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Ryan Buchter Elects Free Agency

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Left-hander Ryan Buchter has opted to become a free agent rather than accept an outright assignment to the Angels’ alternate training site, the team announced.  Buchter was designated for assignment earlier this week and then outrighted off the 40-man roster once he cleared waivers.

Buchter inked a minor league deal with the Halos in February and pitched in 10 games for the club this season, posting a 4.50 ERA and eight strikeouts over six innings pitched.  Uncharacteristically for the 33-year-old, control was an issue, as Buchter issued six walks over his six frames of work.

Over 214 career innings with the Braves, Padres, Royals, and A’s from 2014-19, Buchter has quietly posted some strong numbers, with a 2.86 ERA, 9.9 K/9, and 2.45 K/BB rate.  Home runs (1.1 HR/9) have been an issue, and ERA predictors have been less impressed by Buchter’s output — prior to the 2020 season, Buchter had a career 4.01 FIP, 4.74 xFIP, and 4.01 SIERA.

Given Buchter’s past track record and a history of good performance against both left-handed and right-handed batters, it is understandable why he’d bet on landing another contract with a big league team, rather than biding his time at the Angels’ alternate training site.

Royals Make Multiple Roster Moves

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The Royals announced (Twitter links) several minor moves today, including the news that infielder Humberto Arteaga has been released.  Kansas City also outrighted left-hander Randy Rosario to the team’s alternate training site, while minor league righties Jonathan Bowlan and Jon Heasley have both been added to the 60-man player pool and will also report to the alternate site.

Rosario will remain in the K.C. organization after he was designated for assignment on Thursday to clear a spot for newly-acquired outfielder Edward Olivares.  After coming to Kansas City on a waiver claim last September, Rosario’s first full season with the Royals has been a struggle, over the small sample size of 3 1/3 innings.  Rosario has a 8.10 ERA after allowing three runs from seven hits and three walks over four appearances.

Arteaga had been part of the Royals’ 60-man player pool but never got the call up to the big league roster this season.  An international signing from the Dominican Republic in 2010, Arteaga’s long stay in the Royals’ farm system finally paid off with his first MLB promotion in 2019, as he hit .197/.258/.230 in 135 plate appearances.  Arteaga has mostly played shortstop during his career, but he also offers experience at second and third base to any new team who could be looking for utility infield depth.

Bowlan and Heasley are both 23 years old, and were both members of the Royals’ 2018 draft class — Bowlan was selected in the second round (58th overall) and Heasley in the 13th round.  Neither pitcher has worked above the A-ball level, so it’s probably unlikely that either will be promoted to the MLB roster, though their inclusion at the alternate training site will help continue their development given the lack of any proper minor league baseball this season.

Yankees Re-Sign Luis Avilan To Minor League Deal

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The Yankees have reached an agreement on a new minor-league contract with LHP Luis Avilan, according to Kristie Ackert of the NY Daily News.

Avilan, who signed with New York on a minor-league deal last winter, was released from the Yankees organization in late August amidst a bit of a roster crunch due to the injury bug repeatedly striking in New York. At the time, though, it was expected that the Yankees would make an effort to bring Avilan back in some fashion.

Prior to his release, Avilan hit the 10-day injured list due to inflammation in his left shoulder. Outside of a dud (two runs and three hits in just one-third of an inning) in his last appearance before going on the IL—which may be connected to his shoulder issue—Avilan has really been quite solid for the Yankees this year. All told, he has managed a 4.32 ERA in 8 1/3 innings in pinstripes, while striking out more than a batter per inning, on average.

Minor MLB Transactions: 9/5/20

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Wrapping up some minor moves from around the game…

  • The Mets outrighted Hunter Strickland to their alternate training site, the team announced.  Strickland was designated for assignment earlier this week and cleared waivers, then accepted the outright assignment.  This is the second time the veteran hurler has been outrighted this season.  After signing a minors contract with the Mets in June, Strickland has an 8.10 ERA over 3 1/3 innings with the team.
  • In another Mets move, the Amazins released right-hander Pedro Payano, as per the MLB.com transactions page.  Payano made his Major League debut in 2019, posting a 5.73 ERA over 22 innings for the Rangers before signing a minor league deal with the Mets over the offseason.  The New York-born Payano, however, didn’t see any big league action for his hometown team in 2020.  Payano is a veteran of eight seasons in the Rangers organization, posting a 3.68 ERA, 2.46 K/BB rate, and 8.2 K/9 over 686 1/3 minor league innings (starting 125 of 142 games).
  • The Yankees released righty Adonis Rosa, the team announced.  Rosa had been pitching at the Yankees’ alternate training site.  Signing with the Yankees as a 19-year-old in 2013, Rosa has a 3.35 ERA, 3.79 K/BB rate, and 7.8 K/9 over 515 1/3 career minor league innings, starting 74 of his 114 career games in New York’s farm system.  Rosa’s MLB resume consists of a single game, a two-inning appearance on August 13, 2019.

