NL Notes: Padres, Brewers, Rockies, Marlins
The Padres fired hitting coach Alan Zinter on Friday, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune tweets. Zinter lasted less than two seasons in the position, having taken the job in November 2015. The Padres’ offense ranked toward the bottom of the majors during Zinter’s run, but he didn’t exactly have a world of proven talent at his disposal. Manager Andy Green explained to Lin that he’s seeking a “different voice” for the role. Meanwhile, GM A.J. Preller told AJ Cassavell of MLB.com that the Padres will begin searching for a successor immediately, but he indicated there’s no rush to hire a replacement (Twitter link).
Here’s more from the National League:
- The Brewers’ rotation was rife with question marks entering the season, but it now appears the surprise contenders have at least three legitimate building blocks in Jimmy Nelson, Chase Anderson and Zach Davies, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel observes. The emergence of that cost-controlled trio has been especially important to a team that’s not able to spend big on free agents, and Haudricourt points out that the Brewers may even have a couple more promising young starters on hand (Brandon Woodruff and Josh Hader). It’s possible they’ll go into 2018 with those five comprising their rotation, Haudricourt notes.
- Rockies outfielder David Dahl is resigned to the fact that he won’t be able to contribute this year, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post writes. Dahl hasn’t appeared in a major league game this season, and he hasn’t played in a minor league contest since July 31, thanks to the rib injury he suffered during spring training. Now, Dahl doesn’t expect to swing a bat again until December, according to Saunders. “The thing I really need is rest, to let it heal completely, because every time I would start swinging, I would start feeling it again,” said the 23-year-old Dahl, who excited the Rockies last season with a .315/.359/.500 batting line in a 237-plate appearance rookie campaign.
- A partial UCL tear in Wei-Yin Chen‘s left elbow has kept him from taking the mound since May 1, but he’ll return to the Marlins in the coming days, Tim Healey of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. While Chen will finish 2017 as a reliever, the Marlins expect to slot him back into their rotation next season. After this fall’s World Series, Chen will be able to opt out of the remaining three years and $52MM left on the five-year, $80MM contract he signed with the Fish in January 2016. That’s obviously not going to happen, though, as the ex-Oriole has struggled with injuries and turned in mediocre results during his two years in Miami.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Verlander, Stanton, Upton, Devers, Cards
This week in baseball blogs:
- The Sports Tank and The Runner Sports react to the Astros’ acquisition of longtime Tigers ace Justin Verlander.
- Stats Swipe breaks down some possible fits via trade for Marlins MVP candidate Giancarlo Stanton.
- DiNardo’s Dugout (podcast) discusses the Verlander deal, another huge Tigers trade (Justin Upton to the Angels), Stanton and the impact of managers.
- Motor City Bengals lists the Tigers’ best remaining trade chips now that Verlander and Upton are gone.
- Big Three Sports looks at how pitchers have adjusted to Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers.
- TheIntrepidSTL is optimistic about young Cardinals righty Luke Weaver.
- Mets Daddy contends that if injured third baseman David Wright is ever going to get his career back on track, he’ll have to do it in the AL as a designated hitter.
- Outfield Fly Rule reviews the Braves-Angels Brandon Phillips trade from Atlanta’s perspective.
- The Point of Pittsburgh writes about the double standard of the Pirates letting Juan Nicasio leave via waivers.
- Jays From the Couch explores the idea of the team moving on from Jose Bautista.
- The Runner Sports wonders what’s in store for the Yankees’ 2018 rotation.
- District On Deck names five September storylines for the Nationals.
- Notes From The Sally scouts Phillies outfield prospect Adam Haseley, the eighth pick in this year’s draft.
- Clubhouse Corner’s Bernie Pleskoff shares his thoughts on young hurlers Alex Reyes, A.J. Puk and Dylan Cease.
- ThinkBluePC previews the Dodgers’ prospective playoff bullpen.
- A’s Farm highlights the Athletics’ top-performing hitting prospects of 2017.
- LegendsOnDeck asks if Mets infielder Wilmer Flores will be a starter or a utility player going forward.
- Call to the Pen weighs the pros and cons of potential Phillies offseason trades.
- Camden Depot examines the Orioles’ offensive resurgence.
- BP Toronto believes Blue Jays left-hander Tim Mayza has the potential to turn into an ace reliever.
- Everything Bluebirds, meanwhile, laments the Jays’ inability to find a reliable lefty reliever.
- Pinstriped Prospects writes about the success Yankees Double-A right-hander Jose Mesa Jr. is having this year and talks to the pitcher about the impact his father, the former reliever, has made on him.
