Royals Designate Logan Porter, Josh Staumont For Assignment
The Royals announced that they have selected right-hander Will Klein and outfielder Tyler Gentry to the 40-man roster. Today is the deadline to add players in order to prevent them from being available in the Rule 5 draft. In order to open roster space, they designated catcher Logan Porter and right-hander Josh Staumont for assignment.
Klein, 24 later this month, was a fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft. On his way up the minors leagues, he has racked up plenty of strikeouts and ground balls but has also given out batches of walks. In 2023, he pitched 64 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A with a 4.62 earned run average. He struck out 30.5% of opponents in that time but also walked 12.8% of them and kept about 45% of balls in play on the ground at both levels.
Gentry, 25 in February, was selected in the third round of the 2020 draft. As he has ascended towards the majors, he has shown an ability to put the ball over the fence as well as take a walk. He spent all of 2023 at the Triple-A level, hitting 16 homers, walking in 14.2% of his plate appearances and also stealing 14 bases. His .253/.370/.421 batting line translates to a wRC+ of 103. He’s not considered an especially strong defender but has a chance to become a regular option in a corner based on his bat.
Baseball America considers Gentry to be the club’s #9 prospect and has Klein in the #22 spot. The two of them will give the club some optionable depth going forward and should be battling for their respective major league debuts by Spring Training.
But their gain is a loss for a couple of other players. Staumont, 30 next month, was a second-round pick in 2015 and had some success in his first tastes of the majors but has hit some speed bumps of late. He made 106 appearances from 2019 to 2021 with an ERA of 2.93 but a 6.09 in the past two years, walking 15.9% of batters in that latter timeframe.
In July, he underwent surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome, making his path forward uncertain. He made a salary of $1.025MM in 2023 and would have been due a raise via arbitration in 2024, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting him for a modest bump to $1.2MM, but it seems the Royals didn’t want to bring him back at that price point.
Porter, 28, was just added to the club’s roster in September as they were dealing with injuries to catchers Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin. It seems they didn’t have him in their long-term plans, as he’s now been bumped off the roster. He had a strong season in 2022, hitting .301/.442/.476 in the minors for a wRC+ of 145, but that line fell to .232/.339/.377 at Triple-A in 2023.
The Royals will have one week to trade or outright both players. Staumont has more than enough service time to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency.
Pirates Select Braxton Ashcraft, Tsung-Che Cheng
The Pirates announced they’ve added right-hander Braxton Ashcraft and infielder Tsung-Che Cheng to the 40-man roster. Pittsburgh’s roster count now sits at 39.
Ashcraft, 24, was a second-round pick out of a Texas high school in 2018. The 6’5″ hurler has moved slowly through the minors. The canceled season cost him a development year in 2020. He subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery and barely pitched from 2021-22. Ashcraft returned to the mound this past season, logging 52 2/3 innings through 19 starts. He posted a 2.39 ERA while striking out just under 30% of opposing hitters against a tidy 5.2% walk rate.
Baseball America recently slotted Ashcraft as the #10 prospect in the Bucs’ system, praising a four-pitch arsenal. Cheng slotted just above him, ranking ninth on that list. A native of Taiwan, he’s a 5’7″ middle infielder. As one would expect given his size, the left-handed hitter draws more praise for his contact skills and athleticism than huge power upside. He split the season between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona, faring far better at the former stop. Between the two affiliates, Cheng hit .278/.353/.456 with 12 homers and 26 stolen bases. He struck out just 18.7% of the time while drawing walks at a 9.7% clip.
Rangers Select Four Players
The Rangers announced Tuesday that they’ve selected the contracts of infielder Justin Foscue, right-hander Marc Church, lefty Antoine Kelly and righty Jose Corniell to the 40-man roster. All are now protected from next month’s Rule 5 Draft.
Foscue, 24, is perhaps the most recognizable name for fans. The 14th overall pick back in 2020, he’s ranked among the organization’s top prospects since that time. He turned in a sound .266/.394/.468 slash in Triple-A Round Rock this year, adding 18 homers and 14 steals with more walks (15.1%) than strikeouts (12.4%). Foscue has worked primarily as a second baseman in the minors, though due to questions about his glovework, he’s also seen increased time at the infield corners.