Twins Place Alex Avila On 10-Day Injured List

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The Twins placed Alex Avila on the 10-day injured list earlier today, as the catcher is sidelined due to lower back tightness.  Utilityman Willians Astudillo and outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. were called up from Minnesota’s alternate training site to replace both Avila and righty Sean Poppen, who was optioned down to the alternate site.

Avila has hit .167/.352/.262 over 54 plate appearances this season, getting a more even share of playing time than expected since regular catcher Mitch Garver has himself been on the IL since August 20.  With both Garver and Avila out, the Twins’ catching corps consists of rookie Ryan Jeffers and Astudillo, who has played every position except shortstop over his three MLB seasons but has spent the majority of his time behind the plate.

Juan Graterol, Tomas Telis, and Caleb Hamilton are the other catchers at Minnesota’s alternate training site, leaving the club without much catching experience as it fights the White Sox, Indians, and even the surprising Tigers for first place in the AL Central.  It isn’t yet known when Garver could return, though manager Rocco Baldelli told MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park and other media that Avila wasn’t expected to miss much or any time beyond the minimum 10 days.

Mariners Claim Casey Sadler

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The Mariners claimed right-hander Casey Sadler off waivers from the Cubs, according to an M’s press release.  Chicago designated Sadler for assignment earlier this week.

Sadler had an impressive (if, according to advanced metrics, deceptive) 2.14 ERA over 46 1/3 combined innings with the Rays and Dodgers in 2019, and the Cubs acquired him in an January trade hoping the righty could emulate that performance.  Instead, Sadler struggled with a 5.79 ERA over 9 1/3 innings for the North Siders, walking eight batters over that limited span of action.

Appearing in parts of five MLB seasons with the Cubs, Rays, Dodgers, and Pirates, Sadler has a career 3.82 ERA, 1.83 K/BB rate, 51.5% grounder rate, and 6.6 K/9 in 75 1/3 Major League innings.  Originally a 25th-round pick for Pittsburgh in the 2010 draft, Sadler’s grounder-heavy approach has led to success at the minor league level, with a 3.43 ERA over 757 1/3 career frames on the farm.

Since Sadler is out of options, the Mariners won’t be able to send him to their alternate training site without exposing him against to the DFA wire.  Given how the M’s are already looking ahead to 2021, there isn’t any harm in giving Sadler some innings to see if he could factor into next season’s plans, even if the 30-year-old isn’t a long-term piece.

Cubs Designate Steven Souza

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In between games of a doubleheader with the Cardinals, the Cubs have designated outfielder Steven Souza Jr. for assignment, the team announced.  Right-hander Tyson Miller has been recalled and will be available for tonight’s game.

Souza went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in the first game (a 4-2 win for St. Louis), potentially ending his Cubs tenure with a .148 batting average and .591 OPS over 31 plate appearances  Souza came to Chicago on a one-year deal worth $1MM in guaranteed money during the offseason, but it has been a tough season for the outfielder, who hasn’t produced as the plate and also missed close to two weeks with a right hamstring strain.

After missing all of 2019 recovering from major knee surgery, Souza had a victory just in returning to the field this year, though he is still looking to get back to the form he displayed in his 2015-17 heyday with the Rays.  Being claimed off the DFA wire would put a new team on the hook for what remains of Souza’s prorated $1MM salary, which is only around $125K at this point and potentially worth a flier for a team in need of outfield depth.  Then again, if Souza clears waivers and is then released, an interested team could then sign him for only a prorated minimum salary, with the Cubs footing the rest of his guaranteed bill.

Blue Jays Select Caleb Joseph’s Contract, Move Ken Giles To 45-Day Injured List

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The Blue Jays announced some roster moves prior to tonight’s game against the Red Sox, including the news that catcher Caleb Joseph’s contract had been selected from the team’s alternate training site.  Joseph will replace catcher Reese McGuire, who was optioned to the alternate site.  To create 40-man roster space for Joseph, closer Ken Giles has been moved from the 10-day injured list to the 45-day IL.

