Mariners’ Hector Santiago Ejected Following Foreign Substance Inspection
Mariners left-hander Héctor Santiago was ejected from today’s game against the White Sox by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi after a between-innings foreign substance inspection, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post was among those to relay. Santiago’s glove was confiscated. (Ben Verlander of Fox Sports provides video of the incident).
Seattle manager Scott Servais confirmed (via Jesse Rogers of ESPN) that Santiago was deemed to have used a foreign substance but claimed Cuzzi’s judgment was incorrect. “He had rosin all over himself. Phil thought he had sticky stuff on his glove,” Servais said. “There is no sticky stuff in the glove.” Rosin is permitted under the league’s substance policy.
If Santiago’s ejection is ultimately deemed to be due to a foreign substance and not rosin, as Servais suggested, the left-hander wiill be subject to a ten-day suspension under the terms of Major League Baseball’s new enforcement of the prohibition against ball doctoring. Santiago would become the first player to be disciplined since MLB’s crackdown went into effect on Monday. The Mariners would not be permitted to replace him on the active or 40-man rosters during the course of any suspension.
The 33-year-old Santiago first appeared in the majors in 2011 and has thrown just under 1000 innings at the big league level. Signed to a minor league deal last month, he’s made nine appearances since being selected to the roster. Santiago entered play today with a 2.45 ERA/2.89 SIERA across 14 2/3 innings.
Athletics Sign Homer Bailey To Minors Contract
The A’s signed right-hander Homer Bailey to a minor league deal earlier this week and assigned the veteran to Triple-A Las Vegas. This is Bailey’s second stint with Oakland, after first joining the organization via a trade from the Royals in July 2019 and then posting a 4.30 ERA over 13 starts and 73 1/3 innings in the green and gold.
Bailey was a front-of-the-rotation arm during his prime years in Cincinnati, which included no-hitters in both 2012 and 2013. This led to a six-year, $105MM extension prior to the 2014 season that unfortunately became something of an albatross for the team, as Bailey battled multiple injuries (including a Tommy John surgery) over his remaining five years with the Reds. However, after catching on with the Royals on a minors deal, he rebounded to post serviceable numbers over 163 1/3 combined innings with K.C. and Oakland in 2019, with a 4.57 ERA/4.60 SIERA and an above-average 7.6% walk rate.
Injuries again hampered Bailey in 2020, as biceps tendinitis limited him to only eight innings with the Twins. The righty didn’t sign with another team during the winter, though he did make Team USA’s roster for the Olympic baseball qualifying tournament.
The 35-year-old has by far the most experience of any pitcher in the Athletics farm system, and Bailey is likely to remain on hand as a depth option should an injury or a need arise in Oakland’s rotation. Mike Fiers was re-signed last February to fill that veteran depth role, though Fiers has been on the injured list since early May due to an elbow sprain and will out of action at least through July after receiving a PRP injection. It’s probably safe to assume that the A’s will continue to seek out more pitching (both for the rotation and the bullpen) as the July 30 trade deadline nears.
Tigers Place Michael Fulmer On 10-Day Injured List
The Tigers placed right-hander Michael Fulmer on the 10-day injured list due to a right cervical spine strain. Left-hander Miguel Del Pozo was called up from Triple-A Toledo to take Fulmer’s spot on the active roster. Despite the rather ominous-sounding official injury designation, “the normal term is his neck is bothering him,” manager A.J. Hinch told The Detroit News’ Chris McCosky and other reporters. Fulmer felt the injury following yesterday’s outing against the Astros, which saw the righty allow three runs on two homers over an inning of work.
While the issue doesn’t sound overly serious, it does represent at least 10 fewer days for opposing scouts and front offices to gauge Fulmer’s value as a trade candidate. The 2016 AL Rookie Of The Year has reinvented himself as a reliever coming off Tommy John surgery in 2019 and some tough results as a starter in 2020, and Fulmer has a 3.62 ERA, 29.66% strikeout rate, and 5.08% walk rate in 27 1/3 innings out of the bullpen this season. He has also shown some quality in high-leverage situations, racking up six saves as part of Detroit’s closer committee.
With Fulmer still under control through one final arbitration year in 2022, he makes for an interesting trade chip for the Tigers to shop prior to July 30, assuming that he is able to return from the IL in good condition. An enterprising team could acquire Fulmer as bullpen help for this season, and then perhaps consider stretching him out next spring for one last crack at starting pitching, with a return to the relief corps available as a fallback option.
