Red Sox Activate Rafael Devers, Option Bobby Poyner
The Red Sox activated young third baseman Rafael Devers from the 10-day disabled list, who had been sidelined with left shoulder inflammation. He’ll return to the lineup and the field after missing just the minimum ten days. To make room for him on the active roster, the club has elected to ship lefty Bobby Poyner back to Triple-A Pawtucket.
The 2018 season hasn’t been kind to the 21-year-old Devers. Though he impressed in his MLB debut last year with a .344 wOBA and 111 wRC+ across 240 plate appearances, this season has seen Devers’ bat go cold. His .242/.291/.424 slash line has been good for a wRC+ of just 87, though his 14 home runs at least prove that he’s shown some pop. All in all, Devers has still been worth 0.7 fWAR, but the Red Sox will surely be hoping he can deliver closer to his true potential as they try to maintain the majors’ best record in the second half.
That potential certainly is lofty, as Devers made a host of top prospect lists headed into the 2017 season. Notably, Baseball America described him as being “the top power-hitting prospect in the system, a future five- or six-hole hitter with plus power and above-average defense.” While their concerns about his aggressive approach have certainly proven valid so far considering a sub-.300 OBP, the reputation of his bat-to-ball skills suggests that his average is likely to improve as he continues to get more reps at the MLB level.
As for Poyner, he’s been shuttled back and forth between Boston and Pawtucket all season long. At the MLB level, he’s chucked 10 2/3 innings across ten appearances while striking out ten batters against just a single walk. He’s also allowed just a pair of earned runs. In Triple-A, Poyner owns a tidy 2.81 ERA across 25 2/3 innings to go with 9.82 K/9 against 2.81 BB/9. The lefty is a former 14th round pick of the Red Sox from the 2015 draft.
Cardinals Place Carlos Martinez On DL With Right Oblique Strain
Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez is going back on the disabled list, this time due to a right oblique strain. The Cardinals have also recalled John Brebbia, reinstated Miles Mikolas from the paternity list, optioned Matt Bowman, and added Luke Weaver to the roster as the 26th man for today’s doubleheader against the Cubs.
It’s the latest unfortunate twist in what’s rapidly turning into a disappointing season for Martinez, the young ace the Cardinals planned to lean on heavily in hopes of a playoff berth this year. He certainly began the season strong, pitching to a 1.62 ERA across his first 50 innings before straining his right lat muscle and subsequently spending a month on the DL.
Since his return on June 5th, Martinez has looked like an entirely different (read: ineffective) pitcher. He’s put up a bloated 5.32 ERA while barely averaging 5 innings across nine starts. His walk rate has soared to a remarkable 5.12 BB/9, and he hasn’t even managed to strike out a batter an inning- a department Martinez has excelled in when he’s been in top form.
Oblique injuries are no small matter, to be sure. While we don’t yet know the severity of the injury, more serious strains have kept pitchers out for well over a month. It’s not unfair to think that the Cardinals could potentially be out of the race for the NL Central crown by the time he’s healthy; that’s a factor that could ultimately delay or expedite Martinez’ timetable. For now, though we’ll await further news on the grade of his strain rather than speculate about how much time the right-hander might miss.
For the time being, it’s likely that Luke Weaver will take his spot in the rotation, which also includes Jack Flaherty, John Gant and Miles Mikolas. Lefty Austin Gomber could be a candidate to move to the rotation if and when St. Louis needs a fifth starter, though Michael Wacha could be on track to return from his own oblique injury fairly soon.
Yankees Promote Domingo Acevedo
After optioning Domingo German to Triple-A following last night’s ugly performance in the Subway Series, the Yankees are set to promote a replacement Domingo. Robert M. Pimpsner of Pinstriped Prospects reported early this morning that the club was expected to promote 6’7″ righty Domingo Acevedo to the big league club; Robert Murray of The Athletic later confirmed the news. The Yankees’ PR department has since announced the promotion.
Prior to the season, Baseball America ranked the 24-year-old Acevedo as the Bombers’ ninth-best prospect, praising his strike-throwing ability despite “a delivery that is littered with funkiness and moving parts.” His fastball sits in the mid- to high-nineties, and he also possesses a slider that some scouts believe could develop into a plus pitch. It’s said that he possesses the ceiling of a middle-of-the-rotation starter, but more interestingly is that BA claims his floor to be that of a power reliever.
Acevedo was a $7,500 international signing in 2012, and has slowly managed to work his way through the club’s minor-league ranks. Last season at Double-A, he made 14 starts while pitching to a 2.38 ERA with an excellent 4.82 K/BB. That earned him a brief 12 1/3-inning stint at the Triple-A level later in the year, though he was sent back to Double-A to begin the 2018 season. Though he hasn’t quite shown the same dominant command so far, he’s still managed to post a respectable 2.84 ERA.
