A’s Designate Tanner Anderson, Corban Joseph
The A’s announced today they have designated right-hander Tanner Anderson and infielder Corban Joseph for assignment. The moves clear space for their previously-reported additions of Sean Murphy and Sean Manaea.
Oakland acquired Anderson from the Pirates last offseason. The 26 year-old started five MLB games but mostly served as rotation depth at Triple-A Las Vegas, where he pitched to a 6.00 ERA with underwhelming peripherals, even in the context of the environmental challenges he was dealt. He does come with two additional option seasons, so he offers roster flexibility even if his most recent performance has been underwhelming.
The 30 year-old Joseph, meanwhile, got his most extensive big league action (40 plate appearances) this season in Oakland. In his limited big league time, he’s started games at first, second and third base and mashed this year in Las Vegas, but between his age and limited track record, he seems likely to clear waivers.
Indians Activate Carlos Carrasco, Dan Otero
In heartwarming, if expected, news, the Indians announced today they have activated Carlos Carrasco from the 60-day injured list. The club also activated right-handed reliever Dan Otero.
It has been a trying season for Carrasco, who was shut down indefinitely in May after being diagnosed with leukemia. While he hasn’t had time to ramp up to a starter’s workload, he’ll be available in short stints for Cleveland’s postseason push. They’ve had to weather a number of injuries, but they still sit half a game up on Tampa and Oakland for the AL Wild Card. They’re also within shouting distance of the Twins in the AL Central, sitting 4.5 games out with a month to play.
Otero has been out since May 31 with right shoulder inflammation. The 34 year-old is amidst his second straight trying season, sporting just a 9.5% strikeout rate in 23.2 innings. He’s no longer an integral part of a strong Cleveland bullpen.
Blue Jays Reinstate Ryan Tepera, Designate Neil Ramirez
The Blue Jays announced today they’ve reinstated right-handed reliever Ryan Tepera from the 60-day injured list. Fellow righty Neil Ramírez has been designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Tepera, a reliable middle reliever in Toronto between 2017-2018, has been limited to eleven big league innings this season by right elbow troubles. He’s not been especially productive at any level in 2019, but he’ll have a month to pitch his way into the team’s 2020 plans. Tepera agreed to a $1.525MM contract to avoid arbitration last winter and comes with two additional seasons of control, but the 31 year-old could be a non-tender candidate if he doesn’t return to form. He’s been in the Blue Jays organization since they used a 19th-round pick on him in 2009.
Ramírez is being cut loose by his second organization this season. Signed to a minor-league deal after being released by the Indians, Ramírez was added to the Jays’ active roster after just one minor-league appearance. Over 8.1 innings north of the border, he allowed five runs with six strikeouts and walks apiece, continuing a trying season for the former Cub.
Tigers Select Bryan Garcia
The Tigers announced today they’ve selected the contract of right-handed reliever Bryan Garcia. Outfielder JaCoby Jones, already known to be out for the season, was transferred to the 60-day injured list to create 40-man roster space.
Garcia, 24, ranks 23rd among Tiger farmhands at Fangraphs, where Kiley McDaniel and Eric Longenhagen praise the Tommy John survivor’s mid-90’s fastball and plus slider. Garcia has stayed healthy all season and logged a 2.97 ERA in the hitter-friendly International League over 33.1 innings. His strikeout (23.9%) and walk (10.1%) rates with Triple-A Toledo are less impressive than the run prevention numbers, but he’ll nonetheless get a chance to cement himself as a long-term piece in a Tiger bullpen that sorely needs them.
Twins Place Kyle Gibson On Injured List
The Twins announced today they’ve placed right-hander Kyle Gibson on the 10-day injured list with ulcerative colitis. Rookie left-hander Lewis Thorpe is up from Triple-A Rochester in addition to a long list of previously-announced September call-ups.
It’s unexpected and unfortunate news for Gibson, who has continued to look the part of a solid mid-rotation starter for Minnesota this year. Gibson’s 4.58 ERA is almost a run higher than the 3.62 mark he pitched to in 2018, but his peripherals pegged him as a low-4.00’s ERA talent in each season. Gibson’s never been a huge strikeout artist, but his 22% strikeout rate this season is a career-best, as is his 7% walk rate.
There’s no indication yet that Gibson’s condition will affect him long-term, although there’s evidently no hope of an immediate return. With rosters expanding in September, there would have been little harm in keeping Gibson active if the organization believed whatsoever he could return in fewer than ten days.