- Rotisserie Duck goes back in time to the first decade of the Arizona Fall League (1992-2001) to see how its best talent fared in the majors.
- Extra Innings scouts in detail the Top 20 European baseball prospects.
- MetsMind takes a look at the numbers behind the team’s disappointing season.
- Jays Journal names the most prolific home run hitters in Toronto history.
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AL Notes: Upton, Angels, Tigers, Yankees
Speaking with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports on Saturday, newly minted Angels left fielder Justin Upton noted that the free agent market has changed since January 2016, when he signed a six-year, $132.75MM contract with the Tigers, adding that “teams are looking for different things” (Twitter link). While the market shift could impact whether the 29-year-old opts out of the remaining $88.5MM on his contract after the season, it seems he’s considering vacating what’s left of the pact. “If you play well enough, there’s a job for you,” said Upton, who has slashed .279/.362/.541 with 28 home runs in 528 plate appearances in 2017. Thanks to his outstanding performance this year, the majority of those who voted in MLBTR’s latest poll on Friday expect Upton to test free agency again in the offseason.
More on the Halos and two other AL clubs:
- Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera will serve a six-game suspension stemming from his role in a brawl with the Yankees on Aug. 24, while reliever Alex Wilson will sit three games and manager Brad Ausmus will be barred from one, per an announcement from Detroit. Major League Baseball originally handed down seven-, four- and one-game bans to Cabrera, Wilson and Ausmus, respectively, before the appeals process. Their suspensions began Saturday against Cleveland, with bench coach Gene Lamont stepping in for Ausmus.
- As of Friday, settlement discussions between MLB and the players’ union regarding suspensions for Yankees catchers Gary Sanchez and Austin Romine were still ongoing, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. A decision is unlikely to come before Monday, per Rosenthal, who adds that the two backstops won’t serve their penalties simultaneously. Before Sanchez and Romine appealed, the former received the larger ban (four games to two).
- Angels right-hander J.C. Ramirez will miss the rest of the season because of an elbow strain, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports (Twitter link). The Halos placed Ramirez on the 60-day disabled list on Friday, which didn’t come as a surprise given that he received a platelet-rich plasma injection earlier this week and looked unlikely to return at the time. Fortunately for both team and player, general manager Billy Eppler announced that the Angels haven’t found any new structural damage in Ramirez’s elbow. The 29-year-old turned in a respectable season before the injury, tossing 147 1/3 innings of 4.15 ERA ball and recording 6.41 K/9 against 2.99 BB/9, to go with a 51.4 percent groundball rate.
Cafardo’s Latest: Stanton, BoSox, Donaldson, Yanks, Otani
The first-place Red Sox‘s success this year has come despite a lack of power (they entered Saturday 26th in the majors in home runs and 27th in ISO), leading Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe to argue that they have to pursue Giancarlo Stanton in the offseason. It’s unclear whether the new Marlins ownership group will shop the right fielder and potential 60-home run man, but Cafardo contends that a Red Sox offer consisting of left fielder Andrew Benintendi, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and a pitching prospect would grab the attention of Derek Jeter & Co. As great as Stanton has been this year, it’s tough to imagine Boston parting with Benintendi, a top-flight rookie who won’t even be eligible for arbitration until after the 2019 campaign. Stanton, meanwhile, is still due another $295MM from 2018-28, and his contract includes full no-trade rights and an opt-out clause after the 2020 campaign.
More from Cafardo:
- It won’t be a surprise if the Blue Jays shop third baseman Josh Donaldson in the offseason, per Cafardo. Donaldson, 31, will enter a contract year in 2018, one that will see him make $17MM. While Donaldson has missed a large chunk of time this year for a Jays team that has had a terrible 2017, he’s in the midst of yet another highly productive season, having slashed .253/.379/.515 with 23 home runs in 396 plate appearances.
- Yankees general manager Brian Cashman went to Japan last week to watch two-way sensation Shohei Otani, a right-handed ace and left-handed slugger who could head the majors in the offseason. Thanks to some recent trades, the Yankees have boosted their international pool money total from $4.75MM to $8MM, which could help them reel in the 23-year-old if he does become available in the next few months.
- Speaking of Cashman, if he’s still the Yankees GM after the season (his contract is set to expire), it’s possible he’ll be able to move outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury in a trade, Cafardo writes. The recipient of a seven-year, $153MM contract prior to 2014, the ex-Boston star has disappointed and become a superfluous piece in New York, which looks set in the outfield with Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks and Clint Frazier in the fold. The 33-year-old Ellsbury still has around $68MM left on his deal (including a $5MM buyout in 2021), but Cafardo suggests that the Yankees could get rid of him if they’re willing to retain approximately half of that money.
