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Indians Select Gianpaul Gonzalez

By Anthony Franco | August 31, 2021 at 5:13pm CDT

The Indians have selected the contract of catcher Gianpaul Gonzalez, Mandy Bell of MLB.com was among those to relay (Twitter link). Wilson Ramos has been placed on the 10-day injured list to open active roster space. The team already had a vacancy on the 40-man roster.

Gonzalez will back up Austin Hedges for the time being. Ramos, who had been taking that role, suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sunday. With Roberto Pérez still on the mend from a shoulder issue, the Indians needed to add another catcher to the active and 40-man rosters.

Ideally, that role likely would’ve gone to one of Ryan Lavarnway or Gavin Collins, both of whom are at Triple-A Columbus. They’re in COVID-19 protocols at the moment, Bell notes. Rather than turn to a prospect like Bo Naylor or Bryan Lavastida before they’re ready, the Indians will call up Gonzalez from High-A Lake County.

It’ll be the major league debut for Gonzalez, a 25-year-old who has a bit of past high minors experience. Cleveland’s 20th-round pick in 2014 out of an academy in Puerto Rico, the right-handed hitting Gonzalez has a .195/.274/.227 line over parts of seven minor league seasons.

Nationals Option Victor Robles

By Anthony Franco | August 31, 2021 at 4:22pm CDT

The Nationals announced they’ve optioned center fielder Víctor Robles to Triple-A Rochester. Fellow outfielder Andrew Stevenson has been recalled in his place.

It’s the culmination of back-to-back poor seasons for Robles, who finds himself in the minors for the first time since 2018. Robles has more or less been Washington’s everyday center fielder over the past three seasons, a role he’s been expected to hold for years. A one-time top prospect, Robles seized the center field job during the Nats’ World Series winning 2019 campaign. While he was a slightly below-average hitter that year, Robles rated as one of the league’s best baserunners and defensive outfielders. Only 22 years old, he looked to be a core piece who could emerge as an All-Star caliber player with just a bit of an improvement at the plate over the coming seasons.

Not only has Robles not taken another step offensively, he’s completely fallen flat at the plate. Since the start of the 2020 campaign, the right-handed hitter has posted a .209/.304/.302 line over 558 plate appearances. That translates to a 67 wRC+ that suggests Robles has been 33 percentage points worse than the league average hitter. Of the 181 hitters with 500+ plate appearances over the past two years, only four (Kevin Newman, Elvis Andrus, Gregory Polanco and Garrett Hampson) have been less productive at the plate.

Those struggles have cost Robles playing time in recent days, as he hadn’t started a game since Friday. Lane Thomas, acquired from the Cardinals at the trade deadline, has started the past three games in center and is in the lineup there again tonight. With Robles relegated to fourth outfielder duty at the big league level, the Nationals have evidently determined it better to get him continued reps against minor league pitching.

The Nationals could bring Robles back up relatively shortly, as position players only need be on optional assignment for ten days before they’re eligible to be recalled. (They can be brought up within ten days if recalled to replace an injured player). However, the timing of the demotion could suggest they’re prepared to leave Robles in the minors for additional experience. Active rosters expand from 26 to 28 players starting tomorrow, so the Nats weren’t under immediate pressure to make a move from a roster limit perspective. Instead, it seems the team has decided an optional assignment to be the more prudent course of action for Robles’ long-term development.

Even if Robles doesn’t return to the majors this season, the demotion shouldn’t have an effect on his service time outlook. He entered the season with 2.052 years of big league time and has already accrued around 152 days of service this season. That’s more than enough to push him beyond the three-year threshold as had been anticipated. He’ll qualify for arbitration for the first time this offseason and is still ticketed to reach free agency over the 2024-25 offseason — assuming he begins next year on Washington’s active roster.

