Nationals Designate Jimmy Cordero For Assignment
The Nationals announced a trio of roster moves, including the news that right-hander Jimmy Cordero has been designated for assignment. The club’s previously-reported signing of outfielder Gerardo Parra was also made official, while outfielder Andrew Stevenson has been sent to the 10-day IL due to back spasms to create room for Parra on the 25-man roster. Cordero’s designation creates a 40-man spot for Parra.
The 27-year-old Cordero made his Major League debut last season, posting a 5.68 ERA and an even 12 walks and 12 strikeouts over 19 innings out of Washington’s bullpen in 2018. The righty earned that promotion after a strong showing (1.96 ERA, 10.4 K/9) over 46 Triple-A innings last season, though he struggled at the same level this year, with just a 6.00 ERA over 15 innings.
Cordero is a hard-thrower who averaged 97.5mph on his fastball during his brief stint in the bigs, and he also has a grounder rate of better than 50% over his 282 2/3 career minor league innings. That said, he has also begun to experience some issues with both the home run ball and limiting walks over the last few seasons.
Nationals Sign Gerardo Parra
TODAY: The Nationals have officially announced the signing, adding Parra on a one-year contract.
YESTERDAY: The Nationals are moving fast on newly minted free agent outfielder Gerardo Parra. After hitting the open market just yesterday, he’s now reportedly due to join the Nats on their current road trip.
Parra, 32, had been designated for assignment by the Giants as they cleared the deck for younger options. He is slashing just .198/.278/.267 through 97 plate appearances on the season.
For the Nats, the veteran left-handed hitter may help plug one of the team’s many leaks. Andrew Stevenson suffered a back injury after being called up to bolster the outfield unit while Juan Soto works back to health. With lefty slugger Matt Adams also sidelined, the club is short of southpaw swingers.
Parra is known more for his glovework in the outfield than his bat, though he has at times been an above-average hitter. Through nearly five thousand MLB plate appearances over eleven seasons, he owns an 88 wRC+ — though he’s closer to league-average (96 wRC+) when hitting with the platoon advantage, as he likely will for the most part in D.C.
It is not yet known how the Nationals will clear the necessary roster space for this move. Placing Stevenson on the injured list could open an active roster spot, but that wouldn’t account for the 40-man.
Kerry Crowley of the Mercury News first made the connection on Twitter. ESPN’s Jose Rivera first tweeted that a deal was agreed to. Also reporting the match were Sam Fortier of the Washington Post (Twitter link) and Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter).
MLBTR Poll: Is It Time For Nats To Make A Managerial Change?
You’re amply familiar by now with the narratives surrounding the Nationals’ managerial situation. Four skippers have presided over the past eight seasons, dating back to the team’s breakout 2012 campaign. The drama goes back further, but it’s most remarkable that the Nats have managed not to stick with a single manager for very long even as they’ve churned out winning campaigns.
For all the disappointing seasons and heartbreaking postseason showings, the Nats have arguably never faced a situation as dire as the present one since they began their winning ways. After barely topping .500 last year, the first under manager Dave Martinez, the team has limped to a 14-22 start in 2019.
It wasn’t long ago that the Nationals sat at an uninspiring 11-11 record — just 1.5 games out of first place in a packed division and hardly cause for concern in and of itself. The bullpen was a mess, but otherwise the club was getting along well enough. The vibe has changed since, as the Nats have managed only two wins out of their past 13 contests while injury issues mount. Martinez’s charges have a negative-34 run differential in that brief span. Pitching coach Derek Lilliquist was canned a week ago.
There are many different ways to interpret these results. It’d be foolish to lay all the blame on Martinez; veteran Ryan Zimmerman said as much today in support of the sophomore-year skipper. President of baseball operations Mike Rizzo has been unequivocal in his support, saying that Martinez is “doing a great job” in the wake of the Lilliquist firing.