Blue Jays Designate Nick Tepesch For Assignment
The Blue Jays have announced that they’ve designated righty Nick Tepesch for assignment. The move clears space for righty Luis Santos, whose contract the team has selected from Triple-A Buffalo.
The Blue Jays acquired the 28-year-old Tepesch from the Twins in a minor July deal, and after a brief stint at Triple-A, hhe allowed nine earned runs (and six unearned runs) in 15 2/3 innings in four starts with the big club before returning to Buffalo last week. The 28-year-old has a 4.71 ERA, 5.4 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 over 238 2/3 innings spanning parts of four seasons in the big leagues.
The 26-year-old Santos spent time in the Pirates and Royals organizations before signing a minor-league pact with the Jays early in the 2015 season. He’s produced a 4.07 ERA, 8.1 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 108 1/3 innings in the rotation at Buffalo this year. It’s not immediately clear what role he’ll take with the Blue Jays, but should he stick with them, protecting him on their 40-man roster would prevent him from departing via minor-league free agency this winter. He also hasn’t pitched since last Thursday, potentially making him a useful short-term addition.
Minor MLB Transactions: Holmberg, Liriano, Lewicki
Here are today’s minor moves from around the league.
- The White Sox announced yesterday that they’d selected the contract of lefty David Holmberg from Triple-A Charlotte. Holmberg spent three months on the White Sox staff earlier this year, posting a respectable 3.55 ERA, but with 5.0 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9 over 50 2/3 innings, including six starts. The team outrighted him last month. The 26-year-old has now pitched parts of four seasons in the big leagues, also appearing with the Diamondbacks and Reds.
- The White Sox announced today that they’d placed outfielder Leury Garcia on the 10-day DL with a sprained thumb, replacing him with Rymer Liriano, whose contract they selected from Charlotte. Liriano was once a top prospect in the Padres organization, but they designated him for assignment prior to the 2016 season. He found a home with the Brewers, only to have his 2016 campaign derailed when he was hit by a pitch in Spring Training. The White Sox claimed him last winter, then outrighted him near the end of Spring Training. He batted .256/.323/.416 with Charlotte and now appears set for his first big-league action since 2014.
- The Tigers will soon place Victor Martinez on the 60-day DL and select the contract of righty Artie Lewicki, MLB.com’s Jason Beck tweets. Lewicki will start against the Royals on Monday, taking the unenviable task of filling Justin Verlander‘s spot in the rotation. The 25-year-old Lewicki was the Tigers’ eighth-round pick out of the University of Virginia in 2014. This year, he’s produced a 3.38 ERA, 7.9 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 141 innings split between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. The impending Martinez move comes as little surprise, since he requires chronic ablation surgery and is out for the remainder of the season.
Mariners Designate Shawn O’Malley For Assignment
The Mariners have designated utilityman Shawn O’Malley for assignment, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times tweets. The move clears space on the team’s 40-man roster for infielder Gordon Beckham, whose contract the Mariners have selected from Triple-A Tacoma.
The 29-year-old O’Malley played a significant role on the 2016 Mariners, batting .229/.299/.319 in 89 games while playing six positions. This year, however, he missed time due to an appendectomy, then a significant shoulder injury. He hasn’t appeared in the big leagues at all and hasn’t hit much in 20 games with Tacoma as he’s tried to shake off the rust.
Beckham signed with the Mariners after the Giants released him near the end of Spring Training. He’s produced a .262/.313/.393 line this season for Tacoma. The veteran played in 88 games last year with the Braves and Giants, batting .212/.294/.347. He should provide a bit of extra infield depth for the Mariners down the stretch.
5 Key Stories: Verlander, Upton, Phillips, Leake, Gonzalez, Nicasio
Here’s a look back at some of the top stories from an eventful week here at MLBTR.
Astros acquire Justin Verlander. The Astros made one of the biggest moves at the August 31 deadline, acquiring Justin Verlander, $16MM, and a player to be named later or cash considerations in return for prospects Franklin Perez, Daz Cameron and Jake Rogers. The run-up to the deal was dramatic, as Verlander initially said no to being dealt to Houston, hoping instead to be traded to the Cubs. The Astros also added outfielder Cameron Maybin in a waiver claim from the Angels.
