The Brewers announced that outfielder Hunter Renfroe has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list. To make room for him on the active roster, right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez has been designated for assignment. Their 40-man roster is now at 39.
Gonzalez, 30, has been filling up transaction logs this year, as this is his second DFA, in addition to once being removed from the roster as a COVID “substitute”. He started the year on a minor league deal with the Twins, getting added to the big league roster in early June for a series in Toronto in which four unvaccinated players couldn’t cross the border. He was removed a day later but selected back to the roster in mid-June. That second stay also just lasted a single day, with his first DFA of the season leading to a waiver claim from the Brewers.
Milwaukee’s pitching staff had been a bit dented at the time by Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta landing on the injured list. They subsequently also lost Aaron Ashby and Adrian Houser to the IL, but Woodruff and Ashby have now returned, diminishing the need for Gonzalez’s services after close to a month on the team.
Gonzalez didn’t do much to warrant sticking around, as he’s put up a 6.87 ERA in 18 1/3 innings this year. That’s is a small sample, but his 15.2% strikeout rate is well below league average, although he did limit walks to a 5.1% pace. Gonzalez is out of options, making the Brewers unable to send him to the minors.
He did spend some time in the minors with the Twins before being selected, where he showed enough promise to get called up. In 36 2/3 frames in Triple-A this year, he had a 3.44 ERA, 23.2% strikeout rate, 9.3% walk rate and 55.7% ground ball rate. The Brewers will have one week to trade him, pass him through waivers or release him. If he clears waivers, he would have the ability to reject an outright assignment by virtue of having been previously outrighted in his career.
6.87 era? Atkins from the jays will hoover up that arm and gloat.
Josh Lindbloom buried in AAA on a ML contract would appear to be a logical call up! Been asking for this for weeks!
Right now it seems they aren’t in need of a starter. However, it never made sense that they just refused to give Lindblom even a spot start when guys started dropping.
Back to the golf course for you Chi Chi
Still pissed Counsell put Chi Chi in the game, in the 9th inning down 1 run, this Sunday. He gives up a 3 run homer. They lose by two. They had the day off yesterday! Better options available. Dumb
Agree! As soon as He entered the game, I called one of my friends and said we just lost the game. The HR came and we lost!
Daniel Vogelbach sends his regards
Your Welcome! I miss Barrell man #1. We still have Rowdy, Barrell man #2 on our team!
OF just improved by at least 25 percent! Nothing for the bullpen or 5th stater. When is Mr. 170 in OF getting A DFA! I hope when Taylor returns!
I wonder how much Josh Bell or Benintendi would cost the brewers? I’m not sold on T. Taylor unless he’s in a hot streak. Rotate the outfield and DH if Benintendi. Rotate DH and 1B, if Bell.
The DH rotation has kinda turned into 75% Yelich, 25% everyone else. Bringing in another bat only, or 1B/DH guy is only going to force Rowdy out, and he’s been 1 of the more consistent/productive guys we have.
I’m desperate for offense. Maybe Bell and Benintendi don’t fit the Crew. They have to get somebody. The Cardinals will get a starter or two. The division and potentially wild card will be gone if they don’t do something. I can’t live through another Atlanta first round series. 5 runs in 4 games. 4 in one of them!!!
Turang, Small, and Weimer for Bell Only if Bell helps cure the roller coaster offense. Otherwise, Brewers should continue to sit on there hands and think they have internal people that can work.
LoL…..no
Les Nessman would be all over this story 🙂
Pretty much the definition of a replacement level MLB pitcher. Which is still better than 99.999% of everyone else.
interesting that after being picked up by the brewers, his era went down but his FIP went up – not sure if that is coincidental or if the twins had defense that bad
Another dumpster dive from David Stearns that did not work out.