Rays Activate Pete Fairbanks From 15-Day Injured List
The Rays have activated right-hander Pete Fairbanks from the 15-day injured list, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (via X). Right-hander Edwin Uceta has been optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.
Fairbanks will return just short of three weeks after being placed on the IL with an unspecified nerve problem, so it’s good to see the reliever back in action relatively soon after such a vague and possibly ominous diagnosis. As Fairbanks told Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times, it was discovered that he was dealing with nerve entrapment, rather than anything related to his past dealings with Raynaud’s syndrome (a condition that has caused a numb feeling in Fairbanks’ fingertips). With a pair of Triple-A rehab outings now in the books, Fairbanks has been deemed ready to return to the Tampa bullpen.
Traditionally known for a strong relief corps, the Rays’ pen has been a surprising weak link this season. The relievers’ 11.7% walk rate is the highest of any bullpen in the league, and Tampa Bay also ranks 25th of 30 clubs in bullpen strikeout rate (20.7%) and 27th in bullpen ERA (4.76). Getting their first-choice closer back should help the Rays, though Fairbanks was part of the problem over his first eight appearances of the season.
Fairbanks had a 9.00 ERA in seven innings, with almost as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (10). Control has long been something of an issue for Fairbanks, but it didn’t stop him from posting a 2.54 ERA over 138 2/3 innings out of Tampa’s bullpen from 2020-23. Though Fairbanks has a checkered injury history, his results on the mound led the Rays to sign him to a three-year, $12MM contract extension back in January 2023, covering the 2023-25 seasons and with a club option for 2026.
Cubs, Kyle McGowin Agree To Minor League Deal
The Cubs have purchased the contract of right-hander Kyle McGowin from the Atlantic League’s Charleston Dirty Birds, the independent team announced (on X). According to the transaction log at MLB.com, he’s headed to Double-A Tennessee.
McGowin suited up at the MLB level for the Nationals each season between 2018-21. He made a career-high 27 appearances in 2021, pitching to a 4.20 ERA through 30 innings. Washington outrighted him off the 40-man roster at the end of that season. McGowin hasn’t pitched in the majors since then. He spent part of last season in Triple-A with the Astros, struggling to a 7.36 ERA over 62 1/3 frames in the Pacific Coast League.
The 32-year-old made a pair of impressive starts in the Atlantic League. He fanned 11 against one walk over 10 innings of four-run ball. McGowin pitched almost exclusively in relief during his MLB time with the Nats, but he has spent most of his minor league career as a starter. He owns a 5.08 ERA in parts of six Triple-A campaigns and has a managed a 4.34 mark through six years at the Double-A level.
Rangers Sign Chasen Shreve, Peter Solomon To Minor League Deals
The Rangers have signed Chasen Shreve and Peter Solomon to minor league contracts, tweets Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. It seems likely that both pitchers will head to Triple-A Round Rock.
Shreve signed a minor league pact with Texas over the offseason. He was in camp as a non-roster invitee but didn’t make the team after allowing four runs through six innings. Shreve initially accepted an assignment to Round Rock. He made 10 appearances, working 10 1/3 frames of three-run ball, before triggering an opt-out at the start of May. Shreve spent a week exploring the market before circling back to Texas on a new minor league deal.
It’s fairly common for veterans of Shreve’s ilk to opt out of one minor league deal only to re-sign on a similar arrangement. The brief free agent stay at least gave his camp a chance to see if another team was willing to offer an immediate MLB job. It’s possible the new contract also contains another opt-out that wasn’t in the original deal.
Shreve has pitched parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues. He has a 3.97 ERA in 356 innings between seven clubs. The 33-year-old split last year with the Tigers and Reds. Shreve allowed 4.63 earned runs per nine with solid strikeout (23.3%) and walk (7.3%) numbers through 44 2/3 frames.
Solomon, 27, also pitched in the majors as recently as last season. He has far less MLB experience than Shreve, tallying 27 1/3 innings through 11 appearances in long relief. The Notre Dame product is a former fourth-round draftee of the Astros. He debuted with Houston in 2021 and made five appearances for the Diamondbacks early last season. Arizona ran him through outright waivers in June and he reached minor league free agency at year’s end.
The right-hander opened 2024 in independent ball. He signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League, where he started three games. Solomon’s nine runs allowed in 12 2/3 innings isn’t eye-catching, but he ran a 19:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio that evidently impressed the Rangers enough to give him another chance in affiliated ball.
