After placing Chris Tillman on the DL earlier today, the Orioles have announced that they’ll promote David Hess to take the open spot in the rotation, as Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun was among those to report on Twitter. The 24-year-old righty entered the year as a notable, if not particularly heralded prospect. He has impressed thus far in 2018 after being added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft last fall. Through 29 2/3 innings over six starts, Hess owns a 2.12 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9. It remains to be seen how long a run he’ll get in the majors, but it seems there’ll be opportunity available if he throws well.
Here are some more notes from the eastern divisions, focusing on some health situations of note:
- Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman discussed his DL placement with the media today, with MLB.com’s Gregor Chisholm providing the story. Stroman acknowledged that the placement was made with consideration not just of his physical wellness, but his mental state. “Just a collective decision between me and the staff, to take a step back, do what I need to do for my shoulder, get my emotions and everything in sync, to get back to myself,” Stroman said. It seems he’ll mostly be looking to get a relatively brief respite before rejoining the staff.
- The Mets provided a variety of health updates today to reporters, including MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. Infielder T.J. Rivera is not yet ready for rehab assignments but could make it back from Tommy John surgery by July. Backstop Kevin Plawecki is closer, as he’s preparing to begin rehabbing in earnest in hopes of returning from a fractured hand by the end of the month. As Tim Britton of The Athletic tweets, though, reliever Anthony Swarzak is still a little ways off. His injured oblique is still not healed enough to allow him to take the mound. Meanwhile, the club has placed reliever Hansel Robles on the 10-day DL with a sprained knee, with lefty Buddy Baumann taking his place on the active roster.
- Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is hoping to begin a rehab assignment early next week, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe tweets. He has been building back to full strength following offseason knee surgery. While the Sox have managed just fine without the veteran star, a return from Pedroia will certainly be most welcome, as fill-in Eduardo Nunez has struggled thus far at the plate.
- Rays righty Jose Mujica has been cleared of any significant arm issues, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. The minor-league hurler will need about a month of rest after being diagnosed with a forearm strain. So long as he can get back to health, though, he could represent a much-needed option later in the year.
Finally Pedi returns from such problems that was made worse from a dirty slide last yr from Machado. Too bad A Rod isn’t still on the NYY so they both play dirty for the Evil Empire . We all know that’s where Machado will land in FA.
Does it really matter where MM ends up? I’m only concerned with the Sox now and later. Now, the relief team worries me. Future, it will be costly to just keep together the pieces you want. Porcello, Pomerantz and Kimbrel at the end of 18. Sale the following year. Then Betts and Bogaerts. While the team can basically afford any player it wants, it still will establish limits and Hanley’s option and to a larger extent, Price’s future obligations will have an impact. The Yankees (and most teams) will feel this same pinch. In the Bronx Bombers case, wait and see when they have to pay their young stars if they regret the Stanton trade. There’s just so much money involved today.
Porcello is a free agent after 2019, and Hanley’s option probably won’t vest. Depending on how he finishes the season, Pomeranz may not be back anyways.
It’s the number of at bats for Hanley to vest and that’s gonna happen, oh that most certainly is gonna happen.
thanks for correcting Porcello. Hanley will best at 497 appearances.
Plate appearances not ABs
Semantics, not much to separate the two, so he’ll be getting payed…
Actually, if Hanley draws (say) 60 walks, 5 sacrifice flies, and 5 HBP, the difference would be more than semantics.. This would be 70 PAs, but 0 ABs. As long as he hits decently and doesn’t get injured, he’ll get it either way, but the difference could make the difference if he slumps or spends some time on the DL.
Hanley Ramirez is often injured. He’s been batting like a champ after getting on the TB12 program. Hopefully he stays healthy and continues to produce.
Jayson Stark did a piece comparing the Red Sox situation with the Tigers a few years ago. As for the poster who started this..what do the Yankees and Arod have to do with anything?
