Rockies Claim Jesus Tinoco
The Rockies have claimed right-hander Jesus Tinoco off waivers from the Marlins, per an announcement from both teams. Colorado traded Tinoco to Miami less than a month ago, receiving righty Chad Smith in return. The Rox will now have both right-handers in their organization. Tinoco has been optioned to the Rockies’ alternate training site.
Tinoco, 25, appeared in three games for the Marlins and tossed five hitless, scoreless innings. He walked three batters and picked up another three strikeouts along the way. Tinoco also logged 36 innings in the Colorado bullpen in 2019 and sports a career 4.17 ERA in his 41 frames. However, control problems have plagued Tinoco, and he appears rather fortunate to have maintained an ERA that respectable. The righty has averaged 5.5 walks and 2.6 home runs per nine innings in the big leagues, leading to an eye-popping 7.40 FIP and a 5.68 xFIP.
Originally acquired by the Rockies from the Blue Jays in the Troy Tulowitzki blockbuster, Tinoco has never missed bats or induced grounders at a particularly strong rate in the minors. The control issues that have emerged in the big leagues weren’t present throughout the bulk of his minor league career, however. Overall, Tinoco has a 4.71 ERA with 7.3 K/9 against 2.8 BB/9 in parts of eight minor league seasons.
Marlins Claim Chad Smith From Angels
The Marlins announced that they have claimed right-handed reliever Chad Smith off waivers from the Angels and optioned him to Triple-A New Orleans. Smith had previously been designated for assignment by the Halos in order to clear a roster spot for the recently acquired Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
With this waiver claim, the 25-year-old Smith will join his fourth organization of the past six months. Originally a 17th-round draft pick of Detroit back in 2011, Smith has made his way from the Tigers to the Athletics to the Angels and now the Marlins via waiver claim.
Smith tossed just 1 1/3 innings for the A’s this season and yielded five runs. That, combined with the 11 2/3 innings he pitched last year with Detroit, accounts for the entirety of his work at the Major League level. In his 13 big league frames, he’s struck out 11 batters against six walks.
In the minor leagues, Smith has a rather strong track record, however (this season’s poor results notwithstanding). Though he’s allowed 12 runs in 20 innings at the Triple-A level this season, Smith posted a 3.45 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A in 2014, and he sports a lifetime 2.97 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 184 2/3 innings.
Angels Designate Chad Smith
The Angels have designated righty Chad Smith for assignment, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register tweets. His roster spot was needed for the just-acquired Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
Smith, 25, had been optioned to Triple-A by the Halos after they added him in a DFA deal from the Athletics. On the year, he has posted a 5.40 ERA over twenty PCL frames, with 5.8 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9. Smith was hit hard in his brief time at the major league level with Oakland.
Angels Acquire Chad Smith From Athletics
The Angels have acquired righty Chad Smith from the Athletics for cash considerations, Oakland announced. Smith had been designated for assignment.
The 25-year-old had a rough go in a short stint this year at the big league level for the A’s, who claimed him off waivers from the Tigers this winter. All said, he owns a 8.31 ERA in his 13 big league frames, with 11 strikeouts and eight walks. He was better in his 11 2/3 innings at Triple-A this season, however, permitting just three earned runs while striking out seven and issuing five walks.
For the Angels, the move was about building bullpen depth. As Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register tweets, Smith will be optioned to Triple-A.