AL Notes: Astros, Angels, White Sox, Tigers, Orioles
Dusty Baker might be finished as a manager, but the baseball lifer has a job in the Astros front office anytime he wants it. Owner Jim Crane told reporters (including Brian McTaggart of MLB.com) that Baker is “always welcome” in the Astros organization. Meanwhile, the long-time skipper said he is “retiring from the field” but hasn’t made up his mind about what comes next (per Chandler Rome of The Athletic).
As for hiring a new manager to replace Baker, the Astros are just beginning their search. Bob Nightengale of USA Today suggests that bench coach Joe Espada and former Tigers and Angels manager Brad Ausmus are “strong candidates.” Ausmus was a contender for the Astros GM position last offseason and the managerial opening back in 2020. Espada was another candidate in the team’s last managerial search, and he has interviewed for numerous other managing jobs in the years since. McTaggart also identified several contenders for the gig, including Ausmus, Espada, and Diamondbacks bench coach Jeff Banister.
More news from around the American League…
- After four years on the Angels‘ coaching staff (three as pitching coach), Matt Wise has accepted a new job as the bullpen coach for the White Sox, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal and Sam Blum of The Athletic. While going from pitching coach to bullpen coach might seem like a step backward, Wise was something of a sitting duck in the Angels organization. Los Angeles is looking to hire a new manager after parting ways with Phil Nevin, and that new manager will presumably want to hire a coaching staff of his own.
- The Tigers, meanwhile, need a new first base coach. According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Alfredo Amézaga will not return to A.J. Hinch’s coaching staff next season. He joined the staff ahead of the 2023 campaign after previously working as a minor league coach in the Braves organization. Amézaga is also a manager in the Mexican Winter League.
- Finally, over in the AL East, the Orioles made some changes in their scouting and player development departments. A dozen front office staffers were promoted to new roles, including Matt Blood, the new vice president of player development and domestic scouting; Koby Perez, the new vice president of international scouting and operations; and Anthony Villa, the new director of player development (per Roch Kubatko of MASN). Blood was the previous director of player development, while Perez served as director of international scouting. Villa was the minor league hitting coordinator in 2023.
Tigers Make Changes To Coaching Staff
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch announced a series of changes to his coaching staff this morning (Twitter link via Jason Beck of MLB.com). Most notably, hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh and quality control coach Josh Paul will not return to the organization in 2023.
Meanwhile, assistant hitting coach Mike Hessman and third base coach Ramon Santiago will not be on the Major League coaching staff but have been offered new roles in player development. Gary Jones, who served as first base coach until being struck by liner that fractured his ankle in late May, will return to the big league staff in a to-be-determined role. Former big leaguer Alfredo Amezaga, who joined the Major League staff late in the season after serving as the Tigers’ Triple-A first base coach, will be the first base coach on next year’s big league staff.
The forthcoming addition of a new hitting coach and assistant hitting coach aren’t a surprise after a disastrous 2022 season in Detroit. Tigers batters ranked in the bottom six of all MLB teams in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, posting a combined .231/.286/.346 line in 2022. Detroit hitters ranked dead last in the Majors in home runs (110), runs scored (557), slugging percentage and wRC+ (81). Their 6.5% team walk rate was 29th in the Majors, ahead of only the White Sox, and their 24.1% team strikeout rate was the fourth-highest in Major League Baseball. Key young players like Riley Greene and especially Spencer Torkelson fell shy of expectations, while notable veterans like Javier Baez and Jonathan Schoop had some of the worst offensive output of their careers.
Reshaping the organization’s hitting hierarchy will be among the many initiatives on the docket for newly hired Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris, who replaced longtime general manager Al Avila. Harris, the former Giants general manager and Cubs assistant general manager, spoke at his introductory press conference about a need to emphasize development at all levels of the organization, including the Major Leagues. Installing new voices to work with the team’s hitters will be one of the first steps toward that end in what figures to be an active offseason throughout the Tigers organization.
Retirement Notes: Tuiasosopo, Amezaga
The latest retirement news from around the game . . .
- Per an Atlanta Braves team release, former IF/OF Matt Tuiasosopo has retired and will manage the club’s low-A Rome affiliate next season. Tuiasosopo, 32, appeared in parts of five major league seasons with Seattle, Detroit, and Atlanta, slashing a combined .206/.288/.353 in 404 career plate appearances. The brother of former NFL quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo showed late-career promise in Triple-A with the White Sox and Braves, but decided to call it quits after a poor showing with the New Britain Bees of the independent Atlantic League in 2018.
- In the same release, the Braves announced that former MLB IF/OF Alfredo Amezaga is no longer playing and will make his “coaching debut” with the organization in a to-be-determined capacity. Amezaga had spent much of 2013-17 in the Mexican League after a decade-long MLB career with four different teams. The 40-year-old slashed a respectable .247/.307/.333 over those ten seasons, starting at least one game at every position on the diamond, save for behind the plate. The Mexican-born Amezaga’s 2004 grand slam, hit in the first game of a decisive, final-weekend series against the Athletics, will live forever in Angel lore. He last appeared stateside for AAA-Albuquerque in 2013 after spending parts of the 2011 season with the Rockies and Marlins.
