Rays Designate Brad Miller For Assignment
The Rays have designated infielder Brad Miller for assignment, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports on Twitter. His roster spot will go to Jake Bauers, who has been called up as expected.
Miller, 28, was a non-tender candidate and a trade/release candidate throughout the offseason after struggling through a dismal 2017 campaign, but he agreed to a $4.5MM salary to avoid arbitration and broke camp with the club at the end of Spring Training. To his credit, he’s done a nice job of rebounding from last year’s dreadful .201/.327/.337 slash. Through his first 174 plate appearances in 2018, Miller has hit .256/.322/.429 with five homers, 10 doubles and a triple.
While that slash line is above the league average, it’s also dependent on a .343 BABIP that is way north of Miller’s career mark of .287. That trend is all the more concerning given that Miller is putting fewer balls in play than ever before; he’s striking out at a career-worst 29.3 percent pace in 2018 and carries a fairly characteristic platoon split that has rendered him largely unplayable against left-handed pitching (.639 OPS against lefties in 35 PAs).
The hope for the Rays, clearly, is that Bauers can provide an offensive spark. He’ll give the Rays a left-handed bat to replace the lefty-swinging Miller and a considerably better glove to play at first base. He also comes to the big leagues with more outfield experience than Miller has, so he’ll give manager Kevin Cash an option in that regard as well. Bauers has crushed left-handed pitching in a small sample so far in 2018 and posted a .396 OBP against lefties last year as well, so he also represents a more well-rounded offensive player, in theory.
Tampa Bay will now have a week to either trade, outright or release Miller, who is owed about $2.79MM through season’s end. That salary makes it tough to envision a straight waiver claim taking place, but Miller has a bit of defensive versatility (even if he’s not a plus defender at any position) and has a track record of hitting right-handed pitching well. It’s possible, then, that the Rays could find a taker on the trade market if they agree to pay down a portion of that remaining sum.
MLBTR Chat Transcript: Deadline Candidates, NL East, More
Click here to read a transcript of today’s chat with host Jeff Todd.
Minor MLB Transactions: 6/7/18
We’ll track the day’s minor moves here:
- Mets lefty Aaron Laffey has decided to retire, according to Betsy Helfand of the Las Vegas Review Journal (via Twitter). The 33-year-old, an eight-year MLB veteran, had been pitching for the organization’s top affiliate. Laffey was struggling quite a bit, though, carrying an unsightly 11.77 ERA through 26 innings in six starts. He recorded only 11 strikeouts against six walks while surrendering a whopping 45 base hits and ten long balls. Over his 494 1/3 career innings in the majors, the last of which came in 2015, Laffey worked to a 4.44 ERA. He spent the bulk of his time with the Indians and also saw substantial action with the Blue Jays, along with shorter stints with the Mets, Mariners, Yankees, and Rockies.
- Backstop Steven Baron has cleared waivers after being outrighted by the Cardinals, according to a club announcement and as tweeted by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It seems Baron will accept an assignment to Triple-A. He was designated for assignment recently after a brief MLB stint, during which he recorded his first hit in the majors. The 27-year-old is a .248/.307/.333 hitter in 455 career plate appearances at Triple-A.
2018-19 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings
The 2018 MLB regular season is nearly 40% over, and it’s time to update the earning power of the upcoming free agent class. Click here to check out the previous rankings.
1. Bryce Harper. Harper has struggled since we last checked in, hitting .199/.317/.423 in his last 43 games. By measure of wRC+, he ranks 36th among qualified hitters. Nonetheless, Harper still leads the National League with 18 home runs and stands a good chance of reaching 40 for the second time in his career. He’s not going to hit .229 all year — he’s 12th in baseball in barrels per plate appearance but has a .217 BABIP — and still projects to land the largest contract in baseball history. Harper is still four months shy of his 26th birthday.
