Neil Ramirez Elects Free Agency
Righty Neil Ramirez has elected free agency from the Blue Jays, according to the International League transactions page. He had been outrighted by the Toronto organization but had the right to decline the assignment.
It remains to be seen whether Ramirez will draw any interest on the open market. With less than a month left in the regular season and the minor leagues already engaged in playoff battles, there isn’t a ton of room for opportunity.
Still, it’s possible that some team will find a need for an experienced reliever and decide to give a run to the 30-year-old. He certainly wasn’t in top form this year, working to a 5.40 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 — along with an unhealthy 2.5 homers per nine — in 25 total MLB innings. But Ramirez did punch out 51 batters on strikes in 41 2/3 frames last year and has sported a hefty 13.8 K/9 strikeout rate in minor-league action in 2019.
Outrighted: Ramirez, Wilkerson
The tidal wave of September call-ups earlier this week resulted in nearly two dozen players being designated for assignment to create space on 40-man rosters throughout the league. While some of those players will be claimed by new organizations, we’ll track Wednesday’s collection of players who went unclaimed in this post:
- Right-hander Neil Ramirez cleared waivers and was assigned outright to the Blue Jays‘ Triple-A affiliate, per the International League transactions log. Ramirez averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings pitched with the Indians in 2018 (51 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings) but has bounced all over the league dating back to 2016. His ability to miss bats has continually intrigued clubs, but Ramirez has also been far too prone to both walks and home runs. In 25 innings between Cleveland and Toronto this season, he posted a 5.40 ERA with a 24-to-15 K/BB ratio and seven home runs allowed.
- The Brewers assigned right-hander Aaron Wilkerson to Triple-A San Antonio after he went unclaimed on waivers, per a team announcement. The 30-year-old was very good in 76 1/3 innings spanning 17 starts in San Antonio in 2019, logging a 3.42 ERA with 9.6 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 1.18 HR/9 and a 37.5 percent grounder rate. However, Wilkerson also allowed 13 runs in 16 big league innings this year and was tagged for 10 runs in nine MLB frames a season ago. He’s enjoyed plenty of success in the upper minors dating back to 2017 but owns just a 6.88 ERA with 28 strikeouts, 13 walks and nine home runs allowed in 35 1/3 innings as a Major Leaguer.
Blue Jays Designate Zack Godley, Select T.J. Zeuch
5:00pm: Toronto announced that Godley has indeed been designated for assignment. His roster spot goes to right-hander T.J. Zeuch, whose contract has been formally selected from Triple-A Buffalo (whose likely promotion had been previously reported). Zeuch is in line to make his MLB debut tonight, following opener Wilmer Font.
Zeuch is generally considered to be among the Jays’ top 20 or so prospects. The 2016 first-rounder has had a solid season spent mostly at the Triple-A level, where he’s logged a 3.69 ERA in 78 innings of work. However, Zeuch also managed just 4.5 K/9 against 3.7 BB/9 in that time. His hefty 57.1 percent grounder rate can help offset the lack of missed bats to an extent, but he’ll need to up his strikeout totals in order to find sustained success in the big leagues.
Toronto also recalled infielder Richard Urena along with outfielders Anthony Alford and Jonathan Davis.
2:59pm: The Blue Jays have designated righty Zack Godley for assignment, per MLBTR’s Steve Adams (Twitter link). Corresponding roster moves aren’t yet known, but the club has a need for space for forthcoming promotions.
Godley, 29, struggled quite a bit with the Diamondbacks before they cut him loose. He’ll have enough service time to qualify for arbitration after the season, though that won’t matter unless he’s claimed by a team with designs on tendering him a contract.
Clearly, the Jays decided against that course of action after watching Godley up close. He was able to provide 16 innings of 3.94 ERA ball in Toronto, but produced only 6.8 K/9 against 3.9 BB/9 with a 43.0% groundball rate. Those numbers are well shy of the quality peripherals Godley produced in each of the past two campaigns.
Report: Yankees Nearly Acquired Ken Giles At Deadline
The Yankees and Blue Jays almost pulled off a significant, intra-division deal involving closer Ken Giles at this year’s trade deadline, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription link). Three prospects would’ve headed to Toronto had the deal gone through, though their particular identities aren’t known.
