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Giants Designate Dereck Rodriguez, Select Joey Rickard

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The Giants have designated right-hander Dereck Rodriguez for assignment, Kerry Crowley of the Mercury News was among those to report. They also selected outfielder Joey Rickard and optioned righty Shaun Anderson.

Rodriguez, the son of legendary catcher Ivan Rodriguez, made an immediate mark on the Giants when they first promoted him in May 2018. The former outfield prospect improbably emerged as one of the majors’ most effective rookies that year, in which he threw 118 1/3 innings of 2.81 ERA/3.74 FIP ball and notched 6.77 K/9 against 2.74 BB/9.

After Rodriguez’s first-year success, the Giants were no doubt hoping they had a long-term rotation cog on their hand. Instead, though, Rodriguez has failed to justify a roster spot dating back to last season. Since 2019, the 28-year-old has recorded a 5.94 ERA/5.89 FIP with 6.38 K/9 and 3.41 BB/9 across 103 innings and 30 appearances (16 starts). However, as someone who has a pair of minor league options remaining and isn’t on track to reach arbitration until after 2021, Rodriguez could be attractive to some teams as a reclamation project.

Rickard, 29, is now in line to appear in the majors for a fifth straight season, though the ex-Oriole has never offered much on the offensive side. He’s just a .247/.301/.373 hitter with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 978 plate appearances between Baltimore and San Francisco.

Diamondbacks Don’t Expect Merrill Kelly To Return In 2020

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Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly landed on the injured list with a nerve impingement in his pitching shoulder Monday. Now, according to general manager Mike Hazen, Kelly probably won’t return this season after undergoing surgery to address a blood clot, per reports from Zach Buchanan of The Athletic and Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.

The loss of Kelly seems like bad news on multiple fronts for the Diamondbacks. As owners of a 13-18 record, the D-backs could have sold a healthy Kelly off before the Aug. 31 trade deadline, as MLBTR’s Steve Adams explained shortly before he went on the IL. On the other hand, if Arizona wanted to continue pushing for a playoff spot, Kelly could have helped its cause. The 31-year-old has been one of its top starters this season, having recorded a 2.59 ERA/3.95 FIP with 8.33 K/9, 1.44 BB/9 and a 45.6 percent groundball rate in five appearances and 31 1/3 innings.

Aside from Kelly and Zac Gallen, the Diamondbacks’ rotation has gotten little production from anyone who has received multiple starts this year. Robbie Ray, Madison Bumgarner and Luke Weaver have all endured disastrous seasons, while Alex Young has provided middle-of-the-road numbers over three starts. But Bumgarner, who has been on the IL since Aug. 9 with a mid-back strain, figures to return soon. He should slot in along with Gallen, Ray, Weaver and either Young or Taylor Clarke when he does come back.

Kelly, meanwhile, will remain under Diamondbacks control in 2021 if they want to keep him. They’ll have to decide on a $4.25MM option or a $500K buyout in the offseason.

Cubs Release Kelvin Herrera

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The Cubs have released veteran reliever Kelvin Herrera from their alternate site, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune was among those to report. Their 60-man pool now includes 57 players.

Herrera wasn’t long for the Cubs, who signed the former Royal, National and White Sox right-hander to a minor league contract Aug. 6. That came just a few days after the White Sox released Herrera, whom they signed to a two-year, $18MM contract before 2019. Herrera delivered a subpar 6.14 ERA/4.58 FIP with a career-worst 4.03 BB/9 across 51 1/3 innings in his lone full season with the White Sox, though, and after he opened this year with 2 1/3 frames of four-earned run ball with a personal-low 94.3 mph average fastball velocity, the club decided to cut ties.

Despite Herrera’s struggles of late, he shouldn’t have too much trouble finding another low-risk opportunity soon, considering he’s still just 30 and has been quite successful in the majors. Even factoring in his difficulties with the White Sox, Herrera owns a more-than-respectable 3.21 ERA/3.44 FIP with 8.94 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 61 saves and 119 holds in 513 2/3 career innings.

Reds Designate Pedro Strop, Select Jose Garcia

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The Reds announced that they’ve reinstated reliever Pedro Strop from the injured list and designated him for assignment. In other moves, the club selected infielder Jose Garcia and optioned outfielder Travis Jankowski to its alternate site.

