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Rangers Designate Rob Refsnyder

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The Rangers have designated utilityman Rob Refsnyder for assignment, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets. In other moves, the Rangers recalled outfielder Leody Taveras and activated catcher Robinson Chirinos from the injured list.

The well-traveled Refsnyder, 29, joined the Rangers on a minor league contract last offseason. He has been on the Rangers’ roster throughout the season, but Refnsyder was unable to justify his spot on the team over 34 plate appearances, in which he slashed a subpar .200/.265/.233 with no home runs. It continued a run of below-average production in the majors for Refsnyder, owner of a .217/.305/.297 line in a career 457 trips to the plate.

Refsnyder has hit well in the minors, and he is a defensively versatile performer, so perhaps yet another club will take a chance on him. However, the fact that he’s out of minor league options won’t help his cause. In any event, the Rangers will have a week to trade, release or pass Refsnyder through waivers.

Marlins Designate Sterling Sharp For Assignment

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The Marlins made a series of roster moves Monday, beginning with the announcement that right-hander Sterling Sharp has been designated for assignment. Miami also reinstated infielder Eddy Alvarez from the paternity list and optioned him to the alternate training site. Lefty Stephen Tarpley, meanwhile, has been placed on the 10-day IL due to an oblique strain, while fellow southpaw Brandon Leibrandt was optioned to the alternate site.

Up from the alternate site in place of Sharp, Tarpley and Leibrant are first baseman Lewin Diaz and right-handers Jorge Guzman and Jesus Tinoco.

Sharp, 25, joined the Marlins via the NL East-rival Nationals as a Rule 5 pick over the winter. He went on to throw 5 1/3 innings with the Marlins this year before they booted him from their roster, but Sharp struggled mightily along the way. The soft-tossing Sharp made four appearances out of Miami’s bullpen and yielded seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and five walks, striking out just three in the process. Sharp will now head to the waiver wire, and if nobody claims him there, the Marlins will have to offer him back to the Nats.

Pirates Claim Carson Fulmer, Designate Guillermo Heredia

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The Pirates announced Monday that they’ve claimed right-hander Carson Fulmer off waivers from the Tigers and designated outfielder Guillermo Heredia for assignment in order to open a spot on the roster.

Pittsburgh will be the third team in 2020 to try its hand in helping Fulmer to right the ship. The 26-year-old was selected by the White Sox with the No. 8 overall pick back in 2015. At the time, the Vanderbilt star was viewed as a potential high-end starter or at the very least a high-probability late-inning reliever. But he’s struggled virtually every step of the way since Triple-A, pitching to an ugly 5.39 ERA in parts of four seasons there and a less-palatable 6.57 mark in 101 1/3 MLB frames. The Tigers claimed him last month after the White Sox designated him for assignment.

Fulmer’s average fastball in 2020 sat at 92.3 mph — a far cry from the righty’s college days, when scouting reports pegged him as touching 97 mph with regularity. He boasted elite spin rates on his four-seamer and curveball as recently as last season, though, and Fulmer did manage a career-best 12.8 percent swinging-strike rate in this year’s tiny sample of 6 2/3 innings with the Tigers. That’s about all that went right for Fulmer, but the pitching-hungry Pirates were quick to snap him up on waivers in hopes that their staff can coax something more out of him. Fulmer is out of minor league options, so he’ll need to stick on the Bucs’ big league roster or else be designated for assignment a third time.

As for Heredia, he signed a one-year, $1MM contract with the Pirates over the winter but hasn’t delivered for the club. The 29-year-old appeared in just eight games and tallied a mere 18 plate appearances earlier this year before being optioned to the club’s alternate training site. Clearly the team wasn’t happy with what it saw there.

Heredia has appeared in 390 Major League games, mostly with the Mariners, and posted a combined .239/.317/.339 batting line. As a solid outfield defender with a bit of speed and a career .275/.338/.400 batting line against lefties, he can be a useful bench piece when he’s at his best, but he won’t get that opportunity with the Pirates, it seems. Pittsburgh will have a week to trade Heredia, release him or attempt to run him through outright waivers. He’d have enough service time to reject the outright assignment, but doing so would mean forfeiting the remainder of his guaranteed salary.

Giants Request Release Waivers On Hunter Pence

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The Giants have requested unconditional release waivers on veteran outfielder/designated hitter Hunter Pence, tweets Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. Pence was designated for assignment over the weekend.

The reunion between Pence and the Giants was a feel-good story for San Francisco fans over the winter. The team’s longtime right fielder, viewed as a key part of two World Series pushes, walked away with his head held high upon conclusion of his five-year, $90MM deal at the end of the 2018 season. There was some debate as to whether Pence had anything left in the tank at that point, given poor showings in 2017-18. He responded by heading retool his swing in the Dominican Winter League, landed a roster spot with his hometown Rangers and turned in a huge rebound effort last year in Arlington: .297/.358/.552 in 316 plate appearances.