Church was an 18th-round pick by Texas back in 2019. Now 22 years old, he split the 2023 season between Double-A and Triple-A, working to a combined 3.63 ERA with a combined 29.5% strikeout rate but 11.2% walk rate. All but two of Church’s appearances on the season came in a relief role, which is how he’ll likely be used on the big league roster if he makes his debut next year. Given that he already has 44 Triple-A frames under his belt and is now on the 40-man roster, there’s a decent chance of that happening.
Kelly, 24 next month, was the Brewers’ second-round pick in 2019. He landed in the Rangers organization as part of Texas’ return for reliever Matt Bush at the 2022 trade deadline. Kelly split the 2023 season between the bullpen for the Rangers’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, working to a combined 2.04 ERA with a gaudy 32.1% strikeout rate against a 9.3% walk rate. Like Church, he could be a bullpen option as soon as the 2024 season.
Corniell, 20, was the player to be named later the Rangers received in their 2020 trade sending Rafael Montero to the Mariners. He split the season between the Rangers’ two A-ball affiliates, working as a starter and posting a composite 2.92 ERA with a 29.8% strikeout rate, 7.8% walk rate and 39% ground-ball rate in 101 2/3 innings. He’s unlikely to emerge as a viable big league option next year, but the Rangers were high enough on his arm and the success he had against much more advanced competition that they’ll dedicate a 40-man roster spot to him anyhow.
Cubs Add Three Players To 40-Man Roster
The Cubs have selected left-hander Bailey Horn as well as right-handers Porter Hodge and Michael Arias to their 40-man roster, per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. Today is the deadline for adding players to protect them from being selected in the Rule 5 draft.
Horn, 26 in January, was a fifth round pick of the White Sox in 2020 but came to the Cubs in the 2021 Ryan Tepera trade. He has since climbed his way up the minor league ladder, generally running high strikeout rates but also high walk rates. He tossed 62 innings in 2023 between Double-A and Triple-A, posting an earned run average of 4.21. He punched out 28.7% of hitters but also gave out free passes at a 12.5% clip.
Hodge, 23 in February, was a 13th-round selection of the Cubs in 2019. He had been working as a starter, with a similar profile to Horn with plenty of strikeouts and walks, though he was moved to the bullpen midway through 2023. He had a 5.59 ERA through 12 starts in the middle of June but then a 4.45 ERA as a reliever the rest of the way. Working out of the bullpen, he struck out 29.3% of batters faced but still walked 14.3%.
Arias, who turns 22 tomorrow, originally signed with the Blue Jays as a shortstop but was released in 2020. He was signed by the Cubs, who converted him to a pitcher. Like the other two names on this list, he has struggled with control but has racked up his share of punchouts. In 2023, he made 22 starts between Single-A and High-A, posting an ERA of 4.09 in 81 1/3 innings. He struck out 31.3% of guys who came to the plate but gave 14.5% a free trip to first base.
Baseball America ranks Arias the #22 prospect in the Cubs’ system, has Hodge at #30, though Horn doesn’t crack the list. The three of them will give the Cubs some optionable depth to add to the pitching staff, though each of them have work to do in harnessing their respective stuff for better results.
Twins Select Emmanuel Rodríguez, Austin Martin
The Twins have selected outfielder Emmanuel Rodríguez and utility player Austin Martin to the 40-man roster just ahead of the 5:00 pm CT Rule 5 deadline, the team revealed (as reported by several sources, including Bobby Nightengale of the StarTribune). These moves bring the 40-man roster up to 38 players.
Rodríguez, 20, is highly unlikely to appear in the majors this coming season, but evidently, the Twins believe the promising young outfielder is too talented to leave unprotected. After missing most of the 2022 season with a knee injury, the slugging center fielder came back strong in 2023, hitting 13 doubles, 9 triples, and 16 home runs, good for a 145 wRC+ at High-A. On top of that, he showed off his speed, stealing 20 bases, and his strong arm, recording seven outfield assists.
Martin, 24, is not quite as highly-regarded a prospect as Rodríguez, but he is more likely to contribute at the major league level in 2024, and thus, the team saw reason to protect him from the draft. A versatile defender, Martin is primarily a shortstop but also has experience playing all three outfield positions. He is also a quick runner and a disciplined hitter, as demonstrated by his 19 stolen bases, 39 walks, and only 46 strikeouts last season in 67 games. His offensive ceiling is limited by his lack of power, but he has the skills to contribute off the bench for a big league team.