At the same time, it’s hard to deny that the results have fallen well short of expectations since Martinez came aboard. He was hired only after the club parted with Dusty Baker over the failure to advance in the postseason. The premise was that the talented outfit would thrive all the more under new leadership. For whatever reason, Martinez’s efforts haven’t translated to this point. There are complaints over his bullpen management and strategic decisionmaking, though that’s a common refrain for many managers. Even if Martinez isn’t truly doing a poor job, it’s arguably time for the club to receive a real jolt.
So, readers, where do you come down on the matter? (Link to poll for app users; response order randomized.)
Should the Nationals fire Dave Martinez?
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He's doing a poor job and needs to go. 31% (2,021)
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He's not the problem and should be retained. 28% (1,811)
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He's not the problem, but a managerial change is still needed. 26% (1,699)
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He's doing a poor job, but it's not the right time for a change. 14% (922)
Total votes: 6,453
NL Injury Notes: Cain, Matz, Vargas, Taylor
X-rays were negative on Lorenzo Cain‘s left hand after the Brewers outfielder was hit by a Tim Peterson pitch during the sixth inning of today’s 3-2 win over the Mets. Cain was removed from the game after his HBP, though told reporters (including MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy) that he is hopeful of playing on Tuesday, when Milwaukee hosts the Nationals. Cain has hit .259/.316/.406 through 158 plate appearances this season, though he has made up for that slow start at the plate with his usual excellent center field defense. It doesn’t seem like this injury will require a DL stint or perhaps even an absence whatsoever, though it’s still worth monitoring, as the Brewers can ill-afford to lose any of their stars amidst a tightly-contested NL Central race.
More from around the National League…
- The Mets have sent Steven Matz back to New York for tests on his left forearm, manager Mickey Callaway told the New York Post’s Mike Puma and other reporters. As per Callaway, Matz has a “nerve issue” and has been dealing with a sore forearm “for about two weeks now.” Matz hasn’t been ruled out of his next scheduled start on Wednesday, though one would think the Mets would sit him out simply as a precautionary measure, given the inherent seriousness of forearm problems. (Callaway noted that Matz’s current injury isn’t related to the elbow procedure he underwent in 2017.) Losing Matz to the IL would be a blow to a New York rotation that has struggled this season, and also just generally been lacking in quality results. Matz has posted a 3.86 ERA, 3.56 K/BB rate, and 8.2 K/9 over 35 innings, and his numbers would look better apart from a singularly disastrous outing on April 16 against the Phillies that saw him allow six earned runs without recording an out.
- In more unfortunate injury news for the Mets, Jason Vargas left today’s game due to tightness in his left hamstring. As Puma notes, Vargas’ spot in the rotation wouldn’t necessarily need to be filled immediately, as the Mets have enough upcoming off-days that a fifth starter isn’t required until May 18. Vargas allowed three runs in four innings today to give him a 5.92 ERA over 24 1/3 frames in what has been a rough beginning for the veteran southpaw.
- The Nationals have yet to receive MRI results on Michael A. Taylor after the outfielder suffered a jammed wrist on Saturday. (MLB.com’s Jamal Collier was among those to report the news.) Taylor already missed some time at the start of the season due to a left knee and hip sprain, and he has yet to get on track — the outfielder has a meager .111/.226/.148 slash line over 32 plate appearances. Despite Taylor’s struggles, Washington can hardly afford to lose any more players to the IL at this point, given that Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto, Trea Turner, Ryan Zimmerman, and Matt Adams are all currently sidelined. Rendon, at least, is expected to return on Tuesday.
