a chance at earning a starting role in the spring (according to a tweet from MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart).
- Meanwhile, Anthony Ranaudo will take the bump today for the Red Sox after previously scheduled starter John Lackey was dealt away, as Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal tweets. Ranking 82nd among the game’s prospects per MLB.com, the 24-year-old righty has put up excellent results in each of the last two seasons as he climbed through the minor league ranks. This year, he owns a 2.41 ERA through 119 1/3 innings at Triple-A, with 7.5 K/9 against 3.7 BB/9. MLB.com praises his sinker and sharp curve, though says he still was work to do refining his change.
Marlins Designate Donnie Joseph For Assignment
The Marlins have designated lefty Donnie Joseph for assignment, according to the MLB transactions page. Presumably, the move relates to the team’s recent acquisition of Jarred Cosart.
Joseph, 26, had just one very rough outing this year at the major league level. Through 33 innings at Triple-A, he had worked to a 5.45 ERA with 9.5 K/9 against a troubling 7.6 BB/9. With his strikeout levels down and walk issues still prevalent, Miami saw fit to take his 40-man spot when the need arose.
Braves Release Luis Vasquez
The Braves have released righty Luis Vasquez, reports MLB.com’s Mark Bowman (via Twitter). The move will help clear roster space for the club’s recent deadline acquisitions.
Vasquez, 28, had struggled to a 11.91 ERA in 11 1/3 frames at Triple-A this year, with 11.9 K/9 but a troubling 8.7 BB/9. He came to Atlanta over the winter after spending all of his career with the Dodgers. Vasquez has always struggled with his control, but an increase in his strikeout numbers last year presumably made him interesting to the Braves.