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Yankees Acquire Connor Cannon To Complete Mike Tauchman Trade

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The Yankees have acquired infielder Connor Cannon from the Giants to complete the April 27th trade that sent Mike Tauchman to San Francisco for Wandy Peralta and a Player To Be Named Later. The Yankees announced the completion of the deal.

Cannon was drafted in the 17th round of the 2019 draft out of UC Riverside. The 23-year-old hit .326/.399/.689 in rookie ball during his first taste of pro action after being drafted, but he has yet to appear this season. Probably a first baseman, Cannon pitched some at college, but his power at the plate is by far the greater talent.

The 6’5″, 240 pounder will be on the older side for a prospect wherever he ultimately reports this season, but he does have some promise at the plate, particularly for an American League club that might envision him as a designated hitter. FanGraphs named his as the Giants’ 40th-ranked prospect, crediting him with top-of-the-scale, 80-grade raw power but bottom-of-the-scale, 20-grade speed.

Cardinals To Place Jack Flaherty On 10-Day Injured List With “Significant” Oblique Injury

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The Cardinals will place Jack Flaherty on the 10-day injured list, but the news is much worse than just that, per MLB.com’s Jeff Jones (via Twitter). Flaherty suffered a “significant” oblique injury, adds the Athletic’s Katie Woo. There is no timetable for his return, but the initial word choices here do not paint a positive picture for the Cardinals’ right-hander, who may be looking at a Grade 2 or Grade 3 oblique strain – though no official designation has been given.

This comes as unwelcome news for the Cardinals, who are trying to fend off the Cubs and Brewers for first place in the NL Central. Obviously, losing their ace won’t help that cause. Flaherty has a 2.90 ERA/3.68 FIP in 62 innings through 11 starts, good for 1.0 fWAR. He has been allowing more fly balls than usual with a career-low 36.3 percent groundball rate, but those air-balls haven’t been leaving the yard – 11.7 HR/FB% is the lowest of his career.

The rest of Flaherty’s profile looks pretty close to what we’ve come to expect from the 25-year-old. He’s striking out 26.3 percent of opponents while walking 7.8 percent – both of which are above-average rates for starters this season. He’s averaging 93.9 mph on his four-seamer, which is right in line with the past couple of seasons. He’s gone with more four-seamers than sinkers than usual, but not enough to suggest a change in approach.

In the short-term,Johan Oviedo will take Flaherty’s spot in the rotation. Oviedo was recently optioned to Triple-A, but he’s been recalled in light of Flaherty’s injury. The 23-year-old has a 5.40 ERA/6.02 FIP in 20 innings this season. Before you ask, young hurlers Alex Reyes and Genesis Cabrera have already been ruled out by manager Mike Shildt as rotation options, tweets Jones. Daniel Ponce de Leon or Jake Woodford, however, could be stretched out with the possibility of opening games on the hill.

A’s Place Ramon Laureano On Injured List, Recall Skye Bolt

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The Athletics have placed outfielder Ramon Laureano on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hip, retroactive to May 28th. Skye Bolt has been recalled from Triple-A, per Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter links). The A’s have confirmed the move.

Laureano hasn’t played since last Thursday because of the injury, which was originally termed “right groin tightness,” per Kawara. It’s been a strong season for Laureano, who has already posted 1.9 bWAR/2.1 fWAR through 48 games. Mark Canha figured to continue to see time in centerfield in Laureano’s absence.

As for Bolt, he was claimed off waivers by the Giants on April 5th, but he managed just one plate appearance across the bay. The A’s re-acquired him exactly a month later for cash considerations. He has mashed at Triple-A this season for Oakland, slashing .375/.488/.625 over 80 plate appearances with the Las Vegas Aviators.

Angels Activate Max Stassi, Option Jose Quijada

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The Angels have activated catcher Max Stassi from the injured list, per the team. He’ll be in the lineup and starting behind the plate for the Angels tonight. Meanwhile, Drew Butera has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A, and Jose Quijada was optioned to Triple-A in order to create the roster spot to bring Stassi off the IL.

Stassi returns to the lineup with a .241/.313/.345 batting line across 32 plate appearances. He’s one of three catchers currently on the roster, along with Kurt Suzuki and Anthony Bemboom. If healthy, Stassi figures to get a healthy share of the playing time behind the dish.

The veteran Butera remains in the organization to serve as further depth. The Angels’ catching corps has been beat up for much of the season – and they’re not a young group – so Butera may very well find himself with another opportunity this year. He’ll be seeking a redemptive effort after going just 3-for-32 with 16 strikeouts in 32 plate appearances.

