Pirates Place Michael A. Taylor On Outright Waivers
The Pirates have placed Michael A. Taylor on outright waivers, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. It is important to note that Taylor was not designated for assignment, which means he is still on the team’s 26 and 40-man rosters, so he is eligible to play for the Pirates unless he is claimed by another club.
Taylor, 33, remains an excellent defender and a valuable baserunner in his 11th big league season. Unfortunately, he is putting up career-worst numbers at the plate. Considering he already had a career .683 OPS and 82 wRC+ entering the year, a career-worst performance means the righty batter has been all but an automatic out. He is slashing .196/.257/.284 with four home runs and 20 RBI in 1oo games.
With that in mind, it’s not hard to see why the Pirates might be looking for another team to take Taylor’s salary off their hands. The veteran signed a one-year, $4MM contract with Pittsburgh in the offseason, and he is still owed approximately $790,000 for the remainder of the season. However, if Taylor goes unclaimed over the next 48 hours, he will have the right to reject an outright assignment to the minor leagues without forfeiting any salary. Thus, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Pirates decide to retain him on the active roster. He still offers value as a veteran fourth outfielder and quality defensive replacement, even if he isn’t the everyday player the Pirates hoped he would be. On the other hand, the team might prefer to eat his remaining salary and give his roster spot to a more promising young player. Trade deadline acquisitions Nick Yorke and Billy Cook have both been hitting well at Triple-A lately; surely the Pirates will want to see what both of them can do at the big league level sooner rather than later.
Cubs Outright David Bote
The Cubs have sent veteran infielder David Bote outright to Triple-A Iowa, according to his transaction log on MLB.com. He had been designated for assignment on Friday when the Cubs claimed Gavin Hollowell off of waivers from the Diamondbacks.
Bote has the right to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency. However, he is a few days shy of the five years of MLB service time he would need to reject the assignment without forfeiting the guaranteed salary remaining on the five-year, $16MM contract he signed with the Cubs during the 2019 campaign. With just under 20% of the season left to play, that works out to about $1.05MM in salary this year, plus a $1MM buyout on his club option for 2025. That’s significantly more money than Bote could command if he elected free agency and signed on with a new team, so he will almost certainly accept the assignment and report to the Iowa Cubs.
In 37 games for the Chicago Cubs this year, Bote hit .304 with a 105 wRC+ over 48 plate appearances. He spent most of his time playing third base, though he also filled in at first and second. Despite his positional versatility and solid offensive numbers off the bench, he was an easy choice for the Cubs to DFA when they needed to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. Not only has he struggled over the past month (2-for-12 since the All-Star break), but given his unique contract situation, the Cubs knew they could remove him from the roster without the risk of losing him completely. Thus, he will continue to serve as additional depth for the team at Triple-A, where he has 37 doubles, 21 home runs, and a 109 wRC+ in 126 games over the past two seasons.
Robbie Ray Exits With Left Hamstring Tightness
Giants left-hander Robbie Ray exited his start today in the fourth inning with left hamstring tightness. He was facing his former team, the Mariners, and pitching in Seattle for the first time since he suffered a season-ending injury during his debut start of the 2023 campaign. This time, the 2021 AL Cy Young winner is hoping the injury will not mark the end of his season.
The 32-year-old will go for an MRI tomorrow, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Having never dealt with hamstring injuries in the past, he was unable to offer much insight into his timeline. Still, he expressed optimism that he wouldn’t be out for too long. According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, Ray described the injury as “minor” and suggested he left the game before it became “anything significant.” The southpaw has tried to “push through injuries in the past” and did not want to make the same mistake this time around.
While Ray himself said it’s too early to know if he’ll require a trip to the injured list (per Maria Guardado of MLB.com), manager Bob Melvin implied that Ray could miss time even if the issue turns out to be mild. “Those things don’t typically take a couple of days [to heal],” the skipper explained.
