Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. has been out for three weeks because of a forearm strain, and his return isn’t imminent. Manager A.J. Hinch told Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle and other reporters Sunday that McCullers won’t throw a bullpen “any time soon,” and if the 24-year-old returns this season, he’s unlikely to rejoin the Astros’ rotation. “It would be hard to get him built back up as a starter,” Hinch said, alluding to the lack of time remaining in the regular season, while general manager Jeff Luhnow added (via Rome) that he expects McCullers “to be back and ready for postseason in a relief role.” Fortunately for Houston, it does have the starting depth to survive McCullers’ absence from its rotation, and it’s worth noting he worked as a reliever at times during the team’s run to a World Series title last fall. In one of the most memorable performances of the 2017 playoffs, the curve-throwing McCullers closed out the Yankees in Game 7 of the ALCS with four scoreless innings.
- Speaking of the Yankees, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News talked to a scout about their top pitching prospect, lefty Justus Sheffield. The Yankees have recently been using the 22-year-old Sheffield in relief at the Triple-A level to get him ready to work out of the big league bullpen in the coming weeks, though the scout expressed doubt that he’s poised to make a sizable impact in that role right now. “His pitches/approach were same as when starting, they didn’t play up at all,” the scout said after seeing Sheffield pitch in relief. “Lefties weren’t fooled at all, meaning everything was squared up, including a long home run by the eight-hole hitter.” Sheffield will face “an adjustment period” when he does come to the majors, continued the scout. Widely regarded as one of the game’s best pitching prospects, Sheffield has logged an impressive 2.66 ERA/3.21 FIP in 84 2/3 Triple-A innings this season, though he has done so without posting dominant strikeout and walk numbers (8.5 K/9, 3.83 BB/9).
- This will go down as a lost year for Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who will miss the entire season on account of heel issues. Tulowitzki spoke about his status for 2019 on Sunday, telling Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet and other reporters that he expects to be Toronto’s starting shortstop. The soon-to-be 34-year-old seems unwilling to consider a position change, stating: “I just said I’m a shortstop. If someone’s better than me, I’ll pack my bags and go home.” Unfortunately for the once-elite Tulowitzki, the Jays arguably do have someone better in the fold now in Lourdes Gurriel Jr. The 22-year-old has been terrific as a rookie this season and looks as if he could be part of the long-term solution for the club. On the other hand, the injury-prone Tulowitzki was subpar when he last took the field, as he hit just .249/.300/.378 in 260 plate appearances in 2017.
- Rays outfielder Mallex Smith has been hospitalized with a viral infection, but manager Kevin Cash issued an encouraging update Sunday, informing reporters that he’s “doing considerably better” and could be released from the hospital today (via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). Cash added that the Rays are hopeful Smith won’t stay on the disabled list for much longer than the minimum of 10 days. Prior to this weekend’s scare, the fleet-of-foot Smith had quietly been enjoying an outstanding season. The 25-year-old leads qualified Rays hitters in OPS (.810) and has totaled 27 steals and 3.1 fWAR over 426 PAs.
wjf010
The Tulo trade has to go down as one of the worst ever, considering it was a “trade for the future.”
No wonder GMs are gun-shy with anyone over 30 now.
kgmkpmrgkmegrkmegrm
Tulowitzki and Hawkins for Jeff Hoffman, Jose Reyes, Miguel Castro, and Jesus Tinoco is nowhere near one of the worst trades ever. Not even close
justin-turner overdrive
Ha, yeah. that trade is really underwhelming on both sides now.
canadianyankee
Disappointing…not worst… not by a long shot…Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps comes to mind tho
DiggerTim
Jeff Bagwell for 2 months of Larry Anderson
racosun
Doyle Alexander for minor-leaguer John Smoltz.
pasha2k
Smoltz has to be the worse trade in history.
uvmfiji
What about Buhner for Steve Kemp?
sam 17
Babe Ruth for cash considerations…
MetsYankeesRedSox
Babe Ruth for No No Nanette
Perksy
You mean Ken Phelps
bababooeytoyall
I think it was Ken Phelps. Not Steve Kemp
Shane 2
canadianyank your correct
wjf010
Who cares what they gave up? Injuries and money….whatever, it was a stupid acquisition.