This note is largely of historical import, though it’s interesting nevertheless. The Yankees were linked to Giles on deadline day, with Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweeting that “deep” talks had taken place. Still, it wasn’t clear at the time just how far down the line the teams went. Rosenthal says the Jays actually informed other teams they expected a deal to go through, which made it impossible to pivot back and craft another agreement.
It’s still not entirely clear why talks collapsed at the last minute. No doubt health questions were a major factor, as he was dealing with elbow problems heading into the deadline. But the health records had already been exchanged and accounted for, Rosenthal notes.
Giles has continued to experience some trouble in the joint, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to rack up strikeouts. He’ll assuredly be discussed again in trade talks this coming winter, when he’ll be angling for a raise on his $6.3MM arbitration salary. The Toronto organization will hope it can generate more interest than it did at the deadline despite having only one season of control to market.
There’ll certainly be no shortage of ongoing interest — provided, at least, that teams get comfortable with the health situation. Giles has been excellent when available this year, throwing 44 innings of 2.05 ERA ball with 15.0 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9.
Whether the Yanks will continue to push for Giles remains to be seen, and will no doubt involve quite a few other factors as well. The New York org will have to see how things proceed with closer Aroldis Chapman, who can opt out of his deal at season’s end, and also consider other priorities.
Anthony Kay, T.J. Zeuch Expected For Toronto Call-Ups
Left-hander Anthony Kay, a critical component in this summer’s Marcus Stroman trade, is expected to join the Blue Jays big club shortly, per a report from Shi Davidi of Sportsnet (link). Righty T.J. Zeuch is expected to join Kay as a new addition to the Blue Jays 40-man roster.
Kay, 24, was a first-round pick of the Mets in 2016 out of the University of Connecticut. After rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Kay finally made his pro debut in 2018 and, true to his pre-draft profile as a potentially quick-moving collegiate lefty, has risen from Single-A to the bigs in less than two turns of the calendar. The lefty cruised through 66.1 Double-A innings in the New York organization (1.49 ERA and 2.72 FIP) before a rougher showing in 31.1 Triple-A innings (6.61 ERA and 6.21 FIP). Kay has, however, performed much better with Toronto’s Triple-A outfit since the Stroman trade, with a 2.50 ERA and 9.75 K/9 rate that are admittedly undercut by his walk numbers (5.50 BB/9) and fielding-independent estimators (4.54 FIP). The lefty is said to feature a fastball-curveball-changeup mix.
Zeuch, for his part, is also a former first-rounder, although he can claim that Toronto is the only professional organization he has ever known. Selected 21st overall by the Jays in 2016, the right-handed 24-year-old owns a 3.52 ERA through 342.2 minor league innings. At 6’7, Zeuch is said to employ a steep downward plane that aids in his deployment of a heavily used sinker. He doesn’t miss many bats, with just a 4.50 K/9 rate in 78.0 Triple-A innings this year, but he certainly hasn’t had any difficulty in inducing groundballs in his career, as evidenced in part by his GB% of 57.1% in 2019.
Rays, Blue Jays Complete Eric Sogard Trade
The Rays and Blue Jays have completed the July 28 trade that sent infielder Eric Sogard to Tampa Bay. Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports that the two players to be named later are minor-league pitchers Curtis Taylor and Edisson Gonzalez, who will both join the Toronto organization and finalize the deal.
Taylor, 24, is a former fourth-round pick by the Diamondbacks in the 2016 draft. He was sent to the Rays in the trade that brought Brad Boxberger to Arizona. In 15 games with the Rays’ Double-A affiliate, he has posted a 3.06 ERA over 17 2/3 innings of work. Across two seasons at Double-A, he has struck out 90 batters in 78 1/3 innings, good for a 2.53 ERA. However, Taylor has not pitched since May after he was shut down with elbow pain. As Scott Mitchell of TSN notes, there’s a possibility that Taylor could undergo Tommy John surgery if he suffers a setback, though there is no indication that’s the case. Otherwise, the right-hander should be available to pitch for the Blue Jays in the spring.
Notably, Taylor is eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft this winter, meaning that he will need to be added to Toronto’s 40-man roster if he is to remain in the organization. It’s likely part of the motivation for the Rays, who have considerable depth and little room to add to the roster, parting ways with Taylor.