Ray has made seven starts for the Giants this year since coming off the injured list at the end of July. Including his outing this afternoon, he has pitched 30 2/3 innings with a 4.70 ERA and 3.52 SIERA. San Francisco is 4-3 in his starts. While he hasn’t always looked his best, he will nonetheless be difficult for the Giants to replace.
If Ray only needs to miss a single start, Melvin could get by relying on bulk relievers like Sean Hjelle and Spencer Bivens to cover. Hjelle took over for Ray this afternoon and tossed 2 2/3 innings. He has thrown at least two frames in 16 of his 45 appearances this year; his longest outing was 3 1/3 against the Braves earlier this month. Bivens made one start earlier this year, and he has gone at least two innings in six of his 15 relief appearances.
Meanwhile, if Ray winds up on the IL, the Giants could recall rookie right-hander Mason Black, who made four appearances (three starts) for the big league club back in May. Unfortunately for Black, his first few MLB starts didn’t exactly go according to plan; the 24-year-old gave up 14 runs in 14 1/3 innings during that brief cup of coffee. He also has a 4.59 ERA and 5.21 FIP in 20 starts this year at Triple-A. Nonetheless, Black is a live arm on the 40-man roster with experience starting in the majors.
Right-hander Tristan Beck is another option to fill in for Ray, but it’s unclear how many more rehab outings he needs before he’s ready to return to the Giants; the 28-year-old has been on the 60-day IL all season after undergoing surgery to remove an aneurysm from his arm. What’s more, Beck has limited experience starting at the MLB level, and he has given up 13 runs (11 earned) over 10 2/3 rehab innings at Triple-A. All this to say, it’s critical for the Giants that Ray gets back on the mound as quickly as possible. Sitting five games back in the NL Wild Card race, their postseason hopes are already dwindling. Losing Ray for a prolonged period could be the final nail in their proverbial coffin.
Pirates To Recall Henry Davis, Place Joey Bart On 10-Day IL
Henry Davis is on his way back to Pittsburgh. The Pirates will place catcher Joey Bart on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, reports Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. To replace Bart on the active roster, the team will recall former top prospect Henry Davis from Triple-A Indianapolis. Presumably, the Pirates will announce these transactions before tomorrow’s game against the Cubs at PNC Park.
Davis, 24, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, and he was a consensus top-100 prospect in the game entering the 2022 and ’23 seasons. However, he struggled in the majors last year, batting .213 with a .653 OPS over 62 games in his rookie campaign. Drafted as a catcher, he also struggled to adjust to his new role in right field, producing -6 Outs Above Average (OAA) and -9 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) in just 417 1/3 defensive innings.
The Pirates returned Davis to his natural position in 2024, but his results at the plate were no better to kick off his sophomore campaign. He hit so poorly over the first month of the season (.486 OPS in 23 games) that he was optioned to Triple-A in May. Although he immediately turned things around in the minor leagues, slashing .296/.436/.642 over 23 games, Davis struggled once again after earning another promotion to the majors; he went 2-for-17 over six games in June. His tough luck continued when a concussion forced him to the IL, and after he was cleared to play, he was optioned back to Triple-A, in large part because Bart was performing so well.
Indeed, Bart, 27, has been nothing short of excellent for the Bucs in 2024. The Pirates traded for him in April after he was designated for assignment by the Giants. He missed most of June with a thumb injury, but aside from that, he has been one of the team’s best hitters all season. Across 63 games, Bart is batting .272 with 12 home runs and an .844 OPS. His defensive metrics behind the plate are below average but not dreadful, and that’s more than acceptable with the way he’s been hitting the ball. The Pirates will hope his hamstring injury proves not to be too serious.