As for Quijada, the 25-year-old southpaw logged 3 1/3 scoreless innings across a pair of outings. He went 1 2/3 innings yesterday, and while he didn’t allow a run and struck out three, he also walked three and allowed both of his inherited runners to score – one via a wild pitch and the other via a Wilmer Flores double.

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.

Brewers Place Lorenzo Cain On 10-Day Injured List, Recall Tyrone Taylor

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As expected, the Brewers have placed outfielder Lorenzo Cain on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring and recalled outfielder Tyrone Taylor to take his place, per the team.

There is no timetable for Cain’s eventual return, per MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy (via Twitter). Cain have managed a relatively punchless .223/.322/.350 across 118 plate appearances in 31 games this season. The veteran has continued to take his walks (11.9 percent walk rate) and put the bat on the ball (20.3 percent strikeout rate). The former Royal has always been above-average at avoiding strikeouts, but the better-than-average patience in a new skill developed – and, thus far, maintained – in Milwaukee.

Taylor has been a frequent guest star on the Brewers in 2021 with 84 big league plate appearances to just 20 at Triple-A. In the Majors, he is hitting .203/.298/.365 with three home runs. He is starting tonight’s ballgame in centerfield and batting sixth.

Cain’s injury could have an impact beyond Taylor, however. As recently covered by the Athletic’s Will Sammon, Avisail Garcia finds himself on pace for 550 plate appearances, a threshold that, if passed, would turn a team option for 2022 into a mutual option. When the Brewers signed Jackie Bradley Jr. this winter, the odds were against Garcia, but the presumptive starting trio of Cain, Bradley, and Christian Yelich have all struggled to stay healthy, providing Garcia with plenty of opportunity in the grass.

That’s significant because it provides Garcia with a little more agency in his future. The 30-year-old is having himself a fine season at the plate, slashing .244/.312/.452 with 10 home runs through 186 plate appearance – good for a 109 wRC+.

Mariners Activate Marco Gonzales, Recall Taylor Trammell, Place Kyle Lewis On 10-Day Injured List, Option Robert Dugger

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The Mariners announced a slew of impactful roster moves this afternoon, starting with the reigning Rookie of the Year in the American League Kyle Lewis going back on the injured list – this time with a right meniscus tear, per the team. Robert Dugger also departs; Seattle optioned the right-hander to Triple-A.

In good news, Marco Gonzales is re-joining the team from the injured list, as anticipated. He will start tonight’s ballgame for the Mariners. If the third-place M’s are going to make an unexpected run at relevancy this year, they’ll need Gonzales to be a force in the rotation. He has made five starts on the season with a 5.40 ERA/5.52 FIP.

As for Lewis, it’s not yet clear if the tear is significant, but he has had multiple procedures performed on that knee, notes Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. That’s certainly not ideal for a player like Lewis, whose athleticism is a key asset. He has appeared in just 36 of the Mariners’ 55 games this season, posting 0.7 bWAR and a 112 wRC+ in that time.

While losing Lewis definitely smarts, Mariners’ fans will have another young outfielder to tune in for: Taylor Trammell has been recalled after a successful stint in Triple-A. Trammell posted some highlights at the start of the season, but ultimately slumped to a .157/.255/.337 line in 95 plate appearances.

It’s easy to forget because he’s been traded twice, but Trammell remains a top prospect, and he’s still just 23 years old. Prior to this season, he had not played about Double-A, but he found himself on the opening day roster nevertheless. When he was optioned on May 13th, then, it was his first thwack at Triple-A, and he took it: .384/.413/.726 with six home runs in 80 plate appearances for the Tacoma Rainiers.

Finally, Dugger returns to the minors with a 6.06 ERA in eight appearances (two starts). A 4.83 FIP suggests Dugger has dealt with a touch of small-sample bad luck. The former Marlin has induced a 39.6 percent groundball rate with a 22.1 percent strikeout rate and 8.3 percent walk rate in 16 1/3 innings for Seattle’s parent club.

Rangers Sign Wade LeBlanc To Minors Deal

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The Rangers have signed free agent veteran Wade LeBlanc and assigned him to Round Rock, per the team. It’s a minor league contract.

The Rangers are LeBlanc’s third organization of the 2021 season. He spent time in the Brewers minor league system and made six appearances (one start) at the big league level for the Orioles. Those outings weren’t a rousing success as LeBlanc served up seven earned runs on 11 hits and one walk in 6 2/3 innings. He also struck out six.