2. Manny Machado. Machado, on the other hand, is hitting .329/.394/.659 since we last checked in. Walks and power are way up, strikeouts are down, and Machado is doing all he can to close the gap between him and Harper. But the next 54 days will not be about Machado’s impending free agency; the focus is on a likely trade. The Orioles would be crazy not to trade Machado to the highest bidder, even with their front office in a “fractured” state, to use Ken Rosenthal’s word. A trade will remove a qualifying offer from the equation, not that a QO matters a lot when dealing with free agents like Harper and Machado.
3. Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw returned to action on May 31st after a month-long layoff from biceps tendinitis. The return was short-lived, as he exited after five innings and was placed on the DL with a lower back strain. This will mark the third year in a row that he will miss more than a month due to a lower back injury. Suddenly, Kershaw opting out of the remaining two years and $65MM left on his contract does not look like a slam dunk. As Cliff Corcoran suggested at The Athletic on Tuesday, the simplest solution might be for the Dodgers to tack a year or two onto Kershaw’s contract, perhaps with a new opt-out clause. The scenario of Kershaw opting out and signing a new contract of 5-6 years is looking less and less likely.
4. Patrick Corbin. Corbin continues to put up strong numbers and ranks fifth among pitchers in the NL in wins above replacement. Critics will note that Corbin worked in the 92-93 mph range in his first six starts, and then spent the next seven in the 90-91 range. The results in those last seven starts: a 3.46 ERA and 10.8 K/9. As Zach Buchanan of The Athletic explained yesterday, “It wouldn’t hurt for Corbin to rediscover the extra ticks on his fastball. He’s thrown it in the low 90s for most of his career, and it may be that extra oomph has allowed him to pitch like a frontline starter at times. But it’s also clear that fastball velocity isn’t the main ingredient for Corbin’s success.” Assuming Corbin keeps it up, a five-year deal in the $90-100MM range seems plausible.
5. A.J. Pollock. An attempt at a diving catch on May 14th resulted in an avulsion fracture of Pollock’s left thumb. The injury could keep Pollock on the shelf until July. It seems that Pollock will once again fail to play in 130 games this year, after playing in 124 for all of 2016-17. Pollock’s injury history could thwart his attempt at landing a five-year deal in free agency. A strong finish could still result in an irrational free agent bidding war, however, as he was playing at a very high level before going down.
6. Craig Kimbrel. Aside from a few extra flyballs leaving the yard, Kimbrel is having a typically excellent season as Boston’s closer. A five-year, $90MM deal figures to be a likely record-setting target for Kimbrel’s agent.
7. Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel’s ERA has been pushed up to 4.13 with some recent rough outings, as he’s allowed 17 earned runs in his last 22 2/3 innings. Home runs have been a big part of the problem so far. The 30-year-old lefty is still setting up for a solid deal, perhaps with a four-year term.
8. Josh Donaldson. After missing three weeks with shoulder inflammation, Donaldson played in 24 games and then went down for calf tightness. Before hitting the DL, Donaldson was producing less power and more strikeouts than he had in recent seasons. He’ll return from that injury soon and attempt to get his season on track. 33 in December, Donaldson could have difficulty securing a four-year deal.
9. Yasmani Grandal. A new entrant on this list, Grandal’s free agency was examined in-depth by MLBTR’s Jeff Todd yesterday. 30 in November, Grandal is one of baseball’s best-hitting catchers over the past three years and gets strong marks defensively. He could be looking at a deal of four or even five years, depending upon how the market shapes up.
10. Charlie Morton. Morton continues trending upward, even though he’ll turn 35 as free agency begins. He’s currently dominating the American League with a 2.84 ERA and 11.3 K/9, with a fastball that has aged like a fine wine. When speaking about his future, Morton certainly doesn’t sound like someone who will test the market and seek to maximize his guarantee on a three-year deal. However, in terms of sheer earning power, Morton might be able to find a $60MM contract if he wants to, making him worthy of a spot on this list.
