Tigers Release Heath Hembree, Trevor Rosenthal
The Tigers released right-handers Heath Hembree and Trevor Rosenthal, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News (Twitter link). Rosenthal signed a minor league contract with Detroit in March, while Hembree inked a minors deal of his own in May.
Neither player saw any action for the Tigers this season at the big league level, in large part due to injury. Hembree made only six appearances (pitching six innings) with Triple-A Toledo, after spending more than a month on the injured list — Toledo just activated him from the IL on Friday. As for Rosenthal, he tossed three minor innings before undergoing elbow surgery in mid-June.
This elbow procedure is the latest in a series of injuries that has plagued Rosenthal’s career for well over five seasons. Since the start of the 2018 campaign, Rosenthal has thrown only 39 innings in the majors, due to such varied injuries as a Tommy John surgery, thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, and a hip surgery. The nature of this latest elbow surgery isn’t known, but it is fair to wonder if it could be one setback too many for Rosenthal, and whether or not he might be considering retirement at age 33.
Hembree signed a minors deal with the Rays during the offseason and pitched in one game for Tampa before being designated for assignment. The 11-year veteran had enough service time to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency, which led to his signing with the Tigers. Best known for his seven seasons with the Red Sox from 2014-2020, Hembree has since pitched for a whopping seven different teams, appearing at the MLB level with all of those clubs except Detroit.
Angels Place Brandon Drury On 10-Day Injured List
The Angels placed Brandon Drury on the 10-day injured list today, as the veteran is suffering from a left shoulder contusion. Drury’s placement is retroactive to June 30. The Angels called up infielder Andrew Velazquez to take Drury’s spot on the roster, and the club also announced that Jake Lamb (who was designated for assignment earlier this week) has been released.
Drury hasn’t played since Thursday, when he hurt his shoulder diving for a ball in Anaheim’s 9-7 loss to the White Sox. The IL placement seems to be largely precautionary in nature, and Drury told The Athletic’s Sam Blum and other reporters that he expects to be activated when first eligible, which is the Angels’ first game after the All-Star break.
While it doesn’t look like Drury will miss much time, his shoulder issue represents yet another injury for an Angels infielder. The team recently acquired Eduardo Escobar and Mike Moustakas in trades to add some infield depth, but even while a couple of previously injured players have since returned, the IL’s revolving door has now continued with Drury’s placement. Drury joins Gio Urshela (whose season might be over due to a pelvic fracture) and Zach Neto on the IL, though Neto’s return from an oblique strain might also come once the All-Star break is over, as Blum reports that Neto has been engaging in baseball activities.
After signing a two-year, $17MM free agent deal with the Angels during the offseason, Drury’s first season in a Halos uniform has been a success to date. The 30-year-old is hitting .277/.322/.500 with 14 homers over 307 plate appearances, translating to a solid 123 wRC+. With a .333 BABIP and below-average strikeout and walk rates, there might be some regression in store for Drury in the second half, but the Angels are certainly hoping he can continue being a key bat in their lineup, and a regular at both first and second base.
Mariners Claim Mark Mathias From Pirates
The Mariners claimed infielder Mark Mathias off waivers from the Pirates today, per a club announcement. Mathias had previously been designated for assignment by Pittsburgh in order to make room for recently-acquired right-hander Andre Jackson on the 40-man roster. A corresponding move wasn’t necessary, as the club’s 40-man roster had an empty spot after the club designated Chris Flexen for assignment last week.
Mathias, 28, was a third-round pick by Cleveland in the 2015 draft. He made his major league debut with the Brewers during the shortened 2020 campaign, appearing in 16 games while playing first base, second base, and all three outfield spots. He spent the entire 2021 season on the shelf with a torn labrum before being traded to the Rangers at the 2022 Trade Deadline in the deal that sent right-hander Matt Bush to Milwuakee.