LeBlanc will be around the plate, but he’s long lacked the put-away type of stuff to make batters skittish at the dish. Regardless, he’s hung around the Majors since 2008, dressing for the Padres, Marlins, Astros, Angels, Yankees, Mariners, Pirates and Orioles. He owns a career 4.59 ERA/4.73 FIP over 889 career innings.

For the Rangers, they have some uncertainty in their rotation in the near-term and likely don’t want to find themselves backed into a corner, throwing arms before they’re ready. They’re waiting to see how Kyle Gibson recovers from a strained groin, and they recently placed Kohei Arihara on the 60-day injured list. Kolby Allard looks like he’ll have a chance at earning a rotation spot, but he made his first start of the season this week after posting a 3.15 ERA out of the bullpen.

Mike Montgomery To Sign With KBO’s Samsung Lions

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Veteran left-hander Mike Montgomery will finalize a contract with the Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization today, MLBTR has confirmed. Naver Sports in South Korea first reported that a deal between the Lions and the Ballengee Group client was “likely.”

Montgomery, 31, was in Spring Training with the Mets but didn’t land a roster spot. He quickly signed with the Yankees back on April 5, but his minor league deal contained an opt-out clause that he’s now exercised. Montgomery was hit hard in a tiny sample of 16 2/3 innings with the Yankees’ top affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he of course has a rather successful track record in parts of six Major League seasons.

The No. 36 overall pick by the Royals back in 2008, Montgomery was traded to the Rays 2012’s Wil Myers/James Shields/Jake Odorizzi deal before being flipped to the Mariners in exchange for Erasmo Ramirez in 2015. A third trade in 2016 then sent him to the Cubs in exchange for Daniel Vogelbach, and the Cubs completed the circle when they traded him back to Kansas City in a 2019 swap that sent Martin Maldonado to Chicago.

Montgomery has spent the bulk of his career in Chicago but also appeared with Seattle and Kansas City. On the whole, he’s put together a 3.84 ERA in 541 Major League frames, striking out 18 percent of his opponents against an 8.8 percent walk rate. He’s also generated grounders at a healthy 53.6 percent clip during his big league tenure. He opened the 2020 season on the Royals’ staff but was ultimately limited to just 5 1/3 innings after suffering a lat strain that sent him to the 60-day injured list. That marked the second straight season in which a lat strain had sidelined Montgomery.

According to the Naver report, the Lions are on the lookout for a replacement for right-hander Ben Lively, who was recently diagnosed with a shoulder injury. Montgomery would step onto the Lions’ roster as their second foreign pitcher, the maximum allowed under KBO rules, joining former Phillies righty David Buchanan, who has been excellent for the Lions since joining them for the 2020 season.

Montgomery will have the opportunity to finish out the 2021 season with the Lions. If he enjoys success in his new environs, that could lead to either an offer to return in 2022 or perhaps interest elsewhere overseas or back in North America.

Reds Release Nicky Delmonico, Cheslor Cuthbert

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The Reds have released former big leaguers Nicky Delmonico and Cheslor Cuthbert, as announced this morning by their Triple-A affiliate (on Twitter). Both are now free agents.

Delmonico, 28, spent parts of the 2017-20 seasons in the Majors with the White Sox, serving as a left fielder, first baseman and designated hitter. He turned in an impressive rookie effort back in ’17, hitting at a .262/.373/.482 clip through 166 plate appearances.

It’s been a steady decline for the former Orioles and Brewers farmhand since that time, however. In 408 big league plate appearances from 2018-20, Delmonico hit just .210/.287/.346. Things haven’t gone too much better in Triple-A so far in 2021, as Delmonico has managed a rather tepid .221/.312/.382 output — albeit in a small sample of just 77 plate appearances. In parts of five Triple-A campaigns, Delmonico is a .259/.342/.421 hitter.

The 28-year-old Cuthbert, meanwhile, was once one of the Royals’ premier prospects but has never produced much in the big leagues. He did connect on a career-high 12 home runs back in 2016, his lone season as a regular in the Majors (510 plate appearances), but he carries an overall line of .250/.300/.378 in 1161 trips to the plate. Like Delmonico, he’s struggled with the Reds’ Triple-A club, hitting just .203/.330/.338 in 88 plate appearances.

He’s played primarily third base in his pro career, but Cuthbert does have some experience at first base and second base as well. This year’s struggles notwithstanding, Cuthbert is a career .281/.350/.463 hitter in parts of seven Triple-A seasons.

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