Polish Hammer
Another genius living their life in hindsight. Must be nice having that crystal ball you don’t share with the rest of us mere mortals.
goalieguy41
It got the Jays 2 yrs of playoffs. So how was it stupid…..stupid
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
Quoting Bull Durham: “Who can forget Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas?”
stansfield123
Total nonsense. Some of the best players in baseball have signed big contracts at or above the age of 30, in recent years, and are delivering beyond the wildest dreams of the GMs who signed them.
Greinke, the highest paid pitcher in baseball, is averaging 5 WAR for the D-Backs. Were the D-Back gun shy, when giving out a record contract? Were they wrong to pay a premium for an ace, and get exactly that? Just because he’s over 30?
JD Martinez, signed in his 31st year, is a DH making $22M/year, and has five years guaranteed. Were the Red Sox wrong to sign him, just because he’s over 30?
Max Scherzer signed at age 30, for seven years. So far, he’s given the Nats 25 WAR. He already paid for his contract. Should the Nats have been “gun shy”, and passed on him, because he turned 30 as they were signing him?
Yes, handing out a big contract to a 30+ player is a risk. But good GMs are willing to take risks, because they know that the best way to be a loser is to never take any risks.
And, just so you know, the Blue Jays haven’t lost anything, by taking on big money like the Tulo contract. The massive uptick in attendance that resulted from those trades in 2015 more than paid for the salaries the Jays owe going forward. They’re in a much better position to compete in the long term, than some of the stingy owners who justify their low payroll with platitudes like “30 is too old”.
Phanatic 2022
He hasn’t paid for his contract yet.
stansfield123
25 WAR is worth $210M…especially when you look into the details of that contract, and realize that a lot of it is in deferred payments. So yes, he has.
joshua.barron1
You’re so completely wrong that I’m not even going to try to reason with you
padam
Agreed.
– Barry Zito
its_happening
Getting rid of Jose Reyes made the trade an absolute win for the Jays. There was no such idea of the trade being about the “future”.
Cardinals17
At the time, it seemed like a great trade for the club. However, they had no idea that Tulo would be constantly injured and so accident prone. Tulo once resembled a potential MVP. Now he resembles someone who ought to retire and let the young talented shortstop take over.
thegreatcerealfamine
How can you put a potential Cy Young candidate in the pen?…Shout-Out to Judge Judy
xabial
Hey… Let’s focus on the positives; Yankees have picked up four games on the Red Sox, in the last eight days.
thegreatcerealfamine
X, you get it….
joshua.barron1
I have no clue why sports talk radio has declared this race over lol. I fully expect it to get down to the last week or two of the season, if not the last few days like last year.
eileenyankees9
X
They are hot right now, just hope they keep it up for a bit!!
I don’t know if anyone early this morning heard what Sonny Gray, omg, I almost dropped my coffee, I am still in shock, but that is ml my opinion, lol.
The reporter was talking to him about the game he pitched and he said, “I am one of the best pitchers out there. and I can get anyone out.” I
stansfield123
Sonny never said that. It’s a typical, modern journalism staple: the out of context quote that says the exact opposite of what the speaker meant.
Wherever you read it: delete that bookmark. It’s sheyte.
eileenyankees9
Stan, I was listening to the FAN HERE IN NY.
He said it, I couldn’t believe it.. I think he has a loose screw, lol
eileenyankees9
X
They are hot right now, just hope they keep it up for a bit!!
I don’t know if anyone early this morning heard what Sonny Gray, omg, I almost dropped my coffee, I am still in shock, but that is ml my opinion, lol.
The reporter was talking to him about the game he pitched and he said, “I am one of the best pitchers out there. and I can get anyone out.” Well I wanted to correct my spelling and punctuation, so this comment was sent by itself! lol, sorry guys.
eileenyankees9
Well if you ask Sonny who will win the CY, he would of course say him!!
Old User Name
I want Sonny to think that way. I want all Yankees to think that way. Whether it is true or not is unimportant. Confidence matters a lot.
eileenyankees9
Kool Joe..and it is true,
WFAN, RADIO 66 WITH THE BOOMER,
eileenyankees9
Joe and Stans. See some of the Yankees Sonny news
today about his non modest
statement, as I was quoting
what he said..
Not only did he make an stupid statement, having
confidence is great, that’s
one thing, but Joe, he just
over did it don’t ya think
Bald Vinny
Four games? Amazing. That’s like erasing the Boston Massacre. Only 1 game out with 30 to go.
xabial
Yanks swept Baltimore. Rays swept Red Sox. Yanks now 6 games back of Red Sox, making up 3 1/2 games in 40-something hours.
