Royals right-hander Kris Medlen suffered a setback in his return from right shoulder inflammation in today’s rehab outing, reports MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan. Medlen has been out since mid-May with the injury and suffered a strain of the same shoulder while throwing a breaking pitch on the 49th pitch of his outing, per Flanagan. He’s set to be re-evaluated later today but seemingly won’t be an option for the Royals at any point in the near future.
Here’s a look at some of the latest news out of the American League …
- Rangers GM Jon Daniels says that the club would have interest in working out a long-term deal with outfielder Ian Desmond, as Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. Though he said that he wouldn’t discuss the matter beyond acknowledging that fact, Daniels heaped praise upon the deserving All-Star. Grant argues that the time is now for Texas to try to strike a deal. That certainly won’t be easy, but as Grant notes, Desmond may have some added motivation given that he previously turned down a chance at a major payday.
- Michael Brantley finally received some good news and is progressing toward a return to the Indians, per Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Brantley received a cortisone shot after a recent diagnosis of tendinitis in his biceps and will resume batting practice tomorrow before possibly progressing to simulated games and a rehab assignment. It’s not clear exactly when after the All-Star break Brantley will return, per Hoynes, but both Brantley and Indians manager Terry Francona implied that the DL stint may not last all that much longer.
- The Red Sox are holding their breath on third baseman Travis Shaw, who fouled a ball off of his foot tonight. As Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal tweets, initial testing was inconclusive and Shaw’s foot is showing lots of swelling. Whether or not there’s a serious injury remains to be seen, but a glance at Boston’s depth chart shows that the club could be pressed regardless if Shaw is out for more than a day or two. Brock Holt could be a replacement option, but he’s being utilized in left field at the moment. Marco Hernandez is the only other infielder on the active roster with Josh Rutledge on the DL, while the 40-man possibilities at Triple-A are Sean Coyle and Deven Marrero.
- While it remains unclear what path the Yankees will take at the trade deadline, the organization is already working to reshape its roster, Chad Jennings of the LoHud Yankees blog explains. Reducing the role of Alex Rodriguez, demoting Nathan Eovaldi to the bullpen, enhancing Aaron Hicks’s playing time, and keeping Rob Refsnyder up are among the recent decisions that Jennings explores.
- Assuming he clears waivers, the Rays have interest in a reunion with reliever Kevin Jepsen, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). Jepsen was designated recently by the Twins, who had picked him up from the Rays last summer. The 31-year-old righty has fallen off badly after a long track record of solid pen work; given his salary ($5.3MM and change), a claim seems unlikely, though perhaps a trade could materialize if Minnesota is willing to keep most of that obligation.
- Angels reliever Cory Rasmus needs core muscle surgery, Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times tweets. Rasmus, who already underwent such an operation last year, had been placed on the DL with what had been called a groin strain. The 28-year-old was carrying a 5.40 ERA through 21 2/3 innings and had taken a big step back in the K/BB department, having issued 14 free passes while K’ing just 13 batters.
Basically, the Yankees are doing what they should be doing with this ball club at this point. Throw a bunch of things at the wall and see what sticks.
Major bummer for Rasmus. He showed some real promise last year pre injury. I think he could be a useful pen arm or 5th starter if he can regain his form.
Bummer for Rasmus. same season ending surgery two years in a row was brutal
The Red Sox could explore Cozart from the Reds if Shaw is out indefinitely. Or they could move Moncada to 3 B @ AA for a couple of weeks and promote him Or Holt becomes a permanent 3 B fixture. Devers @ High A Salem has been hitting at a pretty torrid pace and 3 B is his natural position.
The Sox have multiple options.
Except they really don’t. The Sox are notorious for not moving touted prospects positions at least until they hit AAA. And Moncada is hitting well in AA, but not well enough to jump AAA.
Devers isn’t even remotely an option. He’s only in Salem and he’s far from hitting at a torrid pace, plus watching him play defence is like a horror show. The kids a DH, strictly.
Trading for Cozart makes no sense either, as he’d have no position once Shaws healthy and it’s not worth the prospects it’d take.
It’s Holt gig until Shaw or Rutledge returns.
Mookie moved off his position from 2nd base. He never played at AAA prior to his debut.
Mookie played in Pawtucket before he was promoted to the Sox in 2014, AAA is where he started his transition to the OF. So, you’re mistaken.
Like the Moncada thought, trouble is he has played at second all of last year and this. Not sure he is ready there, but also think that thirdbase will be his spot in MLB
Sean Coyle is in AA Portland, not Pawtucket and he’s barely hitting the Mendoza.
Devers’ 5-for-5 night leads Salem’s attack
No. 2 Boston prospect erasing two-month swoon with blistering June-that was a June headline in the Salem paper.
He has continued his hot bat into July.
He was under the Mendoza into early June –he has been hot the last month. This is without the added protection he had with Moncada and Benintendi in the Salem lineup before they were moved to AA. We all know when you get above 200 AB’s it’s more difficult to raise your BA. He’s a hitter but if Butter can make Hanley an above average 1B imagine what he can do with the potential star power of Devers.
The Sox are talking a move for Devers to AA. Yes Rafael Devers is still only 19–he’s a terrific prospect.
Re his “D” his Fielding %age is .982 this season with 4 E’s after 226 chances. #2. prospect puts him ahead of Benintendi on the chart and Beni is ready for a move.
Not arguing he’s not a terrific prospect, but the jump from A+ to AA is massively difficult and he couldn’t hit a lick the first half of the season, he’s on much more of a hot streak than a “torrid pace”. Jumping him straight to the MLB is beyond idiotic. His OPS is .691 which is awful for a guy who’s supposed to be an offensive juggernaut. The fact that he put up such terrible numbers with guys like Moncada and Benintendi protecting him is an even bigger sign that he’s not close to ready.
Butterfield didn’t make Hanley an above average 1B, he’s still below average defensively. He’d been a slightly below average corner infielder for several years before his disastrous move to LF, he just went back to being less of a liability.
Concerning his defense, you have to actually be able to get to the baseball to record chances and errors. Those stats mean very little when looking at his actual defensive value.
What rank they are as a prospect means nothing in terms of call-up timing.. Also, Benintendi isn’t ready to go up, he just started finding his swing a week or so ago, before that he was scuffling in AA.
Do you actually keep an eye daily on the Sox MiL programs.
Benintendi has 5 dingers and Moncada has done pretty well.. Both will be playing in the Futures Game so you might get a glimpse.
Take some time to check out You Tube footage n the three prospects we have been bandying about–they are pretty good..
We are both rooting for the same team; I would like to see all three get a chance for a cup of coffee before the season ends; It’s possible.
Do you? Who cares how many home runs he’s hit, it took him over a month to find his swing in AA and he’s just now starting to put it together day in and day out. Moncada has pretty much hit the ground running in Portland, no arguing that. Barring an extreme rash of injuries, they’ll head to AAA in late July/early August.
Except it’s not possible for Devers. You really need to temper your expectations of him, he’s a solid 1.5-2 years away from that “cup of coffee” you speak of as there’s still a ton of holes in his game. There’s a lot to love about Devers, but this also a ton to cringe over. Maybe look at less youtube highlight reels and look at the big picture.