Mathias hit well in 24 games with the Rangers, slashing .277/.365/.554 in 74 plate appearances while splitting time between the infield and outfield corners. Prior to the 2023 campaign, Mathias was designated for assignment to make room for left-hander Will Smith on the Rangers’ 40-man roster. He was shipped to the Pirates shortly thereafter, where he slashed .231/.355/.269 in 24 games while primarily playing second base prior to his DFA.
Going forward, Mathias figures to join the likes of Sam Haggerty, Taylor Trammell, and Cooper Hummell as depth options in Triple-A behind the big league bench of AJ Pollock, Dylan Moore, Jose Caballero, and Tom Murphy.
White Sox Place Michael Kopech On 15-Day IL, Select Bryan Shaw
The White Sox announced a series of roster moves this afternoon. The club placed right-hander Michael Kopech on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. To fill Kopech’s spot on the active roster, Chicago selected the contract of right-hander Bryan Shaw. To clear space for Shaw on the 40-man roster, infielder Romy Gonzalez was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Kopech, 27, was a first-round pick by the Red Sox in the 2014 draft and came over to the White Sox in the Chris Sale trade prior to the 2017 season. Kopech had a brief cup of coffee in the majors in 2018 that lasted four starts, but became a more permanent fixture of Chicago’s pitching staff in 2021 as a member of the bullpen, where he posted a 3.50 ERA and 2.97 FIP in 69 1/3 innings. 2022 saw the right-hander move to the rotation.
Since then, Kopech’s performance has been solid if unspectacular. In 205 1/3 innings of work across 41 starts, the young hurler has posted a 3.77 ERA and 4.95 FIP. He’s posted a solid 23.3% strikeout rate during that time though his 12.2% walk rate leaves something to be desired, particularly when paired with a groundball rate of just 35.6%. Still, he’s provided solid stability at the back of the club’s rotation. With Kopech joining Mike Clevinger on the shelf, the Sox figure to rely on Tanner Banks and Jesse Scholtens to handle starts in the run-up to the All Star break.
As for Shaw, the veteran hurler was a second-round pick by the Diamondbacks in the 2008 draft and was a steady relief option for Arizona and Cleveland from 2011-17, with a 3.13 ERA and 3.52 FIP in 446 1/3 innings of work. In five seasons since then, Shaw has been far less effective, with a 5.23 ERA in 268 1/3 innings of work. He signed with the White Sox on a minor league deal back in April and has delivered a solid 4.03 ERA in 22 1/3 innings of work at the Triple-A level since then. Now, Shaw will join the club’s bullpen mix, covering the middle innings alongside the likes of Gregory Santos and Aaron Bummer.
Gonzalez, meanwhile, heads to the 60-day IL a few weeks after being placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, a designation that will keep him out until late August at the earliest. The utility man hit a paltry .194/.208/.376 in 97 plate appearances for the Sox this season prior to his placement on the IL.
Rockies Select Fernando Abad
The Rockies announced today that they’ve selected the contract of left-hander Fernando Abad. In corresponding moves, right-hander Peter Lambert was optioned to Triple-A while shortstop Connor Kaiser was designated for assignment.
Abad, 37, made his MLB debut with the Astros back in 2010. The veteran journeyman pitched also pitched for the Nationals, A’s, Twins, Red Sox, Giants, and Orioles throughout his career before landing in Colorado on a minor league deal back in January. Abad was selected to the roster back in May and made three appearances with the Rockies before being designated for assignment and re-signing with the club on a new minor league deal shortly thereafter.
The veteran sports a career 3.82 ERA and 4.31 FIP in 351 innings of work, though most of that success came from 2010-17. Since the end of the 2017 season, Abad has recorded just 33 1/3 innings of work at the big league level with a 5.40 ERA and 5.09 FIP. The lefty has posted impressive numbers with Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, however, with a sterling 1.40 ERA in 25 2/3 innings of work. Those run prevention numbers are especially impressive considering the heightened offensive environment in Triple-A’s Pacific Coast League.