6 GB of Boston, 6 games left against Boston… That’d be a Boston massacre. (Winning 6/6)
eileenyankees9
X
I absolutely luv your
enthusiasm, I’m the same way, The Yanks are giving
us one heck of a nail
biting season, and it ain’t
over till the fat lady
sings!!
xSpecBx
Sox have a much tougher schedule remaining IMO than the Yankees as well. Would be great for the sport for that last Yankees-Sox series to be for the AL east title.
Bruin1012
I am not surprised that the Yankees are making a run I expected it. I was not one of those Sox fans that thought the Red Sox were going to pull a Cleveland and run away with the division the Yankees are just too good.
The Red Sox has played so good for so long and there was just no way they could keep that up with 2/5ths of there starting rotation out also including their ace Sale.
Mookie is slumping right now and that really hurts this offense but I believe it is temporary. I am kind of glad they are having there slump now and not in October.
As far as the schedule goes I believe the Yankees have the easier schedule until it gets to September. The Yankees have a nasty west coast road trip coming up and we will see how they look in the standings after that. Also the Yankees finished the last 7 games on the road 4 in Tampa and 3 in Boston. Tampa is a nasty team to play I believe that they are one game ahead of the Yankees in the season series and they get 4 more at their place against them.
I said all along it will probably come down to the head to head matchups and the Sox are getting real key player in Eduardo back real soon. The Red Sox should still win the division based on schedule and current lead but unless Sale comes back for the playoffs it won’t really matter. The Red Sox need Sale to be Sale at the end of the year and the playoffs to have any chance.
stansfield123
Well, there’s an “extras” section on the lineup card. Right towards the end, where it says “pitchers”. You take a pen, and write the guy’s name in one of the boxes.
Does that answer your question, or should I attach pictures?
stansfield123
How can you put a potential Cy Young candidate in the pen?
————-
I agree. What were the Orioles thinking, in 2014?
Polish Hammer
Typical Yankee hype, hasn’t even pitch a ball in the majors and he’s already a Cy Young candidate…LOL
thegreatcerealfamine
*sarcasm*
justin-turner overdrive
“My body is destroyed and I’m old, but if I can’t play the hardest position then what’s the point?”
canadianyankee
Who is the potential CY candidate?
All Baseball No Xabial
I think he means later on not this year.
Polish Hammer
Isn’t every Yankee prospect…
sheff86
Tulo-someone IS better than you.
flippinbats79
Man I would love it if he went home and retired. Even ARod wasn’t that stubborn.
jdgoat
Hey, Arod wasn’t wrong. He moved off of SS for an inferior defender
ericl
Sorry Tulo, you are not the starting shortstop for the Blue Jays next season. Gurriel & Diaz are both better than you at this point & Bichette is coming. Tulo’s days in Toronto are over. There is nowhere for him to play with Gurriel, Travis, Diaz, Smoak, Drury, Solarte, Guerrero Jr, Bichette & Biggio in the fold. He can’t even DH with Morales still under contract & Guerrero Jr. will see time there as well. He isn’t part of the rebuild. The Jays have to cut him loose & eat the rest of his contract.
its_happening
Bichette and Biggio will most likely be in AAA to start next year. We know Vlad will be in AAA the first couple weeks of the season.
No reason to pick up Solarte’s option.
1 player may be dealt in the offseason between Travis and Smoak. Now Tulo has a spot on the team. Travis they’ll want to move to allow Gurriel to start. Diaz is a potential trade candidate at the 2019 July deadline.
I’ll take Tulo’s leadership and be happy with him as a mentor to Bichette, Biggio, Vlad etc, rather than eating the contract. Make use of that money.
ericl
Solarte provides more than Tulo does right now with the number of positions he can play.. I’d rather have Diaz, Smoak or Travis in the lineup than Tulo. He just takes up a spot on the roster. The Jays already have Martin on the team who is providing not much more than leadership at this point of his career. They don’t need another in Tulowitski. He isn’t part of the rebuild & he can’t be counted on to stay on the field. He is unnecessary at this point.
its_happening
Eric….Tulo will make that money regardless of where he is. That said, Tulo will not start next year either.
Solarte does not provide more than Tulowitzki. Tulo could play every infield position miles better than Solarte ever could. Tulo is slick, great hands but his legs are slowing down. Solarte is overweight and doesn’t have Tulo’s hands. No reason to pick up Solarte’s option. That money can be spent elsewhere.
