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Joe Thatcher

Joe Thatcher Retires

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Veteran lefty Joe Thatcher is calling it quits after a 13-year professional career, Pedro Velazco of the Kokomo Tribune reports. He says that he is looking forward to remaining involved in the game by helping young ballplayers in his hometown of Kokomo, Indiana.

Thatcher, 35, worked parts of nine seasons in the majors, throwing 260 2/3 total innings — the bulk of them with the Padres. He ended with a quality stat line, compiling a 3.38 ERA with 9.3 K/9 against 3.1 BB/9.

Though he was utilized primarily as a lefty specialist, and held opposing southpaw hitters to a .232/.298/.348 slash line, Thatcher proved useful enough against right-handed opposition, too. Ultimately, he faced exactly as many batters from each side (561) in the bigs. Thatcher’s strong K numbers came against lefties — 176 fell victim — but he kept opposite-handed hitters to a palatable .278/.346/.374 batting line.

Thatcher wasn’t drafted after finishing his collegiate career at Indiana State, but caught on in independent ball and got an opportunity in the Brewers organization. He was traded to the Padres in a deadline deal that sent reliever Scott Linebrink to Milwaukee. Later, he’d be the veteran changing hands in the summer. In 2013, he was swapped to the Diamondbacks for Ian Kennedy and then was moved on to the Angels the following year.

Thatcher joined the Astros as a minor league free agent for the 2015 campaign, making the roster and providing the team with 43 appearances but working only 22 2/3 innings. While he helped Houston in what proved to be a playoff year, Thatcher lost his spot in July. He never ended up playing in the postseason, though he did spend time in 2016 with three organizations — the Cubs, Indians, and Dodgers — that played rather notable roles in the postseason this year.

Though he didn’t quite make it back to the majors in his final season of pro ball, Thatcher says he has no regrets. With a family at home, the Triple-A lifestyle no longer held appeal. “I’m at peace with the decision,” he said. “I’m proud of what I’ve done. I played pro baseball for 13 years but I’m ready to try something different and move on with the next chapter in my life.”

Cubs, Joe Thatcher Agree To Minor League Deal

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The Cubs and veteran left-hander Joe Thatcher are in agreement on a minor league contract, reports SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (on Twitter). Thatcher had been with Cleveland on a minor league deal after signing in late July but had been on the temporarily inactive list and requested his release before ever appearing in a game with the Indians’ Triple-A affiliate. The entirety of his work at Triple-A this season has come with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, where he logged a 3.60 ERA with 21 strikeouts against five walks in 15 innings. He’ll now report to the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate in Iowa, per Cotillo.

Thatcher, 34, has pitched at least 20 innings in the big leagues in each of the past four seasons, posting a sub-4.00 ERA in all four individual seasons and working to a combined 3.41 ERA with a 128-to-40 K/BB ratio in 124 innings. However, he hasn’t dominated opposing lefties since the 2012 season — .175/.239/.270 that year but .255/.332/.362 since — and has had to settle for minor league pacts such as this one in the past two years. Nonetheless, Thatcher is a veteran of nine big league seasons with a history of solid ERA marks, plenty of strikeouts and respectable control. His career ERA rests at 3.38, and he’s averaged 9.3 K/9 against 3.1 BB/9 in his 260 2/3 big league innings.

For the Cubs, he’ll represent a depth option that could help the team later this month or in the month of September once rosters expand. The Cubs have bolstered their left-handed relief options by acquiring Aroldis Chapman and Mike Montgomery in trades (complementing holdover Travis Wood), but they also lost some left-handed depth when Clayton Richard went to the Padres after being designated for assignment.

Indians Release Joe Thatcher

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The Indians have released left-hander Joe Thatcher, as announced by the club’s Triple-A affiliate (Twitter link).  Thatcher had signed a minor league deal with the Tribe last month.