Giants’ Ron Wotus Retiring From Coaching After 2021 Season

By Mark Polishuk | August 31, 2021 at 2:14pm CDT

Longtime Giants coach Ron Wotus is stepping down as a full-time coach after the season is over, as per a team announcement. Wotus first joined the team’s coaching staff in 1998 as a third base coach, and served as bench coach for the next 19 seasons before returning to third base duties prior to the 2018 season. Wotus could remain with the organization, as he and the Giants are currently talking about a role in the baseball operations department going forward.

In a statement, Wotus said, “It’s been the privilege of my life to work 34 years for the greatest organization in baseball. I never imagined I’d have the career I’ve had — coaching in four World Series, coaching homegrown players like Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt and so many others, and watching them develop into the best players they can be. They are why you coach.

“It’s time for a bit more balance in my life. My wife, Laurie, and my family have been there for me through all the ups and downs, all the travel and long hours, and now I want to be there for them.”

Wotus’ tenure in the San Francisco organization dates back to 1988, when he spent his last two seasons as a player suiting up with the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. (Wotus’ career as a big league player consisted of 32 games with the Pirates in 1983-84.) From there, Wotus moved on to become a manager in the Giants farm system, working his way up the ladder from 1991-97 and managing at the Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels.

From there, Wotus was promoted to the staff of then-manager Dusty Baker, starting what became the longest run of any coach in Giants franchise history. Wotus worked under four different managers during his time on San Francisco’s coaching staff, best known as Bruce Bochy’s chief advisor on the Giants’ World Series championship teams in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

As one might expect, Wotus received some managerial consideration himself over the years. A mystery team (rumored to be the Rockies) checked in on Wotus following the 2016 season, and the Giants interviewed him for their own managerial vacancy before Gabe Kapler was hired during the 2019-20 offseason. That same winter also saw Wotus become a candidate for the Mets’ bench coach job.

Though this outstanding coaching stint may yet have some more memorable postseason moments remaining, we at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Wotus on his tremendous career, and wish him the best on his next endeavors.

Dodgers Claim Jake Jewell, Ryan Meisinger From Cubs

By Mark Polishuk | August 31, 2021 at 2:08pm CDT

The Dodgers have claimed right-handers Jake Jewell and Ryan Meisinger off waivers from the Cubs. Both pitchers were designated for assignment over the weekend.

Jewell and Meisinger become the latest names to join a Dodgers bullpen that has been increasingly shuffled by injuries. Of the current roster mix, Phil Bickford, Shane Greene, and Evan Phillips have also been acquired just within the last few months, with Greene and Phillips both also joining the club in August. Since today is the last day for teams to acquire players who can eligible for postseason play, L.A. is exploring all avenues to find pitchers who could very end up providing some important innings some October.

Both Jewell and Meisinger are looking for a fresh start after brief and rocky tenures with the Cubs. The duo signed minor league deals with Chicago during the offseason, and the Cubs selected Jewell to the big league roster on July 29 and Meisinger on August 12.

Jewell ended up posting a 9.90 ERA over 10 innings in Wrigleyville, allowing five home runs in that small sample size. Over 38 1/3 career innings with the Angels and Cubs, Jewell has a 7.75 ERA and below-average strikeout and walk rates, though he has induced grounders at a 56.6% rate. Jewell has consistently posted high groundball rates throughout his seven pro seasons (all in the Angels organization prior to 2021) but consistent results have been hard to come by. His Triple-A numbers did improve to some extent after he was converted to full-time relief work in 2018.

Meisinger’s MLB resume isn’t dissimilar, as has surrendered a lot of homers en route to a 7.26 ERA over 31 career innings with the Cubs, Cardinals, and Orioles since the start of the 2018 season. Walks have been Meisinger’s biggest issue at the big league level and at Triple-A Iowa this year, though his six years in the minors have shown some promise as a reliever. Meisinger has a 2.68 ERA and 29.8% strikeout rate over 272 innings in the minor leagues, starting only three of his 171 appearances.

MLBTR Chat Transcript

By Steve Adams | August 31, 2021 at 2:03pm CDT

Click here to read a transcript of Tuesday’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.

