Draft Signings: Ian Oxnevad
Here’s a look at today’s significant draft signings:
- The Cardinals have signed eighth-rounder Ian Oxnevad for $500K, well above his pick value of $167,400, Teddy Cahill of Baseball America tweets. Cahill describes the lefty Oxnevad as one of the Northwest’s best high school pitchers. He was committed to Oregon State. Via MLB.com’s Signing and Bonus Tracker, the Cardinals saved a bit of money against their pool by signing several picks from the fourth through ninth rounds for significantly less than their pick values. Oxnevad is represented by Tripper Johnson of Sosnick Cobbe Karon.
Devin Mesoraco To Have Hip Surgery
JUNE 20: The Reds have announced that Mesoraco will have surgery June 29. The surgery appears likely to end his season. Since the news that Mesoraco would likely need surgery, he made a handful of appearances as a pinch-hitter and DH. He has not, however, appeared in a game since May 20. He has hit .178/.275/.244 in 51 plate appearances this season.
MAY 5: Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco has acknowledged that his hip injury will likely require surgery that will sideline him for up to four months, reports MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon (via Twitter). For the time being, Mesoraco is trying to exhaust all possible alternative treatments before undergoing an operation, according to Sheldon.
The 26-year-old Mesoraco has taken just 28 trips to the plate this season and hasn’t started a game since April 11. Brayan Pena and Tucker Barnhart have handled the bulk of the catching duties in his stead, although the Reds curiously have not placed Mesoraco on the disabled list despite the fact that he has made just six pinch-hitting appearances since his last start.
Mesoraco inked a four-year, $28MM contract extension with Cincinnati this offseason on the heels of a breakout 2014 campaign in which he batted an excellent .273/.359/.534 with with 25 home runs in 114 games/440 plate appearances. Mesoraco’s ability to recreate that outstanding production — valued at 4.5 fWAR and 4.8 rWAR — was considered by many to be a key component as to whether or not the Reds would be able to compete in the NL Central this season. While Cincinnati sits in third place at 12-13, the potential loss of a star-caliber catcher certainly dampens their chances of staying afloat in a highly competitive division. Many pegged the Reds as eventual sellers even when assuming that Mesoraco would be healthy. One would imagine that if Cincinnati does end up looking toward the future come July, names like Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, each of whom is in his final year of club control, would be among the most desirable assets on the trade market.
Minor Moves: Marcum, Givens, Loe
Here are today’s minor moves from around the league.
- The Indians have announced that righty Shaun Marcum has cleared waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Columbus. The 33-year-old Marcum has pitched 35 innings for the Indians this season, posting a 5.40 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. The team designated him for assignment earlier this week.
- The Orioles have announced that they’ve selected the contract of righty Mychal Givens. In addition, the Orioles activated Kevin Gausman (shoulder tendinitis from the 15-day DL, optioned righties Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright to Triple-A Norfolk, and transferred righty Jason Garcia (also with shoulder tendinitis) to the 60-day DL. The Orioles drafted Givens in the second round in 2009 as an infielder, but he transitioned to pitching for the 2013 season. He struggled with control during his first two seasons on the mound (perhaps understandably, given his background), but he’s blossomed in the Double-A Bowie bullpen this season, posting a 1.60 ERA, 12.4 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 39 1/3 innings there.
- The Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League have announced that they’ve signed righty Kameron Loe. The 33-year-old pitched for three Triple-A teams in 2014, posting a 7.51 ERA, 6.6 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 38 1/3 innings of relief. He has a 4.49 ERA, 5.6 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in parts of nine big-league seasons with the Rangers, Brewers, Mariners, Cubs and Braves, last appearing in the Majors in 2013.
Orioles Sign Gray Fenter For $1MM
The Orioles have signed seventh-round pick Gray Fenter for $1MM, well above the $178,300 allotted pool value of his pick, Baseball Essential tweets. Fenter, a high school pitcher from Arkansas, was committed to Mississippi State.
Via MLB.com’s Signing and Bonus Tracker, the Orioles signed No. 36 overall pick Ryan Mountcastle for $1.3MM, about $410K less than his pool allotment, and sixth rounder Jay Flaa and tenth-rounder Reid Love for just $10K each, saving a total of about $350K. That combined $760K in savings should help them stay near their $6,850,400 pool limit despite their heavy spending on Fenter.
MLB.com ranked Fenter the No. 133 overall prospect in the draft, noting his ability to throw 96 MPH, the sinking action he gets when he throws in the 88-93 MPH range, and his good curveball. Baseball America ranked Fenter the No. 135 prospect in the draft, arguing that he will most likely be a reliever due to his size (5-foot-11), his delivery and his reliance on two pitches.
