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Yankees Option Clint Frazier

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Last night, the Yankees announced they optioned outfielder Clint Frazier and right-handed reliever Ben Heller to their alternate training site. The club plans to bring right-handers Nick Nelson and Brooks Kriske up to the active roster in their stead. They’ll add a pair of fresh arms to a pitching staff that saw James Paxton work just one-plus inning in Saturday’s loss to the Nationals.

So continues Frazier’s repeated journeys on and off the big league roster. The onetime top prospect has been decent offensively, albeit with some high-profile defensive issues, when he’s gotten MLB opportunities (career .254/.308/.463 line in 429 plate appearances). Still, he’s had a hard time cracking a loaded Yankees outfield.

Due to his immense power potential, the 25-year-old has long been rumored as a potential trade candidate. Thus far, the organization has expressed little interest in giving him up. Given the club’s competitive outlook, though, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his name floated in rumors again this season. Yesterday’s demotion doesn’t suggest the organization has soured on Frazier long-term, but it does underscore the difficulty for him in carving out an immediate, significant role in the Bronx.

Nelson and Kriske, meanwhile, will each make their MLB debut if/when they get into a game. Each posted strong strikeout and run prevention numbers in Double-A in 2019, albeit with slightly elevated walk rates.

J.T. Realmuto On Extension Talks: “Nothing’s Happened Thus Far”

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There hadn’t been much progress in extension talks between J.T. Realmuto and the Phillies as of two weeks ago, and the All-Star catcher’s latest update revealed that not much has changed.  “Nothing’s happened thus far,” Realmuto told the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber and other reporters.  “To be honest, I’m focused on the season at this point.”

The latter comment could indicate that negotiations may have been somewhat tabled for the time being, given that most players try to avoid having contract talks stretch into the season in order to stay fully focused on baseball.  That logic could be particularly apt heading into the 2020 season, as players already have so many other concerns hanging over them given the unusual circumstances of the 60-game campaign.  The same could also be true on the front office side, as Phillies GM Matt Klentak said almost a month ago that he hadn’t yet spoken to Realmuto’s agents since the team was occupied with the many details involved in launching its Summer Camp.

The Phils still have exclusive negotiating rights with Realmuto until free agency officially opens (five days after the conclusion of the World Series), so there’s plenty of time for the two sides to work out a long-term agreement.  That said, stars of Realmuto’s caliber usually don’t get that close to the open market without indeed seeing what other teams have to offer, especially since Realmuto is now perhaps the biggest name available in the 2020-21 offseason now that Mookie Betts is under contract to the Dodgers through the 2032 season.

Speaking of that extension, Realmuto was pleased by Betts’ mega-deal, saying “it was good to see [Betts] get what he deserves.”  The impact on Realmuto and other top free agents also wasn’t lost on the catcher.

“It was definitely positive to see for baseball knowing that teams still do have that money,” Realmuto said.  “Like I mentioned a few weeks ago, I still think that the teams at the top of the market are going to be willing to spend money.  Some teams are going to take advantage of the situation where half or maybe three-quarters of the league might not be interested in spending as much money.  Other teams are going to really go for it and push for those players.”

Past reports have suggested Realmuto and his camp is looking for a deal in the range of five years and $130MM, which would set a new average annual value ($26MM) record for a contract given to a catcher.  While a hefty sum, it is still far less what it would have taken for another team to sign Betts, assuming he could have found anything close to the $365MM over twelve years that he got from Los Angeles.  While signing a catcher to such a big deal obviously carries inherent risk, teams that were planning on taking a run at Betts this winter might now shift their attention to Realmuto, who presents a big upgrade on virtually every catching situation in baseball.

Eduardo Rodriguez Dealing With Heart Issue Related To COVID Diagnosis

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The COVID-related health problem that led the Red Sox to shut Eduardo Rodriguez down for a week is related to his heart, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports.  “There seems to be a strong possibility” that Rodriguez is suffering from the inflammation of the heart muscle known as myocarditis, which has been observed in multiple patients recovering from COVID-19.

Rodriguez tested positive for the coronavirus prior to the start of Boston’s summer camp and had a rough time dealing with symptoms, as he told reporters.  However, he was cleared to join his teammates on July 17 and seemed to be on track to miss relatively little time at the start of the season prior to the setback.

Any heart problem is naturally cause for concern, and while the specifics of Rodriguez’s setback weren’t known earlier in the week, Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said at the time that the left-hander’s “minor complications” were enough for the club to take it as cautiously as possible with Rodriguez.  Roenicke did said that he expected E-Rod to pitch at some point in the 2020 season and that “we’re really hopeful that this is going to clear up in a short time.”

Such a scenario would obviously be great news both for Rodriguez’s health and for the thin Red Sox pitching staff, which could sorely use the lefty back atop the rotation.  2019 saw Rodriguez enjoy the finest of his five MLB seasons, as he finished sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting and posted a 3.81 ERA, 2.84 K/BB rate, and 9.4 K/9 over 203 1/3 innings.