Rays Sign Aaron Slegers To Two-Year Minor League Deal

By Mark Polishuk | August 31, 2021 at 2:00pm CDT

The Rays have signed right-hander Aaron Slegers to a minor league contract that runs through the 2022 season. The deal contains an invitation for Slegers to attend the team’s big league Spring Training camp.

The signing reunites Slegers and the Rays after the righty pitched for Tampa Bay during the 2019-20 seasons. The Rays dealt Slegers to the Angels last February, and he struggled to a 6.97 ERA over 31 innings out of the Los Angeles bullpen. The Halos outrighted Slegers off their 40-man roster earlier this week but he elected to become a free agent rather than remain in the Angels organization.

Slegers has a 5.46 ERA over 89 career MLB innings with the Twins, Rays, and Angels, but he achieved success over his two years in Tampa, with a 3.41 ERA over 29 frames (26 of those coming during the 2020 season). Slegers’ resume includes one start and one appearance as a bulk pitcher, though he mostly worked as a multi-inning reliever over his previous stint with the Rays.

For his career, Slegers has only a 15.3% strikeout rate, as he has relied on a 51% grounder rate to deliver outs. Home runs have been a consistent problem for Slegers apart from his 2020 season — he only allowed one homer in 26 innings last year, and 13 homers in the other 63 frames of his big league career. The long ball was a particular issue for Slegers with the Angels, with six homers allowed in his 31 innings in an Anaheim uniform.

The two-year contract indicates that the Rays see enough in Slegers to give him a bit of added security heading into the offseason, not that there is exactly much time remaining in the 2021 campaign. While Slegers hasn’t pitched well this year, he can’t be ruled out as a candidate for any sort of usage for the rest of this year or even into the postseason, given how flexible the Rays are with their arms. Slegers saw action in three of Tampa Bay’s playoff games last October, with a 1.80 ERA over five total innings in the ALDS and ALCS.

Twins To Select Joe Ryan’s Contract

By Mark Polishuk | August 31, 2021 at 1:17pm CDT

The Twins will select the contract of right-hander Joe Ryan when rosters expand to 28 players on Wednesday, SKOR North’s Darren Wolfson reports (via Twitter). Minnesota created space on the 40-man roster last night by passing reliever Edgar Garcia through outright waivers.

Ryan and fellow righty pitching prospect Drew Strotman were acquired from the Rays in the Nelson Cruz trade last month. MLB Pipeline ranks Ryan as the sixth-best prospect in Minnesota’s farm system, saying he “has all the makings of a mid-rotation big league starter” if he can develop secondary pitches to properly support his outstanding four-seam fastball.

Ryan has a combined 3.41 ERA, 4.82% walk rate, and 36.9% strikeout rate over 66 Triple-A innings with the Rays’ and Twins’ top affiliates this season, which marks Ryan’s first taste of Triple-A ball. That impressive strikeout total has only increased over his nine innings with Triple-A St. Paul, as Ryan has an absurd 17 strikeouts during his brief time in the Twins organization. Ryan has only thrown nine innings since joining the Twins since he was busy at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo — the righty had a 1.74 ERA over 10 1/3 innings to help the American team win a silver medal.

With the Twins fully looking ahead to 2022, pitching is a particular need for a club that dealt Jose Berrios and J.A. Happ at the trade deadline, could lose Michael Pineda to free agency, and could quite possibly be without the injured Maeda for all of next year. This leaves plenty of room for the 25-year-old Ryan to establish his case for a rotation spot over the next month. Ryan’s Major League debut could potentially come as soon as Wednesday, when the Twins host the Cubs.

Rangers Sign Chase Anderson To Minors Contract

By Mark Polishuk | August 31, 2021 at 12:28pm CDT

The Rangers have inked right-hander Chase Anderson to a minor league contract, FanSided’s Robert Murray reports (Twitter link). Anderson became a free agent two days ago after being released by the Phillies.