German’s demotion isn’t much of a surprise considering his struggles in the majors so far this season. While the right-hander has managed to rack up an impressive amount of strikeouts (10.38 K/9), his struggles to keep the ball on the ground (37.3% ground ball rate) and in the park (1.64 HR/9) have led to a bloated 5.68 ERA. Last night, German allowed five runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings against a pathetic Mets offense that’s tied for the third-fewest runs scored in all of baseball.
Acevedo will become the latest right-handed pitcher to leapfrog top prospect Justus Sheffield for a big-league debut. In addition to a pair of Domingos, right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga also earned his first promotion to The Show earlier this season. Though roster implications no doubt had plenty to do with it (the aforementioned three pitchers are all on the Yankees’ 40-man), it’s fair to wonder why the pitching-needy Yankees continue to keep Sheffield at the Triple-A level despite his excellent performance there so far this year. The southpaw owns a 2.53 ERA to go with nearly a strikeout per inning and a 44% ground ball rate at Scranton-Wilkes Barre.
Mariners Outright Mike Morin
The Mariners announced today that they have outrighted reliever Mike Morin. That move helped clear the way for two promotions, with first baseman Dan Vogelbach and outfielder John Andreoli joining the active roster.
This is the second time Morin has been bumped from the Seattle 40-man roster this season. The 27-year-old righty has recorded six strikeouts against one walk in his four MLB innings this year but has also allowed three earned runs on six hits.
Morin turned in a strong rookie showing back in 2014 with the Angels. (The Halos organization drafted him and promoted him to the majors while their front office was run by current Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto.) Since then, however, Morin has struggled to find success despite generally sporting promising peripherals. Over his career, Morin carries a 4.66 ERA but a 3.32 FIP, 3.89 xFIP, and 3.42 SIERA.
Rangers Promote Willie Calhoun, Place Nomar Mazara On DL
The Rangers announced today that top prospect Willie Calhoun is headed up to the active MLB roster. He’ll take the spot of outfielder Nomar Mazara, who’ll hit the DL with a thumb sprain.
Calhoun, who came to the Texas organization in last summer’s Yu Darvish swap, earned a brief taste of the big leagues late last year. While he was widely considered ready to hit at the game’s highest level, though, the Rangers kept him down to begin the present campaign — due in no small part to a need to refine his glovework.
While he had played quite a bit of second base in the past, Calhoun has focused on left field this year at Triple-A. The results will be on display when he suits up at the MLB level, though it’s not yet clear whether he’ll receive an extended opportunity this time around. It’ll certainly also be interesting to see Calhoun try to improve upon a tepid first effort (in a very small sample) against major-league pitching. Through 408 plate appearances this year for Round Rock, he carries a .306/.360/.444 slash with eight home runs and 27 walks to go with forty strikeouts — not nearly the output he managed in 2017, but still promising.
Calhoun’s play will obviously help dictate how much of a run he gets down the stretch. But the Rangers’ trade deadline outcomes and the health of Mazara will surely also be considered. There’s no reason at present to believe that Mazara will miss significant time, though the injury may well foreclose any possibility (however meager) that he could be traded in the next ten days.
Rays Designate Johnny Field
The Rays have designated outfielder Johnny Field for assignment, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (Twitter links). That opens 40-man space for the team to select the contract of catcher Adam Moore.
Field, 26, debuted this year and posted a .213/.253/.373 slash line with six home runs in 179 MLB plate appearances. Clearly, that’s not going to get it done, though it was only a first attempt at the game’s highest level. Field, who is capable of playing in the corners or up the middle defensively, has a .270/.320/.436 batting line in his 805 career plate appearances at Triple-A.
As for the 34-year-old Moore, this represents a return to the majors after a one-season absence. He had appeared in every one of the prior eight MLB campaigns, yet saw action in less than one hundred total games. Outside of a lengthy run in 2010, in fact, Moore has taken just 74 total plate appearances. H carries a .215/.259/.309 slash in 158 plate appearances this year at Triple-A.
Nationals Reinstate Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman
The Nationals have reinstated right-hander Stephen Strasburg from the 10-day disabled list and brought back first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 60-day DL, the team announced. To make room for those two, Washington optioned righties Wander Suero and Trevor Gott to Triple-A.