While Bart is out, Davis will get another chance to prove himself against big league competition. It’s already clear he has nothing left to prove at Triple-A. As usual, he was red-hot during his latest stint with Indianapolis, batting .314 with six home runs, seven stolen bases, and an .881 OPS over 34 games since coming off the IL. Veteran backstop Yasmani Grandal has been hitting well for the Pirates in the second half (.906 OPS in 14 games – not to mention his walk-off home run this afternoon), but Pittsburgh, now eight games back in the NL Wild Card race, has little incentive not to give Davis the bulk of the playing time while Bart is on the mend.
Marlins To Promote Griffin Conine
The Marlins will promote outfield prospect Griffin Conine before their game against the Rockies on Monday, the team announced. Conine is the son of two-time World Series champion Jeff Conine, known to fans as Mr. Marlin and widely considered one of the better players in the franchise’s history. The younger Conine, 27, is enjoying a solid season at Triple-A Jacksonville (19 home runs, .825 OPS). He will make his MLB debut as soon as he gets into a game.
Drafted by the Blue Jays in 2018, Griffin Conine joined the Marlins organization in 2020 as the player to be named later in a trade that sent Jonathan Villar to Toronto. He earned a promotion to Triple-A last August, and while he struggled at first, he has looked much more comfortable there this season, bringing down his strikeout rate and continuing to show off the power that has always been his strongest tool. The lefty slugger has hit especially well over the past three weeks, batting .310 and walking in 12.1% of his plate appearances. He has an .859 OPS and 127 wRC+ since August 3.
According to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com, Conine will not play every day. That said, the Marlins would not have called him up if they weren’t going to give him a good amount of playing time. Miami already has two lefty-batting corner outfielders on the roster – Jesús Sánchez and Kyle Stowers – but Conine could see plenty of reps as a DH against right-handed pitching.
The Marlins have not yet announced any corresponding moves, but De Nicola reports that the team will place shortstop Xavier Edwards on the 10-day IL, thereby opening a space for Conine on the active roster. Edwards, who is suffering from lower back pain, underwent an MRI yesterday. The scan came back negative, but evidently, the club believes he needs more time off his feet.
The Marlins will also need to free up space for Conine on the 40-man. Miami’s 40-man roster is currently overflowing after the team claimed right-hander Mike Baumann earlier this afternoon.
Tigers To Promote Ty Madden
The Tigers will call up right-handed pitching prospect Ty Madden to start on Monday night against the White Sox, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press). Hinch’s announcement came along with the news that fellow right-hander Alex Faedo has been moved from the paternity list to the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. The Tigers will still need to make a corresponding move (or moves) to free up space for Madden on the 26 and 40-man rosters.
Madden, now 24, joined the Tigers organization as the 32nd overall pick in the 2021 draft. Entering the 2024 season, most sources (including MLB Pipeline, FanGraphs, and Keith Law of The Athletic) ranked him as the second-best pitching prospect in the system, behind only consensus top-100 prospect Jackson Jobe. However, Madden has struggled badly since his promotion to Triple-A in May. He has a 7.97 ERA and 5.28 FIP in 18 starts (79 IP). His 102 strikeouts are impressive, but he has walked 40 batters and given up 17 home runs. While those numbers are hardly encouraging, Madden has looked a little better as of late. He has thrown 29 1/3 innings over his last five starts, and while his 5.83 ERA is poor, his strikeout rate is up, his walk rate is down, and his 2.80 FIP represents a massive improvement.
The Tigers are in the midst of a stretch of 14 games in 14 days, so Madden will provide his new rotation-mates with a breather. That should be helpful for rookies Keider Montero, Bryan Sammons, and Brant Hurter, as well as ace Tarik Skubal, who has already surpassed his previous career high in innings pitched. It is also noteworthy that Madden will actually start the game, per Petzold. The Tigers have been making frequent use of openers lately; Skubal and Montero are the only members of the rotation who have been starting their own contests. That said, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News notes that Hurter will also make a proper start on Tuesday.
