Major League Baseball announced today that Blue Jays pitcher Roberto Osuna will remain on administrative leave through at least May 21st. He was first placed on leave by the commissioner’s office on May 8th, pursuant to the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, after it emerged that he had been arrested and charged with domestic assault. At this point, it remains unknown when and how Osuna’s legal and disciplinary situations will be resolved.
Here’s more from the AL East:
- The Blue Jays may soon face a tough call on DH Kendrys Morales, as Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca writes. The veteran switch-hitter is off to an abysmal start, though GM Ross Atkins says that the organization still has some grounds for optimism. While there isn’t a clear roster crunch at present, that could change. If Morales can’t generate some positive momentum, Nicholson-Smith suggests, the Toronto front office will increasingly find it difficult to keep the bat-only player on the roster.
- It seems that Rays righty Nathan Eovaldi is facing yet another hurdle. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, via Twitter, the long-rehabbing starter won’t make it back as hoped later this month. While his elbow isn’t the culprit this time, thankfully, Eovaldi will first need to recover from a right rib muscle strain. The prognosis is not terribly clear at the moment, so it could yet be that this’ll be more of a speed bump than a roadblock, but it’s certainly disappointing to hear that Eovaldi has again been dealt with tough luck on the cusp of a return to the majors.
- Red Sox right-hander Steven Wright has been activated for the first time this year, the club announced. To create a roster spot, fellow righty Hector Velazquez is going onto the 10-day DL with a lower back strain. Wright served a 15-game suspension after opening the year on the shelf while recovering from knee surgery. He’ll likely work as a long man out of the Boston bullpen upon arrival, though he’s also likely the first man up if a rotation need arises.
- Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com checks in on where things stand for the Orioles roster. Despite a recent uptick in play, argues Connolly, the team must still be preparing to blow things up this summer. As MLBTR’s Steve Adams also argued recently, it’s hard to imagine a path back to contention in 2018 for the O’s. Meanwhile, Connolly wonders just why the Orioles placed a claim on slugging, reputedly poor-fielding corner man Renato Nunez. He suggests the org may simply hope to pass him through waivers once a 40-man spot is needed.
driftcat28 2
Hate the hear about Eovaldi having another set back. I find him a very interesting pitcher to watch. Throws heat but get hit really hard. Would be nice to see him find some movement on his pitches and find success
astick
Yeah, but I’m gonna was it. You guys need anything? I don’t know if I can get it to you tomorrow or tomorrow morning I can do it tomorrow or tomorrow I.
astick
Ok. Well. Yes we have been there and you have to go home to work on a Saturday and Sunday afternoon I will is the day that we have the time for tomorrow.
atlbraves2010
was that supposed to be text messages for someone? lol
Cat Mando
@astick….if those are really “posts” and not a mistake you should consider adding a 2nd “s” after the first.
Kayrall
Can one of the mods revoke astick’s posting privileges until he passes a drug test? K. Thanks.
brucewayne
It’s the same idiot who did all the food posts
bobtillman
OK, astick, I’ll see you tomorrow morning…..on the planet Zardoz with Doctor Who and Mister What……
ericl
I know Morales is playing poorly, but I have a hard time seeing the Blue Jays just eating his $11 million salary and releasing him. That certainly would go against the way they usually do business. He isn’t exactly an easy player to move. The Jays are in quite a bind with him.
sovietcanuckistanian
you’d almost have to package him with a middling prospect for a chance that another team picks him up w/his salary.
I will say this in his defense (partially at least) I still don’t buy that his eyesight is 100% corrected. I know his glasses are an improvement, but there was some mention of his eyesight still not being 100% during a broadcast last week or so and given what was said, I’m inclined to agree.
jbigz12
I don’t think a middling prospect would do it. It’d have to be a top 10 org prospect. Obviously not your top prospects but you’re talking about eating 20+ million because morales is providing you with nothing. The jays won’t do that for the sake of saving money. I’d say swap a bad contract for a bad contract but it’s even harder with morales because he’s DH only. The Yankees got 12.5 mil off the books for only Bryan Mitchell but Headley was also a more valuable and cheaper player. Don’t think a lot of teams would’ve done that either. I can’t see morales being unloadable.
its_happening
You are correct.
justin-turner overdrive
You could look at it that way, or you release Morales and call up Vlady at min wage and get elite production for $11.5M.
jbigz12
Vlad’s gonna take a quick stop to AAA first. Jays are alright without getting production from morales. They could just use that roster spot for an extra reliever or defensive replacement/pinch runner. Pearce/Grandy/Teoscar and pillar can cover their OF and DH slots. Grichuk May learn how to hit a little bit again when he’s back up too. Morales is just dead weight. When grichuk returns I think morales has to go.
its_happening
I think he should make a stop at AAA, but he should be up with Buffalo within the next couple weeks since he’s flirting with .400. I don’t see that happening with this organization. The goal is the keep hitting and work on his D. He’s proven enough in New Hampshire with the bat.
Phattey
#FreeRoberto
ottomatic
#StopPosting
jdgoat
#FreeRobertoIfHesInnocent
biasisrelitive
Agreed and #jailrobertoifheisnot
Strauss
Rival dis another failed prospect
Strauss
Eovaldi
jdgoat
He’s not really failed, he’s just been decimated by injuries over his career
bastros88
I’ll say that about the Royals, they know when to move on from a player
its_happening
Like Alex Gordon…
jbigz12
Yeah. If anything I think it’s because of their financial constraints why you see them let so many guys go. Definitely not because they know when to move on better than the next team.