If this is the end of the right-handed Strop’s run with the Reds, it’ll go down as short-lived and unmemorable. The former Ranger, Oriole and Cub signed with the Reds for a one-year, $1.825MM guarantee in the winter, but he threw a mere 2 1/3 innings of three-run ball (one earned) before landing on the IL earlier this month with a right groin strain. The 35-year-old Strop does bring a quality MLB track record to the table, though, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him end up with another team if he’s healthy.

The Reds aren’t wasting any time with Garcia, who will start at shortstop for the team Wednesday. It’s a big leap for the 22-year-old Garcia, who hasn’t yet played above High-A ball, where he slashed .280/.343/.436 with eight home runs and 15 stolen bases in 452 plate appearances last season. Garcia’s now the Reds’ seventh-ranked prospect at Baseball America, which writes that he has the potential “to jump to the top of Cincinnati’s system with continued performance.”

Phillies Trade Austin Davis To Pirates

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The Phillies have traded lefty Austin Davis to the Pirates in exchange for cash and a player to be named later, per a club announcement. He was designated for assignment last Friday after Philadelphia acquired righty David Hale from the Yankees.

The 27-year-old Davis has spent parts of the 2018-20 seasons in the big leagues with the Phillies but hasn’t found an extended run of success just yet. He’s been rocked for a 5.86 ERA in 58 1/3 Major League innings, including seven runs in three frames this season. With 27 walks and five hit batters in his young career, control has been an issue, but it’s encouraging that the former 12th-rounder (2014) has also whiffed 64 hitters in those 58 1/3 MLB frames.

Davis has also been solid in Triple-A, where he’s logged a combined 2.69 ERA with 11.2 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 through 82 2/3 innings of relief. He’s long posted strong strikeout numbers and impressive control in the minors, so there’s some hope he’ll improve in the bigs. Davis’ fastball averages 93.5 mph, and he has a pair of minor league options remaining (including this season), so he gives the Bucs some flexibility in that regard. It seems he’ll join Pittsburgh’s big league roster for the time being, however, as the Pirates’ announcement made no mention of optioning him to the alternate site.

Rays Place Jalen Beeks On 45-Day IL, Select Ryan Sherriff

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The Rays announced Wednesday that they’ve placed lefty Jalen Beeks on the 45-day injured list due to an elbow sprain and selected the contract of fellow southpaw Ryan Sherriff from their alternate training site. It’s another blow to the Rays’ pitching staff, as Beeks is now lost for the season. The team didn’t announce a treatment plan for Beeks, though the presence of a sprain indicates some degree of stretching or tearing within the elbow.

In the past week alone, the Rays have lost lefty Brendan McKay to shoulder surgery and right-hander Yonny Chirinos to Tommy John surgery. Tampa reliever Colin Poche also had Tommy John surgery earlier this season, righty Andrew Kittredge was diagnosed with a UCL sprain just two weeks ago. The Rays have also been without Charlie Morton for several weeks to shoulder inflammation. Also on the IL for the Rays are key relievers Nick Anderson, Oliver Drake, Jose Alvarado and Chaz Roe.

Beeks looks as if he’ll be a significant loss to Tampa Bay’s bullpen, which saw the 27-year-old turn in outstanding numbers this season before his campaign came to a premature end. Beeks made 12 appearances for the Rays and logged a 3.26 ERA/1.76 BB/9 with 12.1 K/9 and 1.86 BB/9 across 19 1/3 innings.

The Rays are obviously hopeful Sherriff will step up in the absence of Beeks and the rest of the their pitchers, but he brings a limited track record to the table and is coming off a major injury. Sherriff has thrown just 20 big league innings, all with the Cardinals from 2017-18, and owns a 4.05 ERA/4.51 FIP with 8.1 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and an exemplary 62.3 percent groundball rate. He signed with the Rays way back in October 2018, but the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June of that year mostly kept him on ice last season. In his first year with the Tampa Bay organization in 2019, Sherriff combined for just seven innings between the rookie and High-A levels.

Indians Recall Mike Clevinger

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Aug. 26: Cleveland has officially recalled Clevinger and optioned catcher Beau Taylor to the alternate site in a corresponding move. It’s worth noting, too, that while there’d been some drama surrounding the possibility that Clevinger’s path to free agency would be delayed if he spent 20 or more days at the alternate site, he’ll fall shy of that mark and remain on track for free agency after the 2022 campaign.