Marlins Designate Jhonatan Solano For Assignment
The Marlins have announced that they’ve designated catcher Jhonatan Solano for assignment. The move clears space on the team’s roster for lefty Justin Nicolino, who will start today.
The 29-year-old Solano, a light hitter even by backup catcher standards, has collected just one hit in 21 plate appearances this season. He’s a career .240/.285/.345 hitter in about two seasons’ worth of plate appearances at the Triple-A level. He had already been outrighted once this year, but the Marlins selected his contract again this week as J.T. Realmuto dealt with a minor back injury.
Nicolino’s start will be his big-league debut. The 23-year-old arrived in the Marlins system as part of the Jose Reyes deal in the 2012-13 offseason and has slowly made his way through the minors since then, posting a 2.87 ERA and 2.4 BB/9 but with a low 5.2 K/9 in 78 1/3 innings at Triple-A New Orleans this season.
Phillies Designate Phillippe Aumont For Assignment
The Phillies have announced that they’ve designated righty Phillippe Aumont for assignment. The move clears space for the team to select the contract of righty Seth Rosin, who will presumably join their bullpen.
Aumont was the 11th overall pick in the 2007 draft and was a top prospect in the Mariners organization before heading to the Phillies in Seattle’s 2009 trade for Cliff Lee. He never had great control, however, and problems with walks have continued to plague him since the deal. He pitched 65 innings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year, with a 2.35 ERA and 8.0 K/9 but with 5.7 BB/9. His issues with walks have been even worse in the big leagues — he’s allowed 7.0 BB/9 in parts of four seasons, including seven walks in four innings this year. He’s still just 26, and he’s tall (at 6-foot-7) and a hard thrower, so he’ll likely continue to receive chances somewhere, either in the big leagues or the minors.
Marlins Could Trade Tom Koehler, Brad Hand
The Marlins could trade righty Tom Koehler and lefty Brad Hand to an unknown team, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports (Twitter links). Justin Nicolino is being promoted to make his big-league debut while starting in Koehler’s place today. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald tweets that Koehler is dealing with neck and back pain, however, so Koehler’s scratch might not suggest a trade is imminent.
The 28-year-old Koehler, in particular, would likely be a somewhat attractive trade target for a team seeking starting pitching. He has a 3.76 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 this season, and, today’s neck and back issues aside, he’s generally proven to be a durable innings eater. He’s also cheap and team controlled — he isn’t eligible for arbitration for the first time until after this season. The Marlins’ rotation currently features Koehler along with Dan Haren, Mat Latos, David Phelps and Jose Urena, although the team is preparing for Jose Fernandez‘s return early next month, and Jarred Cosart is finishing a rehab assignment after missing a month due to vertigo.
The 24-year-old Hand has spent most of his big-league career so far bouncing back and forth between starting and relief. He’s had difficulties pitching mostly in relief this year, with a 5.97 ERA, although his peripherals are somewhat better, at 6.5 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9. He’s out of options and was the subject of trade rumors in Spring Training.
All-Star Berths Could Cost Royals $1.275MM
Eight Royals hitters lead their positions in AL All-Star balloting, which is amusing story for Royals fans and for Major League Baseball. Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star points out, however, that so many All-Star selections could have an effect on the Royals’ bottom line. If the Royals do in fact send eight starters to the All-Star Game, it could cost them $1.25MM in escalators and incentives. If reliever Wade Davis makes the team, he would get a $25K bonus as part of the contract he originally signed with the Rays, raising the Royals’ total payout to $1.275MM.
Second baseman Omar Infante would get $250K in 2016 and again in 2017 due to a clause in his contract that gives him $250K for each future season after receiving an All-Star berth or Silver Slugger award. Catcher Salvador Perez could receive $350K spread over his three option seasons ($50K in 2016, $100K in 2017 and $200K in 2018). In addition, each player selected (also potentially including Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Alcides Escobar, Mike Moustakas and Kendrys Morales) would get a $50K bonus as part of a standard clause in the Royals’ contracts.
The Royals had already reportedly been planning to consider re-working Perez’s incredibly cheap contract. They’re under no obligation to do so, but if they do, the All-Star clauses in his current deal won’t be likely to matter much.
McCullough points out, however, that an additional cost of the Royals’ All-Star berths might come in the form of greater arbitration raises for Moustakas and Cain. Moustakas currently makes $2.64MM, while Cain makes $2.73MM. Both have two years of arbitration eligibility remaining. All-Star selections could increase their future arbitration-year salaries.