This is the third time since last March that Thatcher has been released, and the second time Cleveland has parted ways with the veteran southpaw.  Thatcher signed a minors deal with the Tribe in the offseason but was released at the end of Spring Training, then caught on with the Dodgers in late April before another release in June.  He hasn’t pitched in the majors this season, as his 2016 stats consist of a 3.60 ERA over 17 innings with the Dodgers’ Triple-A team.

Thatcher’s nine-year MLB career has seen him post a 3.38 ERA, 2.97 K/BB rate and 9.3 K/9 over 260 2/3 innings with the Padres, Diamondbacks, Angels and Astros.  He put good numbers (3.18 ERA, 10.3 K/9, 2.17 K/BB rate) over 22 frames with Houston last season, though he didn’t quite display his usual dominance against left-handed hitters.

Indians To Sign Joe Thatcher

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The Indians have agreed to a minor league deal with lefty Joe Thatcher, according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (via Twitter). He had been released by the Dodgers after opting out of his deal with the team.

Thatcher, 34, has seen action in each of the last nine major league seasons, but has yet to receive a big league opportunity thus far in 2016. He was working at the Triple-A level for the Dodgers, posting a 3.60 ERA in 15 frames but also running up an impressive 21:5 K/BB ratio.

Cleveland will presumably consider Thatcher as a LOOGY option down the stretch. He was useful in such a role last year for the Astros, who asked Thatcher for just 22 2/3 innings in 43 appearances but received 3.18 ERA ball from him in that limited capacity.

Minor MLB Transactions: 6/4/16

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Here are today’s minor moves from around the game.

  • The Dodgers have outrighted James Ramsey to Triple-A Oklahoma after he cleared waivers, per a club announcement. Los Angeles designated the outfielder for assignment a week ago. The 26-year-old has slashed just .222/.285/.429 with five home runs in 138 minor league plate appearances this season.
  • Mets right-hander Jeff Walters cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas, the team announced. New York designated Walters for assignment earlier this week to make room for James Loney. Walters, 28, has a 9.27 ERA in 22 1/3 innings with Las Vegas this season.
  • Right-hander Nick Tepesch has requested and been granted his release from his minor league contract with the Rangers, according to the team’s executive vice president of communications, John Blake (Twitter link). Tepesch appeared in 42 games — 39 of them starts — for the Rangers from 2013-14, logging a 4.56 ERA with 5.4 K/9 against 2.9 BB/9 in 219 innings. The 27-year-old missed the 2015 season and underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in August.
  • The White Sox have signed free agent catcher Janigson Villalobos to a minor league contract, the team announced. Villalobos, 19, is a native of Venezuela.

Earlier updates:

  • The Angels have announced that they’ve selected the contract of righty Deolis Guerra and placed fellow righty Nick Tropeano on the 15-day DL with right shoulder tightness. Guerra has been a fixture on the transactions lists recently — the Angels designated him for assignment and then outrighted him just this week. He’s allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings in the big leagues this season. As for Tropeano, the Angels scratched him yesterday from his start today. Jhoulys Chacin will start in his place.
  • The Dodgers have released lefty reliever Joe Thatcher, SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo tweets. Thatcher had previously exercised an opt-out clause in his minor-league deal, opening a brief window in which the Dodgers could add him to their active roster or let him go, and it appears they’ve chosen the latter option. The 34-year-old pitched reasonably well with the Astros last season and had a 3.60 ERA, 12.6 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 15 innings with Triple-A Oklahoma City this year.
  • The White Sox have announced that they’ve selected the contract of outfielder Jason Coats from Triple-A Charlotte. He’ll take the 25-man roster spot of righty Tommy Kahnle, who was optioned last night; Kahnle himself had briefly taken the spot of corner outfielder Melky Cabrera, who was placed on the family emergency leave list yesterday. The 26-year-old Coats looked like a fringe prospect heading into the 2016 season, but he’s had a breakout year at Charlotte, batting .335/.399/.567 with 22 extra-base hits. He’s starting in left field and batting seventh for the Sox today against the Tigers.
  • The Pirates announced a variety of moves related to their bullpen — they’ve selected the contract of righty Curtis Partch, recalled lefty Cory Luebke from Triple-A Indianapolis, optioned righties Wilfredo Boscan and Rob Scahill to Indianapolis, and moved righty Ryan Vogelsong (facial fractures) to the 60-day DL. The moves provide the Bucs with fresh relief options after Boscan and Scahill each pitched multiple innings last night. The hard-throwing Partch last pitched in the big leagues in 2014 with the Reds. He’s gotten great results so far this season for Indianapolis, with a 1.30 ERA, 10.4 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 27 2/3 innings.
  • Utilityman Emmanuel Burriss has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the Phillies have announced. The Phillies designated Burriss for assignment on Wednesday after he struggled in brief duty in the big leagues this season.

