Red Sox Acquire Andrew Cashner
7:35pm: The Orioles are picking up exactly $1.78MM, per Rosenthal. They’ll also cover “most” of the performance bonuses Cashner could earn, according to Sean McAdam of BostonSportsJournal.com.
5:30pm: Baltimore will pay approximately half of the ~$3.36MM in guarantees left on Cashner’s deal, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets. The Orioles also owe Cashner $1.5MM in signing bonus money in both 2020 and ’21.
4:32pm: The Red Sox have acquired righty Andrew Cashner and cash considerations for prospects Elio Prado and Noelberth Romero, the Orioles have reported.
Cashner, 32, was famously swapped straight-up for Anthony Rizzo in a 2011 trade between the Cubs and Padres. After a breakout 2013 campaign, in which the hard-throwing righty posted a 3.09 ERA/3.35 FIP (2.6 fWAR) in 26 starts, it’s been mostly unfulfilled promise for the former first-rounder. The TCU product was smashed in the first season of a two-year, $16MM deal he signed with Baltimore prior to the 2018 campaign, with a near-league-low 5.82 K/9 against 3.82 BB/9 en route to a 0.6 fWAR season in 28 starts.
He’s been better this year, though his K rate remains among the league’s lowest and peripheral markers (4.25 FIP, 4.88 xFIP) are non-believers in the sustainability of his 3.83 ERA. Cashner’s average fastball velocity, once an eye-popping 98.8 MPH in predominant relief for the 2012 Padres, now sits at a barely-above-league average 94.0. He’s mostly scrapped the bread-and-butter sinker he featured so prominently from 2013-18, overhauling his repertoire back to the four-seam/changeup/slider mix with which he began his career. Returns have been positive: his 8.7% swinging-strike rate is his highest since transitioning full-time to a big-league rotation, and his chase rate’s bettered the standard he established from 2016-18. Cashner’s grounder-heavy repertoire should play well in Fenway Park, with any opposite-side power somewhat neutralized by the ballpark’s spacious right-field dimensions.
Our own Steve Adams offered ample justification for transitioning the righty back to a late-inning role, but it appears such a move won’t be in the short-term cards for the Bo Sox. Cashner will apparently start Tuesday’s game for Boston, with GM Dave Dombrowski noting that the move eases the undue stress the club’s bullpen has endured thus far. Cashner’s two-year deal includes a $10MM vesting option for 2020 should the righty eclipse the 187 inning mark this year, a fact of which his acquiring club is surely aware.
Boston’s rotation has been solid this season, though it’s true that the fifth spot has been a sore one. Hector Velazquez, Brian Johnson, Ryan Weber, Josh A. Smith and Darwinzon Hernandez have each tried their hands, to less-than-stellar results, and the club had no clear fill-in at the minors’ upper levels. Nathan Eovaldi is set to return soon, but the team expects to plug him straight in to its beleaguered closer’s role.
Both Prado and Romero, 17, will transition from the Red Sox Dominican Summer League affiliate to that of the Orioles. Neither are big-time bonus babies, and reports are scarce, but Orioles GM Mike Elias does have ample experience scouting in Latin America from his time with the Cardinals and Astros organizations.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Keone Kela To Start Rehab Assignment; Erik Gonzalez Suffers Setback
Pirates reliever Keone Kela has been out since May 4 because of right shoulder inflammation, though he may finally be moving toward a return. The team announced that Kela’s likely to start a rehab assignment at the Triple-A level Saturday.
This is the second time Kela has begun a rehab stint since he landed on the injured list. However, Kela’s previous attempt came to a halt May 31 because of a setback – one that has shelved him for another month and a half to this point. The shoulder woes added to a less-than-ideal early season start for Kela, who yielded six earned runs on 11 hits and four walks (with 11 strikeouts) in 11 2/3 innings before the Pirates shut him down. Those subpar numbers came with a slight velocity drop for Kela – after averaging almost 97 mph on his fastball from 2017-18, it has clocked in just below 96 mph this year. His curveball and changeup have also lost some pep in comparison to the previous two seasons.
The Pirates are almost exactly a year from acquiring Kela, whom they got from the Rangers last July 31 for left-handed pitching prospect Taylor Hearn and young infielder Sherten Apostel. Kela was terrific for the Pirates over a small sample in 2018, and came into this year having logged quality production in each season but one (2016) since making his major league debut in 2015. The usual version of Kela would be a welcome late-season addition for the Pirates, who – despite an unimposing 44-47 record – are a surmountable 4 1/2 games back in the National League Central and three behind a wild-card spot in the NL.