Unfortunately for Pence, the Giants and their fans, that production didn’t carry over into 2020. Pence logged just 56 plate appearances and posted a .096/.161/.250 batting line. Despite his undeniable leadership and the positive influence he had on young Giants players, the club simply needed more production out of his roster spot.

Pence was gracious as ever, profoundly thanking the organization and its fans for all of the memories he’s piled up over the years. Pence chatted with Baggarly in a phone interview following the DFA, stating that he is “overwhelmed with appreciation” for everything that has transpired in his Giants tenure. He added that he plans to stay ready in case another opportunity presents itself in 2020, but he didn’t have any definitive comments on his plans beyond the current season.

Assuming he clears release waivers — it’s unlikely that another club would claim the $548K remaining on this year’s prorated $1.08MM salary — Pence will become a free agent who is eligible to sign with any team in 48 hours.

Blue Jays Put Thornton On IL, Select Bergen, Designate Pannone

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The Blue Jays have placed right-hander Trent Thornton on the injured list and selected the contract of lefty Travis Bergen to the Major League roster in his place, the team announced. In order to open a spot for Bergen on the 40-man roster, the Jays have designated left-hander Thomas Pannone for assignment.

Thornton’s injury is the latest in a mounting series of pitching ailments for the Jays. He joins Ken Giles, Nate Pearson and Matt Shoemaker among the notable names on the injured list for Toronto (in addition to star shortstop Bo Bichette). There’s no immediate timetable on Thornton’s return, but he lasted just one inning in this weekend’s spot start. Meanwhile, manager Charlie Montoyo tells reporters that Shoemaker is dealing with a lat strain and is considered “week to week” at this point (Twitter link via Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet).

Bergen, 26, will be making his Jays debut when he first takes the hill. The southpaw was the team’s seventh-round pick back in 2015 but spent much of last season with the Giants after being selected in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft. Bergen didn’t get the full year he needed to stick with the Giants, however, as San Francisco returned him to the Jays last August following an IL stint due to a shoulder strain. Bergen pitched just 19 2/3 innings with the Giants and stumbled in that time: 12 runs on 18 hits, nine walks and a hit batter with 18 strikeouts (5.49 ERA).

Bergen has excellent when healthy in the minors, pitching to a 1.69 ERA across five levels. However, because he spent most of last season with the Giants’ MLB roster, has not pitched in a game this year in the absence of a minor league season and spent time on the IL in both 2016 and 2017, Bergen has just 106 2/3 total minor league innings under his belt.

Pannone, also 26, came to the Blue Jays in the 2017 trade that sent righty Joe Smith to Cleveland. He’s pitched 116 innings in the big leagues but has just a 5.43 ERA and 5.14 FIP to show for it, with averages of 7.6 K/9 against 3.6 BB/9. He’s worked mostly as a starter in the minors and has a decent track record in both Double-A and Triple-A. Pannone will be out of options next spring but can be optioned freely for the rest of the 2020 season, so a club in need of some flexible rotation/bullpen depth — e.g. the Mets, who play six games in nine days beginning tomorrow — could conceivably take a look.

Mets Release Brian Dozier

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The Mets have released second baseman Brian Dozier, tweets MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. He’d been designated for assignment prior to last Sunday’s game, when New York called up right-hander Franklyn Kilome.

The 33-year-old Dozier will return to the open market and be eligible to sign with any club as a free agent. He inked a minor league deal with the Padres over the winter but took his release from that organization and had a less-than-favorable review of his time there upon signing with the Mets late last month. Dozier’s time in Queens proved brief, though, as Robinson Cano’s scorching return from the injured list left him without much of a path to playing time. In 16 plate appearances as a Met, Dozier went 2-for-15 with a walk and five strikeouts.

It’s been a swift decline for Dozier, who from 2014-17 starred for the Twins as one of the game’s best second basemen. In that time, he batted .254/.338/.476 with 127 home runs — including a 42-homer campaign in 2016 and a 34-homer effort in 2017. His 2018 season was wrecked by a knee injury which he attempted to play through, and while he had a solid bounceback effort with the Nats in 2019 (.238/.340/.430), Dozier also ceded playing time to Asdrubal Cabrera late in 2019.

Dozier could still hold appeal to clubs seeking some infield depth. A team in need of help against left-handed pitching would stand out as a particularly solid fit for the former All-Star, given that the right-handed-hitting Dozier carries a stout .268/.352/.496 batting line against southpaws.

Minor MLB Transactions: 8/23/20

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Wrapping up some minor moves from around the game…

  • The Red Sox outrighted Christian Arroyo to their alternate training site after the infielder cleared waivers.  Arroyo was designated for assignment three days ago.  The 25th overall pick of the 2013 draft, Arroyo was a significant prospect coming up in the Giants’ farm system and a key part of the trade package sent to the Rays for Evan Longoria in December 2017.  Injuries and a lack of production have dimmed Arroyo’s star, however, as he has hit only .215/.280/.342 over 251 career PA with the Giants, Rays, and Indians.  Boston only claimed Arroyo off waivers from Cleveland 10 days ago, after he appeared in just a single game with the Tribe this season.

