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Diamondbacks Reassign Trey Mancini To Minor League Camp

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Opening Day is just a week away, which means the camp cuts will become more notable. The Diamondbacks made a few today. They optioned pitchers Kyle Nelson and Drey Jameson as well as infielder Jordan Lawlar to Triple-A Reno. Right-hander Scott McGough and first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini, who were in camp as non-roster invitees, were reassigned to minor league camp.

Mancini’s reassignment is arguably the most notable move of the bunch. The veteran signed a minor league deal with the Snakes last month and put up huge numbers this spring. In 27 Cactus League plate appearances, he has a line of .440/.481/.640. An unsustainable .667 batting average on balls in play is helping him out, but it’s still a nice showing for a guy who didn’t play in 2024.

Longtime baseball fans will be familiar with Mancini’s inspirational journey. He hit 86 home runs and slashed .276/.335/.485 for the Orioles over the 2016 through 2019 seasons, production which translated to a 116 wRC+. He then missed the entire 2020 season while battling colon cancer. He made a triumphant return in 2021, hitting another 21 home runs and putting up a .255/.326/.432 line and 105 wRC+. He produced largely similar numbers in 2022, a season in which he was traded to the Astros and earned a World Series ring.

The two subsequent years were a challenge. He signed a two-year, $14MM deal with the Cubs going into 2023 but hit .234/.299/.336 for a 76 wRC+ and was released in early August. Going into 2024, he signed a minor league deal with the Marlins but opted out of that deal at the end of camp. He didn’t sign anywhere else during the 2024 season. It was reported in November that he was looking to mount a comeback bid, which was followed by a minor league deal with the Snakes in February.

What’s unclear now is if Mancini has an opt-out on this deal, as he did in his pact with the Marlins last spring. Some veterans get automatic opt-outs on minor league deals, but one of the requirements for those is that a player was on a major league roster or injured list at the end of the previous season. That was not the case for Mancini, so the only way he would have an opt-out is if he negotiated one into his contract.

After missing the entire 2024 season, perhaps he would welcome the opportunity to play in some minor league games and get back into a normal rhythm. However, given his track record and big spring numbers, he might also be interested in seeing what other opportunities are out there. The Snakes seem likely to use Josh Naylor and Pavin Smith as regulars in the first base and designated hitter spots. Mancini has experience in the outfield corners as well but has never graded out well there and the D’Backs have plenty of options for those spots.

Lawlar is perhaps the best-known name among the other players, since he has been one of the top prospects in baseball for a while. He made his big league debut late in 2023 but hit just .129/.206/.129 in 34 plate appearances. He then missed most of the 2024 season due to injury, getting into just 23 minor league games. He’s having a strong spring, hitting .294/.368/.529, but getting optioned is a sensible move.

Arizona has Geraldo Perdomo and Eugenio Suárez covering Lawlar’s primary positions of shortstop and third base. After a mostly lost season, getting regular reps in Reno is probably what’s best for him, especially since he’s still just 22 years old. Suárez is an impending free agent, so a solid campaign from Lawlar could line him up for a regular big league role next year. Or perhaps sooner, if injuries create an opening.

Jameson, 27, has some decent big league numbers. He tossed 65 innings for the Snakes over 2022 and 2023, making seven starts and 12 relief appearances. He missed the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. It’s unclear if the Diamondbacks view him more as a starter or reliever going forward. After missing all of last year, perhaps pitching in Triple-A is better either way.

If he is to continue starting, they don’t have a big league role for him now anyway. They have seven viable rotation options in Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodríguez, Jordan Montgomery, Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson. However, Gallen, Kelly and Montgomery are impending free agents and Burnes can opt-out after 2026, so there are long-term jobs available if Jameson returns to starting in Reno this year.

