Brewers Sign Trent Clark
JUNE 15: Clark has just put pen to paper on a contract, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reports on Twitter. He will receive a bonus of $2.7MM, landing about $7,300 over slot, Jim Callis of MLB.com tweets.
JUNE 11: The Brewers are “99 percent of the way” to a deal with first-round pick Trent Clark, scouting director Ray Montgomery tells MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. The deal will award Clark a bonus that will land “slightly above” the pick’s slot value.
Clark, chosen 15th overall, recently wrapped up his senior season at Richland High School in Texas. The left-handed-swinging youngster previously committed to play collegiately at Texas Tech.
Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs ranked Clark as the seventh-best player available, calling him the “best pure hitter in the draft” and explaining that he could potentially both stick in center and learn to harness his good raw power. Other pundits agreed that Milwaukee did well to land Clark where they did, with ESPN.com’s Keith Law and Baseball America rating him the 10th overall draft prospect. Law is among those who believe Clark may need to shift to the corner outfield, where he’d obviously have less ultimate upside, though he does not figure to be reliant on the glove to have value.
BA also graded Clark with plus speed, making for an impressive overall tool set. If there is an offensive critique, it involves Clark’s unconventional grip and swing, as MLB.com noted in placing him in the 12th spot on its board, though his track record is extensive enough that it doesn’t appear to be much of an issue. Indeed, Montgomery had high praise for the team’s biggest new addition, calling Clark “a prodigal hitter.”
It appears that a physical is the only real hurdle left in finalizing agreement, with sources telling McCalvy that only minor details remained to be ironed out.
Pirates Sign First-Rounder Kevin Newman
5:49pm: The exact bonus is $2.175MM, MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo tweets.
4:03pm: MLB.com’s Adam Berry reports that Newman’s bonus is less than $100K below slot value (Twitter link).
JUNE 15, 2:17pm: The Pirates have officially announced the signing of Newman.
JUNE 14: The Pirates have reached an agreement to sign first-round draft pick Kevin Newman, SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo reports (Twitter link), to a contract worth close to the $2.273MM slot value tied to the 19th overall pick (slot info courtesy of Baseball America). An official announcement from the team should come tomorrow, per Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter), probably once Newman passes his physical.
Newman, 21, is a shortstop from the University of Arizona. ESPN’s Keith Law rated Newman as the second-best prospect in the draft on his board, describing him as “a surefire shortstop with tremendous feel to hit.” Other draft outlets weren’t quite as bullish, as Newman was ranked 20th on Fangraphs’ list and 29th by both MLB.com and Baseball America. While Newman’s contact-hitting approach at the plate is noted at all, his ability to generate much power is still a question mark. His long-term future at short is also up for debate; some observers (like Law) feel Newman can handle the position at the MLB level, while others have mixed feelings about his range and arm strength.
Red Sox Designate Jeff Bianchi For Assignment
The Red Sox have designated infielder Jeff Bianchi for assignment, reports Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal (Twitter link). The move allows the team to recall lefty Robbie Ross Jr. from Triple-A Pawtucket, he notes.
Bianchi’s second stint in Boston this year has ended like his first. After hitting DFA limbo, being outrighted, and electing free agency last month, Bianchi re-signed with Boston on a major league deal that took him straight to the active roster.
Despite all the transactional action, Bianchi has seen just two plate appearances in three games for the Red Sox this season. Indeed, the 28-year-old has not played much at all this year, due mostly to the multiple moves that have taken place. Over 61 turns at bat for Triple-A Pawtucket, he owns a .302/.373/.340 slash.
Astros Sign First-Rounder Kyle Tucker
The Astros announced today that they have signed No. 5 overall selection Kyle Tucker. Terms of the bonus weren’t disclosed by the team, but MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo reports (via Twitter) that Tucker will receive a $4MM signing bonus, which is about $189K below the assigned slot value (Baseball America link). Tucker was advised by and is now a client of Excel Sports Management.
Tucker, a high school outfielder from Florida, is the younger brother of current Astros outfielder Preston Tucker. More importantly to the Astros, however, is that he was widely believed to be one of the 10 best players in this year’s draft. Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs ranked Tucker fourth among draft prospects, while Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis of MLB.com ranked him seventh. Both Baseball America and ESPN’s Keith Law ranked Tucker as the eighth-best prospect in this year’s draft class.
McDaniel calls the younger Tucker a “way better prospect” than his older brother, praising his raw power as his best tool. Callis and Mayo agree, adding that Tucker should have average-or-better tools across the board and should eventually hit for both average and power. BA feels that he can hit for power to all fields (though the scouting report does note that his pull power outweighs his power to other fields), noting that he has a chance to stick in center field but the arm for right field should a move be necessary. Law seems to think he’ll move to a corner, where he feels Tucker to be capable of above-average defense.