Solomon has a 6.59 ERA with more walks than strikeouts in his abbreviated MLB work. He has pitched parts of three seasons in the Pacific Coast League, allowing a 6.16 ERA in 261 1/3 innings. Solomon has managed a decent 22.1% strikeout rate while working mostly out of the rotation at the top minor league level. He can pitch in the rotation or in long relief at Round Rock.
Taylor Kohlwey Signs With Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks
Outfielder Taylor Kohlwey has signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, per a post on X from Michael Pfaff, the president and CBO of the Ducks.
Kohlwey, 29, had signed a minor league deal with the Mets in the winter. He reported to their Triple-A club but hit a dismal .088/.162/.118 in 37 plate appearances. He was released last week as the Mets signed Mike Brosseau to a minor league deal.
The Padres gave Kohlwey a brief major league debut last year. He got into five games, stepping to the plate 13 times. He was struck out five times with two hits, both singles, and no walks. That leaves him with a current batting line of .154/.154/.154. The Friars non-tendered him after the season, which led to his deal with the Mets.
Prior to his struggles with Syracuse this year, Kohlwey’s results in the minors were strong. Over the 2021-23 seasons, he took 1,572 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. He walked in 12.3% of those while only striking out 17.5% of the time. He hit 31 home runs and produced a combined batting line of .294/.388/.442 for a wRC+ of 110. He also stole 35 bases while playing all three outfield spots and a bit of first base.
His slow start this year bumped him out of affiliated ball, but he’ll head to the Ducks and look to get himself back on track. If he’s able to put a few good weeks together, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him returning to a Triple-A club via a new minor league deal.
Mariners Designate Tyson Miller For Assignment
The Mariners announced that Bryan Woo has been reinstated from the injured list, with fellow righty Tyson Miller designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Miller, 28, signed a minor league deal with the M’s in the offseason and was selected to the big club early in April. He has since thrown 11 2/3 innings over nine appearances with a 3.09 earned run average. He has a 26.7% strikeout rate and 2.2% walk rate. He’s been helped a bit by a .207 batting average on balls in play but his 3.85 FIP and 2.98 SIERA still suggest he’s been pretty good.
That’s a small sample size but it’s still a bit surprising that he’s been bumped off the roster, especially when the Mariners could have optioned someone like Cody Bolton or Eduard Bazardo. For whatever reason, Miller has been bumped off instead. Since he’s out of options, he had to be removed from the 40-man entirely.
The M’s will now have a week to trade Miller or pass him through waivers. The fact that he’s out of options will tamp down interest somewhat, but his decent numbers will be appealing. His 5.91 ERA in his career isn’t especially impressive but that’s in just 42 2/3 innings scattered over a five-year period. Since the start of 2021, he has a 3.85 ERA in 198 2/3 Triple-A innings, striking out 27.7% of batters faced while giving out walks at a 9.7% rate.
Miller has a previous career outright and will therefore have the right to elect free agency if he were to pass through waivers unclaimed.
Brewers Acquire Mitch White From Giants
The Giants have traded right-hander Mitch White, who they designated for assignment earlier this week, to the Brewers for cash considerations. Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com relayed the information on X. Right-hander Corbin Martin was designated for assignment to open a roster spot for White, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on X.
White, 29, was acquired by the Giants from the Blue Jays a few weeks ago in a cash deal. He tossed 5 1/3 innings for San Francisco but allowed seven earned runs in that time. He had also allowed six earned runs in ten innings for the Jays earlier in the year, so he currently has a combined 7.63 earned run average on the year.
He is out of options and can’t be easily sent down to the minors, which is why he has been designated for assignment twice already this year. But despite the rough start to his season, there are reasons for the Brewers to be interested.
He was once a notable prospect with the Dodgers, with Baseball America ranking him one of their 20 best prospects in five straight years starting in 2017. He pitched 105 2/3 innings for the Dodgers from 2020 to 2022 with a 3.58 ERA, 22% strikeout rate and 8.3% walk rate.
But he hit a rough patch after being traded to the Jays in 2022. He had a 7.74 ERA in 43 innings for Toronto late that year. He wasn’t helped by a .368 batting average on balls in play or 54.3% strand rate, as his 3.76 FIP and 4.70 SIERA were far nicer in that time, but he still went into last year out of options and battling for a role.