Other candidates for the last few spots on this list include Elvis Andrus, Garrett Richards, Brian Dozier, and Gio Gonzalez.
Mets Deal With GM Sandy Alderson Runs Through 2019
Mets GM Sandy Alderson is under contract with the organization through the 2019 season, according to a report from Jon Heyman of Fan Rag. The veteran executive is earning $8MM total in the two-year agreement.
Alderson signed the deal with the team last December, representing a long-expected continuation of his tenure at the helm of the baseball operations department. At the time, though, the duration and value of the deal were not announced or firmly reported.
When he agreed to stay in charge, Alderson cited a desire to complete “some unfinished business” after a disappointing 2017 season. After shipping out several veterans in mid-season trades, the front office oversaw a busy offseason, that featured a variety of veteran additions.
Unfortunately, things haven’t gone as hoped thus far in 2018. The club is mired in a six-game skid and has fallen 7.5 games back of the pace in the NL East. Alderson already sent out former ace Matt Harvey and could now face some tough roster decisions at the trade deadline.
Recently, Alderson suggested that the Mets organization does not foresee any major deals involving core players. He indicated ongoing optimism that the current roster can compete, at least once it’s back to full health. But the pressure is building as the struggles continue.
In any event, barring a surprise shake-up, it’ll be Alderson who leads the charge in setting the strategy through the current season and into 2019. Whether he and the organization desire for the arrangement to continue beyond that point remains to be seen. It has been reported that assistant GM John Ricco is seen as an eventual successor.
Rangers Extend Jon Daniels
The Rangers have agreed to an extension of GM and president of baseball operations Jon Daniels, as Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News was among those to tweet. Details are not yet known.
A new contract for the club’s top baseball operations executive has long been expected, so the news is no surprise in that regard. Daniels is now in his 13th year in the position, which he took at just 28 years of age.
Over that tenure, Daniels has signed contracts of varying lengths, but never for more than four campaigns. His latest deal covered the 2016 through 2018 seasons, so it was set to expire at year end.
While the Rangers are experiencing some transition pains at the MLB level, Daniels has delivered strong overall results during his time in office. The club went to the postseason in five of seven seasons between 2010 and 2016 and has only carried a losing record in two of the past nine campaigns, though another will likely be added to that tally when 2018 draws to a close.
On the surface, it’s odd to see this agreement come while the Rangers are limping out to a 27-37 record. But there’s obviously a broader view being considered here. The club is scheduled to open a new ballpark (its second in less than three decades) for the start of the 2020 season, which surely represents a target date of sorts.
There’s certainly a formidable challenge ahead for Daniels, whose current roster is not exactly stuffed with core talent. Though the team has its share of well-regarded prospect talent, it isn’t considered a top farm system overall. Meanwhile, each of the other four teams in the AL West have generated some excitement and momentum to this point in the season.
Most immediately, there are some potentially sticky situations to be navigated involving veteran players. Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus could each become free agents — the latter has an opt-out chance — and thus may also be summer trade candidates. It’s fair to wonder whether the club may try to engineer some kind of move to shed a bit of the money owed to Shin-Soo Choo. Several relievers could be dealt. And then there’s the rotation, which includes three veterans who could be useful to contenders — Cole Hamels, Doug Fister, and Bartolo Colon — and otherwise presents as much or uncertainty as any other starting unit in baseball in both the near and long term.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cardinals Designate Preston Guilmet
The Cardinals announced today that they have designated righty Preston Guilmet for assignment. His roster spot will go to infielder Greg Garcia, who was activated from the paternity list.
Guilmet was only just added to the roster, making his first big-league appearance since 2015. But he was shelled in two outings against the Marlins, coughing up five earned runs on seven hits (including two home runs). Guilmet had shown quite well at Triple-A before that, though, racking up a 35:5 K/BB ratio and allowing just three earned runs on nine hits in 29 innings of action.