This is likely just a spot start for Madden before he heads back to Triple-A or joins Detroit’s bullpen. Casey Mize (60-day IL, hamstring strain) will return from the IL shortly, while Reese Olson (15-day IL, shoulder strain) is beginning the rehab process himself. Still, it makes sense that the Tigers are going to select Madden’s contract, considering they could use the fresh arm and they would have needed to protect from the Rule 5 draft this offseason anyway.
Faedo, 28, has made 37 appearances for the Tigers this season, including six as an opener. Over 57 1/3 innings, he has a 3.61 ERA and a 4.28 SIERA. According to Hinch, Faedo felt some soreness in his shoulder before he went on the paternity list, and the pain returned when he tried to play catch after the birth of his daughter (per McCosky). While it’s not entirely clear how serious the injury is, Hinch expressed hope that it could be “just minor inflammation.”
Marlins Claim Mike Baumann
The Marlins announced that right-hander Mike Baumann has been claimed off waivers. The Angels designated Baumann for assignment earlier this week.
The claim puts Baumann in position for a unique piece of baseball history, as he could join Oliver Drake as the only players to ever play for five different teams over the course of a single season. Baumann has a 5.24 ERA over 44 2/3 innings split over stints with the Angels (9 1/3 IP), Giants (two-thirds of an inning), Mariners (16 1/3 IP), and Orioles (18 1/3 IP), and just one appearance with Miami would allow Baumann to get a piece of Drake’s record.
A third-round pick for the Orioles in the 2017 draft, Baumann had spent his entire career in Baltimore’s organization before he was designated for assignment in May, thus sparking his busy summer of transactions. This is the first time Baumann has left DFA limbo via waiver claim this season, as his first three designations were resolved by trades. Baumann is out of minor league options, which is why he has been perpetually DFA’ed rather than simply optioned to the minors.
Baumann is a hard thrower with mid-90s velocity, and he had a 3.46 ERA over 64 2/3 relief innings for the Orioles in 2023. Between this resume and some good minor league numbers (including high strikeout totals), it’s easy to see why various teams have had interest in Baumann, even if he has struggled since leaving Baltimore. The Marlins are both rebuilding and have been hit hard by pitching injuries this season, so Baumann should have a decent chance at getting some innings and perhaps finally staying put on a roster.
Brett Baty To Miss Roughly 4-6 Weeks Due To Finger Fracture
The Mets announced that infield prospect Brett Baty suffered a fracture in his left index finger last Thursday, while playing for Triple-A Syracuse. Baty was hit by a pitch during a check swing, and the team estimated a recovery timeline of 4-6 weeks. This means that Baty’s 2024 season could well be over, barring some quicker-than-expected healing or a return at the very end of September.
The injury adds to what has been an overall disappointing season for the third baseman, as Baty hit only .229/.306/.327 over 171 plate appearances in the major leagues. This brings Baty’s career totals to 15 home runs and a .215/.282/.325 slash line in 602 PA and 169 games — about the equivalent of one full season since he made his MLB debut in 2022. It isn’t a huge sample size, and the 24-year-old Baty would hardly be the first star prospect to have some initial struggles before going on to have a successful big league career.
However, more has been expected from the former 12th overall pick, and Baty’s place as the Mets’ third baseman of the future has now seemingly been filled by Mark Vientos, who has hit tremendously well in his first extended taste of MLB playing time. Pete Alonso‘s possible departure in free agency this winter could conceivably leave first base open so Vientos and Baty could both be part of the 2025 lineup, yet while Vientos seems to be cementing his spot in New York’s future plans, the jury is still out on Baty. He drew plenty of attention prior to the trade deadline, but there isn’t yet any indication that the Mets are open to moving on from Baty.
While Baty didn’t have much left to prove against minor league pitching, his .262/.358/.528 slash line over 254 Triple-A plate appearances indicated that he was in a groove at the plate, and could’ve potentially carried this good form into a September call-up with the Mets. It would’ve been interesting to see how Baty’s development would’ve been weighed against the Mets’ efforts to land a wild card spot, yet it now may be a moot point given the finger injury.