Players Who Could Move To The 60-Day IL Once Spring Training Begins

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Most of the clubs in the league currently have a full 40-man roster, which means that just about every transaction requires a corresponding move these days. Some extra roster flexibility is on the way, however. The 60-day injured list goes away five days after the World Series but comes back when pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

Per R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports, most clubs have a report date of February 12th or 13th. The Cubs and Dodgers are a bit earlier than most, on the 9th and 11th, respectively. That’s due to the fact that those clubs are heading to Tokyo, with exhibition games in mid-March, followed by regular season games against each other on March 18th and 19th. All the other teams have Opening Day scheduled for March 27th.

It’s worth pointing out that the 60 days don’t start being counted until Opening Day. Although a team can transfer a player to the 60-day IL quite soon, they will likely only do so if they aren’t expecting the player back until end of May or later. A team also must have a full 40-man roster in order to move a player to the 60-day IL.

There are still plenty of free agents still out there, including big names like Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso, as well as Nick Pivetta, Andrew Heaney, David Robertson, Randal Grichuk, Kenley Jansen, Harrison Bader, Lance Lynn, Jose Quintana and many more. Perhaps the extra roster flexibility will spur some deals to come together in the next week or so. It could also increase the ability of some clubs to make waiver claims or small trades for players who have been designated for assignment.

Here are some players who are expected to miss some significant time and could find themselves transferred soon.

Angels: Robert Stephenson

Stephenson underwent a hybrid Tommy John surgery with internal brace in late April. Given the 14-plus months required to recovery from such a procedure, he’s not likely to be ready in the early parts of the 2025 season.

Astros: Cristian Javier, J.P. France, Bennett Sousa

Javier underwent Tommy John surgery in June and is targeting a return in the second half of 2025. France is recovering from shoulder surgery and hoping to return in July. Sousa’s timeline is less clear but he underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in April. Other possibilities include Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr., who are expected to start the season on the IL but returning in April or May still seems possible.

Athletics: Luis Medina, Ken Waldichuk

Medina underwent Tommy John surgery in August and Waldichuk in May. Medina might miss the entire season while Waldichuk is likely to miss a few months at least.

Blue Jays: Angel Bastardo, Alek Manoah

The Jays grabbed Bastardo from the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft in December, even though he had Tommy John surgery in June. Manoah also had Tommy John around that time and is hoping to be back by August.

Braves: Joe Jiménez

Jimenez had knee surgery in November with a timeline of eight to twelve months, so he might miss the entire season. Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. are also possibilities, though those will be more borderline. Strider had internal brace surgery in April, so returning in May is somewhat possible. Acuña is recovering from a torn ACL last year and it’s possible he’ll miss the first month or so of the season. Given how important both of those players are, Atlanta probably won’t put them on the 60-day IL unless it’s 100% certain that they can’t come back in the first 60 days of the season.

Brewers: Robert Gasser

Gasser had Tommy John surgery in June and will be looking at a late 2025 return even in a best-case scenario.

Diamondbacks: Kyle Nelson

Nelson’s timeline is unclear, but he underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in May and missed the remainder of the 2024 season.

Dodgers: Gavin Stone, Brusdar Graterol, River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, Emmet Sheehan

Stone underwent shoulder surgery in October that will cause him to miss the entire year. Graterol also underwent shoulder surgery and isn’t expected back until the second half of 2025. Each of Ryan, Hurt and Sheehan required Tommy John surgery in 2024: Ryan in August, Hurt in July and Sheehan in May.

Guardians: Sam Hentges, David Fry, Shane Bieber, Trevor Stephan

Hentges required shoulder surgery in September, with an expected recovery timeline of 12 to 14 months. Fry underwent UCL surgery in November with a more fluid timeline. He won’t be able to throw at all in 2025 but could be cleared for designated hitter action six to eight months from that surgery. Bieber is perhaps a borderline case, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in April. Given his importance, the Guards may not transfer him to the 60-day IL until it’s assured that he won’t be back in the first 60 days of the season. Stephan underwent Tommy John surgery in March and perhaps has a chance to avoid the 60-day IL, depending on his progression.