Opt-Outs: Joe Thatcher, Hak-Ju Lee

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June 1 serves as a common date for opt-out clauses in minor league contracts, and as such, there figure to be a few players on the verge of free agency. It’s already been reported that Travis Snider won’t opt out of his deal with the Royals, and we’ll keep track of the rest of the day’s opt-out decisions in this post…

  • Veteran lefty Joe Thatcher has exercised the opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the Dodgers, tweets SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo. The Dodgers have until Saturday to add him to the big league roster or he’ll be a free agent. Thatcher, 34, spent the 2015 season with the Astros and totaled 22 2/3 innings of 3.18 ERA ball with a 26-to-12 K/BB ratio. Thatcher didn’t display his typical excellence against lefties, yielding a .241/.362/.321 batting line to same-handed opponents, but he’s an overall line of .232/.298/.348 to lefty batters in his big league career. He has a 3.86 ERA with a 20-to-5 K/BB ratio in 14 innings at the Triple-A level thus far in 2016 and could get a look elsewhere as a situational lefty if the Dodgers elect not to add him to the big league bullpen.
  • Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee has also exercised a June 1 opt-out in his minors deal with the Giants, MLBTR has learned (Twitter link). Lee, a former Top 100 prospect with the Cubs and Rays, is hitting .263/.343/.378 with three homers and four steals in 45 games/178 plate appearances with Triple-A Sacramento this season. San Francisco has 72 hours to add him to the active roster. The 25-year-old has played shortstop almost exclusively throughout his career but has logged a pair of games at third base this season. Lee’s career was slowed by a collision at second base in 2013 that left him with multiple torn ligaments in his left knee, and he hasn’t topped 100 games in a season since 2012 (though he’s healthy and on pace to do so in 2016). Baseball America wrote prior to the 2015 season that Lee possessed above-average range, a plus throwing arm and soft hands at shortstop.

Dodgers Sign Joe Thatcher To Minor-League Deal

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The Dodgers have signed lefty Joe Thatcher to a minor-league deal, SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo tweets. Thatcher is a client of Platinum Sports.

The Indians released Thatcher near the end of Spring Training. Last season, he got good results in the Astros’ bullpen, posting a 3.18 ERA, 10.3 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 in 22 2/3 innings and 43 plate appearances. Nearly two-thirds of the batters he faced were lefties, who hit .245/.365/.321 off him. Never a hard thrower, Thatcher had the lowest velocity of his career in 2015, with his average fastball dropping to just 84.5 MPH. The 34-year-old has a career 3.38 ERA, 9.3 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in parts of nine big-league seasons, during which he’s appeared with the Padres, Diamondbacks and Angels as well as the Astros.

The Dodgers currently have J.P. Howell and Adam Liberatore as lefties in their bullpen, with Luis Avilan, Sean Burnett and Ian Thomas available with Triple-A Oklahoma City. After having had a few weeks off, Thatcher will likely need a bit of time to get himself established at Oklahoma City before emerging as a potential big-league option.

Indians Release Will Venable, Joe Thatcher

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The Indians have released outfielder Will Venable and left-hander Joe Thatcher, as Jordan Bastian of MLB.com tweets.

