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Mets Sign John Curtiss To Major League Contract, Select Travis Jankowski

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The Mets are signing reliever John Curtiss to a major league deal, general manager Billy Eppler told reporters (including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com and Tim Healey of Newsday). The team is also selecting outfielder Travis Jankowski to the major league roster for Opening Day. Curtiss will make $770K this season, and next year’s option is valued at $775K, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post (Twitter link).

Curtiss isn’t expected to pitch for the entire 2022 campaign. The 29-year-old righty suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament while pitching for the Brewers last August, an injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery. Milwaukee had just acquired Curtiss from the Marlins at that summer’s trade deadline. He’d had an excellent first half in Miami, pitching to a 2.48 ERA in 40 innings with a solid 24.8% strikeout percentage and tiny 5.6% walk rate.

Milwaukee no doubt envisioned Curtiss serving as an important bullpen piece both down the stretch and over the next few seasons, but he only managed six relief appearances as a Brewer. They non-tendered him in November, electing against carrying an injured pitcher on the 40-man roster all winter. Curtiss only has a bit more than two years of MLB service, so he’ll be controllable via arbitration even beyond the 2023 option year. The Mets will take a low-risk dice roll to see if Curtiss can be a member of the big league bullpen next year and beyond. While rehabbing, he’ll pick up a big league salary and MLB service time on the injured list.

Curtiss will spend the entire season on the 60-day injured list, but the Mets first have to clear a 40-man roster spot to sign him to a big league deal. To do so, they’ve designated utilityman Travis Blankenhorn for assignment. New York claimed the left-handed hitter off waivers from the Mariners in June. That concluded a series of waiver claims for the former third-round pick, who bounced from the Twins to the Dodgers to Seattle and then Queens in a span of a few weeks.

Blankenhorn has only tallied 28 plate appearances at the big league level. He owns a solid .253/.361/.460 slash in a pair of Triple-A campaigns, though, and can still be optioned to the minor leagues for another season. That could lead another club to acquire Blankenhorn via minor trade or waivers in the next week.

Once Curtiss’ deal is made official, the Mets will place him on the 60-day IL and free a 40-man roster spot. That’ll go to Jankowski, who cracked the Opening Day roster after signing a minor league contract this offseason. He adds a fleet-footed player with experience at all three outfield spots to the New York bench. He has played 400+ innings everywhere on the grass as a big leaguer, with the bulk of that experience coming in center field.

The 30-year-old will serve as a speed/defense specialist behind the starting outfield of Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Mark Canha. The lefty-swinging Jankowski has never been much of a threat at the plate, as he owns a .239/.322/.318 line in a bit more than 1,100 big league plate appearances.

Mets Place Francisco Lindor On 10-Day Injured List

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4:37PM: Speaking to The Athletic’s Tim Britton and other reporters, Lindor said he has a Grade 2 oblique strain, and indicated that he’ll miss time well beyond the 10-day minimum.  “I would love to say I’m day-to-day but I’m not.  This is more like week-to-week at the beginning and we’ll see how I bounce back,” Lindor said.

3:24PM: Shortstop Francisco Lindor has been placed on the 10-day injured list, the Mets announced.  Lindor has been sidelined due to a right oblique strain, a day after he exited a game because of soreness in his side.  Infielder/outfielder Travis Blankenhorn has been called up from Triple-A to take Lindor’s spot on the active roster.

No announcement has yet been made about the severity of the strain, and given the timing, a more serious oblique issue could threaten the remainder of Lindor’s regular season, and perhaps into the postseason should the Mets reach the playoffs.  This is only the second time Lindor has been placed on the IL during his seven Major League seasons, as the shortstop’s durability has added to his status as one of the game’s better all-around players during that stretch.

Lindor’s first season in New York, however, has come with some difficulties.  After being acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Indians and then signing a whopping ten-year, $341MM contract extension, Lindor has begun his Mets tenure by hitting only .228/.326/.376 in 364 plate appearances.  This modest slash line represents a small step down from Lindor’s average numbers in his final season with the Indians — since the start of the 2020 campaign, Lindor has roughly a full season’s worth of playing time (630 PA, 148 games) and delivered an exactly average 100 wRC+ while hitting .241/.330/.393 with 19 home runs.

With an .821 OPS over his last 130 PA, Lindor was starting to heat up at the plate, which surely makes his injury all the more frustrating.  It also adds another layer of intrigue to the Mets’ trade deadline plans, since shortstop may become a need if Lindor is indeed facing a long absence.  New York was already rumored to be looking at such infielders as Kris Bryant and Asdrubal Cabrera to address a need at third base, and that search could potentially expand to such trade candidates as Trevor Story, Javier Baez, or Andrelton Simmons.  Jonathan Villar and Luis Guillorme are the in-house shortstop option, and Villar has been solid as the Mets’ regular third baseman this year.