Mariners: Matt Brash, Jackson Kowar

Brash underwent Tommy John surgery in May. Given the typical 14-month recovery timeline from that procedure, he would be looking at a midsummer return. However, it was reported in November that he’s ahead of schedule and could be back by the end of April. That’s an optimistic timeline but the Mariners will probably hold off moving him to the 60-day IL until the door is closed to an early return. Kowar underwent Tommy John in March, so an early return in 2025 is possible for him, depending on how his recovery is going.

Marlins: Braxton Garrett, Eury Pérez

Garrett just underwent UCL surgery last month and is going to miss the entire 2025 season. Pérez underwent Tommy John surgery in April of last year and will miss at least part of the beginning of the 2025 campaign.

Mets: Christian Scott

Scott required a Tommy John surgery and internal brace hybrid procedure in September and will likely miss the entire 2025 season.

Nationals: Josiah Gray, Mason Thompson

Gray required a Tommy John surgery and internal brace hybrid procedure in July, meaning he’ll miss most or perhaps all of the 2025 season. Thompson required Tommy John surgery in March, so he has a better chance to make an early-season return if his recovery is going well.

Orioles: Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells

Bradish and Wells each required UCL surgery in June, so they’re both slated to miss the first half of the upcoming campaign.

Padres: Joe Musgrove

Musgrove had Tommy John surgery in October and will therefore miss the entire 2025 season. However, the Padres only have 36 guys on their 40-man roster at the moment, so they’ll need to fill those spots before moving Musgrove to the 60-day IL.

Pirates: Dauri Moreta

Moreta required UCL surgery in March, so an early-season return is possible if his rehab is going well, though he could end up on the 60-day if the club goes easy with his ramp-up or he suffers any kind of setback.

Rangers: Josh Sborz

Sborz underwent shoulder surgery in November and is expected to miss the first two to three months of the upcoming season.

Rays: Nate Lavender, Ha-Seong Kim

The Rays took Lavender from the Mets in the Rule 5 draft, even though he had Tommy John in May and will miss the start of the season. Kim’s status is more up in the air after he had shoulder surgery in October. Various reports have suggested he could return anywhere from April to July. The Rays made a sizable investment in Kim, their largest ever for a position player, so they probably won’t shelve him until they get more clarity on his status.

Red Sox: Patrick Sandoval, Garrett Whitlock, Chris Murphy

Sandoval had internal brace surgery in June of last year and should miss the first half of the season. Whitlock had the same surgery in May, so he could have a bit of a better chance to return in the first 60 days of the season. Murphy underwent a fully Tommy John surgery in April and will certainly miss the beginning of the upcoming season. Another possibility is Lucas Giolito, who had internal brace surgery in March, though he expects to be ready by Opening Day.

Reds: Julian Aguiar, Brandon Williamson

Aguiar underwent Tommy John surgery in October and Williamson in September, so both are likely slated to miss the entire 2025 season.

Tigers: Sawyer Gipson-Long

Gipson-Long underwent internal brace surgery in April. On top of that, he underwent left hip labral repair surgery in July, with the club hoping to address both issues at the same time. It seems likely that he’ll miss some of the early 2025 schedule, but his IL placement will depend on how he’s been progressing.

White Sox: Jesse Scholtens

Scholtens underwent Tommy John surgery in early March. Whether he goes on the 60-day IL or not will depend on how he’s progressed since then and when the White Sox expect him back.

Yankees: Jonathan Loáisiga

Loáisiga underwent internal brace surgery in April, so he could potentially be back on the mound early in the 2025 season. It was reported in December that the Yankees are expecting him to be in the bullpen by late April or early May, so he’ll only end up on the 60-day IL if he suffers a bit of a setback.