The transaction also creates another opportunity for Del Pozo, who didn’t get a chance to pitch when he was briefly called up to the Tigers earlier this month. Del Pozo signed a minor league deal with Detroit last winter, and over 13 innings with the Angels and Pirates in 2019-20, the southpaw issued 16 walks and posted a 12.46 ERA. At Triple-A Toledo this season, however, Del Pozo has a 1.02 ERA over 17 2/3 innings, with a 35.4% strikeout rate and (perhaps most importantly) a much more palatable 9.23% walk rate.
MLBTR Chat Transcript
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Jose Abreu Day-To-Day With Bruised Knee, X-Rays Negative
Jose Abreu was in visible pain after being hit in the left knee by a JT Chargois pitch during today’s 3-2 White Sox loss to the Mariners, but the reigning AL MVP appears to have avoided a worst-case scenario. The Sox announced that Abreu had suffered a bruised knee, and that x-rays were negative.
Abreu had to be removed for a pinch-runner after his HBP in the sixth inning of the first game of the doubleheader, and obviously wasn’t in Chicago’s lineup for Game 2. Andrew Vaughn replaced Abreu at first base and Yasmani Grandal played first in the second game, and these two are likely to see the bulk of first-base duties while Abreu is recovering, or if a stint on the 10-day injured list is ultimately required.
As MLB.com’s Scott Merkin notes, Abreu has had to deal with several minor injuries this season, which could explain his dropoff in production from his big 2020 campaign. Abreu’s 111 wRC+ is still above average, but is hitting a comparatively modest .244/.323/.435 with 12 home runs over an even 300 plate appearances. It’s fair to wonder (as White Sox manager Tony La Russa recently did) whether or not these accumulated knocks were taking their toll on Abreu, since he entered today’s action with only a .523 OPS and one homer over his last 98 PA. It could be that the Sox decide a 10-day IL stint is warranted even if the knee bruise isn’t overly serious, just to give Abreu some time to recharge for the second half of the season.
If Abreu does have to miss time, it would represent yet another significant loss to Chicago’s starting lineup. The team’s entire projected starting outfield (Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Adam Eaton) are on the injured list, as well as backups Adam Engel and Billy Hamilton. As well, second baseman Nick Madrigal‘s season is already over after undergoing hamstring surgery. After the loss in the first half of today’s doubleheader, the White Sox have dropped seven of their last eight games, reducing their lead in the AL Central to two games over the Indians.
Tommy La Stella Suffers Hand Fracture
Giants infielder Tommy La Stella‘s minor league rehab assignment has been delayed due to a new injury, as MLB.com’s Maria I. Guardado (Twitter link) was among to report that La Stella suffered a small fracture in his throwing hand. La Stella jammed his thumb while taking grounders, resulting in the fracture, and he will now be shut down for two weeks before restarting baseball activities.
This setback will extend what has already been a lengthy absence for La Stella, who went on the 10-day injured list (and was eventually moved to the 60-day IL) due to a left hamstring strain back on May 4. This IL stint was nearing an end, as he had just started his rehab games before suffering his thumb injury. La Stella’s earliest possible return date now looks to be July 16, the Giants’ first game after the All-Star break, though even that date is likely tentative given the sometimes tricky nature of hand-related injuries.
The Giants made a notable investment in La Stella during the offseason, inking the veteran to a three-year, $18.75MM deal that stands as the club’s priciest free agent contract since Farhan Zaidi became president of baseball operations. While many of Zaidi’s other moves have worked out extremely well for the first-place Giants, La Stella has yet to get out of the blocks this season, as he was hitting only .235/.297/.353 over his first 75 plate appearances.
That small sample size aside, however, the 32-year-old La Stella has been an above-average hitter for much of his career, and he’ll represent a boost to San Francisco’s depth when he is able to get back onto the field. La Stella had played only second and third base for the Giants prior to his injury, though with Brandon Belt facing a potentially lengthy IL absence, La Stella might eventually be worked into the first base mix.
Orioles Outright Mickey Jannis
The Orioles announced that right-hander Mickey Jannis has cleared waivers and been sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk. He’d been designated for assignment earlier in the week.
Jannis will remain in the organization as high minors depth. The 33-year-old has had a strong season with the Tides, working to a 2.92 ERA across 24 2/3 innings. His strikeout and walk rates (13% and 10%, respectively) are uninspiring, but that’s generally to be expected for a knuckleballer.
That quality Triple-A work earned Jannis the briefest of looks at the big league level earlier this week. He was selected to the roster and made his MLB debut on Wednesday. Jannis was called on for a few innings of mop-up work against the Astros, the league’s top lineup. He didn’t fare well, as Houston tagged him for seven runs on eight hits (including three homers) and four walks. At the very least, Jannis did record his first major league strikeout, punching out Yordan Álvarez.