Mets Place Jonathan Villar On 10-Day Injured List, Recall Travis Blankenhorn

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The Mets placed infielder Jonathan Villar on the 10-day injured list with a sore right calf, per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo (via Twitter). In a corresponding move, Travis Blankenhorn has been recalled from Triple-A. The Mets officially made the move after game one of today’s doubleheader against the Phillies.

Villar was somewhat of an afterthought as a winter addition this past offseason, but injuries to Jeff McNeil and J.D. Davis thrust Villar into a central role. Villar has started 47 of the Mets’ 70 games, mostly at third base, a position he hadn’t played since 2016. He’s been passable defensively, if not exactly a revelation with -2 Outs Above Average and -1 Defensive Runs Saved. Villar has long been considered a subpar defender, though capable enough and versatile, which is more or less exactly what he’s been on that end for the Mets this season.

Where Villar typically hopes to add the most value is on the offensive end. He’s delivered with a .246/.333/.410 line through 208 plate appearances, good for a 110 wRC+. Villar’s bat will be missed, though McNeil’s recent return should provide enough thump to maintain the status quo – if not improve upon it.

Luis Guillorme will likely take on some of Villar’s responsibilities. Despite a mark of -3 DRS in just 72 2/3 innings at third base this season, Guillorme is considered to be a glove-first contributor who should ultimately bolster the Mets’ defense in Villar’s absence. He doesn’t, however, offer as much with the bat. That said, he’s certainly been decent enough with a career 99 wRC+ and 118 wRC+ mark in 62 plate appearances this year.

Blankenhorn, 24, could also be an option. The well0-traveled Blankenhorn has often seen his name scrawled across the MLBTR pages this season. Since being recalled to the Twins active roster on April 20th, Blankenhorn was optioned, designated for assignment, claimed by the Dodgers, designated for assignment, claimed by the Mariners, optioned, DFA’d again, claimed by the Mets, and optioned again. The Pennsylvania native made a pretty good argument for keeping him permanently on the Mets roster, however, by slashing .389/.538/.944 in 26 plate appearances spanning seven games for the Syracuse Mets.

 

Mets Claim Travis Blankenhorn, Designate Wilfredo Tovar For Assignment

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The Mets have claimed infielder Travis Blankenhorn off waivers from the Mariners, per the Athletic’s Tim Britton (via Twitter). The Mets will be Blankenhorn’s fourth organization of the 2021 season. He has been added to the active roster.

Not unrelated, Wilfredo Tovar was designated for assignment. The 29-year-old infielder made just 12 appearances in his second stint with the Mets. He managed two hits and a walk while striking out four times. Tovar was originally signed as a amateur out of Venezuela by New York way back in 2007. He made 34 total plate appearances for the Mets across three seasons. If he passes through waivers, he’ll have the opportunity to stay with the organization.

Despite being so well-traveled, Blankenhorn does not have a Major League plate appearance this season. He did score a run in a pinch-running appearance for the Twins. He was 1-for-3 in four plate appearances with the Twins in 2020.

Blankenhorn’s stay in Queens may also prove a temporary one, as the Mets are continually dealing with an injury-ravaged roster. At present, infielders J.D. Davis, Luis Guillorme, and Jeff McNeil are all on the injured list along with outfielders Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, Johneshwy Fargas, and Albert Almora Jr.

Mariners Claim Travis Blankenhorn

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The Mariners claimed infielder Travis Blankenhorn off waivers from the Dodgers, as per a team press release.  Blankenhorn has been assigned to Triple-A.

This is the second time this month that Blankenhorn has changed teams on the waiver wire, as he was previously designated for assignment by the Twins and then claimed by the Dodgers.  Blankenhorn’s time in the Dodgers organization consisted of just three games at Triple-A Oklahoma City before Los Angeles also DFA’ed him on Friday.

A third-round pick for Minnesota in the 2015 draft, Blankenhorn has hit .256/.324/.429 over 1955 career plate appearances in the minors, mostly playing second and third base but also seeing some time at first base, shortstop, and in left field.  Only six of Blankenhorn’s 468 minor league games have come at the Triple-A level.  He also has two MLB appearances on his resume, appearing in exactly one game with the Twins in both 2020 and 2021.

Dodgers Select Nate Jones, Designate Travis Blankenhorn

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The Dodgers have selected the contract of veteran right-handed reliever Nate Jones from Triple-A Oklahoma City, per a team announcement. Infielder Travis Blankenhorn, whom L.A. recently claimed off waivers from Minnesota, was designated for assignment in order to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Jones.

Jones, 35, had a strong spring showing with the Braves but was rocked in his 10 1/3 innings for Atlanta during the regular season. Lack of command was his primary downfall, as Jones issued 10 free passes in that time. The Braves released him earlier this month, and he quickly inked a minors pact with the Dodgers.