Smoak is a player the Jays can get another good prospect for. Need to consider dealing him too.
Gurriel needs to start. Deal Travis or Diaz. Drury is sticking around and then when you promote Bichette and/or Biggio down the road it will provide time for Drury to sink or swim. Having Travis does not allow that to happen.
Tulo is a smarter player than Martin. Martin has 1 job next year: mentor Jansen. That’s it. Tulo mentors Gurriel. Vlad etc.
The rebuild happens the next two years while Tulo is under contract. The Jays are not poised to be good until 2021 at the earliest. Pitching is a major concern and the team doesn’t have it. Yet.
Judge Judy
I must be the only one not high in Sheffield. Far too many walks. Looks to be another Hank Owens. Keep him at Scranton until he stops walking so many people.
thegreatcerealfamine
The man of honor…
Gordon Lightfoot
Tulo has zero leverage and is making passive aggressive demands. Poor choice.
its_happening
Not sure why you have a problem with what he said. His quote was obvious and on-point.
jimmertee
If the Jays are smart they will assign Tulo to first base in 2019 and let him whine himself into retirement. If he retires or doesn;’t show up for work, the Jays aren’t on the hook for the contract.
Having said that, I like watching Tulo play when he is healthy. Will he ever be the same again? My bet is he comes back to 50% of the ballplayer that he was at his peak.
Its a shame really. He was a very good player.
ericl
Why put Tulo at 1st when Smoak gives you more at that position? Smoak is better defensively & offensively. He brings more to the table. Tulo needs to go to a team that can use him as a DH full time.
jimmertee
Agreed, but no one is taking Tulo. Zero.
The Jays can get something of value for smoak, and he is affordable.
Therefore, Smoak is gone and Tulo takes first. Morales is DH. Jays are stuck with Morales, Tulo and Martin.
its_happening
Exactly Jimmer. Keep the high priced vet while losing in 2019 and 2020. Avoid Solarte’s option, make a decision on Travis/Diaz (need Gurriel starting) and play Tulo at 3B once in a while also. Tulo’s arm, glove and lack of range would be fine there.
brian_james
It’s interesting that when the more adamant a guy is about playing a certain position, the more likely it is that he’s not even good it.
its_happening
That was Cal Ripken his final 3-4 years at SS.
Polish Hammer
Manny Machado at SS.
greg1
Tulo has been more than a bust on the field, his attitude has been terrible too.
From the months of whining that Colorado told him they weren’t going to move him to “if someone’s better than me at SS than I’ll just go home”, this guy has given the Jays absolutely nothing.
His range has always been questionable, and now coming off a heel injury and being in his mid-30’s he expects to be the best SS on the team?
Offers leadership? He cried for months about the trade, and not only was he nauseating in the media, watching him bat was as well (.309 in Colorado vs. .239 with the Jays).
Agree to become a 1st baseman/DH or just go away. Smoak and Morales are most likely better hitters than Tulo at this point, but the Jays have too many dollars invested in him not to try to squeeze something out of him.
its_happening
Jays instantly became better when he arrived. He gave the Jays more than “absolutely” nothing. He’s been what we expected; an ageing player inflated by Colorado providing stability at a high price. But he hasn’t cried over the trade. He wanted to win and was a boost for the 2015-16 Jays teams.
Paul Miller
Agreed. While I expected him to have his injuries based on the past, I would of thought he would of played more.
But certainly he gave something. People quickly forget that Jose Reyes was just embarrassing in the field before the trade in 2015 and Tulo helped solidify the defense that was needed for the Postseason run.
And sure, it sucks that the Jays are on the hook for the contract, but if they didn’t make that trade, they would of paid Reyes 48 million just to go away like what Colorado had to do, and the Jays probably wouldn’t of made the Postseason.
MetsYankeesRedSox
How about big contract signed by player over 40?
nytimes.com/1991/07/19/sports/baseball-ryan-signs-…
matt4baseball
Get well soon Mallex, We need you to continue our win streak that you started! FYI-Did you know that we have Mallex Smith, Willy Adames and Ryan Yarborough on the big club basically from the David Price trade? Some minor players as well! Cudo’s rays FO!
charlesk
The Jays will finish next year dead last if Tulo is their starting SS. Is it his contract year? Maybe DH?