Dodgers Sign Alfredo Amezaga
The Dodgers signed Alfredo Amezaga to a minor league deal with an invite to big league spring training, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The utility man spent last season with the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate.
In 113 games with Triple-A Iowa, Amezaga hit .274/.336/.372 with six homers. The 34-year-old also has spent parts of nine years in the big leagues with a career slash line of .247/.307/.333 for the Marlins, Angels, Rockies and Pirates.
Cubs To Sign Alfredo Amezaga
The Cubs have agreed to sign Alfredo Amezaga to a minor league deal, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. The Sparta Group represents the 33-year-old utility player.
Amezaga appeared in 40 games with the Rockies and Marlins in 2011, playing short, second, third and both outfield corners. He posted a .182/.247/.195 line in 87 plate appearances, but owns a career line of .247/.307/.333 in nine seasons with the Angels, Rockies, Pirates and Marlins. His most productive years came from 2006-08, when he posted a .675 OPS as a super utility player in Florida.
Marlins Release Alfredo Amezaga
The Marlins released Alfredo Amezaga, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro (on Twitter). They had designated the 33-year-old utility player for assignment on Monday.
The Marlins acquired Amezaga from the Rockies for minor league infielder Jesus Merchan last month. In 87 plate appearances for Colorado and Florida this season, Amezaga has a .182/.247/.195 line. He has appeared at second, short, third and both corner outfield positions. In parts of nine big league seasons, Amezaga has a .247/.307/.333 career line.
Marlins Designate Alfredo Amezaga For Assignment
The Marlins have designated Alfredo Amezaga for assignment, according to Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post (via Twitter). The 33-year-old had an OPS of just .345 in 20 games with the Marlins.
Florida acquired Amezaga from the Rockies roughly a month ago for minor league infielder Jesus Merchan. At the time, the veteran was excited to get another chance with his former club, but the reunion was short-lived. Amezaga played four seasons for the Marlins from 2006 through 2009.
NL West Notes: Rockies, Giants, Beltran, Padres
Let's check out a few items from the National League West..
- While some Rockies fans are clamoring for the Mets' David Wright, Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post says that the club should zero in on Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer this offseason. While Cuddyer alone won't make Colorado a playoff team next year, he would provide them with a much needed power corner outfield bat.
- The Giants are 2-8 since acquiring Carlos Beltran, but it's not fair to expect him to turn the offense around by himself, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com.
- The Padres' expanded scouting department made pulling off the Mike Adams deal rather easy, writes MLB.com's Corey Brock. The club has hired eight new scouts since A.J. Hinch took over as vice president of the department which allowed them to have more than nine different looks at pitchers Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland.
- Veteran Alfredo Amezaga, who was shipped from the Rockies to the Marlins yesterday, is delighted to get a new start with his former club, writes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
Quick Hits: Nimmo, Indians, Rays, Starling, Pomeranz
Links for Saturday evening..
- Without directly saying so, Mets GM Sandy Alderson intimated that it's no big deal that first-round pick Brandon Nimmo remains unsigned, writes Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
- After dealing right-hander Alex White and left-hander Drew Pomeranz, Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer looks at the arms that remain in the Indians' farm system.
- Suddenly, the Rays find themselves with a surplus of catchers, writes MLB.com's Bill Chastain.
- Royals first-round pick Bubba Starling is not on Nebraska football's official 105-man roster and won't practice at NU until he decides on his baseball future, tweets Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.
- Indians prospect Drew Pomeranz officially transferred from Double-A Akron to the Arizona League Indians today, tweets MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. Pomeranz will work out in Arizona until he can officially be dealt to the Rockies on August 15th.
- The newest member of the Marlins Alfredo Amezaga has always been known as utility man but reports are that he's gained a bit of weight and is better suited for either second or third base rather than shortstop, writes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
Outrighted To The Minors: Amezaga, Sosa, Tejeda
We'll keep track of all the day's outrighted players right here:
- Alfredo Amezaga, designated for assignment by the Rockies on May 29th to create a spot for Chris Nelson, cleared waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A, tweets the team.
- Henry Sosa, who was designated for assignment by the Giants last week, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Double-A, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).
- Robinson Tejeda cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). The Royals designated Tejeda for assignment last week to create roster space for hard-throwing right-hander Felipe Paulino.
- Dallas McPherson cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). The White Sox designated the infielder for assignment Monday after he collected a pair of singles in 15 plate appearances over the course of 11 games. The 30-year-old former top prospect had a characteristically strong .305/.366/.458 line in Triple-A Charlotte before getting the call to the Majors.