The Astros announced today that infielder Yulieski Gurriel has been promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi and will join that affiliate tomorrow. Since signing a five-year, $47.5MM contract with Houston last month, Gurriel has played six games between Houston’s Gulf Coast League and Class-A Advanced affiliates, going 8-for-21 with a homer, three doubles and five strikeouts. MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart tweets that Double-A is expected to be Gurriel’s final stop before arriving in the Major Leagues. It’s not entirely clear what type of alignment the Astros will utilize to work the 32-year-old Cuban star into the lineup, but Alex Bregman’s struggles upon his first taste of the Majors may have made it easier for manager A.J. Hinch to work Gurriel into the mix.
A bit more from the American League…
- Red Sox manager John Farrell suggested to reporters this weekend that surgery could very well be required to fix the severe ankle sprain that is currently plaguing Blake Swihart (links to Twitter via Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald and Tim Britton of the Providence Journal). Swihart, who is waiting for a second opinion on the injury, hasn’t played since June 4, and surgery would seemingly jeopardize his chances of returning at all in 2016. Boston had been playing the 24-year-old top prospect in left field after concerns about his glovework behind the plate surfaced.
- Mastrodonato writes today that outfielder Andrew Benintendi, who made his big league debut last week, could begin to find himself in the Red Sox’ lineup with greater frequency. The Sox planned to ease Benintendi into the Majors by limiting his at-bats against left-handed pitching, but Farrell explained that the “easing-in period has happened relatively quick,” referencing Benintendi’s hot start to his big league career. Extra playing time for Benintendi would likely come at the expense of Bryce Brentz, with whom he’d been slated to platoon early in his career.
- MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan tackles a host of roster-related questions in his latest Royals Inbox, noting right off the bat that there’s “not a chance” the Royals will decline Alcides Escobar’s $6.5MM option in spite of his .279 OBP and recent rumors suggesting that the team may look to go with prospect Raul Mondesi Jr. at short in the near future. He also expects the Royals to try to work out a new two-year contract with Edinson Volquez, whom they like very much and who loves both the city of Kansas City and the Royals organization, according to Flanagan.
- Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto spoke to Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune about his weekend acquisitions of relievers Arquimedes Caminero and Pat Venditte, praising Caminero for rebounding from a poor start to the 2016 and pitching well since June 1. (Indeed, Caminero has a 2.28 ERA with 6.9 K/9, 3.4 BB/9 and a 47.8 percent ground-ball rate in 23 2/3 innings since early June.) “He also provides another controllable and experienced arm for our pen,” said Dipoto. “Additionally, he’s among the hardest throwers in the game.” Speaking about Venditte, he said the Mariners were drawn to the ambidextrous hurler’s proficiency versus left-handed hitters as well as the fact that he has minor league options remaining.
What does everyone think will happen with Cuthbert on the Royals heading into next year? Has been a pretty solid replacement for Moustakas.
They might rotate DH and 3B
– Burns CF
– Monedesi 2B
– Cain RF
– Hosmer 1B
– Moustakas/Cuthbert DH/3B
– Gordon LF
– Perez C
– Escobar SS
– Dyson, Orlando, Merrifield or Colon, Butera off the bench
Really disliked the Caminero deal. Why not just trade Locke and if no one wants him, DFA him?
We have a closer that’s been up from AA for a couple months that can hit 101. Sounds like Caminero can rush it up there too is he going to be a good 8th inning set up guy? Sounds like he can get a bit wild but that can be good at times. I remember Randy Johnson’s early years and seeing guys diving out of the box and the ball was in the high 90’s right down the middle. The pitch before was right at the guys head that fast because he had no clue where half the balls where going but that is why it worked for him. His first no hitter he walked 6 guys I think. Is that the type of guy we are getting? I don’t know anything about him.
I liked Caminero as well but he has been inconsistant for much of the year. They picked up Rivero so they Pirates have a big arm replacing him and Locke actually did decent in the few times he come out of the pen and offers a long man to give you a bunch of innings if you are getting blown out, god forbid. He seamed to usually do well to start games but after a couple of innings things would slip. Being in the pen allows him to do his thing in short samples and makes him better. In order to have traded Locke you need someone to offer to take him. Caminero got return and the Pirates now have a lefty long man to go with Nicasio.
“Speaking of Venditte”; I think he was signed for his proficiency versus left handed hitters, not left handed pitchers.
It’s never a good sign when the GM says one of your strengths is that you have options left. That’s a strength that doesn’t last.
1 option lasts a year, and it does last because he can rotate guys out of the pen to keep ’em fresh just in case the starters aren’t doing well.
May as well let Benintendi play. He looks to have an advanced approach at the plate and uses the whole field. He played his way into the lineup. Give him a chance to start or play his way out.
As far as I’m concerned bring Moncada up and let him play third and any other prospect headed into the next year thinking process… Just don’t see this team making the play offs so why not?
Except Moncada has yet to play third and while I agree the Red Sox don’t look like a team to make the playoffs, they are still in the race. Moncada doesn’t need the pressure of learning a new position with a team that still is shooting for the playoffs.
My guess is in the winter they’re going to start testing him at third or outfield and try to see how he transitions in Portland next year. My guess is he’s up around midseason next year.
I was at the Sea Dogs game Friday night. Moncada made three errors on the three grounders hit to him at second. Yikes! Let him learn in AA ball.
Cuthbert @ 3B. Moose at DH. Rotating DH. Morales gone.
Bring back Billy Butler!
Heck that’s like inviting a whale… Haha
Why would yost use Escobar leadoff? He’s probably the worst leadoff hitter in the game, he’s way more suited to hit 8th, or maybe not even to be a starter. Mondesis already way better
Bregman has been playing well the past few games. I’d bet he still gets regular time after Gurriel is promoted to the show.
I wonder how long Gurriel is at AA? My guess is two weeks.
I would imagine this depends on how the astros do and how bregman does