D-Backs’ Kyle Nelson To Undergo Thoracic Outlet Surgery

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Diamondbacks reliever Kyle Nelson will undergo surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome, manager Torey Lovullo told reporters (link via Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports). There’s no official timetable for Nelson’s return to game action, but the Snakes placed him on the 60-day injured list when they called up Brandon Hughes this afternoon.

The track record for players, especially pitchers, returning from thoracic outlet surgery is mixed. Players like Matt Harvey and Chris Archer never regained their pre-surgery form, while the condition essentially ended Stephen Strasburg’s career. On the other hand, Nelson’s teammate Merrill Kelly has perhaps had the best post-TOS career of anyone to undergo the procedure to date. Kelly recently suffered a shoulder injury but had been healthy and very effective between his 2020 surgery and this April. Nelson’s bullpen mate Ryan Thompson has also rebounded after undergoing a TOS procedure while he was a member of the Rays in 2021.

However Nelson’s long-term recovery plays out, his loss deals an immediate hit to the Arizona relief group. A waiver claim from the Guardians three years ago, he owns a 3.47 ERA in 114 innings with the Snakes. Nelson outperformed middling strikeout and walk numbers in 2022 before flipping the script a year ago.

While his ERA jumped nearly two runs between 2022 and ’23, Nelson dramatically increased his strikeout rate and sliced his walk percentage. He has made 11 appearances this year. He opened the season by rattling off eight consecutive scoreless outings before giving up a combined five runs in 1 2/3 frames over his last three games. Nelson will be eligible for arbitration for the first time next offseason.

Arizona has four left-handers in the current bullpen mix: Hughes, Andrew Saalfrank, Joe Mantiply and long man Logan Allen. Hughes and Allen were recent additions to the 40-man roster who might not hold long-term spots, while Saalfrank has spent most of the season in the minors. The Snakes recently snagged grounder specialist Joe Jacques off waivers from the Red Sox and optioned him to Triple-A Reno. Adding a more proven lefty relief arm could be a midseason goal if the D-Backs stick in the playoff mix.

Diamondbacks Select Brandon Hughes

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The Diamondbacks announced that they have selected the contract of left-hander Brandon Hughes. Fellow lefty Tommy Henry was optioned to Triple-A Reno to open an active roster spot. To get Hughes onto the 40-man, lefty Kyle Nelson was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Hughes, now 28, had a solid debut with the Cubs in 2022. He tossed 57 2/3 innings that year with a 3.12 earned run average, striking out 28.5% of batters faced while giving out walks at an 8.8% clip. He even moved into a leverage role, securing eight saves and eight holds that year.

But he found some struggles last year, going on and off the injured list throughout the season due to left knee inflammation. He made just 17 appearances with a bloated 7.24 ERA before eventually requiring surgery in June. He underwent a debridement procedure on that left knee and wasn’t able to return to the big league club in the final months of the season.

The Cubs non-tendered Hughes at the end of last year and he landed with the Snakes on a minor league deal. He has been getting good results in Triple-A so far, with a 1.84 ERA through 14 2/3 innings for Reno. However, those results are in spite of subpar strikeout and walk rates of 20% and 15%, respectively.

This is the second time Henry has been optioned, as he has been helping the club cover for some rotation injuries, posting a 5.40 ERA in six starts. Him being optioned today leaves the Diamondbacks with a rotation of Zac Gallen, Brandon Pfaadt, Jordan Montgomery and Slade Cecconi, while Eduardo Rodríguez, Merrill Kelly and Ryne Nelson are on the injured list.

They will need a fifth starter but not right away. They have an off-day on Thursday and another on Monday, therefore allowing them to use just four starters until next weekend, if they so choose. Manager Torey Lovullo said that Ryne Nelson recently threw a sim game of five innings and 75 pitches, per Alex Weiner of AZSports. That perhaps suggests he’s not far off from a return to the club. But for now, Hughes will give Lovullo another bullpen lefty alongside Joe Mantiply, Andrew Saalfrank and Logan Allen.