Aug. 25: The Indians announced that right-hander Mike Clevinger will be recalled from their alternate training site prior to tomorrow’s game with the Twins.  Clevinger will get the start in his return to big league action.

It has been a whirlwind few weeks for Clevinger, who went from being the nominal ace of the Cleveland rotation to being placed on the restricted list, then sent to the club’s alternate training site, and now could even be a trade candidate.  It all stems from the now-infamous incident that saw Clevinger and Zach Plesac violate the Tribe’s COVID-19 protocols by leaving the team hotel for a night out in Chicago, and then not admitting their fault until the club itself discovered the transgression.  Clevinger’s involvement didn’t even come to light until Plesac had already issued an apology to his teammates after being quarantined.

The incident left many Indians players understandably upset at Clevinger and Plesac, particularly after Plesac compounded the problem with an Instagram video blaming the media for allegedly exaggerating the situation.  In regards to Plesac, Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti told MLB.com’s Mandy Bell and other reporters that after Clevinger’s recall was announced, Antonetti called Plesac to say “they don’t have an opportunity for him at this time at the Major League level.”  As such, Plesac will continue to pitch at the alternate training site until an opening develops (or, given the August 31 trade deadline is nearing, perhaps until a trade can be worked out).

Amidst all this controversy, the Tribe is 17-12 and in possession of a wild card spot.  Somewhat incredibly, Cleveland has barely missed Clevinger or Plesac, with Shane Bieber posting Cy Young-caliber numbers, Aaron Civale and Carlos Carrasco pitching well, and Triston McKenzie coming off an eye-opening Major League debut.  Adam Plutko hasn’t been as effective, so he will likely be the odd man out now that Clevinger is back…or, perhaps just until Clevinger himself is dealt.

Clevinger has had an up-and-down year even just in terms of his on-field results.  While he has a 3.24 ERA over 16 2/3 innings, ERA indicators (6.25 FIP, 5.38 xFIP, 5.46 SIERA) and batted-ball data (a .376 xwOBA that is much higher than his .338 wOBA) hint that Clevinger hasn’t been himself on the mound.  Clevinger has been aided by a .205 BABIP and a 97.6% strand rate, while already allowing four home runs and 10 walks over his 16 2/3 frames.

Red Sox Outright Stephen Gonsalves, Mike Shawaryn; R.J. Alvarez Released

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The Red Sox announced Wednesday that recently designated-for-assignment hurlers Stephen Gonsalves and Mike Shawaryn were outrighted after clearing waivers. Gonsalves was assigned to the team’s alternate training site, meaning he’s still in the 60-man player pool and eligible to pitch for the Sox in 2020 if they select his contract to the 40-man roster. That’s not true of Shawaryn, who has been removed from the team’s player pool entirely. Boston has also released right-hander R.J. Alvarez, who had been pitching at the alternate training site.

Gonsalves, once a top prospect within the Twins organization, has bounced from the Twins to the Mets to the Sox since last season drew to a close. He sports a career 3.46 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and a less-palatable 4.9 BB/9 in 125 Triple-A frames, as well as a 2.35 ERA in 184 Double-A innings. Gonsalves has struggled greatly in limited MLB action, although he never got much of a look in Minnesota and didn’t pitch with the Mets’ big league club at all. Arm injuries have hampered him in recent years, and it’s perhaps somewhat telling that he went unclaimed on waivers. Still, the Sox see enough in him to keep him on hand as a depth option in the player pool.

That much can’t be said of the 26-year-old Shawaryn, who was one of the organization’s best-ranked pitching prospects for several years (albeit in a poorly regarded farm system). Last season saw Shawaryn pitch to a 4.52 ERA with a lackluster 76-to-49 K/BB ratio in 89 2/3 frames with Triple-A Pawtucket. He was crushed for 22 runs on 26 hits (five homers) and 13 walks with 29 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings in his first taste of the Majors. Prior to that, he’d put together a solid track record, averaging about eight strikeouts and two walks per nine innings pitched with a mid-3.00s ERA in his time in the upper minors.