“Kyle Tucker was one of the premier bats of this year’s draft class and has the ability to hit in the heart of our lineup in the future,” said Astros scouting director Mike Elias in today’s press release. “He’s a tall, strong left-handed hitter with a great swing, a track record of success and plus power to both fields. He also runs well and is a polished outfielder. We’re especially pleased to welcome him to our organization and we look forward to him playing alongside his older brother Preston in the Major Leagues.”
Tucker is one of two Top 5 picks the Astros had in 2015. The fifth overall pick was Houston’s natural pick in the draft, while the No. 2 overall pick (which the team used on LSU shortstop Alex Bregman) was compensation for not signing left-hander Brady Aiken after last year’s draft. Tucker, Bregman and No. 37 overall selection Daz Cameron were all regarded as Top 12 talents by the four lists linked above, giving Houston quite a haul with its top three picks. The $189K saved on Tucker’s bonus could help the team sign Cameron, who slipped to the 37th pick due to signability issues and will certainly require a bonus that is well above-slot in order to break his commitment to Florida State.
Mets Designate Dillon Gee For Assignment
2:51pm: The Mets have now confirmed that Gee has been designated, tweets MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.
2:30pm: The Mets will designate right-hander Dillon Gee for assignment today, reports ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin (via Twitter).
Gee’s name has been bandied about in trade rumors for the better part of the past nine months, as the Mets possess a number of promising young arms that are projected to have higher ceilings. Nonetheless, he’s been a very serviceable back-of-the-rotation starter for the Mets over the past few seasons, so it’s possible that the team was a ways down the road in trade negotiations pertaining to Gee already and simply opted to designate him for assignment now in order to free up a 40-man roster spot. Gee started yesterday, so his spot on the roster wasn’t going to yield any innings in the next few days anyhow.
For a team in need of a stabilizing force at the back of the rotation, rolling the dice on a rebound for Gee would certainly make some sense. From 2010-14, Gee notched a 3.91 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 639 2/3 innings, and he’s typically posted a ground-ball rate near or above the league average (career 46 percent). Of his $5.3MM salary, about $3.24MM is left on the hook. I’d imagine that a team would prefer the Mets to take on some, if not most of that in a trade.
Track record aside, Gee has struggled to a 5.90 ERA in 39 2/3 innings for the Mets this season, though much of the damage came in an eight-run bludgeoning at the hands of the Braves yesterday. Gee has also missed time this year with a groin strain and spent nearly two months on the DL in 2014 with a strained lat muscle. His 2015 struggles, along with the injuries and his salary have presumably diminished his trade value since Opening Day.
If the team is unable to trade Gee, he could be sent outright to Triple-A upon clearing waivers. There’s a chance that some team would claim him, though the remaining $3.24MM on his deal lessens the chance of that outcome. Were he to clear waivers, he’d head to Triple-A Las Vegas..
Rays Sign Grady Sizemore To Minors Deal
The Rays announced today that they have signed veteran outfielder Grady Sizemore to a minor league contract (h/t: Matt Stein of Sports Talk Florida, on Twitter). Sizemore, who was recently released by the Phillies, will report to the team’s facility in Port Charlotte to begin workouts.
Sizemore, a CAA client, struggled through 104 plate appearances with the Phillies this season, hitting just .245/.288/.296. Back and knee injuries have taken their toll on what at one point was one of the most promising careers in baseball. From 2005-09, Sizemore hit .276/.368/.488 and averaged 28 homers and 28 steals per 162 games. Paired with outstanding value both in center field and on the basepaths, he was one of the game’s brightest young stars.
Now, he’ll hope to rejuvenate his career with the Rays, though for the time being, it’s tough to see a way for him to crack the 25-man roster. David DeJesus, Kevin Kiermaier, Steven Souza and Brandon Guyer are the team’s big league outfield options, and each is performing relatively well on the year. Additionally, Sizemore’s injury history likely limits him to the outfield corners at this point, further complicating his road to the Majors with Tampa. However, he does give the team some depth following Desmond Jennings‘ knee surgery. Should another Tampa outfielder go down, Sizemore could be a theoretical option for the team as its injured players mend.
Padres Fire Bud Black
The Padres announced that they have relieved manager Bud Black of his duties. The team will begin a formal search for an interim manager to play out the remainder of the 2015 season immediately, per a Padres press release. Until that search is concluded, bench coach Dave Roberts will serve as the club’s manager.
Black’s nine years as manager of the Padres have helped to make him one of baseball’s most respected skippers. The move has been speculated upon in the past, but it still comes as somewhat of a shock to see it actually executed. In 1362 career games as a manager, all with San Diego, Black has totaled a record of 649-713 despite routinely having to work with one of baseball’s lowest payrolls. A pitching coach prior to his work as a manager, he’s drawn praise for his work with many of the Padres’ young arms over the course of his career in the dugout.
The 32-33 Padres have yet to fully live up to expectations, although it’s tough to pin those struggles on Black. San Diego entered the season with the combination of Alexi Amarista and Clint Barmes to handle the team’s shortstop woes, and the outfield defense was questioned from the moment that it was announced the team would field an outfield of Justin Upton, Wil Myers and Matt Kemp. The team also possesses few quality left-handed bats, leaving it somewhat vulnerable to strong right-handed pitching.