Follow The NBA Offseason With HoopsRumors.com
The Warriors only need one more win to take home their second straight title, which means we may just be days away from the start of a very eventful 2018 NBA offseason.
Stars like LeBron James, Paul George, and DeMarcus Cousins are poised to hit free agency, while others – such as Kawhi Leonard and Kemba Walker – could become trade candidates. Meanwhile, standout Arizona center Deandre Ayton looks like the favorite to be picked first overall by the Suns on draft night two weeks from today, but the order behind him remains a mystery.
Be sure to head over to Hoops Rumors and follow @HoopsRumors on Twitter for all the latest news as the NBA’s summer rumor mill heats up!
White Sox Purchase Contract Of Xavier Cedeno
The White Sox announced today that they have purchased the contract of veteran lefty Xavier Cedeno. He’ll take the roster spot vacated by southpaw Aaron Bummer, who was optioned down.
Cedeno, 31, appeared only briefly in the majors last year with the Rays. He has thrown 142 1/3 innings over parts of seven campaigns in the big leagues. He carries a lifetime 3.98 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 at the game’s highest level, where he has held opposing lefties to a .226/.286/.299 cumulative slash but been battered by right-handed hitters (.844 OPS).
Since joining the Chicago organization on a minors deal, Cedeno has turned in impressive numbers at Triple-A. Through 21 2/3 innings, he has allowed just three earned runs on a dozen hits while recording 25 strikeouts against only four walks.
Bummer’s performance to date has been rather uplifting, making his demotion a bit of a surprise, though perhaps an opt-out clause in Cedeno’s contract forced the team’s hand. Over 19 1/3 frames on the year, Bummer owns a 3.26 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 as well as a sturdy 60.3% groundball rate. That’s a vast improvement on his walk-marred debut effort last year and is all the more impressive given that opposing hitters have benefited from a lofty .429 BABIP.
The South Siders had an open 40-man roster spot available, though it seemed that had been cleared to make way for Carlos Rodon. When the team activates Rodon from the 60-day DL this weekend, then, it’ll need to create another opening.
Latest On Andrelton Simmons, Shohei Ohtani
Mike Trout is somehow having the best season of his already illustrious career, but otherwise the Angels’ top two players have been shortstop Andrelton Simmons and starter/DH Shohei Ohtani. For a Halos club that’s engaged in a tough division battle, then, it’s certainly worrisome to see both show up on the injury sheet.
Fortunately, there’s no reason at present to believe that either Simmons or Ohtani are dealing with serious maladies, as Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports. But Simmons, the club’s magnificent shortstop, has been placed on the DL with a grade 2 ankle sprain. And Ohtani, who was pulled after four frames, will need to allow a blister to heal up before he takes his next start.
In the case of Simmons, the injury grade indicates that there is at least a slight tear to a ligament. Online sources, at least, suggest a potential recovery time in the range of two to six weeks, though the club has not yet offered a timeline specific to the player.
Any absence is most unwelcome, given that Simmons is both fielding and hitting at top-of-the-line levels thus far. Fortunately, Zack Cozart is also an outstanding defender at short, though obviously the loss of Simmons will mean plugging in less-polished options on the left side of the infield. Fletcher says the club expects to utilize Luis Valbuena, Jefry Marte, and Kaleb Cowart (who was recalled after just being optioned) in some combination at the hot corner.
As for Ohtani, skipper Mike Scioscia says that the blister does not seem to be as serious as one he experienced earlier in the season, when he was able to make his next scheduled start. However, his status will surely depend upon how this particular injury heals up.
Even if Ohtani does need some time away from the mound, it seems reasonable to anticipate that he’ll still be able to appear as a hitter. And despite some notable injuries to starters, the team still has five other worthwhile options to go to in the rotation. Youngster Jaime Barria has pitched well in seven starts this year and is waiting in the wings at Triple-A if he’s needed.