He spent time on the injured list in 2023 and then posted poor results out of the bullpen for the Jays in 2023, getting outrighted off the roster. But once in Triple-A, he was stretched back out and finished the year strong. His last seven starts resulted in a 1.89 ERA in 33 1/3 innings, striking out 31.4% of batters faced.
The Jays added him back to their roster to keep him from reaching minor league free agency but, as mentioned, his results haven’t been great here in 2024. Still, there’s enough there for the Brewers to take a chance.
Perhaps he will take over a long relief role in the bullpen, as injuries have pushed Bryse Wilson from that job and into the rotation. White still has less than three years of service time and can be cheaply retained into the future if he keeps justifying his roster spot, though it’s also possible he could be designated for assignment for a third time this year.
Martin, 28, was claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks last month. Both clubs kept him in the minors and he has a 7.20 ERA in ten innings between their two Triple-A clubs this year. He has ten strikeouts but 13 walks on the year.
The Brewers will now have a week to trade him or pass him through waivers. Injuries have been a significant problem for Martin. He missed most of 2019 and all of 2020 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Then he required lat tendon surgery last year which prevented him from pitching at all in 2023. Though he was healthy enough to pitch in 2021 and 2022, the results weren’t great, with a 7.28 ERA in the majors and a 6.04 ERA in the minors.
He was once a notable prospect in the Astros’ system, going to Arizona in the Zack Greinke trade. He still can be optioned for the rest of this year and could perhaps attract the interest of another club who felt he could get back on track after shaking off some rust.
Pirates Acquire Daulton Jefferies From Giants
The Pirates have acquired right-hander Daulton Jefferies from the Giants in exchange for outfielder Rodolfo Nolasco, per Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com. Jefferies had been designated for assignment by San Francisco earlier this week. The Pirates later announced the deal, transferring catcher Jason Delay to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man spot for Jefferies.
Jefferies, 28, signed a minor league deal with the Giants in the offseason and was added to their roster in the early days of the season. He has since tossed 4 2/3 innings in the majors, though he allowed nine earned runs in that time. His work in Triple-A this year has been much better, with a 3.44 earned run average in 18 1/3 innings, striking out 22.7% of batters faced while giving out walks jst 6.7% of the time.
The fact that Jefferies is even able to take the mound is a feat in itself. He underwent thoracic outlet surgery in June 2022 before requiring a Tommy John procedure that September. Having those two significant procedures in quick succession prevented him from pitching in any official capacity 2023.
Prior to that injury odyssey, he had thrown 56 1/3 innings for the Athletics over the 2020-22 seasons, with a 5.75 ERA in that time. He once had a bit of prospect hype, particularly after throwing 79 minor league innings in 2019 with a 3.42 ERA, 29.2% strikeout rate and 2.8% walk rate.
But his stock stalled out a bit from there. With the minor leagues being canceled in 2020, he was only able to toss two innings in the majors. He spent most of 2021 in Triple-A with a lackluster 4.91 ERA, then the aforementioned injuries came for him the year after.
Jefferies still has an option left, which makes him appealing as a depth starter. The Bucs have Johan Oviedo and Marco Gonzales on the injured list, the former out for the whole season. Paul Skenes is going to make his debut tomorrow, joining a rotation with Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, Martín Pérez, Bailey Falter and Quinn Priester.
Perhaps Jefferies will take over for Skenes in the Triple-A rotation and try to work his way back to the majors. The Pirates could call upon him due to injury or underperformance from one of their other starters in the months to come, though Jefferies will be out of options next year. He came into 2024 with between one and two years of service time, meaning he could be retained well into the future if he continues to hold onto his roster spot.
He lost his spot on the Giants’ roster when that club promoted Mason Black, but the Giants will now get a non-roster prospect in return. The 22-year-old Nolasco is commended for his power but has concerning strikeout problems. He was punched out 34.2% of the time in Single-A last year but also drew walks at a 16% clip and hit 20 home runs. He moved up to High-A this year and is striking out at a 43.7% rate.
He’s clearly going to be a project for the Giants but one they’ll happily take for a guy that got squeezed off their roster. Baseball America ranked Nolasco the #27 prospect in the Pirates’ system last year, giving his power a 70 grade on the 20-80 scale, though noting that he’ll have trouble getting to that power if he keeps getting punched out so often.