McCullough notes that Cain has interest in a long-term deal. Hosmer, meanwhile, is signed through 2016, and it does not appear likely the Royals will keep him after he becomes a free agent following the 2017 season.
Nonetheless, the Royals don’t appear outwardly concerned about the additional payouts. Their financial effect probably pales in importance to the success the Royals have experienced in the past few seasons and the goodwill their players’ current standing in All-Star balloting seems to reflect.
“Every single night, you pull hard for your players,” says Royals GM Dayton Moore. “I hope they reach all their goals. I hope they reach all their bonuses. It’s good for them.”
Prospect Notes: Van Steensel, Bonuses, Ortiz
Twins relief prospect Todd Van Steensel provides a fascinating look at his finances in an article by MiLB.com’s Ashley Marshall. Most minor leaguers make very little money, and Van Steensel demonstrates what that means in practical terms. He’s had to borrow to pay rent, and he sometimes saves money by taking clubhouse leftovers home. “When the season started, I had $50 in my checking account and then waited 10 days for my first paycheck,” says Van Steensel. “I don’t have enough money for a savings account because I try to save money for emergencies like rent.” Here are more notes on prospects.
- At least Van Steensel has been able to lean somewhat on the $60K bonus he received upon signing in 2008, however. Not all minor leaguers have that luxury, and that includes most players drafted as college seniors, since that group of players has little leverage to negotiate bonuses. Former NC State infielder Logan Ratledge, who recently signed with the Pirates, describes his frustrating negotiating process to Baseball America’s John Manuel. Twice, a team asked Ratledge if he would sign for $100K if they drafted him in the early rounds. Both times he said yes, but the team drafted other players instead. Later, a different team offered him a $20K bonus, but a third team promised Ratledge $100K if he told other teams not to draft him on Day 2, so Ratledge told the team offering $20K that he would have to pass. The team offering $100K didn’t follow through on its offer, though, and finally the Pirates drafted Ratledge in the 13th round. He signed for $5K.
- Jhailyn Ortiz is one of the top Dominican outfielders available in the international signing season that begins July 2, BA’s Ben Badler writes (subscription required). Ortiz is likely to get a bonus of around $4MM, with the Phillies possibly being among the bidding teams. Given his size, though — he weighs 260 pounds at age 16 — he appears likely to move to first base. He has terrific power, but there are enough questions about his ability to make contact that he isn’t on par with a top international prospect like 2014 Brewers signee Gilbert Lara. “I’ll take Gilbert Lara every day over Jhailyn Ortiz,” says an international director. “He’s a for sure right-right first baseman who was not close to anything with spin. I know he has raw power, but Lara is a better hitter with more power.”
Braves Release Trevor Cahill
JUNE 20: The Braves have released Cahill, according to the MLB.com transactions page. They are still on the hook for the remainder of the $5.5MM in salary they assumed when they acquired Cahill from the Diamondbacks.
JUNE 11: The Braves announced (via Twitter) that they have designated right-hander Trevor Cahill for assignment and selected the contract of lefty Dana Eveland from Triple-A Gwinnett. Atlanta recently signed Eveland to a minor league deal after he opted out of a minors pact with the Red Sox.
Cahill totaled just 26 1/3 innings for the Braves this season, allowing 22 earned runs with 14 strikeouts against 12 walks. He did see his ground-ball rate recover from last year’s dip, posting an outstanding mark of 63.5 percent. However, that did little to help Cahill overcome an increasingly hittable repertoire of pitches and sub-par control.
Acquired late in Spring Training in a trade that sent minor league outfielder Josh Elander to the Diamondbacks (Elander has since been released), Cahill struggled through three starts with the Braves before losing his spot in the rotation and shifting to the bullpen. The Diamondbacks agreed to pay about $6.5MM of Cahill’s guaranteed $12MM, leaving Atlanta with about a $5.5MM gamble on the still-27-year-old righty.
The real value for the Braves, however, was likely in a technically separate but still-connected trade that was announced a couple of days after the Cahill swap. On Opening Day, the Braves traded minor league outfielder Victor Reyes to the D-Backs in exchange for their Round B Competitive Balance draft pick — the 75th overall selection in the 2015 draft. Comp Balance picks are tradeable, but not in the offseason. As such, a separate deal after the start of the regular season was used as a loophole, though reports at the time of the trade immediately linked that swap to the Cahill trade.
The Braves essentially paid $5.5MM to gamble on a rebound from Cahill and to acquire a reasonably strong draft pick, which they used to select left-hander A.J. Minter, who very well could have been selected a good deal higher had he not undergone Tommy John surgery in the spring.