Alvarez, 29, was hoping for his first trip to the big leagues since a 2015 run with the A’s, but it seems that won’t come with the Red Sox. He’s spent time with the Cubs, Rangers and Marlins organizations since his last Major League action, including some time as a closer with the Triple-A affiliates for Texas and Miami. Alvarez has a 4.22 ERA in 179 Triple-A frames and has averaged nearly 11 strikeouts per nine at that level.

Nationals Option Carter Kieboom, Activate Sean Doolittle

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The Nationals announced Wednesday that they’ve optioned struggling third baseman Carter Kieboom to their alternate training site in order to open a spot on the roster for lefty Sean Doolittle, who has been reinstated from the injured list.

Though Kieboom has yet to find his groove at the plate in 2020, it’s still a surprise to see the Nats option him out. The organizational hope had been that the 22-year-old, long considered one of MLB’s top overall prospects, could step into the Anthony Rendon-sized void in that lineup. That’s not to say that anyone expected the 2016 first-rounder to single-handedly make up for Rendon’s lost production, but Kieboom has been touted as a potentially plus hitter in his own right.

The future for Kieboom may still be bright, but he’s yet to find success in multiple big league auditions. He’s without an extra-base hit through 64 plate appearances this year, and he’s batted a combined .169/.299/.236 in 107 PAs dating back to last year’s debut. Clearly, that’s a far cry from last year’s .303/.409/.493 slash in 494 trips to the plate with Triple-A Fresno.

With Kieboom now out of the mix at third base and Starlin Castro on the shelf following surgery to repair a fractured wrist, the Nats will need to lean more heavily on the veteran trio of Asdrubal Cabrera, Josh Harrison and Howie Kendrick to carry the freight at second and third base. Kendrick has been limited to first base and DH exclusively in 2020, but he did appear in 23 games at second base and 15 games at third base during the 2019 regular season. Depending on how the Nats approach Monday’s looming trade deadline, we could see them look to add some infield depth — although starting pitching seems like a greater area of focus with Stephen Strasburg lost for the year and 60 percent of the rotation struggling to ERAs north of 5.00.

Stephen Strasburg Undergoes Carpal Tunnel Surgery

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Stephen Strasburg underwent surgery to alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome in his right hand earlier today, Nationals manager Dave Martinez tells reporters (Twitter link via Todd Dybas of NBC Sports Washington). Surgery was already known to be in store for Strasburg, who was placed on the 45-day injured list over the weekend. He’ll be out for the remainder of the 2020 season. The team has yet to provide a timeline for his recovery, though the hope is that he’ll be ready to go in 2021.

The 32-year-old Strasburg appeared in just two games this year and has otherwise been shelved by ongoing issues in his right hand. He was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome a bit more than a week ago and, after visiting with a specialist late last week, made the decision on Saturday to undergo surgery.

The absence of Strasburg has surely played a role in a pedestrian season for the Nats, who currently sit at 11-16, placing them last in the National League East. Washington, of course, famously rallied from a dismal start to the 2019 season as well, but if they’re to enjoy a similar Cinderella tale in 2020, they’ll need to do so without the help of last year’s World Series MVP.

With Strasburg sidelined, the Nats have been leaning on a combination of Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin, Anibal Sanchez, Austin Voth and Erick Fedde as their primary starters. Scherzer has had some uncharacteristic struggles but still posted passable results, but each of Sanchez (6.48 ERA), Voth (6.65) and Fedde (5.11) has struggled considerably. There’s no indication yet as to how the Nats plan to proceed at this year’s Aug. 31 trade deadline, but considering the fact that virtually the entire National League (Pittsburgh excluded) is within two and a half games of a Wild Card spot, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Washington pursue some affordable rotation upgrades — both to bolster its hopes in 2020 and perhaps to reinforce the staff in subsequent campaigns.

Martinez also revealed Wednesday that lefty Seth Romero, the Nationals’ first-round pick from 2017 who made his MLB debut earlier this year, will undergo surgery to place a pin his fractured right hand (Twitter link via Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post). Martinez explained recently that Romero suffered the fracture when he slipped on some stairs and braced for the fall with his right hand. While it’s fortunate for his long-term outlook that the injury wasn’t in his pitching hand, the procedure seems likely to end Romero’s season.

The 24-year-old Romero allowed four runs in 2 2/3 innings over three appearances in his first taste of the Majors. He’d missed much of the 2018 season and all of the 2019 season due to an elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery. To this point, Romero has still thrown only 50 professional innings.

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