Jones allowed four runs in three innings with the Dodgers’ Triple-A club, but he also had a 6-to-1 K/BB ratio there. The improved control seemingly was enough for the Dodgers to give him a look at the big league level. It helps, of course, that Jones has a lengthy track record at the big league level. The veteran hurler was somewhat quietly a high-quality member of the White Sox’ bullpen from 2012-19. He battled numerous injuries along the way, but whenever Jones was healthy enough to pitch, he was generally sharp. In 291 1/3 frames with the South Siders, he pitched to a 3.12 ERA with a 26.5 percent strikeout rate.

Blankenhorn, 24, was a third-round pick of the Twins back in 2015. He’s tallied four plate appearances with the Twins since Opening Day 2020, representing his lone MLB experience. Last year’s canceled minor league season meant Blankenhorn missed what would’ve been his first taste of Triple-A action, so the six games he’s played there in 2021 are his first at that level. He hit .278/.312/.474 with 18 dingers and 11 steals at Double-A in 2019. Given the heavily pitcher-friendly nature of that setting, Blankenhorn’s slash line was good for a hearty 125 wRC+.

The Dodgers will have a week to trade Blankenhorn or attempt to pass him through outright waivers. He has a minor league option remaining beyond the 2021 season and has ample experience at second base and third base, so it’s not out of the question that another club with some infield needs might look to place a claim or pick him up in a small trade.

Dodgers Claim Travis Blankenhorn

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Infielder Travis Blankenhorn, who was designated for assignment by the Twins over the weekend, is headed to the Dodgers on a waiver claim, tweets SKOR North’s Darren Wolfson. Leroy Boyer of Blankenhorn’s hometown Pottsville Herald first reported that the 24-year-old was headed to the Dodgers. To make room for Blankenhorn, the Dodgers transferred injured righty Dustin May (Tommy John surgery) to the 60-day IL, per a team announcement.

A third-round draft pick in 2015, Blankenhorn appeared in only two games with the Twins — one last year and one in 2021. He’s tallied just four plate appearances in that time and collected one hit, a double. Blankenhorn has also totaled a mere 13 trips to the plate at the Triple-A level, though he has otherwise produced solid numbers in the minors.

Blankenhorn made his Double-A debut during the most recent full minor league season, 2019, and slashed .278/.312/.474 (125 wRC+) with 18 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 410 PA. FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen ranked Blankenhorn as the Twins’ 29th-best prospect coming into this season, writing that the 24-year-old is “a situational bat-first piece who might need a change of scenery to carve out the sort of bench role I think he’s capable of playing.”

Blankenhorn now has that change of scenery with the reigning World Series champions, whose infield depth has taken a couple shots in recent weeks. Zach McKinstry has been on the IL since April 20 with a strained oblique, and Edwin Rios needs season-ending surgery on a partially torn labrum in his shoulder.

Blue Jays Select A.J. Cole, Move Alejandro Kirk To 60-Day IL

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MAY 9: Dolis is indeed being placed on the IL to open active roster space for Nate Pearson, who’s getting the start this afternoon, Mitchell tweets.

MAY 8, 4:18 pm: Dolis isn’t yet heading to the injured list, manager Charlie Montoyo told TSN’s Scott Mitchell and other reporters.  Dolis has a Grade 1 calf strain but the team is hopeful that he can recover within a few days.

MAY 8, 3:11 pm: The Blue Jays will place reliever Rafael Dolis on the 10-day injured list after he injured his calf in yesterday’s ballgame. A.J. Cole will be added to the roster, per Ben Wagner of Sportsnet (via Twitter). Ty Tice, meanwhile has been optioned to Triple-A after four appearances, and Alejandro Kirk was moved to the 60-day injured list, per Scott Mitchell of TSN sports (via Twitter).

It seems that the back end of Toronto’s bullpen is a touch snakebit this season. It started with losing free agent signing Kirby Yates to Tommy John surgery, but since the season started, alternative high-leverage options Jordan Romano, Julian Merryweather, and now Dolis have all spent time on the injured list.

Dolis has been a workhorse early on, appearing in 15 of the Blue Jays’ 31 games so far this season. He’s totaled 12 2/3 innings with a 4.26 ERA/4.66 FIP, three saves and a hold. Dolis has been the acting closer of late, though Romano is now back off the injured list and could take on a bigger role in Dolis’ absence.

Cole could also be an option for some high-leverage opportunities, as the 29-year-old has performed well the past couple of seasons. With Toronto in 2020, Cole logged 23 1/3 innings in 24 appearances with a 3.09 ERA/4.31 FIP.