JD Martinez could opt out in two years time. Red Sox could look depleted in 2020.
Unless injured, it’s expected he’ll opt out so yes I should have included him. He could then resign or the team/he can decide to change direction.
Get over it. Machado’s slide was aggressive, but perfectly fine. If it was so egregious, how come there was no discipline from the league?
Lose a big series to the Yankees and all the Boston fans start complaining about everything again.
You kidding? No discipline doesn’t mean it wasn’t dirty. Years ago no issue because the neighborhood play was recognized and players knew they had to get out of the way. Season is six weeks old. No one should be complaining about one series. Six games down, split. Watching Barnes walk everyone is what worries me today. I look at him and I see Daniel Bard all over again.
Barnes has to stop being used in high pressure spots for a while and I think Alex Farrell will figure it out.
I’m much more worried about the use of Hembree in high leverage situations
Both worry me. Bullpen needs changes. I just don’t have short or long term trust in Barnes, Hembree, Johnson (can see him as an emergency starter) or Velasquez. Tommy Lane in extended spring training is not the answer. Thornberg? Seeing him on the mound is believing. Only Kimbrel, Kelly and Smith are quality and the last two have wars of their own.
Machado is renowned as a dirty player and cheapshot artist/crybaby.
Yea, that dastardly scoundrel send him to the hoosegow…
Machado doesn’t like being tagged in rundowns.
Interesting, I never heard that about Machado.
Stop with the whining about the Yankees. Pedi’s injury had nothing to do with them.
Ditto
Meth?
Machado will not go to American League East he will be a borrowed player then ask for 250 million next year. Keep an eye on Cardinals or Braves
Why would he not?
I think he means this year as a rental, the O’s won’t trade within the division.
What he asks for next year really has nothing to do with whether a team bites the bullet to trade for him this year. Yea I’ve heard the AL East conjecture, but let’s just wait and see. He’s a rental and not a “borrowed player”.
When has there been a borrowed player? The money is just too crazy for the average fan to relate to. The one rule I wish MLB would borrow is the NBA’s ability to pay your own player more than others. The fans deserve some type of stability. Of course that would require a true cap…
$250 million won’t touch Machado in a deal ! More like $350!
Time will tell. he may have to decide on years or avg value to max out. Could end up with say 8 at $34M avg = $272M.
I think it’s pretty awesome how a player is taking a mental health break. It’s just as important as physical health.
If Stroman was serious about his mental state he’d delete his twitter. Until then it’s a bunch of bull. He’s embarrassed over his poor start after the way he handled the arbitration process. Nothing about a sore shoulder and being thin-skinned/immature is awesome.
Pedroia’s return should be more important in the field than at bat. Nunez has been absolutely terrible at second base. He looks like a fellow with a gimpy leg — little range, awkward positioning, poor hands. He’s much better at third, where at least he has a strong arm, doesn’t have to range much, and doesn’t have to turn any plays at the bag.
Hopefully Pedroia will still have range. Between the rehabbing and his age, such is a question mark.
Peddy is on the downside so it is right to expect further loss of range. How he is able to get around is not just a factor of his rehab; rather its his age coupled with multiple injuries. He will try to make the best of it as he wants to get paid as long as possible.
On the upside, besides his leadership in the clubhouse, Peddy is the team’s Apple tech expert. You can count on him to figure out how to use technology pieces to cheat whenever possible.
What kind of leader throws teammates under the bus?
As usual the clown Mikeyank bringing nothing constructive running his mouth off with stupid comments.
The Red Sox will be a better team when Pedroia is back and they were already a really good one.
The Yankees look good as well just had a real good series with the Yankees and every game could of gone either way. I’m looking forward to great summer of baseball and I expect the Red Sox and Yankees to battle for the division all year how much fun is this going to be.
Bosox may want to find a spot for Brock Holt because he’s playing too good to head to the bench when Dustin returns.