Along with issuing an update on Kela, the Pirates announced that injured infielder Erik Gonzalez had to stop his rehab because of a left hamstring strain. It’s a new injury for the 27-year-old Gonzalez, who has been down since undergoing surgery on a fractured left clavicle April 25. Gonzalez, acquired from the Indians in a trade for outfielder Jordan Luplow and infielder Max Moroff in the offseason, opened 2019 as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop prior to his injury. But the Pirates have since seen rookie Kevin Newman post eye-opening production at the position, calling into question whether the out-of-options, light-hitting Gonzalez will have a place on their roster if and when he does return this year.
Carlos Correa, Aledmys Díaz To Begin Rehab Assignments On Monday
According to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, Houston Astros infielders Carlos Correa and Aledmys Diaz will both begin minor league rehab assignments with the club’s AAA Round Rock affiliate on Monday (Twitter link). That the two up-the-middle players would begin rehab assignments simultaneously is fitting, considering that both have been sidelined with injuries since a May 26th matchup against the Boston Red Sox.
Correa had been off to a nice start in 2019 after a down campaign last year, posting an excellent 140 wRC+ (.295 /.360/.547 slash line) in his first 50 games before being felled by a rib injury. As The Athletic’s Jake Kaplan points out, Correa’s assignment to Round Rock projects to be a slightly lengthy one, as his recent placement on the 60-day IL renders him ineligible to return to the Astros until July 26th at the earliest (Twitter link).
In Diaz, however, the Astros should be able to soon welcome back a capable Correa fill-in. Acquired in an offseason trade with the Blue Jays in exchange for Trent Thornton, Diaz has mostly served in something of a Marwin Gonzalez-esque role for the ‘Stros, logging time at all four infield spots and in left field in 2019. If he is able to return from his hamstring injury in time for Houston’s upcoming July 19th homestand, as Kaplan expects, Diaz and Myles Straw would represent two respectable options to hold down short until Correa’s return.
Angels Activate Matt Harvey, Designate Jarrett Parker
The Angels have activated right-hander Matt Harvey from the injured list and designated outfielder Jarrett Parker for assignment, the team announced.
The 30-year-old Harvey is returning after missing almost two months because of an upper back strain. Signed to a one-year, $11MM contract in the offseason, the ex-Met and Red started this season with a nightmarish 7.50 ERA/6.22 FIP and 6.56 K/9 against 3.94 BB/9 in 48 innings before going on the IL.
Harvey will start for the Angels on Saturday against the Mariners, though he’ll have an extraordinarily difficult act to follow. The Angels’ pitchers, honoring fallen left-hander Tyler Skaggs, threw a combined no-hitter versus the Mariners on Friday in what will go down as one of the greatest team efforts in baseball history.
Parker, 30, didn’t last long on the Angels’ 40-man roster. They selected the former Giant’s contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on July 3, but Parker only collected 15 plate appearances as a Halo before losing his spot. Parker has slashed an outstanding .296/.424/.604 with 19 home runs in 283 PA with Salt Lake this year, however. Furthermore, although Parker had to settle for a minor league contract with the Angels last winter, he owns a solid .249/.330/.441 line with a 107 wRC+ and 15 home runs in 397 trips to the plate in the majors. Most of Parker’s success in the bigs occurred from 2015-16, though.
Nationals Place Max Scherzer On Injured List
The Nationals have placed ace Max Scherzer on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 10) with a mid-back strain. They recalled catcher Spencer Kieboom from Double-A Harrisburg to take Scherzer’s 25-man spot.
Scherzer last pitched a week ago, when he turned in a seven-inning, four-hit performance with 11 strikeouts against no walks in a win over the Royals. It was another in a long line of gems for Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner who may be on his way to his fourth such award this season. The 34-year-old has logged a magnificent 2.30 ERA/2.00 FIP with a jaw-dropping 12.6 K/9 against 1.6 BB/9 across 129 1/3 innings so far in 2019. He’s likely the MVP of a Nationals team that has climbed out of the basement over the past several weeks to grab a 1 1/2-game hold over the NL’s top wild-card spot.
Considering Washington’s place in the standings, it obviously can’t afford to go without Scherzer for longer than a minimum IL stint. Scherzer said Friday his injury isn’t a “long-term” one, per Todd Dybas of NBC Sports Washington. As of now, though, the Hall of Fame-caliber workhorse is in line for a rare stay on the shelf. He’ll be out until at least July 20.
Phillies Sign Logan Morrison
The Phillies have signed free-agent first baseman Logan Morrison to a minor league contract, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. Morrison became available when he opted out of a minors pact with the Yankees on July 2.
The 32-year-old Morrison is only two seasons removed from serving as one of the majors’ finest offensive producers. He slashed .246/.353/.516 (130 wRC+) with 38 home runs in 601 plate appearances with the Rays that year to earn a $6.5MM guarantee with the Twins entering 2018. Morrison wasn’t nearly as good last year, though, owing in part to a labrum tear that ended his season in August. He then went without a contract until signing a minors pact with the Yankees toward the end of April.