If the absence were to knock Gibson out for an extended period of time, it’d be a tough blow for player and team alike. The 31 year-old looks like a fringe qualifying offer candidate as he prepares to enter free agency for the first time, so this news could at least give interested suitors pause. Minnesota, meanwhile, is holding a strong (but not insurmountable) 4.5 game advantage in the AL Central. Even if they do hold onto the division title, they’ll need all the pitching they can get as they prepare for a first-round matchup with the Astros or Yankees.
Twins Select Brusdar Graterol, Ian Miller; Transfer Sean Poppen To 60-Day IL
Sunday: The Twins have officially announced Graterol’s promotion. The club has also selected the contract of speedy outfielder Ian Miller. Additionally, the club has recalled left-hander Devin Smeltzer and right-handers Zack Littell and Kohl Stewart from Triple-A Rochester. Further, the Twins activated catcher Willians Astudillo and outfielder LaMonte Wade, Jr. from respective 10-day injured list stints. To clear 40-man roster space, the club recalled minor-league right-hander Sean Poppen and transferred him to the 60-day injured list. He’d been on the minor-league IL with a right elbow contusion.
Saturday: Top Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol will see September innings at Target Field, per LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune.
A shoulder impingement took out a chunk of Graterol’s season, but since returning he’s been promoted and relegated to the bullpen in Triple-A. He has just 4 appearances thus far as he prepares for a similar role with the big league club after rosters expand. Minnesota plans for Graterol to return to a starting capacity for 2020.
Graterol will need to be added to the 40-man roster whenever he gets the call-up, though that won’t happen until sometime after September 1. Contrary to the belief of many on Twitter, not being on the 40-man roster by tomorrow does not preclude Graterol from postseason play. The Twins can petition the MLB for Graterol’s eligibility as an injury replacement for a current 40-man rosteree, such as Nick Gordon or Sean Poppen, offers MLB.com’s Dan Hayes (via Twitter).
The bigger question will be answered by Graterol’s performance on the field. The newly-21-year-old flamethrower has just 4 appearances in Triple-A and only 10 career appearances out of the pen. That the Twins are considering such a rapid promotion for Graterol in the dead heat of a pennant race speaks to their belief in his overall ability and makeup. He certainly comes with the pedigree to be an impact performer. Major prospect outlets have him as a consensus top prospect, the overall #55 prospect by MLB.com, #33 by Baseball America, and #69 by Fangraphs.
AL Notes: Glasnow, Twins, Frazier
Rays righty Tyler Glasnow seemed to be embarking on an uber-breakout campaign this year before being sidelined with forearm issues. The 1.86 ERA, 10.24 K/9 and 2.31 FIP marks he submitted in his first eight 2019 starts became the talk of baseball for a time and positioned Glasnow as the possible usurper of the Cy Young throne held by teammate Blake Snell.
Since hitting the injured list, Glasnow has embarked on a lengthy rehab that could culminate in the coming week. MLB.com writer Juan Toribio passes on that Glasnow will pitch two innings for the clubs Durham affiliate on Monday, whereafter the org will decide on the location of his next appearance (link).
To truly help a 79-58 team trying to break through the postseason barricades, Glasnow will need to be in top form when he returns to the team–a return that is expected to be in a short relief capacity. Still, this latest stop in his rehab suggests that Tampa could soon be making one of the most impactful additions of the AL playoff race this month. With tonight’s win over Cleveland, the Rays entered into a tie with Oakland for the second Wild Card play-in spot.
Two more notes from AL contenders…
- Somehow, the Twins hit six home runs tonight and still lost a 10-7 decision to the lowly Tigers. However, this would be called “burying the lead” in journalism: the real story is that the final home run of the night–a blast off the bat of Mitch Garver in the ninth inning–brought Minnesota’s home run total to 268 on the year, setting a new single-season team record. Though this record doesn’t have obvious trade or free agent implications, it’s still an impressive mark for a team that was largely debrided for organizational inactivity this offseason. Amazingly, the club has already received 20-plus homers from seven different players, with 38 home runs coming from the catching position alone (which is itself a record for an American League team). It’s hardly a surprise that such a powerful club holds an 83-52 record and +172 Run Differential, not to mention a 4.5 game lead in the AL Central. The home run record was previously held by last year’s Yankees team.
- Tomorrow will likely see social media ablaze with news of Sept. 1 roster call-ups, but word of one particular promotion stood out from the transaction morass today. Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier is a player of considerable pedigree who has mostly logged solid offensive results at the major league level (103 wRC+ in 392 career at-bats). Nonetheless, his team saw fit to demote Frazier to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre in June, sparking both trade rumors and reports that highlighted an organizational mandate to Frazier regarding his suspect defense. September hope will spring eternal for the 24-year-old outfielder, however, as it appears that the man known as “Red Thunder” will rejoin his big league bombers when rosters expand today. Frazier, for one, is excited: “Honestly feels like the first time I got called up all over again,” Frazier told Conor Foley of The Times-Tribune in Scranton (link). While in Triple-A this year, the right-handed hitter produced a .244/.302/.431 batting line.