NL East Notes: Mets, Rosario, Nats’ Injuries, Marlins, Cooper
Amed Rosario‘s defensive struggles have emerged as a point of concern for the scuffling Mets, who will weigh what to do with the shortstop if he can’t correct his errors soon. Ken Davidoff of the New York Post outlines the problem, writing that general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, who has been aggressive in his first year at the helm, cannot afford to keep Rosario in the lineup for much longer when his lackluster defense could cost the club crucial wins. Rosario, just 23 years of age, is still a developing player and sustained reps could be the best remedy to his early-season challenges. However, a competitive Mets team that finds itself in the thick of a heated division race may run out of patience with Rosario, who is not hitting enough to quell the defensive concerns. To be sure, Davidoff notes that Rosario went eight straight games without an error before Saturday, when his two errors didn’t help the Mets’ cause in a marathon loss to the Brewers. The Mets are not yet considering a demotion—it will take another week or more before that becomes a serious possibility, per Davidoff—but Rosario could get a few days off if he can’t correct things in the next few games. Rosario has already accumulated -11 DRS—last season, he checked in at -16—and the Mets have Adeiny Hechavarria and Luis Guillorme as backup options, if it comes to that.
Here’s the latest news from around the NL East…
- Nationals right-hander Erick Fedde will be deployed as a reliever moving forward, writes Mark Zuckerman of MASN. After an impressive 4-inning outing against the Padres last week—his first Major League relief appearance—the club has decided that he will continue to work out of the bullpen in Double-A rather than returning to the Harrisburg rotation. The plan is for Fedde to rejoin the Nationals soon, in hopes that he will help remedy a bullpen that has arguably been the worst in the Majors.
- The Nationals will have to work around yet another injury, as Matt Adams was placed on the 10-day IL with a left shoulder strain on Saturday, recalling infielder Jake Noll. Meanwhile, the team will certainly welcome a piece of good news: Anthony Rendon is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday, when he is eligible to return from his stint on the injured list, per Todd Dybas of NBC Sports. Rendon had been dealing with an elbow contusion that refused to heal, but he was finally able to take swings, indicating that a return is on the horizon.
- The Mets’ bullpen took another hit on Saturday, as southpaw Luis Avilan was placed on the 10-day IL with elbow tightness, according to Tim Healey of Newsday. Avilan, who has posted a dismal 9.28 ERA in 2019, joins fellow bullpen arms Jeurys Familia and Justin Wilson on the injured list. Tim Peterson and Tyler Bashlor were promoted to replace Chris Flexen and Ryan O’Rourke, both of whom were optioned to the minors. Flexen took Avilan’s place for Saturday’s game because Peterson and Bashlor were unavailable.
- In a stroke of bad luck, Marlins OF/1B Garrett Cooper finds himself once again on the injured list, this time with a left hand contusion, writes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. After a calf strain held him out of action for a month, Cooper returned on April 30, only to be hit in the hand by a pitch, causing the injury. Peter O’Brien has been recalled from Triple-A to replace Cooper, who has been limited to just 4 appearances so far this season.
Mariners Acquire Austin Adams From Nationals
Per a team release, the Mariners have acquired righty Austin Adams from the Nationals for lefty Nick Wells and cash considerations.
Adams, 28 tomorrow, was designated for assignment earlier in the week by Washington. He’s spent much of the last three seasons with the team’s AAA affiliate (now in Fresno), where his sky-high strikeout rates (13.88 per nine in ’17, 15.15 per nine in ’18) ranked among the league’s best. His walk rate, too, was relatively low for an extreme bat-misser, so it’s a bit odd the reliever-starved Nationals couldn’t afford to give him a longer look.
Wells, 23, is repeating High-A Modesto as a 23-year-old. He didn’t rank among the team’s top 30 prospects at Baseball America’s last update.
Nationals Place Juan Soto On 10-Day IL
Per a team release, the Nationals have placed OF Juan Soto on the 10-Day IL with back spasms. Outfielder Andrew Stevenson was recalled to take his place.
Though the injury isn’t said to be serious, it’s a tough blow for a Nats lineup already down Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner, and Ryan Zimmerman.
Soto, 20, set the league ablaze last season, rocketing in two months from Low-A to the big leagues, where he posted an astounding .292/.406/.517 mark with the league’s third-highest walk rate, arguably the best ever season from a teenage bat. The lefty was off to a slower start this year, though his 15.2% walk rate still ranked among the league’s best.