Venable, 33, was traded from the Padres to the Rangers in August of last year.  After hitting .258/.318/.378 in 308 plate appearances for San Diego, Venable’s slash line dropped to .182 .325 .227 in 82 plate appearances for Texas.  In total, Venable slashed .244/.320/.350, numbers that were a step up from 2014 but not in step with his previous Padres seasons.  The Turner Gary Sports client would have received a $1.5MM base with up to $2MM in incentives had he made the Indians’ roster.

Thatcher was informed on Saturday that he would not be making the team.  Thatcher could have accepted a minor league assignment with a June 1st opt-out date, but he apparently requested his release instead.  The 34-year-old pitched to a 3.18 ERA with 10.3 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 across 43 appearances last season.  Those 43 outings came across two separate stints for the Astros as he was designated for assignment in July and re-signed in August.  In a small sample size of 3.2 IP, Thatcher allowed just two hits, fanned four, and walked only one batter in his second turn with Houston.

Indians Roster Notes: Thatcher, Gorzelanny, Joba, Urshela

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Here are a few quick notes on recent Indians roster decisions:

  • The Indians have told veteran lefty Joe Thatcher that he will not make the team, as MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian writes. Thatcher was an Article XX(B) free agent, so he will get a $100K retention bonus and a June 1 opt-out date if he accepts a minor-league assignment. He has until Tuesday to decide if he’ll do so. Thatcher allowed just one run in 6 2/3 innings in Spring Training and also got fairly good results in a partial season with the Astros last year, but that apparently wasn’t enough to earn a spot.
  • The Indians have also told one of Thatcher’s competitors for a bullpen job, Tom Gorzelanny, that he won’t make the team either, Bastian tweets. Gorzelanny, too, was an Article XX(B) free agent, but as the Akron Beacon Journal’s Ryan Lewis tweets, the Indians are hoping he winds up with them at Triple-A. The 33-year-old Gorzelanny was coming off a rough season in Detroit and struck out only three batters in 7 2/3 innings in Spring Training, during which he allowed three runs. If the Indians do carry a bullpen lefty, it appears it will be either Kyle Crockett or Ross Detwiler.
  • One veteran reliever who has made the team is righty Joba Chamberlain, Bastian tweets. The Indians signed Chamberlain to a minor-league deal in December after a mediocre 2015 season in which he posted a 4.88 ERA, 7.5 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 27 2/3 innings with the Tigers and Royals. Chamberlain also walked five batters in eight Spring Training innings this season. At 30, though, he’s fairly young, and he’s demonstrated mid-90s velocity.
  • The team also optioned infielder Giovanny Urshela, pitcher Austin Adams, outfielder Joey Butler and infielder Erik Gonzalez. The most notable of those is Urshela, who played in 81 big-league games last season and hit well this Spring but didn’t figure to make the team thanks to the presence of Juan Uribe and Jose Ramirez.

Indians To Sign Joe Thatcher

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11:58am: Thatcher’s deal calls for him to earn a $1MM base salary if he’s in the majors with an additional $1.2MM available through incentives, Cotillo tweets.

9:53am: It’s a minor league deal with a spring training invite, according to Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter).

8:30am: The Indians and Joe Thatcher have reached agreement on a deal, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation tweets.  The left-hander spent last season with the Astros.  It’s not immediately clear whether the pact is of the minor league or major league variety.

Thatcher, 34, pitched to a 3.18 ERA with 10.3 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 across 43 appearances last season.  The southpaw was added to Houston’s 40-man roster as an Article XX(B) veteran right before Opening Day.  In July, he was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for another pitcher and subsequently elected free agency.  He circled back to the Astros in August, however, and wound up finishing the year on the varsity squad.  In an admittedly small sample size, Thatcher finished out the season strong.  In seven fall appearances (3.2 IP), Thatcher allowed just two hits, fanned four, and walked only one batter.

The signing of Thatcher marks the Indians’ third free agent signing in 48 hours after they added Mike Napoli and Rajai Davis on Wednesday.

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