As for the other Nelson, Kyle was placed on the 15-day injured list a week ago due to left shoulder inflammation. It’s unclear how long the club expects him to be out of action but this transfer means he’s ineligible to be reinstated until mid-June.

Diamondbacks Select Wilmer Difo, Designate Noe Ramirez

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The Diamondbacks announced they’ve selected infielder Wilmer Difo onto the big league roster. They’ve also reinstated relievers Keynan Middleton and Kyle Nelson from the 15-day injured list. To create space on the active and 40-man rosters, Arizona designated right-hander Noé Ramirez for assignment.

Difo gets his first MLB crack of the year, reaching the big leagues for what’ll be an eighth straight season. A switch-hitting middle infielder, Difo has decent contact skills but doesn’t offer much in the way of power production. He’s a .251/.313/.355 hitter in exactly 1300 MLB plate appearances split between the Nationals and Pirates, with the vast majority of that time coming in Washington. Difo has ample experience all throughout the infield, and he’s generally rated well in the eyes of public defensive metrics as a shortstop.

It’s been a similar story in Triple-A Reno this year. The 30-year-old has logged plenty of action at shortstop and third base, and he’s compiled a .269/.311/.398 line over 306 trips to the plate. Difo has struck out in just 13.4% of his plate appearances, but his lack of extra-base impact has been glaring in one of the more hitter-friendly environments in affiliated ball. He’ll nevertheless get a look on the strength of his glove, offering manager Torey Lovullo a defensive specialist off the bench for the stretch run. Difo will be arbitration-eligible this winter and could be kept around for next season, although he’s a likelier non-tender candidate given his journeyman status and below-average offensive showing in Triple-A.

Nelson and Middleton have each missed over a month dealing with injuries: back spasms for Nelson, an ankle strain for Middleton. The former has made 38 appearances during his first season in the desert, working to a sparkling 1.57 ERA in 34 1/3 innings but only striking out 20.5% of opponents. The latter has only pitched 12 times, pitching to a 1.64 ERA with a 25% strikeout rate in 11 frames.

With Nelson and Middleton returning to the bullpen, the D-Backs had to cut one of their incumbent pitchers. (Teams must devote one of the two extra roster spots in September to a position player). The veteran Ramirez finds himself as the odd man out after posting a lackluster 5.22 ERA through 50 innings. Ramirez has punched out 23.7% of batters faced on a solid 11.8% swinging strike percentage, but he’s also walked batters at an alarming 12.1% clip.

The 32-year-old Ramirez spent most of last season in Arizona as well. He signed a minor league deal after being released by the Angels and made the big league roster in June. Ramirez impressed enough down the stretch the D-Backs agreed to bring him back on a $1.25MM salary. They weren’t prepared to do so again this winter, and they’ll now place him on waivers in the next couple days.

If no other team wants to assume the remaining $240K on his contract, Ramirez is likely to head to the open market. He has more than five years of major league service time, giving him the right to refuse an outright assignment in favor of free agency while still collecting the remainder of his guaranteed salary.

Diamondbacks Transfer Luke Weaver To 60-Day Injured List, Reinstate Kyle Nelson, Option Tyler Holton

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The Diamondbacks made a number of roster moves today. They reinstated southpaw Kyle Nelson from the injured list, optioned Tyler Holton to Triple-A, and transferred Luke Weaver to the 60-day injured list, per the team.

Weaver faced just five batters this year before hitting yet another injury roadblock. He worked through blister issues in the spring, returning to find a spot on the active roster. But after just two thirds of an inning in relief, he was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. At this stage, the change in designation means Weaver won’t be able to return before June 7, though his long-term outlook remains unclear at this point.

Nelson, meanwhile, returns from the COVID injured list. The 25-year-old has a 1.23 ERA/1.57 FIP in 15 appearances covering 14 2/3 innings so far this season. Nelson was selected off waivers from the Guardians this past November. The former 15th-round pick had made just 11 career appearances for the Guardians without much success, yielding 14 earned runs in just 10 1/3 innings. Needless to say, Nelson is off to a better start in Arizona.