Austin Meadows Cleared For Workouts

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Rays outfielder Austin Meadows has been cleared to resume training and is currently working out at the Rays’ minor league camp, manager Kevin Cash told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times and other reporters.  Meadows was placed on the injured list nine days ago due to a positive COVID-19 test and said he suffered some mild symptoms of the virus, though he has now passed league protocols that include a lack of symptoms and negative tests on consecutive days.

Meadows only worked out briefly at the start of the Rays’ Summer Camp, and Cash said he doesn’t know it will take the outfielder to get back up to speed following his weeks away from training.  Topkin speculated that Meadows could potentially join the Rays on Wednesday for the start of a road trip, though that is likely the best-case scenario.

Meadows’ first full season in Tampa Bay was an unqualified success, as he hit .291/.364/.558 with 33 homers over 591 PA to help the Rays reach the postseason.  The 25-year-old has gone from being a touted prospect in the Pirates’ farm system to one of the sport’s brightest young stars, and a huge cornerstone of a Rays team that is hoping to be in the World Series conversation as soon as this October.

Gregory Polanco Cleared To Resume Workouts With Pirates

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After news broke last week that Gregory Polanco had tested positive for the coronavirus, Pirates manager Derek Shelton told reporters (including MLB.com’s Adam Berry) that the outfielder had been cleared to resume training with the club.  According to Polanco’s personal Instagram page, he has already working out at PNC Park in preparation for his 2020 debut.

No specific timeline was given for when Polanco might return, after missing roughly two weeks of training and on-field action.  “As soon as we feel or deem his body is ready to come back, then he will be able to come back, assessment-wise,” Shelton said.  “We’re going to make sure that he’s in a position where his body is deemed healthy.”

2018 seemed like a breakout campaign for the outfielder, though the shoulder surgery that Polanco underwent late that season ended up being a lingering problem throughout 2019.  Polanco played in only 42 games and hit a lackluster .242/.301/.425 over 167 plate appearances.

Assuming he can come back with a healthy shoulder and in anything close to his 2018 form, Polanco will provide a big boost to Pittsburgh’s outfield.  Polanco is slated to eventually take over in right field, with he and Bryan Reynolds flanking the center field platoon of Jarrod Dyson and Guillermo Heredia.

Indians Place Tyler Naquin On IL, Recall Zach Plesac, Outright Hunter Wood

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The Indians made a series of roster moves today, most notably the placement (retroactive to July 22) of outfielder Tyler Naquin on the 10-day injured list due to a fractured toe.  Right-hander Zach Plesac was called up to take Naquin’s spot, getting an early promotion to the active roster since Plesac is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game.  In other moves, right-hander Hunter Wood was outrighted off the 40-man roster and assigned to the Tribe’s minor league camp.

Naquin suffered the injury on Monday after fouling a pitch off his foot during an exhibition game.  Cleveland already called up Daniel Johnson for outfield depth while Naquin was recovering, but it appears Naquin will need more time to get back to full health.  The hairline fracture is just the latest injury to befall Naquin, whose 2018 and 2019 seasons were both cut short by hip surgery and a torn ACL, respectively.  Since finishing third in AL Rookie Of The Year voting in 2016, Naquin has only appeared in 169 games due to both injuries and inconsistency at the plate, though he posted a solid .288/.325/.467 slash line over 294 PA in 2019.

With Naquin out, Cleveland has Johnson, Greg Allen, Jordan Luplow, Bradley Zimmer, Franmil Reyes, and Domingo Santana as available options for the corner outfield slots, though Reyes ismore likely to be kept in designated hitter duty.  Since the club thought Naquin might be able to avoid an IL stint altogether, that could imply he might be able to return after only the minimum ten days, or perhaps not long beyond.

Wood was designated for assignment on Thursday, and will now remain in the organization after clearing waivers.  Acquired in a trade with the Rays last summer, Wood has a 3.32 ERA, 2.70 K/BB rate, and 8.4 K/9 over 86 2/3 career innings with Cleveland and Tampa Bay, though the home run ball has given him some issues during his brief time in the big leagues.  As MLBTR’s Steve Adams noted at the time of the move, it was rather surprising that the Tribe chose to DFA Wood, and it is perhaps even more surprising that none of the other 29 teams put in a claim while the righty was on waivers.

Reds Place Matt Davidson On COVID-19 Injured List

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Prior to today’s game, the Reds placed infielder Matt Davidson on the ten-day COVID-19 injured list after Davidson tested positive for the virus.  Aristides Aquino and right-hander Tejay Antone were called up from Cincinnati’s minor league training site to fill the roster spots left by Davidson and by catcher Tucker Barnhart, who went on the paternity list.

Davidson was in the starting lineup for Friday’s 7-1 Cincinnati victory over Detroit, so in the wake of this positive test, surely there must be some concern within the Reds clubhouse about whether others could have been infected.  As noted by Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds haven’t had any coronavirus cases since prior to the opening of Summer Camp, when two players tested positive during the initial round of intake testing.