Angels acquire Justin Upton, Brandon Phillips. The Tigers completed another leg of their rebuilding plan in a surprising move this week, sending Justin Upton to the Angels for prospect Grayson Long and a player to be named later or cash. The Angels, hoping to aid their run at contention, took on all of the $88.5MM left on Upton’s contract beyond this year, assuming he doesn’t exercise his opt-out clause. They also added another veteran big-leaguer, Brandon Phillips, sending catcher Tony Sanchez to the Braves in return.
Mariners acquire Mike Leake. Upton’s wasn’t the only big contract to change hands this week, as the Cardinals shipped righty Mike Leake, international bonus spending rights, and around $17MM to Seattle for infielder Rayner Ascanio. Leake, who is under contract through 2020, has joined the Mariners’ rotation. In a separate deal, the Mariners also sent outfielder Leonys Martin and cash to the Cubs for a player to be named later or cash. In other significant Cardinals news this week, the team designated longtime reliever Kevin Siegrist for assignment. The Cardinals also promoted top prospect Jack Flaherty to take Leake’s place in the rotation.
Rangers acquire Miguel Gonzalez. The Rangers sent Yu Darvish to the Dodgers earlier this summer, but this week they made a move that suggests they haven’t quite pulled the plug on their 2017 season, acquiring righty starter Miguel Gonzalez from the White Sox for infielder Ti’Quan Forbes. The Rangers also welcomed back reliever Jake Diekman this week after Diekman struggled for months with inflammatory bowel disease. The team will have to pursue a playoff berth without Adrian Beltre, however, as it emerged this week that he would miss four weeks with a hamstring strain.
Phillies claim Juan Nicasio after Pirates place him on outright waivers. The Pirates made the surprising decision earlier this week to place reliever Juan Nicasio on irrevocable outright waivers, and the Phillies snapped him up even though they’re not in contention and Nicasio is eligible to depart via free agency in the offseason. (The Phillies also added a second veteran reliever this week, claiming Siegrist from the Cardinals.) Pirates GM Neal Huntington explained that he hoped placing Nicasio on waivers would enable him to be claimed by a contender in the American League.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Victor Martinez To Miss Rest Of Season
SATURDAY: Martinez will have chronic ablation surgery and will miss the remainder of the season, Fenech writes (all Twitter links). He will be placed on the 60-day DL tomorrow. The Tigers do expect Martinez to play in 2018.
SUNDAY 6:42pm: The Tigers do not have insurance on what’s left of Martinez’s contract (around $21MM through 2018) if he cannot be cleared to return, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press tweets.
10:58am: Martinez had a rapid heartbeat after the Tigers’ game in Chicago on Saturday and had to stay overnight at a hospital as a result, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com (on Twitter). The expectation is that Martinez will be released from the hospital today, after which he’ll head back to Detroit. The Tigers won’t decide on a timetable for a potential return to the field until they determine what’s causing Martinez’s heart issue, Beck adds.
10:22am: The Tigers announced that they have placed designated hitter Victor Martinez on the 10-day disabled list with an irregular heartbeat and recalled outfielder JaCoby Jones from Triple-A Toledo.
This is the second time this year Martinez has landed on the DL with an irregular heartbeat since he was diagnosed with the condition in mid-June. Martinez required a short stay in a Detroit-area hospital then, but he was able to return to action in under two weeks. The hope is that the 38-year-old Martinez will be able to make a similarly speedy recovery this time around, and MLBTR extends its best wishes to the respected and accomplished veteran.
Phillies Claim Kevin Siegrist From Cardinals
The Phillies have announced that they’ve claimed lefty Kevin Siegrist from the Cardinals. The Cards designated Siegrist for assignment on Thursday as they activated him from a stint he spent on the DL with forearm tendinitis. To clear space on their 40-man roster, the Phillies have transferred righty Jerad Eickhoff (hand) to the 60-day DL.
Siegrist was a key reliever for the Cardinals in 2015 and 2016, when he combined for a 2.44 ERA, 10.3 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 over 136 1/3 innings. This season, though, he’s dealt with a neck injury in addition to the forearm problem, and he’s posted a 4.98 ERA, 9.4 K/9 and 5.2 BB/9 over 34 1/3 innings. He’s also dealt with somewhat diminished velocity, with his mid-90s heater dipping more into the 92-93 MPH range.
Siegrist is, however, eligible for arbitration for two more seasons after this one and he’s making a modest $1.64MM this year. Assuming he’s able to come back healthy, the Phillies can use the rest of the season to get a read on him, then decide if they want to keep him in their bullpen as a relatively cheap addition for 2018. The Phillies, despite not contending this season, have also already shown somewhat of a willingness to take on short-term veteran bullpen upgrades, having also recently added Juan Nicasio on a waiver claim.