As for Holton, the 25-year-old southpaw made two appearances, tossing three scoreless innings for the Snakes. He’ll head back to Triple-A for now, where he owns a 5.65 ERA over 14 1/3 innings of work.

Diamondbacks Place Kyle Nelson, Cooper Hummel On Injured List

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The Diamondbacks announced a series of roster moves, including the placement of left-hander Kyle Nelson and outfielder Cooper Hummel on the injured list.  No designation was specified, which indicates that the placements are related to COVID-19.  With right-hander Edwin Uceta also optioned to Triple-A after yesterday’s game, the D’Backs will fill the three roster vacancies with infielder Yonny Hernandez and right-handers Luis Frias and Jacob Webb.  Frias was called up from Triple-A, while Hernandez and Webb were recalled from the taxi squad.

Nelson has been one of the most effective members of Arizona’s bullpen, posting a 1.23 ERA, 30.2% strikeout rate, and a 3.8% walk rate over his first 14 2/3 innings of the season.  After struggling at both the Triple-A level and in 10 1/3 big league innings with Cleveland in 2019-20, Nelson’s early-season performance could indicate that he has harnessed the big strikeout potential he showed throughout his minor league career.  The Diamondbacks claimed Nelson off waivers from the Guardians back in November.

Hummel is in his rookie season, with a .190/.313/.345 slash line (92 wRC+ and OPS+) to show for his first 99 plate appearances as a big leaguer.  The switch-hitter has seen a lot of DH and pinch-hitting duty, and Hummel has also received some starts in left field when a left-hander is on the mound (thus relegating David Peralta to the bench).  Hernandez is also a switch-hitter, though Jordan Luplow figures to more directly take over Hummel’s role while Hummel is sidelined.

As always with the COVID list, it is possible Nelson or Hummel could be activated as early as tomorrow, if their placement was only due to a close-contact situation or symptoms without a positive test.  If either has tested positive, Nelson/Hummel will miss a minimum of 10 days, unless they meet the criteria (two negative tests, clearance from three physicians, 24 hours without a fever) for early activation.

Diamondbacks Place Luke Weaver On 10-Day IL

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The Diamondbacks announced that right-hander Luke Weaver has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation.  The placement is retroactive to April 8.  Left-hander Kyle Nelson has been called up from Triple-A to take Weaver’s spot on the active roster.  In other moves, the D’Backs outrighted southpaw Caleb Baragar and righty Humberto Mejia to Triple-A, as both of the recently-designated pitchers cleared waivers.

Weaver tossed two-thirds of an inning of relief work in Thursday’s 4-2 Arizona win over the Padres, allowing a run on three hits.  An elbow issue could be the reason behind that shaky outing, though Weaver was also dealing with a blister problem during the end of Spring Training.  Weaver worked exclusively as a starter in 2019-21, but the D’Backs are using him as a reliever in the early going of the season, so this IL stint could delay any eventual return to the rotation.

Nelson will now step into Arizona’s bullpen, and the southpaw’s first appearance will mark his Diamondbacks debut.  Nelson has pitched in each of the last two seasons, with only a 12.19 ERA to show for 10 1/3 innings in The Show.  The D’Backs claimed Nelson off waivers from the Guardians in November, after Nelson had spent all five of his professional seasons in Cleveland’s organization.

Diamondbacks Claim Kyle Nelson From Guardians

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The Diamondbacks have claimed reliever Kyle Nelson off waivers from the Guardians, per announcements from both teams. Cleveland also announced that outfielder Daniel Johnson, right-hander Justin Garza and left-hander Alex Young have all cleared waivers and been sent outright to Triple-A Columbus. Arizona’s 40-man roster is now full.