Davidson signed a minors contract with the Reds over the offseason, and Friday’s game marked his first bit of Major League action since the 2018 season.  While Davidson slugged 46 homers over 939 PA for the White Sox in 2017-18, he wasn’t a productive offensive player overall, with a .224/.291/.435 slash line.  Davidson has also dabbled with pitching, though the Reds seems to be focusing on him as a position player only.

Aquino was the talk of baseball last summer after he slugged 15 homers and posted a 1.129 OPS over his first 124 plate appearances, though he quickly cooled off after that incredible start.  He’ll now get another chance at playing time, and could be aided by the existence of a DH spot rather than having to fight for space in a crowded Reds outfield.

Antone was a fifth-round pick for the Reds in the 2014 draft, and he’ll head to the big leagues after posting a 3.74 ERA, 2.80 K/BB rate, and 6.8 K/9 over 611 1/3 career minor league innings.  A grounder specialist, Antone is ranked 20th on MLB Pipeline’s list of the top prospects in Cincinnati’s farm system.

Red Sox Claim Stephen Gonsalves

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The Red Sox claimed left-hander Stephen Gonsalves off waivers from the Mets, as per a team press release.  Gonsalves has been optioned to Boston’s minor league training site.

The Mets designated Gonsalves for assignment earlier this week, ending the 26-year-old’s tenure in New York without so much as a big league pitch after Gonsalves was claimed off waivers from the Twins last November.  Gonsalves’ lone taste of MLB action came with Minnesota in 2018, as he posted a 6.57 ERA over 24 2/3 innings (starting four of seven games).

Originally drafted by the Twins as a fourth-round pick in 2013, Gonsalves has a impressive 2.50 ERA, 2.67 K/BB rate, and 9.6 K/9 over 612 career minor league IP, though much of that success came at the lower levels.  Walks were a bit more of an issue for Gonsalves at the Triple-A level, with a 4.9 BB/9 over his 125 frames at the highest rung on the minor league ladder, though he still managed a 3.46 ERA at Triple-A Rochester.

Gonsalves will now join a Red Sox club that is in need of any sort of pitching help, so another call to the majors might not be too far away.  Darwinzon Hernandez and Josh Taylor are both recovering from positive COVID-19 tests, however, so the Sox will be getting southpaw bullpen reinforcements back in hopefully short order.  With Gonsalves’ addition, Boston has now maxed out its player pool at 60 men, and has 38 spots filled on its 40-man roster.

Giants Sign Chris Herrmann

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The Giants have signed catcher Chris Herrmann to a minor-league contract, according to Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group. He’ll be added to the Giants’ 60-man player pool and will join the three-player taxi squad.

Herrmann spent Spring Training with the Rays, signing on with Tampa in January on a minor-league deal. But with a flurry of other catchers included in the Rays’ 60-player pool, Herrmann seemed unlikely to climb the depth chart for playing time, and requested his release a week ago. He played with the Athletics last year, appearing in 30 games.

The 32-year-old brings some versatility to the table and has demonstrated offensive capability in the past, though the last couple of seasons haven’t been so kind to Herrmann at the dish. In addition to suiting up behind the plate, Herrmann has played first base and both corner outfield positions, which fits in well with the Giants’ mix-and-match lineup formation.

For his career, he’s the owner of a .205/.282/.344 batting line, though he’s had success in stints with the Diamondbacks and Mariners. He managed an .845 OPS in 56 games with the D-Backs in 2016 and looked pretty good in 30 games with the Mariners in 2018.

Yankees To Sign Fernando Abad

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July 25: The Yankees have announced the move. Abad has been added to the 60-man player pool and assigned to the Yankees’ alternate training facility in Scranton.

July 24: The Yankees have agreed to a deal with left-hander Fernando Abad, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (via Twitter). The veteran reliever was recently cut loose by the Nationals. It’s likely a minor league pact for Abad, who missed Summer Camp with the Nats while quarantining after a positive Covid-19 diagnosis. Now that he’s been cleared to return to action, he’ll likely head to the Yankees’ alternate site in Scranton and provide the club with some additional bullpen depth. Abad is represented by the MAS+ Agency.

The 34-year-old Abad is a veteran of nine Major League seasons who carries a lifetime 3.67 ERA at the big league level. He’s pitched for six clubs — most recently the Giants in 2019 — and averaged 7.6 K/9, 3.2 BB/9 and 1.14 HR/9 with a 41.5 percent ground-ball rate. He’s held lefties to a .234/.283/.378 slash and yielded a .257/.338/.412 slash to righties. Obviously, the latter isn’t particularly encouraging, but Abad’s splits aren’t quite as glaring as is the case with many traditional, pure lefty specialists.

Abad will add another lefty option to a Yankees organization that is a bit limited in that regard. Closer Aroldis Chapman is on the Covid-19 list at the moment, leaving Zack Britton as his likely replacement and Luis Avilan as the lone lefty setup option. Tyler Lyons had been the only left-handed reliever at the Yankees’ Scranton site, so bringing Abad into the mix addresses a depth need in rather straightforward fashion. The Yankees had some space in their 60-man player pool as it is, so they needn’t make a corresponding move once Abad’s deal becomes official.

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