Going forward, Abad will look to re-establish himself at the big league level with the Rockies as part of a bullpen that currently contains Daniel Bard, Brad Hand, Justin Lawrence, and Pierce Johnson as late-inning options. Abad joins Hand and Ty Blach as left-handed options in the bullpen for manager Bud Black.
Making room for Abad on the 40-man roster is shortstop Connor Kaiser, who appeared in just three games with the Rockies when selected to the roster back in June while Ezequiel Tovar was on the paternity list. A third round pick by the Pirates in the 2018 draft, Kaiser posted a roughly league average slash line of .263/.357/.485 in 224 plate appearances at the Triple-A level with the Rockies this season. Still just 26 years old, Kaiser seems likely to be placed on waivers, where any club will have the opportunity to claim him. Should he go unclaimed, the Rockies will have the option to assign Kaiser outright to the minors where he would continue to serve as infield depth for the club.
Clearing space on the active roster, on the other hand, is Lambert. The 26-year-old righty was a second round pick by the Brewers in the 2015 drat and once seemed like a promising prospect, but injuries and ineffectiveness have dogged him in recent years. In 2023, Lambert has posted a 6.29 ERA and a 5.99 FIP in 34 1/3 innings of work at the big league level. As noted by MLB.com’s Thomas Harding, Lambert is expected to pitch out of the rotation in Triple-A, providing the club with additional starting depth going forward.
Marlins Select Jeff Lindgren
The Marlins have selected the contract of right-hander Jeff Lindgren and optioned fellow righty George Soriano to Triple-A, as noted by Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. Lindgren takes the 40-man roster spot opened up by the club’s decision to designate veteran reliever Archie Bradley for assignment yesterday. Miami’s 40-man is now at capacity.
Lindgren, 26, made his MLB debut with the Marlins earlier this season. The righty allowed four runs on four hits and three walks over five innings without recording a strikeout in a five-inning relief appearance back in April. Since then, he was designated for assignment, selected back onto the roster, and then designated for assignment again without making an additional appearance. While Lindgren had the option to test free agency after being outrighted for a second time, he opted to stick in the Marlins organization. In 61 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level this season, Lindgren has posted a 4.55 ERA. McPherson indicates that Lindgren will be a long man out of the bullpen for the Marlins going forward.
As for Soriano, the 24-year-old hurler sports an impressive 1.98 ERA over 13 2/3 innings since making his MLB debut with the Marlins back in April. After providing 3 2/3 scoreless innings of work against the Braves yesterday, Soriano heads back to Triple-A, though the righty hasn’t been able to replicate his success at the big league level in the minors this season. In 25 1/3 innings with the club’s affiliate in Jacksonville, Soriano has posted a 5.33 ERA. He’ll look to improve those results while waiting for his next big league opportunity.
AL Central Notes: Twins, McKenzie, Tigers
Twins infielder Royce Lewis saw his career-long injury woes continue during yesterday’s game against the Orioles. The 24 year old suffered a strained left oblique while attempting to beat out a groundball. Lewis has played well in the big leagues when healthy, pairing a career 136 wRC+ in 140 plate appearances with strong defense on the left side of the infield for Minnesota. Unfortunately, staying healthy has proved to be a considerable challenge for the youngster, who’s played a total of just 82 games between the major and minor leagues since the end of the 2019 campaign. Per a club announcement, Lewis is headed to the 10-day injured list, though Phil Miller of the Star Tribune notes the club is hopeful he’ll only require a minimum stay on the shelf.