Gonzalez, meanwhile, was signed as an international amateur from Panama in 2016. Now 19 years old, Gonzalez has spent his first three professional seasons between rookie ball and Low-A ball toggling between starting and relieving. In 158 2/3 innings as a professional, he’s struck out 187 batters to go with a posted a 2.72 ERA.
Blue Jays Reinstate Ryan Tepera, Designate Neil Ramirez
The Blue Jays announced today they’ve reinstated right-handed reliever Ryan Tepera from the 60-day injured list. Fellow righty Neil Ramírez has been designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Tepera, a reliable middle reliever in Toronto between 2017-2018, has been limited to eleven big league innings this season by right elbow troubles. He’s not been especially productive at any level in 2019, but he’ll have a month to pitch his way into the team’s 2020 plans. Tepera agreed to a $1.525MM contract to avoid arbitration last winter and comes with two additional seasons of control, but the 31 year-old could be a non-tender candidate if he doesn’t return to form. He’s been in the Blue Jays organization since they used a 19th-round pick on him in 2009.
Ramírez is being cut loose by his second organization this season. Signed to a minor-league deal after being released by the Indians, Ramírez was added to the Jays’ active roster after just one minor-league appearance. Over 8.1 innings north of the border, he allowed five runs with six strikeouts and walks apiece, continuing a trying season for the former Cub.
AL East Notes: Kiermaier, Holt, Pearson
Some items from around the AL East…
- The Rays would “really would like to avoid” an injured list placement for Kevin Kiermaier, manager Kevin Cash told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times and other reporters, though Kiermaier is still “in a significant amount of pain” following a collision with the outfield wall on Sunday. Kiermaier hasn’t taken the field since suffering the left rib cage contusion, though Cash was hopeful that the center fielder would be able to return on Friday. Kiermaier already spent ten days on the IL earlier this season due to a sprained left thumb, though 2019 has thus far been a relatively healthy season for the injury-plagued outfielder. His 109 games played is already the second-highest total of his seven-year career.
- Super-utilityman Brock Holt is enjoying the best season of his eight-year career, leaving MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo to wonder if the Red Sox will be able to affordably re-sign Holt in free agency this offseason. Despite missing over seven weeks due to shoulder and eye injuries, Holt has hit .320/.393/.455 over 206 plate appearances, playing mostly as a second baseman to help the Sox fill the void left by the injured Dustin Pedroia. Cotillo thinks the 31-year-old could find a three-year deal worth $27MM-$30MM on the open market, though “that might take a market rebound and some teams rewarding Holt for trending upward this season.” While Boston has a lot of money coming off the books this winter, the club still has roughly $159.35MM in projected salary commitments (as per Roster Resource) and that’s not counting big raises due to arbitration-eligible players like Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. Andrew Benintendi, or Eduardo Rodriguez. The Red Sox have Marco Hernandez on hand as a possible heir apparent utility infielder, should they choose to let Holt go and spend elsewhere. For his part, Holt stated last spring that he “would love to stay here for the rest of my career.”
- In a radio interview on the Fan 590’s Good Show today, Blue Jays pitching prospect Nate Pearson said that he doesn’t think he’ll be making this MLB debut this season. “[The Blue Jays] haven’t really talked to me about anything,” Pearson said. “I’m just assuming I’m going home if we don’t make the [Triple-A] playoffs and just taking some time off. That’s all I really have planned right now.” Pearson has been dominant in working his way up the Jays’ minor league ladder this season, with an overall 2.05 ERA, 10.6 K/9, and 4.75 K/BB rate in 96 2/3 combined innings at the high-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels. This performance has elevated Pearson’s already-high prospect stock, as he placed 14th and 15th on midseason top-100 prospect lists from MLB.com and Baseball America, respectively. Since Pearson has made only two Triple-A starts and missed almost all of 2018 due to injuries, the Jays are being cautious in bringing along the prized right-hander (plus, service time considerations are likely in mind). Given Pearson’s ability, however, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Pearson in the big leagues before the halfway point of the 2020 season.
AL Notes: Blue Jays, Tigers, Gardenhire, Yanks, C. Frazier
Oft-injured Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis is unlikely to remain with the team next season, per Gregor Chisholm of the Toronto Star. Travis hasn’t played at all this season (and nor will he) as a result of left knee issues, and his absence has opened the door for rookie Cavan Biggio to take over the keystone. While Travis could stay with the Jays next year as a backup infielder (or they could simply option him to Triple-A Buffalo), Chisholm suggests he’s not a fit to stick around because the team wants a reserve who’s capable of playing shortstop. As of now, Travis – who’s on a $1.93MM salary – has two more years of arbitration control remaining.