Morrison never reached the majors with the Yankees, instead hitting an excellent .289/.341/.658 (143 wRC+) with 15 HRs in 164 PA with their Triple-A affiliate. With Rhys Hoskins holding down first in Philadelphia, it’ll also be difficult for Morrison to find much playing time with his new team.
Brewers Select Jay Jackson, Option Mauricio Dubon
The Brewers have selected the contract of righty Jay Jackson from Triple-A San Antonio and optioned Mauricio Dubon to AAA, the team reports.
Jackson, 31, appeared poised for a middle-inning role after a dominant 2015 season for San Diego’s AAA-affiliate, but opted instead to pitch in Japan. He excelled there, too, posting back-to-back seasons of sub 2.03 ERAs for the Hiroshima Carp of Japan’s Central League.
In 35 2/3 innings for San Antonio this year, Jackson’s offered up a commanding 1.01 ERA/1.66 FIP on the back of unassailable peripherals marks: a 12.62 K/9 against just 2.02 BB/9, and not a single homer allowed in a league that’s seen its homer rate jump by as astounding 50.5% this season. The righty should insert himself into a high-leverage role straight away for a team that’s been surprisingly short on reliable late-inning options in ’19. Josh Hader has again been dominant, if homer-prone, but the rest of the club’s complement of ‘pen arms – aside from perhaps Jeremy Jeffress – have been mediocre-to-shaky thus far in the campaign.
Dubon, acquired with Travis Shaw in the lopsided deal that sent reliever Tyler Thornburg to Boston, missed much of last season with a torn ACL. He’s rebounded nicely in ’19, though a .307/.343/.491 slash is good for only a 100 wRC+ in the unhinged offensive environment of the PCL.
Twins Designate Adalberto Mejia For Assignment
The Twins have designated lefty Adalberto Mejia for assignment, tweets Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Mejia, 26, was once a borderline top-100 prospect in the Giants farm before being shipped for INF Eduardo Nunez in a 2016 deadline deal. The Twin Cities haven’t been kind to the big lefty – he was shelled in his initial 2017 taste, and then mostly stashed at Triple-A Rochester over the next two seasons. Mejia moved to the Twin bullpen this season, where he was hit hard (6.13 FIP, 7.04 BB/9) in 13 appearances the club before hitting the IL in mid-May.
Mejia has flashed back-of-the-rotation promise as recently as last season and is a good bet to latch on elsewhere in the coming days. Each of Minnesota’s rotation and pen were too deep for him this season, and the club has a host of capable hurlers in the minor-league wings. Righty Jake Odorizzi, back after a brief blister bout, will re-gain his seat in a rotation that’s posted the AL’s second-highest fWAR total in 2019; nearly each of the club’s five fulcrums are on pace for a career-best season.
Phillies Designate Rob Brantly For Assignment
The Phillies have designated catcher Rob Brantly for assignment among a series of roster moves, the team reports.
Brantly’s contract was selected yesterday by Philly, presumably to hold down the weekend fort with catcher J.T. Realmuto away on paternity leave. In 182 plate appearances for AAA-Lehigh Valley in ’19, the former Tiger and Marlin farmhand has turned in one of his best seasons yet. The lefty’s walked more than he’s struck out so far in the International League, posting a stellar .306/.401/.452 line for the club.
He’ll likely go unclaimed on waivers, but the offensive gestation period for a catcher can be lengthy, and it’s possible Brantly has now positioned himself as a legitimate MLB backup option. In 429 career plate appearances with the White Sox and Marlins, Brantly’s paired a .229/.294/.332 (72 wRC+) slash with unseemly defensive metrics behind the plate.
White Sox Designate Juan Minaya For Assignment
The White Sox have designated righty Juan Minaya for assignment, tweets Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Minaya, a former Astro farmhand, was reasonably effective for the club this season, posting a 3.90 ERA with a decent 27/12 K/BB in 27 2/3 mostly low-leverage innings. ERA estimators were far less impressed, though – his 29.4% grounder rate was among the league’s lowest, leaving a projected HR/9 well north of the 1.30 total he allowed this season. The 28-year-old’s velocity also dipped nearly two full miles per hour from his career-best 95.4 MPH mark in ’18, and his slider effectiveness had diminished substantially.
Minaya’s DFA makes room for the return of righty Dylan Covey, himself somewhat of a chink in the already-frail armor of the White Sox rotation. The team’s bullpen’s also struggled, making the Minaya move a bit of a head-scratcher. Only a dominant Aaron Bummer has separated himself; Alex Colome and Evan Marshall have gotten outs with iffy peripherals, with the former sporting a comically low .124 BABIP.