Health Notes: Kluber, Ohtani, Donaldson, Soto, Turner
We can expect an update tomorrow from the Indians on injured righty Corey Kluber, Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer writes. It’s not yet known whether Kluber will require surgery for a forearm fracture. Even if he’s able to avoid a procedure, though, he’s likely to be sidelined for a lengthy stretch. Kluber is one of the game’s most accomplished hurlers, even if he hasn’t quite been himself to open the yea. The hope is that he’ll at least be able to target a late-summer return.
While we wait to learn more on that health situation, here’s the latest on a few others of note from around the game:
- Shohei Ohtani is nearing activation by the Angels, manager Brad Ausmus tells reporters including Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link). The precise timeline isn’t yet clear, but the DH is expected to return to action before the club opens a homestand on May 17th. Ohtani won’t be able to make it back to the mound this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2018 season, but he’ll be able to contribute from the batter’s box.
- The Braves seem to have averted a significant problem with third baseman Josh Donaldson and his ailing calf. That’s the same area that wiped out a huge chunk of his 2018 season. But Donaldson is due back this weekend, manager Brian Snitker tells reporters including Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link). The 33-year-old Donaldson has thus far rewarded the faith of the Atlanta organization, slashing a smooth .258/.395/.495 through 119 plate appearances with the club.
- There’s also generally positive news for the Nationals on the injury front. Outfielder Juan Soto was held out tonight owing to back spasms, but MLB.com’s Jamal Collier tweets that an MRI did not reveal any cause for concern. It’s not yet clear when he’ll be back in action, but Soto hasn’t gone on the injured list and will likely be slotted right back in the lineup as soon as he feels up to it. The club also can begin to look forward to a return from shortstop Trea Turner. As Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post reports (via Twitter), Turner is moving a bit faster than had been expected and could be ready to begin swinging a bat this weekend. That’s a significant step for a player nursing a fractured finger.
Nationals Fire Pitching Coach Derek Lilliquist
The Nationals have fired pitching coach Derek Lilliquist, general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters after tonight’s game, including Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post (Twitter links). Taking over the post will be Paul Menhart.
Lilliquist has been in his role since last season, signing on with the Nats after he was dismissed by the Cardinals. He took over for Mike Maddux, who left the D.C. organization for the Cards. The irony of that swap is only furthered by tonight’s move, which occurred while Maddux dressed in the visitor’s clubhouse.
Clearly, the results have not been there this year for the Nationals, who improved this evening to 13-17. The bullpen has been a major culprit in the struggles, while the rotation has perhaps not been quite as sharp as might be hoped. Just what level of fault Lilliquist carries in that situation is all but impossible to assess from the outside, but the club obviously felt a change was in order.
Rizzo says that Menhart was chosen because he’s “hands-on” and “analytical” in his approach. Menhart has five years of experience running the organization’s pitching development efforts as the minor-league pitching coordinator.
Nationals Select Dan Jennings, Place Anthony Rendon On IL
The Nationals have announced a trio of roster moves. The club has selected the contract of southpaw Dan Jennings, creating 40-man roster space by designating righty Austin Adams for assignment and clearing an active roster spot by placing third baseman Anthony Rendon on the 10-day injured list with an elbow contusion.
While the Nats had resisted a move on Rendon, their best player, he wasn’t healing quite fast enough from a recent hit-by-pitch and the roster pressure proved too great. His placement is retroactive to April 27, meaning he’ll be eligible to return as soon as May 7.
Jennings, who recently inked a minors deal with the D.C. organization, will try to help steady one of the game’s shakiest middle-relief units. The 32-year-old has long been a steady hurler, with a 2.96 ERA over 344 frames in the past seven seasons.
As for Adams, who’s closing in on his 28th birthday, he has seen minimal opportunities in the majors over the past three seasons. It’s interesting that the club didn’t give him a lengthier audition given the volume of strikeouts he has racked up at Triple-A. After averaging 15.2 K/9 against 3.9 BB/9 in 46 1/3 frames last year with the Nats’ top affiliate, Adams has racked up a 20:3 K/BB ratio in an even ten frames so far in 2019.