Diamondbacks Outright Stefan Crichton
JUNE 27: Crichton cleared waivers and has been sent outright to Reno, the D-Backs announced.
JUNE 23: The Diamondbacks announced Wednesday that they’ve designated right-handed reliever Stefan Crichton for assignment and recalled outfielder Nick Heath from Triple-A Reno in his place.
Crichton, 29, worked some high-leverage spots for the Snakes early in the season and even tallied four saves in the season’s first five weeks. In fact, Crichton is the only D-backs reliever with multiple saves this season and leads the team with nine saves dating back to Opening Day 2020.
The right-hander’s results have tanked as of late, however, leading to a 6.04 ERA that surely prompted Wednesday’s DFA. Crichton has totaled only 11 innings over his past 15 appearances, during which time he’s been tagged for 10 earned runs on 16 hits (two homers) with more walks (six) than strikeouts (five).
From 2019-20, Crichton was a solid member of the D-backs’ relief corps, tallying 56 1/3 innings of 3.04 ERA ball with a 50.3 percent grounder rate, a 24.1 percent strikeout rate and a 7.3 percent walk rate. His velocity, strikeout rate and walk rate have all gone in the wrong direction for two consecutive seasons, however. This year’s middling 13.9 percent clip is barely half what it was back in 2019 when he notched a career-best 26.8 percent mark.
The Diamondbacks will have a week to trade Crichton or attempt to pass him through outright waivers. This year’s struggles and velocity dip, paired with the fact that he’s out of minor league options, might temper optimism among other clubs, however.
Padres Place Dinelson Lamet On Injured List With Forearm Inflammation
Before this afternoon’s game against the Diamondbacks, the Padres placed right-hander Dinelson Lamet on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his throwing forearm. James Norwood was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to replace him on the active roster.
Lamet left last night’s start in the third inning due to what manager Jayce Tingler called forearm “fatigue.” Today’s diagnosis of inflammation is a bit more concerning at first glance, although the team has yet to provide any other update.
It’s the continuation of a rather alarming series of arm issues for Lamet, who underwent a Tommy John surgery in April 2018. His breakout 2020 season was ended early after he felt biceps discomfort in his final regular-season start last September. The Padres played things cautiously with Lamet, bringing him along slowly and having him begin this season on the injured list. The 28-year-old returned in late April but left his first start with forearm soreness. He was back by early May but is now dealing with renewed issues in the area.
In between the injuries, Lamet has shown top-of-the-rotation ability. He pitched to a pristine 2.09 ERA/3.16 SIERA across 69 innings during last year’s shortened season, earning him a fourth-place finish in NL Cy Young award balloting. Lamet hasn’t quite pitched at that level this season, but he’s again been effective. Through 34 1/3 frames, he’s worked to a 3.67 ERA/3.82 SIERA. Ryan Weathers, recently optioned to Triple-A, looks likely to be recalled to assume Lamet’s rotation spot while he’s out.
Willie Calhoun Suffers Forearm Fracture
12:47 pm: Texas placed Calhoun on the 10-day injured list prior to today’s game. Outfielder Jason Martin has been recalled from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move.
9:14 am: Rangers left fielder/DH Willie Calhoun fractured his forearm after being hit by a Kris Bubic pitch during yesterday’s game against the Royals, manager Chris Woodward told reporters (including Jeff Wilson). A more definitive timetable for his recovery won’t become clear until he undergoes further testing, but he’s obviously looking at a rather significant absence.
It’s unfortunately the latest in a series of injuries that have befallen Calhoun in recent years. The 26-year-old has spent time on the injured list due to leg issues in each of the last three seasons, and he was struck in the face by a Julio Urías pitch during Spring Training in 2020. Those persistent health problems have kept the promising hitter from picking up more than 337 plate appearances in any single major league season.
Calhoun has made 226 trips to the dish this year, hitting at a league average level (.254/.323/.385). That’s not the high-end offensive output the Rangers are hoping for from a player with limited defensive utility, but Calhoun still seems to have the potential to make more of an impact. He was a highly-regarded offensive player during his time as a prospect, and he looked to be on the verge of a breakout after putting up a .269/.323/.524 line in 2019.
Calhoun hasn’t hit for anywhere near that level of power this year, but he’s been one the game’s toughest players to punch out (11.9% strikeout rate). His batted ball metrics also indicate he’s made more quality contact to this point than his bottom line numbers would suggest. The left-handed hitter is scheduled to reach arbitration eligibility for the first time after the season.