As for Delay, he has been on the 10-day IL since early April. He underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee in the middle of April. It was reported at that time that he would need six weeks before returning to baseball activities. His 60-day clock is retroactive to his initial IL placement, so he can technically be reinstated in early June, though his rehab won’t allow for that.
Cardinals Claim Kolton Ingram From Rangers
The Cardinals have claimed left-hander Kolton Ingram off waivers from the Rangers and sent him to Triple-A Memphis, per John Denton of MLB.com. The Rangers had designated the lefty for assignment earlier this week when they acquired outfielder Robbie Grossman. To open a 40-man spot for Ingram, the Cards transferred right-hander Riley O’Brien to the 60-day injured list.
Ingram, 27, seems to be caught in a spot where he’s just good enough to attract interest around the league but with enough uncertainty that he’s been continually bumped off his roster spot. He spent the past few years with the Angels but was designated for assignment in January when that club signed Aaron Hicks. He has since gone to the Tigers, Mets, Rangers and now Cardinals via waiver claims, making this his fifth club of 2024 already.
Around those transactions, he’s only been able to throw seven Triple-A innings this year with a 5.14 earned run average. But last year, he had a 2.95 ERA in 61 minor league innings, split between Double-A and Triple-A. His 13.3% walk rate was on the high side but he struck out 30.2% of batters faced for the year while also getting ground balls at a roughly average rate. He also made his major league debut with the Angels last year, though was only able to toss 5 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs in that time.
That’s generally been the recipe for him throughout his minor league career. Left-handed relief tends to always be in demand, especially when a guy has a couple of option years and can be kept in the minors for a long time. Ingram doesn’t have perfect control but he has always struck batters out and kept the ball on the ground. The Cards have JoJo Romero, Matthew Liberatore and John King as lefty arms in their big league bullpen but Ingram will give them a bit of extra depth.
As for O’Brien, he was placed on the 15-day IL at the end of March due to a flexor strain in his right forearm. He’s now ineligible to be activated until 60 days from that initial IL placement, which would be the end of May. He hasn’t yet begun a rehab assignment and is likely at least a few weeks away from a return regardless.
Brewers Promote Robert Gasser
May 10: The Brewers have made it official, announced that they have selected Gasser’s contract today. They also recalled right-hander Janson Junk from Triple-A Nashville. In corresponding moves, right-hander Joel Payamps was placed on the bereavement list while righty Tobias Myers was optioned to Nashville. To open a 40-man spot for Gasser, righty JB Bukauskas was transferred to the 60-day IL. Bukauskas has been on the injured list for almost a month due to a lat strain and has not yet begun a rehab assignment.
May 9: The Brewers are expected to promote pitching prospect Robert Gasser to the majors, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The left-hander will be starting tomorrow’s game and making his major league debut. He’s not currently on the 40-man roster, so the Brewers will need to find a way to add him.
Gasser, 25 this month, was selected by the Padres in the 2021 draft. They grabbed him out of the University of Houston in Competitive Balance Round B, with the 71st overall pick. About a year later, he came to the Brewers via the 2022 deadline deal that sent Josh Hader to San Diego.
The Padres had him in High-A at the time of that trade, but the Brewers let him go to Double-A and Triple-A shortly thereafter. He finished 2022 with a combined 3.94 earned run average in 137 innings. He struck out 29.7% of batters faced while giving out walks at a 9% clip.
He spent all of last year with Triple-A Nashville, tossing 135 1/3 innings across 26 outings with a 3.79 ERA. He punched out 28% of the batters who came to the plate while giving out free passes just 8.4% of the time.
The lefty could have been in contention for a rotation spot to start the season but he was sidelined at the end of March due to a bone spur in his left elbow. He didn’t make his first Triple-A start of 2024 until April 24 and he has now taken the ball three times, throwing four frames each time out. He hasn’t been super sharp, with six walks and four homers allowed in his 12 innings, but has struck out 17.
Despite his name, Gasser doesn’t overpower hitters, mostly sitting in the 89-93 miles per hour range with his fastball. But he has a four-seamer, a two-seamer, a cutter, a slider and a changeup, allowing him to keep hitters off balance. Baseball America ranked him the club’s #5 prospect coming into the year while FanGraphs had him at #8 and Keith Law of The Athletic at #7. MLB Pipeline currently has him in the #5 slot.
The Brewers have been dealing with various moving parts in their rotation since late last year. Brandon Woodruff required shoulder surgery and is going to miss most or perhaps all of the 2024 season. Corbin Burnes was traded to the Orioles in the offseason. Since the season started, Wade Miley required Tommy John surgery while DL Hall and Jakob Junis have also landed on the injured list.