Earlier this month, the Twins added 24-year-old infielder Yunior Severino and 24-year-old catcher Jair Camargo to the 40-man roster, preventing them from reaching minor league free agency and protecting them from the Rule 5 Draft. Notable names that were not protected include 26-year-old outfielder DaShawn Keirsey, 25-year-old utility player Anthony Prato, and 27-year-old utility player Michael Helman.
Mets Select Alex Ramirez
The Mets announced Tuesday that they’ve selected the contract of outfield prospect Alex Ramirez, thus protecting him from next month’s Rule 5 Draft. Their 40-man roster now has 33 players.
Ramirez, 20, followed up an impressive 2022 season with a tough year at High-A in 2023. He appeared in 120 games and tallied 521 plate appearances with just a .221/.310/.317 batting line to show for it. Ramirez hit seven homers, adding 21 doubles, a triple and a 21-for-27 showing in stolen base attempts.
Earlier in the year, Ramirez ranked on the back end of Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect rankings, though his rough season at the plate caused his stock to dip enough that he’s now off the list. Despite the rocky showing, Ramirez’s tools still draw plenty of praise. He’s regarded as an above-average runner and more than capable center fielder with a plus arm and above-average power. He was still more than two years younger than his average opponent in High-A, so there’s still plenty of time for him to iron out the kinks and restore much of his prospect status.
Yankees Select Agustin Ramirez, Clayton Beeter
The Yankees announced that they have selected the contracts of right-hander Clayton Beeter and catcher Agustin Ramirez. Today is the deadline for a club to add players to its 40-man roster in order to protect them from being eligible in the Rule 5 draft.
Beeter, 25, was selected by the Dodgers with the 66th overall pick in the 2020 draft. He came to the Yanks in the 2022 deadline deal that sent Joey Gallo to Los Angeles. Beeter split the 2023 season between Double-A and Triple-A, tossing 131 2/3 innings over 27 appearances, 26 starts. He struck out an impressive 28.8% of batters faced on the year but also issued walks at a 13.1% clip. That lack of control is nothing new, as he has walked 12.6% of batters faced in his minor league career overall.
Ramirez, 22, was signed as an international amateur out of Venezuela in 2018. In 2023, he spent time in Single-A, High-A and Double-A, getting 492 plate appearances in total. He launched 18 home runs in that time and also stole 12 bases. He walked in 12.4% of his trips to the plate while limiting his strikeouts to a 17.3% clip.
Baseball America currently lists Beeter as the club’s #20 prospect and Ramirez at #24. The former will give club some optionable pitching depth on the roster while Ramirez will add to a catching mix that is already somewhat crowded. Jose Trevino, Kyle Higashioka, Austin Wells, Ben Rortvedt and Carlos Narvaez are also on the 40-man, giving the Yanks six backstops on the roster, an unusually high number. It was reported last month that the club is signaling that they are willing to trade from their surplus in that department.
Rays Designate Calvin Faucher, Cooper Criswell For Assignment
The Rays are selecting infielder Austin Shenton and right-hander Yoniel Curet to the 40-man roster, tweets Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. In corresponding moves, righties Calvin Faucher and Cooper Criswell have been designated for assignment. The Rays also avoided arbitration with left-hander Tyler Alexander on a one-year deal, Topkin adds.
Shenton, a left-handed hitting corner infielder, was a fifth round pick of the Mariners in 2019. Seattle traded the Florida International product to Tampa Bay at the 2021 deadline to bring in reliever Diego Castillo. He has spent the past couple seasons in the upper minors. The 25-year-old had a breakout year in 2023, combining for a .304/.423/.584 batting line between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham. He walked at a massive 16.3% clip against an elevated 26.7% strikeout rate.
Curet, 21, is a 6’2″ hurler from the Dominican Republic. He’s still in the low minors. Curet split this year between Low-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green. He combined for a 2.94 ERA through 104 innings, striking out a third of opponents. A near-17% walk rate points to significant control issues to be ironed out, yet the Rays were evidently still concerned another team could stash Curet as an upside flier in their bullpen.
Faucher joined the Rays at the 2021 trade deadline as part of the ill-fated Nelson Cruz/Joe Ryan deal. The 28-year-old has pitched 47 innings over 39 appearances in the last two seasons. He has allowed 6.32 earned runs per nine with a middling 20.8% strikeout rate and a lofty 10% walk percentage. Faucher ended the season on the injured list with biceps tendinitis.