Nelson has briefly appeared in the majors in each of the past two seasons. He’s tallied just 10 1/3 combined innings, allowing fourteen runs with nine walks and eight strikeouts. The southpaw has struggled to a 5.26 ERA in 37 2/3 career frames at the Triple-A level as well, but he’d kept runs off the board and punched out batters in droves up through Double-A.

During his limited MLB time, Nelson leaned primarily on a cutter and slider mix. He averaged just under 89 MPH on the cutter and worked in the low-80s with his slider, relying more on movement than velocity. The D-Backs have almost no certainty in the bullpen, as they’re not returning a single reliever who tossed 20+ innings with a SIERA below 4.00 this past season. There should be an opportunity for Nelson to compete for a role in Spring Training, if he sticks on the 40-man roster all winter. He still has a pair of minor league option years remaining, so the D-Backs could shuttle him between Phoenix and Triple-A Reno through 2023 as long as he remains on the 40-man.

Each of Johnson, Garza and Young was designated for assignment last Friday, as Cleveland somewhat remarkably overturned around one quarter of their 40-man roster before the deadline to keep prospects from being eligible for the Rule 5 draft. The Guardians also traded Harold Ramírez and J.C. Mejia (to the Cubs and Brewers, respectively), while losing Scott Moss on waivers to the Phillies.

Johnson has been a fairly well-regarded prospect during his days in the Nationals and Cleveland farm systems, but he hasn’t hit well over his first 94 big league plate appearances. He’ll remain in the organization as non-roster depth and hope to play his way back into an uncertain Guardians’ outfield mix next spring.

Garza and Young logged some big league time in the bullpen this past season, with Young coming over from the D-Backs as a waiver claim in July. Garza pitched to a 4.71 ERA/4.79 SIERA across 28 2/3 innings; Young worked 10 1/3 innings of 7.84 ERA/6.24 SIERA ball with Cleveland. Both hurlers have ample starting experience during their pro careers as well.

Guardians Designate Seven Players For Assignment

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The Guardians announced Friday that they’ve designated outfielders Daniel Johnson and Harold Ramirez; righties Justin Garza and J.C. Mejia; and lefties Kyle Nelson, Alex Young and Scott Moss for assignment.

Cleveland also added a whopping 10 players to the 40-man roster, headlined by top prospects Tyler Freeman and George Valera. Also added to the 40-man roster are Brayan Rocchio, Richie Palacios, Steven Kwan, Jose Tena, Cody Morris, Bryan Lavastida, Konnor Pilkington and Jhonkensy Noel.

Finally, the Guardians have also acquired right-hander Tobias Myers from the Rays in exchange for minor league infielder Junior Caminero, tweets FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen. Myers will also be added to the 40-man roster.

Johnson and Ramirez have been part of a revolving door in an uncertain Cleveland outfield in recent seasons. Neither has hit well enough to lock down a permanent roster spot, although Ramirez did start more than half the team’s games in 2021. Ramirez would have the right to elect minor league free agency if he clears waivers.

Mejia logged significant action as a depth starter this year but struggled. Garza, Nelson and Young saw some bullpen work, while Moss has yet to make it to the major leagues.

The massive turnover highlights the high minors depth Cleveland has stockpiled in recent seasons. The selection of ten prospects is highly atypical, but it’s a testament to the Guardians’ scouting and development staffs that they’ve managed to accumulate so much talent they’re afraid other teams might jump on. That’s particularly true on the position player side, with much of this group being hitters with advanced bat-to-ball skills who could factor onto the big league roster in relatively short order.

Freeman, Valera and Rocchio might be the most notable. All three appeared on FanGraphs’ Top 100 list entering the 2021 season. They’ve all topped out at Double-A Akron, where each posted above-average offensive performances despite being 22 years old or younger. Valera plays center field, while Freeman and Rocchio are middle infielders. Palacios is another infielder with great high minors numbers, while Lavastida is regarded as one of the better catching prospects in the minors.

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