Replacing Lewis on the roster is Jose Miranda, the Twins’ Opening Day third baseman. After a solid rookie season in 2022 where he hit .268/.325/.426 in 483 plate appearances, Miranda scuffled through the first 35 games of his sophomore season. A brutal .220/.275/.318 slash line in 142 plate appearances was enough for Minnesota to demote Miranda to Triple-A, where the results (including a .686 OPS in 39 games) haven’t been much better. That being said, the 25 year old has begun to hit better in recent weeks, with a .300/.370/.456 slash line, a 10% walk rate and a 16% strikeout rate over his last 100 plate appearances. If Miranda has successfully recaptured the offensive form he flashed during his rookie season, he should help to boost a Twins offense that ranks just 18th in MLB with a wRC+ of 98.
More from around the AL Central…
- Guardians right-hander Triston McKenzie has been shut down from throwing since mid-June with a UCL sprain, but the club is still gathering information regarding their young starter before deciding on how to move forward, as manager Terry Francona told reporters (including Joe Noga of Cleveland.com). Francona suggests that an update on McKenzie’s status could come within the next few days now that the righty has received second opinions from Dr. Neal ElAttrache and Dr. Keith Meister. Any diagnosis involving the UCL- the ligament repaired during Tommy John surgery- is obviously a worrisome diagnosis, so it’s no surprise that the club is proceeding with care. McKenzie broke out in a big way for Cleveland last season, posting a 2.96 ERA in 191 1/3 innings of work, but has managed just two starts this season between his current injury and a strained teres major muscle he suffered during spring training.
- The Tigers are expected to welcome left-handers Tarik Skubal and Eduardo Rodriguez back into the rotation this coming week. Manager A.J. Hinch told reporters, including Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, that the club has Skubal starting on Tuesday and Rodriguez starting Wednesday written down “in pencil”, with a final evaluation of both hurlers required before they return to a major league mound. It’s great news for Detroit, as Rodriguez as been among the best starters in the sport this season; the veteran lefty’s 2.13 ERA across 11 starts this season is the lowest of any pitcher in the majors with at least 60 innings pitched this season. Skubal could provide the club a boost in his own right, as the lefty broke out last year with a 3.52 ERA and 2.96 FIP in 117 2/3 innings of work before he underwent season-ending surgery in August.
Jahmai Jones Opts Out Of Minors Deal With Dodgers
Infielder Jahmai Jones has opted out of minor league deal with the Dodgers and been released by the club, according to Oklahoma City Dodgers communications director Alex Freedman on Twitter.
Jones, 25, was a consensus top-100 prospect in the sport back in 2018, though he fell off prospect lists after struggling to a .176/.228/.216 slash line over his first 79 plate appearances at the big league level. Originally drafted by the Angels in the second round of the 2015 draft, Jones made a brief debut with the club during the shortened 2020 campaign before he was swapped to Baltimore in the trade that sent Alex Cobb to Anaheim. He struggled in a cup of coffee with the Orioles during 2021 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2022, a procedure that was shortly followed by the Orioles designating Jones for assignment.
Jones then latched on with the Dodgers on a two-year minor league deal in August, a move that allowed the young infielder to rehab with the club and gave LA a former top prospect who could serve as infield depth at the Triple-A level in 2023. Following his return to professional games, Jones posted excellent numbers in 62 games at the Triple-A level this season. He slashed .292/.427/.524 with a 17.5% walk rate against a 20.9% strikeout rate, production good for a well above average 134 wRC+ even in the heightened offensive environment of Triple-A’s Pacific Coast League.
Despite that performance from Jones and a need in the infield at various points this season, the Dodgers have opted to give youngsters like Miguel Vargas, Michael Busch, and Yonny Hernandez looks on the club’s roster rather than clear space on the 40-man roster for Jones. Given this, it’s hardly a surprise Jones decided to exercise his opt-out clause and test free agency.
Going forward, Jones seems likely to attract considerable interest given his strong 2023 numbers, youth, and former top prospect status. Jones has almost exclusively played second base to this point in the season, but also has experience at third base and in all three outfield spots throughout his minor league career, meaning he could serve as useful position player depth for virtually any club at the Triple-A level.
