Minor MLB Transactions: 4/5/21
The latest minor moves from around the game…
- The Nationals have re-signed first baseman/outfielder Yasmany Tomas and southpaw reliever T.J. McFarland to minor league contracts, Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post relays. The team originally signed the pair of veterans to minors pacts during the offseason, but it released them shortly before the 2021 campaign began. Still just 30, Tomas was a star in his native Cuba, which led the Diamondbacks to sign him to a six-year, $68.5MM deal heading into 2015. However, Tomas had a rough time in Arizona, where he combined an underwhelming line of .266/.306/.459 (97 wRC+) in 1,175 plate appearances with poor defense, and hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2019. McFarland, another ex-Diamondback, spent last year as a member of the Athletics, with whom he registered a 4.35 ERA in 20 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old has induced grounders at a tremendous 62.8 percent clip and notched a 4.08 ERA/3.83 SIERA during his 401-inning run in the majors among Arizona, Oakland and Baltimore, though he has only recorded a strikeout percentage of 13.6.
- The Marlins have brought back lefty Brandon Leibrandt on a minors deal, Craig Mish of SportsGrid tweets. The 28-year-old Leibrandt picked up his first MLB experience with the Marlins last season and tossed nine innings of two-run, three-hit ball, but he succeeded in spite of issuing seven walks against three strikeouts. The Marlins outrighted him after the season. He’ll report to their alternate site, according to Mish.
Marlins Outright 3 Pitchers
The Marlins have reinstated three pitchers – Drew Steckenrider, Brian Moran and Brandon Leibrandt – from the 60-day injured list and outrighted them, the team announced. Steckenrider and Moran have elected free agency.
Now 29 years old, the right-handed Steckenreider was a very promising part of the Marlins’ bullpen from 2017-18. However, he limped to a 6.28 ERA/7.96 FIP during the next season and hasn’t pitched since May 6, 2019, owing to arm problems.
Meanwhile, lefties Moran and Liebrandt have had minor roles with the Marlins. The 32-year-old Moran has thrown just 11 innings (10 with the Marlins, one with the Blue Jays) since making his major league debut in 2019. He has given up eight earned runs at the game’s top level. Liebrandt, the son of former MLB pitcher Charlie Liebrandt, yielded just two earned runs in nine frames with the Marlins in 2020, but he also posted seven walks against three strikeouts in the process.
Marlins Select Braxton Garrett
The Marlins selected the contract of left-hander Braxton Garrett and named him the 29th man for today’s doubleheader against the Phillies, per a club announcement. They’ve also activated right-hander Nick Neidert from the injured list, optioning left-hander Dan Castano to open active roster space. To clear space on the 40-man roster for Garrett and Neidert, southpaw Brandon Leibrandt was transferred to the 60-day injured list with left elbow ulnar neuritis and infielder Eddy Alvarez was designated for assignment.
Garrett is the most notable name in today’s swath of moves, having been selected seventh overall in the 2016 draft out of an Alabama high school. An ill-timed Tommy John surgery the following June threw Garrett off track, and his prospect status has never completely bounced back. Nevertheless, he’s still among the most talented arms in the Miami farm system, with Baseball America recently placing him ninth among Marlins prospects thanks to his 92-95 MPH fastball and plus curveball. Garrett was due to be added to the 40-man roster this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. The contending Marlins can afford to devote a roster spot to him a few months earlier if they anticipate him helping their playoff push.
Like Garrett, Neidert is one of the Marlins’ better pitching prospects. He was part of Miami’s season-opening roster but pitched in just one game before going on the IL amidst the team’s COVID-19 outbreak. The command artist turned in a 5.05 ERA in 41 Triple-A innings last year (deceptively productive work given the high-octane offensive environment in the Pacific Coast League).
Alvarez, meanwhile, was one of the more remarkable stories in baseball this season. The 30-year-old former Olympic speed skater cracked Miami’s MLB roster in the wake of their COVID outbreak. Unfortunately, he didn’t do nearly enough to hold down a roster spot permanently, hitting just .189/.268/.216 in 41 plate appearances.
Marlins Recall Monte Harrison, Place Brandon Leibrandt On 10-Day IL
The Marlins left-hander Brandon Leibrandt has been placed on the 10-day injured list. Monte Harrison has been recalled to take his roster spot, per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter).
A sixth-round pick of the Phillies in the 2014 draft, the 27-year-old Leibrandt made his major league debut this season. He appeared in 5 games, pitching to an even 2.00 ERA across 9 innings, though he struggled with his control by walking 7 over that span. He now heads to the injured list with left elbow ulnar neuritis. While anything short of Tommy John surgery should be a relief, ulnar neuritis is still likely to require a months-long recover process, effectively ending Leibrandt’s season.
Harrison rejoins the club, hoping for better results than the last go-round. The 25-year-old Harrison could muster a triple slash of just .133/.212/.267 over his first 33 plate appearances in the big leagues. The speedy Harrison mostly lined up in center, but with Starling Marte now manning the middle, Harrison is more likely to see time in the corners, where he should be a plus defensively.
Marlins Announce Series Of Roster Moves
The Marlins announced a series of roster moves Tuesday, including the contract selections of right-hander Brett Eibner and lefty Brandon Leibrandt. They also optioned righties Jordan Yamamoto and Justin Shafer and infielder Lewin Diaz to their alternate training site; moved righty Mike Morin to the 45-day injured list; placed lefty Brian Moran on the 10-day IL with right knee patella tendonitis; recalled righty Humberto Mejia from their training site; and reinstated outfielder Corey Dickerson from the paternity list.
Eibner, a former Royals and Dodgers outfielder, last appeared in the majors in 2017. He switched to a two-way role thereafter and performed well enough as a pitcher in independent ball for the Marlins to recently purchase his contract from the Eastern Reyes del Tigre of the Constellation Energy League.
Leibrandt also isn’t far removed from joining the Marlins, who inked the ex-Phillies farmhand to a minors pact earlier this month. Most recently a member of the independent Somerset Patriots, the 27-year-old has never pitched in the bigs. He did enjoy a productive season in Triple-A ball in 2018, though, before succumbing to Tommy John surgery.
Marlins Sign Brandon Leibrandt
The Marlins have inked lefty Brandon Leibrandt, Craig Mish of Sports Grid reports on Twitter. He’ll join the organization’s 60-man player pool.
There’s little doubt the deal is of the minor-league variety. Liebrandt, son of Charlie, comes aboard after participating in the Somerset Professional Baseball Series staged by the indy ball Somerset Patriots.
The 27-year-old Leibrandt, a former sixth-round pick, turned in a sterling 1.42 ERA over 50 2/3 Triple-A innings in 2018. Despite recording only 32 strikeouts, he also limited opposing hitters to ten walks and just a single long ball.
Unfortunately, Leibrandt ended up requiring Tommy John surgery and was sidelined for all of the 2019 season. He had not returned to the affiliated ranks until this move to join the Miami organization.