Mets Outright Kirk Nieuwenhuis
The Mets announced today that they have outrighted Kirk Nieuwenhuis to Triple-A Las Vegas, thereby removing him from the 40-man roster (Twitter link). The transaction comes just days after the team had re-claimed the 27-year-old off waivers from the Angels, suggesting that the Mets value Nieuwenhuis as organizational depth but prefer not to spend a 40-man roster spot on him at this time.
ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin noted at the time the Mets re-claimed Nieuwenhuis that he suspected they’d try to get him through waivers because of a need to open roster spots for the injured Dillon Gee, Daniel Murphy and David Wright in the near future. Gee has since been activated, while Murphy reportedly could return this coming weekend and Wright may be back at the All-Star break.
Nieuwenhuis has been a productive bench option/fourth outfielder for the Mets in recent years, carrying a career .241/.315/.393 batting line into this season. That roughly league-average production, paired with modest speed and the ability to play all three outfield spots, does seem to indicate that he can be a useful role player for a club. However, in 64 plate appearances this season, Nieuwenhuis has batted just .100/.156/.167.
Mariners Agree To Over-Slot Deal With Nick Neidert
The Mariners and second-round pick Nick Neidert have agreed to an over-slot bonus of $1.2MM, reports MLB.com’s Jim Callis (via Twitter). Per Baseball America, the slot value of Neidert’s No. 60 overall selection was $1.026MM.
A high school right-hander out of Georgia, Neidert was the 48th-best prospect in this year’s draft in the estimation of ESPN’s Keith Law. Baseball America ranked him 55th overall, and both Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs and MLB.com’s duo of Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo ranked Neidert 80th among draft prospects.
As Callis notes in his tweet, Neidert’s fastball has been clocked as high as 96 mph, and he has an advanced changeup for his age. Though BA is optimistic with its overall ranking, their scouting report notes questions pertaining to Neidert’s size (6’1″, 185 pounds). BA does praises Neidert’s ability to fill the strike zone but cautions against his current lack of an out pitch. Both BA and MLB.com note that he’d be better served to throw a slider than a curve due to his arm slot. McDaniel feels that Neidert could eventually end up with a 60-grade fastball and a 55 changeup in addition to a 50 breaking ball (grades on the 20-80 scale), which one would think to be enough for him to stick in the rotation. ESPN does add that some scouts view Neidert as a future reliever, primarily due to questions about his size and durability.
The Mariners likely aren’t overly concerned about Neidert’s ability to stick in a rotation, given the over-slot agreement and the fact that the team used its first pick in this year’s draft on him. Seattle’s first-round pick was forfeited in the offseason when the team signed Nelson Cruz, who had rejected a qualifying offer from the Orioles. It shouldn’t be too difficult for the Mariners to find the necessary savings to accommodate Neidert’s bonus, as his deal is not significantly over slot. In fact, the team already saved about $52K on No. 72 overall selection Andrew Moore, who agreed to an $800K bonus last week.
Cubs, First-Rounder Ian Happ Agree To Terms
The Cubs and first-round pick Ian Happ have agreed to terms on a $3MM bonus, reports MLB.com’s Jim Callis (via Twitter). That bonus represents a savings of $351K for the Cubs in relation to the No. 9 selection’s slot value (per Baseball America).
An outfielder/second baseman out of Cincinnati, Happ was a consensus Top 25 talent in this year’s draft. ESPN’s Keith Law saw Happ the most favorably, ranking him seventh on his Top 100 list. Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs also had Happ in his Top 10, ranking him ninth. Callis and Jonathan Mayo pegged him at No. 20 on their Top 200, and Happ ranked 24th on Baseball America’s Top 500.
There’s some debate as to whether Happ’s eventual home will be in the outfield grass or on the infield dirt, which likely contributed to the slight gap in the listed rankings. Law calls second base Happ’s likely position, and McDaniel, too, notes that he has the potential to play there. The MLB.com and BA scouting reports note that a corner outfield spot — likely left, due to lack of arm strength — is a likelier outcome, so it’s not a surprise to see him rank a bit further down those lists.
Happ’s bat seems to generate fewer question marks, as all four agree that he’s one of the most advanced hitters in this year’s class. ESPN notes that the switch-hitter has a better swing from the left side and has shown the ability to hit for power. BA notes that he has “excellent” bat speed from both sides of the plate, projecting as a plus hitter with average power. Happ’s also said to be a solid to above-average runner. McDaniel feels he can have four average-or-better tools on the 20-80 scouting scale, while MLB.com feels all five can be average or better.
Happ will add to the continually proliferating stable of premium young hitters in the Cubs’ minor league system. Though the team has already seen the likes of Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler and Addison Russell emerge to lock down regular spots around the diamond, other names such as Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara, Albert Almora, Billy McKinney and Gleyber Torres are still working toward that same goal (though of course each comes with varying timelines).