On top of those injuries, Freddy Peralta is going miss one turn through the rotation. He was given a five-game suspension for his part in the fracas between the Brewers and Rays about a week ago. He initially appealed that suspension and took the ball against the Cubs on Sunday, before he began serving the suspension on Monday.
Gasser’s promotion might be a temporary one to cover for Peralta. But at least for now, he’ll jump into the rotation next to Bryse Wilson, Colin Rea, Joe Ross and Tobias Myers. Myers has a 6.23 ERA through three starts and could perhaps be sent down instead of Gasser, especially if things go poorly when he takes the ball against the Cardinals tonight.
Even if Gasser does get optioned after just one outing, opportunities could open up later in the year. Ross will likely hit a workload limit at some point since he hardly pitched over the previous two seasons while recovering from his second career Tommy John surgery. More generally, pitchers injuries are fairly inevitable, though Milwaukee should also have Hall and Junis coming off the IL later in the year.
Time will tell how much time Gasser spends in the majors in 2024. But for now, it’s an exciting day for the young southpaw, who will take the ball tomorrow at American Family Field against the division-rival Cardinals.
Astros Claim Alex Speas, Designate Corey Julks
The Astros have claimed right-hander Alex Speas off waivers from the Athletics, per an announcement from the A’s. Oakland had designated him for assignment earlier this week. The Astros opened a roster spot by designating outfielder Corey Julks for assignment, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Speas has been optioned to Triple-A already.
Speas, 26, is capable of getting into triple-digit territory with his fastball. However, as if often the case for pitchers with that kind of power, controlling it has been an issue. He started last year at the Double-A level in the Rangers’ system. He tossed 28 1/3 innings at that level with a walk rate of 11.3%, but was able to work around that by striking out 40.9% of batters faced, leading to an earned run average of 0.64.
Moving up to the higher levels, he found it more challenging to overcome the lack of control. He tossed another 28 1/3 innings at Triple-A, but walked 19.2% of batters faced. His 29.2% strikeout rate was still strong but his ERA was 5.08. He also tossed two innings in the majors, striking out four batters but walking five.
He was nudged off the Texas roster in September of last year and has bounced around a bit since then. The White Sox claimed him off waivers in early October last year but designated him for assignment in early April. He was claimed by the A’s and is now changing clubs via waivers yet again.
Between the Sox and the A’s, he’s thrown 12 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level this year. He has struck out 17 opponents but walked nine, leading to rates of 26.6% and 14.4%, respectively. Those free baserunners have led to him being burned by four home runs, which is why he has a 12.08 ERA so far this year.
Despite the rough results so far in 2024, the Astros are taking a bet on the stuff. In addition to averaging 98.9 miles per hour on his fastball during his brief MLB debut last year, Statcast also lists a 91.9 mph cutter and 87.7 mph sweeper as pitches he threw for the Rangers. He still has a couple of options, so the Astros can keep him in the minors to see if he gets a better handle on that arsenal in the future.
In order to take a chance on Speas, the Astros are risking losing Julks. The 2018 eighth-rounder had a strong season at Triple-A in 2022, hitting 31 home runs and stealing 22 bases. His .270/.351/.503 batting line translated to a wRC+ of 108 in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
He cracked Houston’s Opening Day roster last year but didn’t immediately thrive in the majors and ended up back in the minors a couple of times. He finished the year with a .245/.297/.352 line in 93 big league games, translating to a wRC+ of 80. He still performed well in Sugar Land, drawing walks in 18.6% of his plate appearances and slashing .240/.388/.462 for a 110 wRC+.
Here in 2024, he was sent back to the Space Cowboys and has taken a slight step back. His 12.8% walk rate is still good but an obvious drop from last year. He currently has a .266/.358/.444 line and 97 wRC+ for the year.
Julks clearly has some skills but is now 28 years old and the Astros have a decent crop of outfielders ahead of him. Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez, Chas McCormick, Jake Meyers, Mauricio Dubon, Joey Loperfido and Trey Cabbage are each on the 40-man and all are on the active roster except for the injured McCormick.
The Astros will now have a week to trade Julks or pass him through waivers. Given his strong numbers on the farm and two remaining option years, it’s possible he will garner interest from clubs looking for more outfield depth.