Royals Acquire Ryan McBroom
The Yankees have traded infielder Ryan McBroom to the Royals in exchange for international signing bonus pool money and a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to announcements from both clubs.
Despite quality offensive performance at the highest levels of the minors in recent years, the 27-year-old McBroom is still waiting for his first taste of major league action. Considering that Kansas City’s Triple-A affiliate is ending their season within days, it stands to reason that this move was made with the club expecting to bring up McBroom for a September look.
Across 2911 minor-league at-bats since being taken by Toronto in the 15th round of the 2014 draft, McBroom has mustered a .288/.353/.472 batting line and 101 home runs. With Scranton Wilkes-Barre this year, the righty swinger has mashed to a 145 wRC+ and .315/.403/.570 slash.
Reyes Moronta Exits With Acute Shoulder Strain
11:15 pm: Giants manager Bruce Bochy informed reporters, including Crowley, that Moronta has an acute right shoulder strain and that the team believes the pitcher has avoided an elbow injury (link).
10:23 pm: Reporters following tonight’s game between the Giants and Padres were aghast at the sight of Reyes Moronta falling to the ground after delivering a 97.5-mph fastball to San Diego’s Luis Urias. Moronta was removed from the mound with the help of a trainer while clutching his right arm. Kerry Crowley described the optics as “really bad”, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle speculated that Moronta was “seriously hurt”, and Grant Brisbee of The Athletic simply summed up the scene as “awful”.
While more official word will presumably follow the conclusion of tonight’s action, there are surely still some white knuckles around the situation in the Bay Area tonight. At 66-68, the Giants don’t figure to extend their wild midsummer run at the Wild Card, but Moronta has been widely viewed as a major part of the SF bullpen moving forward. Since debuting in 2017, Moronta has used his blazing fastball to subdue hitters with consistency. Over 128.1 innings to this point in his career, the righty owns a 2.66 ERA and an 11.22 K/9 mark–though a lack of strike zone management (5.05 career BB/9) has always threatened to undermine his potential.
The Giants, of course, traded away both Mark Melancon and Sam Dyson at this year’s trade deadline, opening an opportunity for Moronta to continue to slide towards the first chair in the team’s bullpen. Further updates to Moronta’s status will be provided at first opportunity.
Cubs DFA Zagunis, Option Bote, Reinstate Zobrist
Cubs utilityman Ben Zobrist has been reinstated from the restricted list and added to the 25-man and 40-man rosters, according to a tweet from Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic (link). To make room on the active 25-man roster, fellow multipurpose player David Bote has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa; outfielder Mark Zagunis has been designated for assignment to clear a space for Zobrist on the 40-man. A similar report from MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian has since been retweeted by the club itself, essentially comprising what passes for an official announcement in 2019.
Though Zobrist and Bote are certainly the most famous names involved in this transaction, the DFA of Zagunis is certainly noteworthy, as the longtime Cubs farmhand offers lots of control and a relatively accomplished minor league track record. The 26-year-old has only received 55 at-bats in the bigs since debuting in 2017, but his minor league numbers tell of a patient hitter with consistently average-or-better league-adjusted production. With Triple-A Iowa this year, Zagunis has managed a .294/.361/.475 slash in his fourth go-around at the highest level of the minors; last year, his .272/.395/.375 output in 453 Iowa ABs was even better by virtue of weighted measures (111 wRC+). It will be interesting to see if a non-contender takes a flier on him in the hopes that he proves to be a big-league late bloomer.
Zobrist has been out of action since May as he deals with the ongoing ramifications of a divorce. He wasn’t off to a particularly hot start in 2019, as his .241/.343/.253 slash was far less than fans have come to expect of the multitalented greybeard. At 38-years-old, Zobrist is playing in the last year of a four-year/$56MM deal signed with Chicago prior to 2016.
This is the second time Bote has been optioned this month. Despite a .262/.359/.435 (106 wRC+) profile this year, the 26-year-old has been nonetheless wearing one for the team in recent weeks, as the activation of Steve Cishek saw him down to Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 19, only to be recalled on Aug. 25 when Anthony Rizzo started ailing. With this option, the big league sophomore will need to remain in Triple-A for a minimum of ten days.