Strasburg’s back after missing upward of a month with shoulder inflammation, and his return will be a much-needed one for a Washington club with ground to make up in the NL East. The Nationals went just 48-48 before the All-Star break and currently sit five games out of a wild-card spot and 5.5 behind the division-leading Phillies. Part of the problem has been a lack of high-end starters behind ace Max Scherzer. Gio Gonzalez and Jeremy Hellickson have both pitched well, though they haven’t turned in front-line performances. Strasburg, 30, has done that throughout his career, and he managed a 3.46 ERA/3.58 FIP with 10.6 K/9 and 2.12 BB/9 in 80 2/3 innings before going on the DL.
Zimmerman has been out since May 12 because of a back injury, and he struggled prior to landing on the shelf. After reviving his career in 2017, the 33-year-old opened this season with a .217/.280/.409 line in 125 plate appearances. His DL placement opened the door for the addition of fellow veteran first baseman Mark Reynolds, whom the Nats selected from Triple-A Syracuse when they lost Zimmerman. The minor league signing of Reynolds has paid dividends for Washington, as he has slashed a splendid .291/.361/.573 with 10 home runs (and a 10-RBI game) over 133 PAs. It’s now unclear how the Nationals will divvy up playing time between Zimmerman and Reynolds, two righty-swingers.
Rays To Select Adam Moore
The Rays are set to select catcher Adam Moore‘s contract from Triple-A Durham, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The club will have to make a corresponding 40-man move to create a spot for Moore, as Topkin notes.
The 34-year-old Moore signed a minor league contract with the Rays in February and has since batted just .215/.259/.309 in 158 plate appearances with Durham, though he has thrown out 33 percent of would-be base stealers. Moore has caught runners at a similar clip (31 percent) throughout his minor league career and, despite this year’s struggles, carries a .733 OPS in 2,352 Triple-A plate appearances with multiple teams. He also comes with some major league experience, having combined for 292 PAs and a .197/.237/.303 line with the Mariners, Royals, Padres and Indians between 2009-16.
During his first action in Tampa Bay, Moore will back up Jesus Sucre in Wilson Ramos‘ absence. Ramos was a key contributor to the Rays’ 49-47 start and looked like a prime trade chip as a result. Unfortunately for the Rays, though, he suffered a hamstring injury last weekend and is likely to be on the shelf beyond the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
Cubs Acquire Jesse Chavez
The Cubs have acquired right-hander Jesse Chavez from the Rangers, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported (via Twitter). Lefty Tyler Thomas is heading to the Rangers in return.
Chavez, 34, is owed $1.5MM on the season under his one-year deal. (That includes an additional $500K over the base $1MM guarantee that was tacked on when he made the active roster to open the season.) While he has flown under the radar on a Rangers club that’s mired in last place, Chavez earned a reasonably lofty placement (#38) on MLBTR’s recent ranking of the 75 top summer trade candidates.
Much of the appeal in Chavez lies in his ability to function as a swingman. He has alternated between relief and rotation work over the past several seasons, generally providing useful innings in either capacity. While he’ll surely be asked to join the relief corps in Chicago, Chavez will also help pad the club’s rotation depth.
On the heels of a tough 2017 campaign in which he worked mostly as a starter, Chavez has settled into a role as a multi-inning reliever in Texas. He carries a 3.51 ERA through 56 1/3 innings over thirty appearances, with 8.0 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9.
Notably, Chavez’s velocity has trended up by over a full tick (to 93.1 mph with his average fastball) after fading somewhat last year. He’s also generating an 11.0% swinging-strike rate that’s near his personal best. Chavez has, however, allowed a few too many home runs for three years running.
For their minimal investment in Chavez, the Rangers seem to have done reasonably well to pick up Thomas. The 22-year-old was a 2017 seventh-round pick out of Fresno State. He has thrown well this year at the Class A level, turning in 75 innings of 2.88 ERA ball with 9.7 K/9 against 1.7 BB/9.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Twins Acquire Jeremy Hazelbaker From Rays
The Twins have acquired outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker from the Rays organization in exchange for cash, the Twins’ top affiliate in Rochester announced today. Hazelbaker, who is not on the 40-man roster, has been assigned to Triple-A Rochester.
Hazelbaker, 30, opened the season in the D-backs organization but was quickly traded to the Rays in early April. He hasn’t had a very good season to date, hitting just .210/.293/.397 in 239 plate appearances with the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate in Durham. That said, he’s been swinging the bat better since June 1 and has a solid overall track record in parts of seven Triple-A campaigns, where he’s a lifetime .265/.328/.442 hitter in 1341 PAs.
Minnesota has a good bit of outfield depth on the roster already, and it seems unlikely that Hazelbaker would be called upon to return to the big league level at any point in the near future. To his credit, Hazelbaker does have a solid big league track record, however, despite his poor showing in Triple-A this year. In a small sample of 285 MLB plate appearances, he’s a .258/.327/.500 hitter with 14 homers.