Jordan Holloway Opts Out Of Minors Deal With Cubs
Right-hander Jordan Holloway is returning to the open market after exercising an opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the Cubs today, MLBTR has learned.
Holloway, 27, made his MLB debut during the shortened 2020 campaign, though he recorded just one out for the Marlins that season. Holloway returned to the majors for a longer audition in 2021, pitching to a 4.00 ERA that was slightly above average by measure of ERA+ (106) and a 4.42 FIP in 36 innings of work. In 2022, Holloway spent much of the season on the injured list and ultimately only appeared in a single game for the Marlins, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over 2 2/3 innings of work while striking out two.
In all, Holloway sports a solid 22% strikeout rate but a concerning 16.2% walk rate in his 39 big league innings of work. Holloway’s issues with the free pass have persisted in his time in the Cubs organization, as the right-hander has posted a 20.6% walk rate in 12 1/3 innings split between the High-A and Triple-A levels this season. Those struggles with control have contributed to his unsightly 6.57 ERA, though his excellent 38.1% strikeout rate is sure to be tempting for potential suitors as Holloway returns to the open market.
Holloway’s exit is a hit to Chicago’s bullpen depth, which had already been tested by recent surgeries for right-hander Codi Heuer and left-hander Brandon Hughes. The Cubs’ 4.05 bullpen ERA as a team this season ranks roughly middle of the pack (7th in the NL, 19th in MLB) as they’ve struggled to find consistent arms to surround a solid nucleus of Adbert Alzolay, Mark Leiter Jr. and Julian Merryweather. Keegan Thompson and Jeremiah Estrada are among the options available to the Cubs in the upper minors who are currently on the 40-man roster, with the likes of Tyler Duffey and Rowan Wick available as options who would need to be selected to the roster.
Rays Place Shane McClanahan On 15-Day IL
The Rays have placed left-handed ace Shane McClanahan on the 15-day injured list with mid-back tightness, per a club announcement. In a corresponding move, the club has recalled left-hander Jalen Beeks. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times notes that the move comes after McClanahan reported tightness following a second consecutive shortened start.
McClanahan, 26, sports a sterling 2.53 ERA through 17 starts this season even after the aforementioned two shortened outings during which he allowed a combined six runs over 6 2/3 innings of work. He’s been key to the Rays’ success so far this season, helping lift the club to an MLB-best 57-28 record even as a 3.85 FIP and sky-high 88% strand rate indicate regression could be on the horizon for the young lefty.
While any missed time is certainly a blow to Tampa given McClanahan’s dominant performance in the first half this season, Topkin notes that the lefty ace could miss just one start thanks to the coming All Star break so long as his current injury requires only a minimal stay on the shelf. McClanahan himself seemed confident the issue was relative minor in conversation with reporters Friday, framing the impending trip to the IL as a decision geared toward preparing him for the second half.
“We’ve got a lot of ballgames left to play and an IL stint in early July, missing one start, is not the end of the world,” McClanahan told reporters, including Topkin. “With a lot of meaningful games, hopefully in October, I want to make sure we correct it now.”
Replacing McClanahan on the active roster is Beeks, who struggled for the club earlier this season. In 25 games (including seven starts as an opener), Beeks posted a rough 5.87 ERA, 30% below league average by measure of ERA+. While a 3.57 xERA and a 4.37 FIP indicate Beeks may have pitched a bit better than those results indicate, the 29-year-old hurler is hardly a replacement for McClanahan nonetheless. The Rays figure to lean on a four-man rotation of Tyler Glasnow, Zach Eflin, Taj Bradley, and Yonny Chirinos in the run-up to the midsummer classic later this month.
With the trade deadline just a month away, McClanahan joining Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen on the shelf in Tampa highlights the club’s need for pitching. It’s an issue that GM Peter Bendix recently addressed during a conversation with the media that saw him indicate the club’s front office would be doing “everything [they] can” to bolster the roster in the coming weeks as they attempt to capture the first World Series title in franchise history.