Criswell was on and off the active roster this year. He posted a 3.93 ERA in 84 2/3 Triple-A innings but allowed a 5.73 ERA over 33 MLB frames. Criswell is a good strike-thrower but hasn’t missed many bats at the highest level. Both he and Faucher will be traded or put on waivers within the next week.
Alexander was just claimed off waivers from the Tigers. He is in his second season of arbitration eligibility. Financial terms of his deal weren’t disclosed. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected him for a $2MM salary, although it’s not uncommon for deals for borderline non-tender candidates to come in below those forecasts.
Astros Select Kenedy Corona
The Astros announced Tuesday that they’ve selected the contract of outfield prospect Kenedy Corona. Barring a late additional move, it seems he’s the lone addition to their 40-man roster prior to tonight’s deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft. Their 40-man roster is up to 38 players. Ari Alexander of Houston’s KPRC-2 first reported that Corona would be added to the roster.
Corona, 23, came to Houston by way of the 2019 trade that sent outfielder Jake Marisnick from the Astros to the Mets. He spent the bulk of the 2023 season with Houston’s Double-A affiliate, batting .244/.324/.449 with 20 homers and 31 steals in a generally pitcher-friendly setting. He drew a walk in 9.8% of his plate appearances and fanned at a 25.9% clip that the organization would surely like to see him pare down in the future.
Baseball America ranks Corona 14th among Houston farmhands, touting his plus speed, above-average power and range in center field. However, while he’s adept at not chasing pitches off the plate, his contact skills are described as fringe-average, and his right-handed bat was fairly pedestrian against right-handed pitching in 2023 (.244/.336/.426). Against southpaws, however, he turned in a much more robust .278/.313/.579 batting line.
Reds Select Rece Hinds, Christian Roa, Jacob Hurtubise
The Reds announced that they have added three players to their 40-man roster ahead of the 5:00 pm CT Rule 5 deadline: outfielder Rece Hinds, right-hander Christian Roa, and outfielder Jacob Hurtubise. Their 40-man is now full.
Hinds, 23, is the Reds’ No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and most sources agree he’ll be ready to make his big league debut at some point in 2024. In 109 games with Double-A Chattanooga last season, he showed off his power potential, crushing 23 home runs and 58 extra-base hits. He ran well for a slugging outfielder, too, swiping 20 bags and legging out six triples. However, the righty batter also struck out in a third of his plate appearances, so he’ll need to improve his plate discipline if he wants to put his power on display at the major league level.
As for his defense, Hinds made the move from third base to the outfield in 2022, and he seems to have adjusted well. He has spent time in both corners, but his best asset is his powerful arm, so right field seems like the better fit. The Reds have a glut of talented young players all over the diamond, but there is less of a logjam in the outfield, so there should be room for Hinds if he cuts down on the strikeouts and keeps hitting bombs in the minors.
Roa, 24, struggled after his promotion to Triple-A last summer, seeing his strikeout rate fall and his home run rate rise. At the same time, the 2020 second-round pick showed off some phenomenal strikeout stuff in 2023, striking out 33.7% of batters faced in 13 starts at Double-A Chattanooga and 28.6% of batters faced in 15 games (12 starts) at Triple-A Louisville. If he can rein in the walks (16.6% walk rate across Double- and Triple-A), he could make his way to the majors at some point next season. Presumably, he will serve as rotation depth at Triple-A, something the Reds have no shortage of. In addition to Roa, the team has Lyon Richardson, Connor Phillips, Levi Stoudt, and Carson Spiers on the 40-man roster, all of whom made starts for the big league team in 2023 with limited success.
Hurtubise, 25, doesn’t have the prospect pedigree of either Hinds or Roa, but he might have been an appealing target in the Rule 5 Draft following his strong performance in 2023. In 83 games at Double-A, he slashed .306/.453/.492 with a 159 wRC+, and he kept mashing after a mid-August promotion to Triple-A, slashing .390/.537/.460 the rest of the way. While he is surely due for some significant regression, his plate discipline was genuinely impressive, and his speed is the real deal. He is primarily a corner outfielder, but he has experience in center as well, so he profiles as a fourth or fifth outfielder.