We’ll keep track of some recent players who’ve cleared waivers following earlier DFAs in this post…
- The Orioles announced that left-hander Zac Lowther went unclaimed on outright waivers and has been subsequently assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. He was designated for assignment a week ago, when Baltimore claimed infielder Jonathan Arauz off waivers from the Red Sox. Lowther, 26, was a second-round pick by the Orioles back in 2017 and for a few years rated as one of their system’s most promising arms. It was easy to see why, as he breezed through the low minors, reaching Double-A as a 23-year-old in 2019 and hurling 148 frames of 2.55 ERA ball with a 26% strikeout rate (albeit against an elevated 10.6% walk rate). Since moving up to the Triple-A level, however, the former Xavier University standout has been clobbered for 61 earned runs in 65 1/3 frames. He’s endured similar struggles in his limited Major League action, pitching to a grisly 6.94 ERA with 15 walks, five hit batsmen and six homers allowed in just 35 innings.
- Infielder Gosuke Katoh passed through outright waivers and has been assigned to the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse, per the team’s transactions log at MLB.com. Katoh was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays in early May, and while he was recalled for a series later that month, he didn’t get into a game before being optioned back to Syracuse three days later. The Mets needed a 40-man roster spot last week when selecting veteran reliever Tommy Hunter, and Katoh proved to be the roster casualty. The longtime Yankees farmhand made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays earlier this year after signing a minor league deal and went 1-for-7 with three walks in a brief cup of coffee. Katoh entered the season with a strong track record in 197 Triple-A games between the Yankees and Padres, but he’s gone just 4-for-46 in 55 plate appearances between the Triple-A clubs for the Jays and Mets this year. He’ll remain on hand as a depth option in Syracuse and hope to start trending toward the .306/.388/.474 form he showed in Triple-A a year ago.
LordD99
Jackson Frazier?
C Yards Jeff
Probably not? Most GMs reluctant to take a chance on him because of the blurred vision/ balance thing? Wish him well at AAA Cubs.
thekid9
Your so sweet.
Ra
If you insist on being a jerk to people, learn to spell.
Orioles Fan
I was hoping someone would have picked up old Zac. That slot in AAA would be filled with someone who has a future in Baltimore.
C Yards Jeff
Agreed. Can’t see him getting it figured out. That said, so does this mean we have no one at Bowie to move up? And, if someone wants Mancini or Santander, this is the kind of prospect(s) we’re wanting in the trade?
thekid9
Thank you Johnny Superscout
C Yards Jeff
@thekid9: I’m curious. Why r u here, sweetie?
gcg27
I wouldn’t give up on him quite yet
Ham Fighter
Katoh should just ask to be released and play in Japan he would not be a foreign player since both of his parents were born in Japan.