Blue Jays Acquire Daniel Vogelbach

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The Blue Jays have acquired first baseman Daniel Vogelbach from the Mariners in exchange for cash considerations, both teams announced.  Vogelbach was designated for assignment earlier this week following an .094/.250/.225 slash line over his first 64 plate appearances of the 2020 season.

It was a little over a year ago that Vogelbach was enjoying a selection to the All-Star Game and seemingly cementing his claim as the Mariners’ first baseman/DH of the future.  A red-hot start to the 2019 season was followed by a steep decline, however, as Vogelbach hit only .162/.297/.344 over his final 310 plate appearances.

A second-round pick for the Cubs in the 2011 draft, Vogelbach was a blocked prospect behind Anthony Rizzo in Chicago, and he was sent to the M’s as part of the July 2016 trade that brought Mike Montgomery to the Cubs.  Seattle had hopes that Vogelbach would build on his impressive minor league numbers and become a power bat at the MLB level, though that breakout just hasn’t come, as he has a .196/.326/.397 career slash line over 768 PA and has particularly struggled (career .547 OPS) against left-handed pitching.

It’s probably safe to assume that Toronto didn’t surrender much cash in the trade, making this a pretty low-risk acquisition for the Jays.  Still, Vogelbach’s addition gives the club a third player (beyond Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Rowdy Tellez) who can play only first base or DH, plus Vogelbach and Tellez are both left-handed bats.  It doesn’t make for much of an obvious fit, unless the Blue Jays simply want to have some extra depth for the bench or even down at their alternate training site.

Cubs Select Ian Miller, Sign Patrick Wisdom

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The Cubs selected the contract of outfielder Ian Miller prior to today’s game against the White Sox.  Righty James Norwood, already on the 10-day injured list since August 2 due to elbow inflammation, was transferred to the 45-day injured list to create roster space for Miller.

Miller appeared as a pinch-runner in the 2-1 Cubs victory, marking Miller’s first MLB appearance of the season and the 13th of his career.  The outfielder made his Major League debut in 2019, receiving 17 plate appearances (with a .412 OPS) over 12 games with the Twins.

Originally a 14th-round pick for the Mariners in the 2013 draft, Miller has only a .274/.340/.357 slash line over 3011 career minor league plate appearances, though is much better regarded for his speed (243 steals from 294 chances in the minors) and defense.  Miller’s ability to play all three outfield positions will aid a Cubs outfield that is lacking in depth with Kris Bryant and Steven Souza Jr. both on the injured list.

The Cubs also announced the signing of infielder Patrick Wisdom to a minor league contract, and he will report to the club’s alternate training site as the 58th current member of Chicago’s 60-man player pool.  Wisdom signed an MLB contract with the Mariners during the offseason but was released on August 14 before ever officially suiting up in a Seattle uniform.

Wisdom’s Major League resume remains at 41 games with the Cardinals and Rangers over the 2018-19 seasons, though he has posted some solid numbers (.252/.328/.478 with 82 homers) over 1674 career PA at the Triple-A level.  Wisdom, who celebrates his 29th birthday later this week, was the 52nd overall pick of the 2012 draft.

Blue Jays Place Matt Shoemaker On 10-Day IL

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The Blue Jays have placed right-hander Matt Shoemaker on the 10-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation, the club announced.  Righty Jacob Waguespack was recalled from the club’s alternate training site to take Shoemaker’s spot on the active roster.

Shoemaker has a 4.91 ERA, 3.57 K/BB, and 8.8 K/9 over 25 2/3 innings this season.  An ugly 2.8 HR/9 is responsible for much of that ERA, as Shoemaker has allowed a league-leading eight home runs.  While the performance has been a little shaky thus far, Shoemaker had at least been a somewhat reliable source of innings for a Jays team that hasn’t had much consistency from its rotation.

If the losses of Shoemaker and star prospect Nate Pearson weren’t enough for Toronto, Trent Thornton lasted only an inning in today’s 5-4 loss to the Rays due to his own case of right elbow inflammation.  This was the same injury that put Thornton on the IL earlier this month, and while there hasn’t yet been any word on his status, it seems likely that Thornton might again be sidelined so he can get fully healthy.

Hyun Jin Ryu, Tanner Roark, and Chase Anderson now stand as the only three healthy options in the Blue Jays rotation, though Anderson is being brought along slowly after he missed several weeks recovering from an oblique injury.  Waguespack and Anthony Kay are among the candidates to fill in as starters, Jays manager Charlie Montoyo told Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith and other reporters, though naturally moving them into starting roles will also lessen a Toronto bullpen that has seen a lot of work this season.  As Nicholson-Smith noted, the recent pitching injuries will only intensify the club’s already-stated desire to acquire more arms by the trade deadline.

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