Should Anderson reach the Rangers’ active roster, Texas will owe him only the prorated portion of the minimum salary, as Philadelphia will cover the rest of the approximately $672K owed to Anderson from his guaranteed $4MM salary for the 2021 season. That makes it a pretty low-cost investment for the Rangers, who have been auditioning younger pitchers in the rotation but might need Anderson to soak up some innings.

For Anderson, he gets a chance to salvage something from what has been a very rough two-year run for the veteran righty. Since the start of the 2020 season, Anderson has a 6.94 ERA over 81 2/3 combined innings with the 2020 Blue Jays and the 2021 Phillies, with a garish 21 home runs allowed within that short sample size. Anderson was still managing to strike out a respectable number (24.7% strikeout rate) of batters during his season with Toronto, yet even that ability fell off the table this year, as Anderson had only a 16.3% strikeout rate over his 48 innings with the Phils.

Reds Acquire Delino DeShields Jr.

By Mark Polishuk | August 31, 2021 at 12:10pm CDT

The Reds have acquired outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. in a trade with the Red Sox, as announced by both teams. Boston will receive cash considerations in return, and the Reds have assigned DeShields to their Triple-A affiliate.

Since DeShields wasn’t on Boston’s 40-man roster and was playing on a minor league contract, he was eligible to be dealt after the July 30 trade deadline. The Sox and Reds have each made similar deals this August — Cincinnati previously swapped Mallex Smith to the Blue Jays for cash, while Boston picked up right-hander Brad Peacock from the Indians just yesterday and added DeShields himself from the Rangers four weeks ago.

DeShields is still looking to appear in his first big league game of the 2021 season. The veteran was non-tendered by Cleveland last winter and signed back on with Texas on a minor league contract, though he didn’t receive a call-up from either the Rangers or the Red Sox. The expanded September rosters create some extra opportunity for DeShields to get a look from the Reds, especially since Jesse Winker and Nick Senzel are still on the injured list. There is also a family connection involved, as Delino DeShields Sr. is Cincinnati’s first base coach.

With Winker expected back in a couple of weeks, the Reds will have Winker and Nick Castellanos in the corner outfield, with DeShields perhaps serving as a right-handed hitting complement to Tyler Naquin and Shogo Akiyama in center field. Aristides Aquino and Max Schrock are also on Cincinnati’s roster, though they lack DeShields’ experience and speed. The latter skill could be potentially very useful for DeShields to earn pinch-running opportunities for the Reds down the stretch and potentially into the postseason.

DeShields is 21-for-24 in stolen base attempts at the Triple-A level this season, and he has hit .252/.385/.366 over a combined 381 plate appearances with the Rangers and Red Sox affiliates. While DeShields is best known for his fielding and baserunning, his offense has been much of a mixed bag, as he has hit only .246/.326/.340 over 2056 career PA in the majors.

Quick Hits: Ohtani, Cron, Dodgers, Blach

By Mark Polishuk | August 31, 2021 at 11:49am CDT

Shohei Ohtani was originally scheduled to start today’s game against the Yankees, but the two-way star won’t be pitching due to some soreness in his right hand/wrist area. Ohtani was hit by a Ryan Weathers pitch on Saturday and didn’t sustain any structural damage, though the Angels are being cautious with the right-hander. “He’s fine, he’s just sore,” Angels manager Joe Maddon told MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger and other reporters. “Pitching is problematic, so we’ll just have him hit until he’s ready to pitch.”

Ohtani didn’t leave the lineup after being hit on Saturday, and his batting doesn’t appear to be much affected by his hand/wrist issue. He belted his Major League-leading 42nd home run in last night’s 8-7 win over New York, further strengthening Ohtani’s increasingly airtight bid to be the American League’s MVP. Ohtani is now hitting .264/.362/.626 over 516 plate appearances, augmenting his huge hitting numbers with 20 stolen bases and his excellent numbers on the mound (3.00 ERA, 29.9% strikeout rate over 105 innings). While his injury doesn’t seem overly serious, it isn’t yet known when Ohtani might pitch again.

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