- Unlike Travis, odds are “good” that right-hander Matt Shoemaker will be back with the Blue Jays next season, Chisholm reports. It’s possible, though, that Toronto will first non-tender Shoemaker and then attempt to re-up him at a lower cost. Otherwise, the 32-year-old would earn a raise over his current $3.5MM salary in his fourth and final trip through arbitration. The Jays signed Shoemaker in free agency last winter, and the former Angel initially justified the investment with 28 2/3 innings of 1.57 ERA/3.94 FIP pitching with 7.53 K/9 against 2.83 BB/9. Shoemaker’s potential bounce-back year came to an end April 21 when he suffered a torn left ACL.
- Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire has helped oversee their extensive rebuilding effort since last year, and it’s likely he’ll helm the club’s dugout again next season. The soon-to-be 62-year-old Gardenhire’s “in little to no jeopardy” of not returning in 2020 for the final season of his contract, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press writes. Gardenhire, for his part, seems uninterested in going anywhere else. “That’s to be determined for (general manager) Al Avila, with where they want to go and what they want to do, but I enjoy this and I love this city,” Gardenhire said of his future. The Tigers have stumbled to a miserable 103-158 record under Gardenhire, but it would be unfair to judge him for that. Anyone would’ve been hard-pressed to guide last year’s roster or this season’s team to respectable marks.
- The Yankees will “probably” recall outfielder Clint Frazier from Triple-A Scranton when rosters expand Sunday, manager Aaron Boone said (via George A. King III of the New York Post). The 24-year-old Frazier’s weeks-long stay in the minors has gotten plenty of coverage, in part because he was the subject of numerous trade rumors leading up to the July 31 deadline. However, the Yankees kept the former top prospect, who posted a quality batting line of .283/.330/.513 with 11 home runs in 209 plate appearances before they sent him down in mid-June to make room for a just-acquired Edwin Encarnacion. The Yankees’ wealth of outfield talent, Frazier’s well-documented defensive issues and his remaining minors options have all conspired to strand him in Scranton, for which he has hit a meek .243/.300/.426 with seven HRs over 250 PA.
Minor MLB Transactions: 8/28/19
Here are the latest minor moves from around the game …
- Outfielder Aaron Altherr was outrighted recently by the Mets after he was designated for assignment, per the International League transactions page. Altherr has the requisite service time to reject the assignment in favor of free agency, but doing so would mean forfeiting the remainder of this season’s $1.35MM salary. It’s been a brutal season for Altherr, who has gone just 5-for-61 with five walks through 66 plate appearances between the Phillies, Giants and Mets. As a player with three-plus years of service who’s been removed from the 40-man roster, Altherr will have the right to become a free agent and explore the open market this winter.
- The Blue Jays have released swingman Nick Kingham after he cleared waivers following his own DFA, also per the International League transactions page. Kingham was on the injured list when he was designated for assignment, and injured players cannot be placed on outright waivers. With August trades eliminated, the only possible outcome for Kingham was to be released by the Jays. The former top prospect has tallied 55 2/3 frames between Pittsburgh and Toronto this season but been clobbered for a 7.28 ERA with a 46-to-25 K/BB ratio and 11 home runs allowed in that time.
- Southpaw Adam McCreery was released recently by the Angels, per Baseball America’s most recent transactions report. He had originally been outrighted after being designated for assignment. McCreery is a 26-year-old reliever who has a single MLB appearance under his belt. This year, he owns a 3.63 ERA in 44 2/3 Triple-A innings, with 50 strikeouts against 28 walks. He’s averaged 11.3 K/9 throughout parts of six minor league seasons but has never been able to limit free passes at a sufficient rate.
- Also per Baseball America, the Royals have signed lefty Jake Brentz after he was released by the Pirates. Brentz, 24, is a former 11th-round pick who had spent the past several seasons in the Pittsburgh organization. Bentz has a history of swings and misses along with struggles with free passes. In 50 1/3 total innings in the upper minors this year, including three with his new team, he owns a 4.47 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9.