Orioles Claim Brooks Kriske, Designate Nick Vespi For Assignment
The Orioles announced that right-hander Brooks Kriske was claimed off waivers from the Reds, then assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. As reported by MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko (X link) earlier today, left-hander Nick Vespi was designated for assignment to create an opening on Baltimore’s 40-man roster.
Cincinnati designed Kriske for assignment earlier this week, and the righty now returns to one of his former teams. Kriske posted a 12.27 ERA over four games and 3 2/3 innings with the Orioles in 2021, before the O’s released him following the season so Kriske could sign with the Yokohama BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball. After his season in Japan, Kriske returned to North America on a minors deal with the Royals and delivered a 4.05 ERA in 6 2/3 innings in 2023, before heading back to NPB for a brief stint with the Seibu Lions.
Kriske then signed a minors deal with the Reds this past winter, and didn’t see any big league action despite a brief stint on Cincinnati’s active roster back in June. He had a 3.10 ERA and eye-opening 36.7% strikeout rate in 49 1/3 innings at Triple-A Louisville, albeit with the red flags of an inflated 14.8% walk rate and a very favorable .205 BABIP. The numbers essentially continue the story of Kriske’s career, as the 30-year-old has long struggled with his control while also missing a lot of bats.
The resume was intriguing enough for the Orioles to bring Kriske in for another look in the organization, though if he does get called up to the majors, Kriske lacks some flexibility since he is out of minor league options. Vespi is in his final option year, and he has been recalled and demoted from Triple-A the maximum five times this season, which undoubtedly factored into Baltimore’s decision to send the southpaw to the DFA wire.
Vespi has frequently been shuttled back and forth between Baltimore and Norfolk during his three Major League seasons, as the O’s haven’t felt compelled to give Vespi an extended look despite some pretty solid performance. Vespi has a 3.88 ERA over his 53 1/3 career MLB innings, including a 2.92 ERA in 12 1/3 frames in 2024. In something of the inverse of Kriske, Vespi is a control specialist (5.9% walk rate in the bigs) who doesn’t record many strikeouts (20.9K%).
Strangely, Vespi’s walk rate has gone through the roof during his time at Triple-A this season, with a huge 15.9% walk rate contributing to his 7.71 ERA over 37 1/3 innings in Norfolk. Both the walk rate and the ERA seem like outliers against Vespi’s otherwise solid career record at the Triple-A level, and other teams might not be dissuaded from putting in a waiver claim to obtain his rights.
Mets Place Paul Blackburn On 15-Day Injured List
The Mets announced that right-hander Paul Blackburn has been placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to August 24) due to a right hand bruise. Righty Huascar Brazoban was called up from Triple-A to take Blackburn’s spot on the active roster.
Acquired in a deadline trade from the Athletics, Blackburn has an inconsistent 5.18 ERA over five starts with New York, as he has mixed three quality outings amidst a pair of rough performances. His former Oakland team tagged him with six earned runs over four innings on August 13, and Blackburn was charged with five ER over 2 1/3 innings against the Padres on Friday. The tough night was made worse when Blackburn was hit in the hand by a David Peralta line drive, which forced him out of the game.
On the plus side, a CT scan revealed only a bruise, and Blackburn was initially hopeful he could avoid the injured list altogether. However, a throwing session today resulted in “a lot of stiffness and soreness,” as Blackburn told Newsday’s Tim Healey and other reporters. The decision was then made to put Blackburn on the IL to give him time to fully recover, and the right-hander feels he can return after just the minimum 15 days.
The Mets have an off-day tomorrow but then play nine games in as many days before their next break on September 5. At least one start will need to covered to account for Blackburn’s turn in the rotation, and Tylor Megill is probably the most logical candidate to be summoned from Triple-A for a spot outing or two. The Monday off-day gives the Mets some time to plan how they’ll approach Blackburn’s absence, and perhaps see if any further discomfort or swelling provides any change to his timeline.