Latest Roster Moves From Twins, Orioles

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The Twins announced a trio of roster moves today. Right-hander Cody Stashak has been optioned to Triple-A, while Derek Law takes his place in the bullpen. Law had to be added to the 40-man roster, so infielder Travis Blankenhorn was designated for assignment.

After proving himself a solid option out of the bullpen for the Twins with 40 innings of 3.15 ERA baseball from 2019-20, Stashak has stumbled badly to start the season. Stashak is still missing bats at a good clip, striking out a robust 36.5 percent of hitters, but his walk rate has skyrocketed to 13.5 percent as well. Fielding Independent Pitching suggest decent work with a 4.20 FIP, but in terms of real world production, Stashak has allowed 10 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings.

If this is the end of Blankenhorn’s Twins’ tenure, it will be a somewhat ignominious one. The 24-year-old appeared in one game this season, pinch-running in extra-innings and scoring a run. He’d go on to make an error in the bottom of the inning on a play that would have ended the game. The A’s beat the Twins a batter later when Luis Arraez followed up Blankenhorn’s blunder with a throwing error of his own. Blankenhorn was a third round draft pick of the Twins in the 2015 draft, and he obviously has more to offer a Major League club than he’s had the opportunity to show this season.

If someone puts in a claim for Blankenhorn, it’ll be the second player lost on waivers by the Twins this week. The Orioles claimed left-hander Brandon Waddell off waivers from the Twins today, per Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com (via Twitter). He has been assigned to Triple-A. Waddell was designated for assignment by the Twins yesterday to make room on the 40-man roster for Trevor Larnach.

In order to make the claim, the Orioles designated Jay Flaa for assignment, notes Roch Kubatko of MASNsports. Flaa logged 1 1/3 scoreless on April 27th for the Orioles in his only big league action of his career.

Twins Place Miguel Sano On IL, Promote Alex Kirilloff

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April 23: The Twins have confirmed that Sano is on the 10-day IL and that both Kirilloff and Gordon have been recalled from their alternate training site in St. Paul. Minnesota also selected the contract of infielder Tzu-Wei Lin to the big league roster and returned catcher Tomas Telis to the alternate site. Telis had been selected off the taxi squad as a replacement player for a Covid IL placement, so he can be sent back to the alternate site and removed from the 40-man roster without clearing waivers. Additionally, the Twins optioned infielder Travis Blankenhorn.

The 27-year-old Lin has seen big league time with the Red Sox in each of the past four seasons, appearing at three infield spots (second base, shortstop, third base) and batting .223/.298/.316 through 218 trips to the plate. Lin hit .300/.440/.600 in 25 spring plate appearances after signing a minor league deal with the Twins and will get his first chance at the MLB level with a club other than Boston.

April 22: The Twins will place first baseman Miguel Sano on the 10-day injured list Friday because of a strained right hamstring, Megan Ryan of the Star Tribune reports. The team will also recall outfielder Alex Kirilloff and infielder Nick Gordon, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic.

Sano suffered the injury on Tuesday, forcing him to miss the second game of the Twins’ doubleheader against the Athletics. The IL placement is the latest negative development in what has been a rough start to the season for Sano, who has batted .111/.310/.244 with two home runs and a career-low .133 ISO (down from a lifetime mark of .253) in 58 plate appearances. Sano has started the vast majority of the Twins’ games at first this year, but when he hasn’t played there, the team has used Willians Astudillo and Mitch Garver.

The 23-year-old Kirilloff, MLB.com’s 22nd-ranked prospect, appeared in two games and took three plate appearances earlier this season, but he may now get a more extensive look with outfielders Max Kepler and Kyle Garlick on the COVID-19 list. Since Minnesota took him 15th overall in the 2016 draft, Kirilloff has more than held his own in the minors with a .317/.365/.498 line and 36 home runs in 1,204 trips to the plate. He’s been ranked among the game’s best overall prospects for each of the past few seasons and made his MLB debut during the postseason last year.

Kirilloff’s impending promotion was a major factor in the Twins opting to move on from Eddie Rosario this winter, and it stands to reason that this promotion to the big leagues will now afford him the opportunity to seize an everyday role and cement his status as a long-term piece for the club. Even with last weekend’s brief promotion as the 27th man in a doubleheader, he’s spent enough time at the alternate site for the club to push his free agency back a year. If Kirilloff sticks in the big leagues from this point forth, the Twins will control him all the way through the 2027 season. He’d likely still qualify as a Super Two player, bringing him to arbitration eligibility after the 2023 campaign.

Gordon, 25, was the fifth pick in the 2014 draft, though his stock has fallen dramatically since then. Gordon did turn in a respectable .298/.342/.459 showing at Triple-A in 319 PA two years ago, but he was unable to play last season after testing positive for COVID. FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen ranked Gordon as the Twins’ 37th-best prospect back in January, writing that he “now looks like a fringe role player.”

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