Joseph has been on Toronto’s taxi squad for much of the season, and he’ll now be in line to get his first in-game action of the 2020 season.  Signed to a minor league deal last winter, Joseph saw regular action with the Orioles from 2014-18, hitting only .224/.271/.353 over 1317 plate appearances in Baltimore and then posting only a .513 OPS over a 41-PA stint with the Diamondbacks last season.  Joseph has, however, earned a solid reputation as a defensive catcher, adept at pitch-framing and throwing out would-be base-stealers.

Though Joseph isn’t known for his hitting, it won’t take much to top McGuire’s somewhat unfathomable -45 OPS+ during the 2020 season.  McGuire showed quite a bit of promise with his .882 OPS over 138 PA with the Jays in 2018-19, though this year has managed just a .073/.073/.146 slash line in 45 plate appearances.  With regular starter Danny Jansen also not hitting much, clearly the Blue Jays felt a change was needed to boost their production from the catcher’s spot.

Counting today, Giles has already spent 41 days on the injured list since his initial placement for a right forearm strain, so the move to the 45-day IL isn’t a big obstacle to his impending return.  Giles threw a live batting practice session today and is slated for another on Tuesday, so he could potentially be activated as soon as he hits the 45-day threshold.

Tigers Place Niko Goodrum On 10-Day Injured List

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The Tigers have placed shortstop Niko Goodrum on the 10-day injured list due to a right oblique strain.  The placement is retroactive to September 2.  Infielder Sergio Alcantara has been recalled from the Tigers’ alternate training site to take Goodrum’s spot on the active roster.

After impressing as a super-utilityman in his first two seasons in Detroit, Goodrum has exclusively played shortstop this season with rather mixed results.  In the field, Goodrum has been more than solid, with an +8.7 UZR/150 and +2 Defensive Runs Saved in 248 innings at shortstop that backs up his similar numbers at the position (over 326 2/3 innings) in 2019.

At the plate, however, Goodrum has hit only .186/.264/.381 over 129 PA — a big step down from his unspectacular but serviceable .247/.318/.427 slash line over 964 PA in 2018-19.  The switch-hitting Goodrum is posting similar hard-contact numbers from 2019, but there is much more swing-and-miss in his game, as his strikeout rate has ballooned from 29.2% in 2019 to 38.8% in 2020.

Manager Ron Gardenhire suggested (to the Detroit News’ Chris McCosky and other media) that Goodrum could potentially only hit right-handed for the remainder of the year, as the oblique only bothers the shortstop when he swings from the left side.  Given the lingering nature of oblique injuries, it can’t be ruled out that Goodrum has played his last game of 2020, though it’s obviously a good sign that the problem isn’t entirely limiting.  Willi Castro will step in as the Tigers’ regular shortstop while Goodrum is sidelined.

Marlins Place Elieser Hernandez On 60-Day Injured List

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TODAY: Hernandez’s season is over, as the Marlins today shifted him from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL.

SEPTEMBER 2: The Marlins have placed right-hander Elieser Hernandez on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right lat and recalled infielder Eddy Alvarez from their alternate training site, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald tweets.

It’s a tough blow for the Fish, as Hernandez has been a key piece of their surprising 2020 season. The 25-year-old has made six starts and totaled 25 2/3 innings while running up a 3.16 ERA and a brilliant 34-to-5 K/BB ratio in that time. He departed last night’s game after just two innings due to soreness in his problematic lat muscle, and a subsequent MRI revealed the strain.

With less than a month left in the season, it’s tough to say whether Hernandez will be able to take the hill for the Marlins. And having just traded away Caleb Smith and Humberto Mejia to acquire Starling Marte from the Diamondbacks, the Marlins’ rotation depth has been thinned out a bit in recent days. Miami will continue to trot out Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, Sixto Sanchez and Trevor Rogers for the time being, and they also have Jordan Yamamoto and Dan Castano in their player pool at the alternate training site. Both have started games for the Marlins in 2020.

Right-handers Jose Urena and Nick Neidert have not pitched yet in 2020 and were placed on the injured list at the time of the team’s Covid-19 outbreak, but SportsGrid’s Craig Mish tweeted earlier today that both could be ready to return should Hernandez need to go on the injured list.

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