Blue Jays To Designate Justin Germano
The Blue Jays will designate pitcher Justin Germano for assignment tomorrow when they promote Ricky Romero, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports (on Twitter). Germano, 30, has appeared in one game for the Jays this season. He signed a minor-league deal with the Jays in the offseason, and they promoted him April 27 after they designated fellow pitcher Aaron Laffey for assignment.
Germano has pitched 23 innings for Triple-A Buffalo in 2013, with a 6.65 ERA, 5.9 K/9 and 0.8 BB/9. The righty has also pitched for the Padres, Reds, Indians, Red Sox and Cubs, compiling a 5.29 career ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9.
Blue Jays Sign Justin Germano
The Blue Jays announced that they have signed right-hander Justin Germano to a minor league contract. The deal comes with an invitation to major league spring training next year.
Germano elected free agency from the Cubs in late October after being outrighted to Triple-A Iowa. The 30-year-old had a a 6.75 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in twelve starts and one relief appearance for the Cubs in 2012. Prior to that, Germano was with the Red Sox's Triple-A affiliate where he posted a 2.40 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 1.1 BB/9.
Justin Germano Opts For Free Agency
Cubs pitcher Justin Germano has elected free agency after being outrighted to Triple-A Iowa last week, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. Germano was acquired from the Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations back in July.
The 30-year-old posted a 6.75 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in twelve starts and one relief appearance for the Cubs this season. The right-hander also made 16 starts and one relief appearance for the Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate in 2012, posting a 2.40 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 1.1 BB/9.
Minor Moves: Lin, Del Rosario, Thompson, Cubs
Here are some of the minor transactions from around the league…
- The Astros have claimed outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin off waivers from the Red Sox, reports MLB.com's Brian McTaggart (Twitter link). Lin made his Major League debut this season, appearing in nine games for Boston before being designated for assignment last week.
- In a corresponding move, the Astros announced that right-hander Enerio Del Rosario has been designated for assignment. Del Rosario posted a 9.00 ERA in 19 relief innings for Houston last season.
- Outfielder Rich Thompson has elected free agency, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Thompson was outrighted to Triple-A by the Rays earlier this week. The 33-year-old appeared in 23 games for the Rays last season, his first taste of Major League action with a six-game stint with the Royals in 2004.
- The Cubs outrighted Joe Mather, Blake Parker and Justin Germano to Triple-A Iowa, tweets MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. Manny Corpas was also among Chicago's outright assignments today and the reliever has already chosen to become a free agent.
- Matt Eddy of Baseball America recaps the week's minor league transactions, including the news that the Orioles have officially released Dontrelle Willis, who intended to retire back in July.
Cubs Acquire Justin Germano; DFA Asencio
The Cubs have acquired Justin Germano from the Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations, according to a team press release. The veteran right-hander was designated for assignment by Boston earlier this week to make room for Jacoby Ellsbury's return from the disabled list. Germano has a 4.91 ERA and a 1.88 K/BB ratio in 80 Major League games (36 of them starts) with the Red Sox, Indians, Padres and Reds since 2004. He made just one appearance with the Sox this season, though Germano posted a 2.40 ERA as a starter for Triple-A Pawtucket.
It appears as though Germano could be rotation depth in case the Cubs deal Matt Garza or Ryan Dempster. Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald tweets that prospect Casey Coleman was scratched from his Triple-A start today in case Germano can't make it to St. Louis in time for the Cubs' game with the Cardinals on Friday. Dempster is scheduled to start that game, though we heard earlier today that the Cubs will have a backup starter — clearly either Coleman or Germano — on hand should Dempster be traded before Friday night. This is just a cautionary move from the Cubs, as MLB.com's Carrie Muskat (Twitter link) reports that a Dempster trade is not imminent.
In a corresponding move, the Cubs designated Jairo Asencio for assignment. Chicago claimed Asencio off waivers when the right-hander was DFA'ed by the Indians in May. The 28-year-old Asencio has a 4.91 ERA in 30 games (40 1/3 innings) with the Indians and Cubs this season.