Blue Jays To Promote Jordan Romano
The Blue Jays will select the contract of righty Jordan Romano, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. It’s not yet clear how the team will create the necessary roster space, which includes a 40-man spot.
Romano, 26, is a 2014 tenth-rounder who hasn’t yet cracked the majors. That’s not to say he wasn’t on the MLB radar. The Canadian hurler was selected in the Rule 5 draft last winter, with the Rangers (who had acquired his rights from the White Sox) ultimately deciding to send him back to Toronto.
Through 31 frames at Triple-A this year, Romano carries only a 6.10 ERA. But most of the damage came during his early work as a starter and in one abysmal performance in mid-May. More importantly, Romano has trended up in the strikeout department, posting 12.5 K/9 against 3.8 BB/9 on the year.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels On Deadline Approach
Rangers GM Jon Daniels offered a balanced take on his organization’s planning for the 2019 trade deadline, as Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was among those to report. There’s a full transcript available at the link, but we’ll cover a few highlights.
Daniels emphasized that the club’s pleasant surprise isn’t just good fortune. Quality play has led to a surprising 36-30 record. At the same time, the organization remains realistic about its near-term prospects and hasn’t seen anything that substantially changes its high-level strategy.
The Rangers entered the year with the viewpoint that it did not want “to place limits on the club,” Daniels says, rejecting the idea of an all-in/all-out dichotomy. It still plans to “stay true to our mind-set of trying to balance, continue to place a priority on the next few years.”
At the same time, Daniels says he’ll “be open-minded to the way the club’s played and respect that.” He will be looking for opportunities over the coming weeks, though the broader vision also certainly shapes the still-developing approach.
When asked about the possibility of shipping out prospects to improve the immediate roster, Daniels responded: “Most likely if we were to do that it would be for someone with control beyond next year.”
That’s not really a new approach, Daniels emphasized. When asked about the concept of pursuing controllable starting pitching, Daniels said that’s something the club “explored … this winter” already. Continuing to do so seems natural given that the team is performing above expectations.
So, what will drive the decisionmaking? It seems Daniels plans to serve the organization’s overarching vision rather than reacting too strongly to the in-season developments. While the Texas GM acknowledged that it’s necessary to “factor” in the likelihood of competing in the division versus only challenging for a Wild Card, that won’t drive the bus. “There’s value in giving the team an opportunity,” he explained.
Daniels says that the next month of play likely won’t substantially change the club’s approach. “Listen, overall we know which direction we’re going in,” he said. “… We have a pretty good sense of where we want to go over the next few years.”
While it’s tough to divine much from these comments, it seems fair to presume that the Rangers won’t be heavy in the rental market barring a truly stunning turn of events in the next six weeks. But the organization’s intended competitiveness in the next several seasons will certainly require outside additions, especially in the pitching department. It stands to reason that opportunities of that ilk will hold appeal — with the Rangers seeing at least some added value in boosting the 2019 outlook.
Is There A Trade Market For Edwin Encarnacion?
In last week’s chat, I was asked which MLB player would be the next to be moved via trade. My mind immediately went to one place: the Mariners. GM Jerry Dipoto’s reputation precedes him. And he’s in a dealing mood, having already swung one deal on an expensive veteran and tried to work out another. But when it came to naming the specific player, it seemed too pedestrian to guess starter Mike Leake, who has already come up in talks, or pick an easy-come, easy-go reliever.
Instead, I went with veteran slugger Edwin Encarnacion, a long-time star who has been out of the spotlight of late. He’s hitting well, sure, but does EE even have a strong market right now? Let’s take a closer look.
The M’s ended up with Encarnacion when the music stopped on a dizzying game of lumbering slugger musical chairs over the offseason. It seemed at one point he’d be shipped elsewhere over the winter, but that didn’t come to pass. He is earning a $20MM salary this year. There’s also a $5MM buyout on a 2020 option, though the complicated trade that brought Encarnacion to Seattle included a $5MM payment to cover that amount.
With that kind of coin still owed, Encarnacion’s contract is unquestionably under water. He’s 36 years old and was merely good at the plate last year. He has mostly been limited to DH duties in recent seasons, though he has lined up at first base thus far in 2019 with palatable metrics.
On the other hand, Encarnacion can really hit. He’s back in business thus far, making the ’18 output look like a minor blip. Through 283 plate appearances, Encarnacion carries a .246/.360/.542 slash — that’s good for a healthy 143 wRC+ — and leads the American League with 21 round-trippers.
The M’s won’t shed all the remaining money owed, but they could well dump a significant portion of it. There’s even an argument to be made that the ’20 club option could be worthwhile; given the hefty buyout price, the $20MM rate of pay is effectively a $15MM decision. The Twins spent $14.3MM on Nelson Cruz this past winter and certainly don’t regret it.
The supply situation seems generally favorable for Seattle. For teams looking for serious lineup punch, there’s a relative dearth of obvious targets. The market hasn’t yet settled out, but it’s tough to imagine a better win-now DH/1B candidate being made available at this stage of the season (if at all, at least at a palatable price).
How much money the Seattle org will save, and/or what it can achieve in terms of prospects, will depend upon Dipoto’s ability to drum up interest from multiple teams. So how do things look from the demand side?
American League teams make for a natural fit, given Encarnacion’s defensive limitations. But it’s possible that NL clubs will also consider him, particularly since they’ve had a chance to see him play first base extensively this year. Most plausibly, the Brewers could pull the plug on the struggling Jesus Aguilar and replace him with Encarnacion. Some would argue the team should prioritize pitching, but there’s real potential for improvement here as well. Plus, it’d answer the rival Cubs’ recent signing of Craig Kimbrel — and give the Brew Crew a big righty bat to slot in against the Cubbies’ lefty-heavy rotation. You really have to squint to see any other National League outfits matching at present, but several could make sense depending upon injuries and other developments over the coming weeks.
Turning to the AL side of the ledger, Encarnacion would actually match up nicely with the team that just dealt him away. Carlos Santana has thrived since making his own return to the Indians, but the team still desperately needs more punch and could hand the DH slot right back to EE. While he fits on the roster, Encarnacion probably won’t squeeze into the payroll.
There’s perhaps also an argument for the Rangers to take a look. If they’re going to slug their way into the Wild Card, they may as well go whole-hog, and Ronald Guzman has been below-average at the plate. But it’d be a bit of an odd move for a team that is desperate for starting pitching and likely doesn’t want to expend too much cash (and certainly won’t want to give up future value) on a season that may well fizzle out.
The Yankees haven’t received the bounce back they hoped for from Kendrys Morales, but he’s also just a temporary fix. It’d be an unexpected splurge to go for Encarnacion with Luke Voit holding down the fort at first, multiple major bats on the rehab trail, and needs elsewhere.
What about the scuffling defending champs? The Red Sox are actually a somewhat interesting fit, but only if they’re willing to utilize Encarnacion at first base and further boost their league-high spending levels. Steve Pearce has collapsed at the plate. Mitch Moreland has hit well from the left side but is hurt. Michael Chavis has hit a lull; he’d also still be an option at second base with the addition of Encarnacion.
How about the Rays, who are tied atop the AL East with the Yanks and will need to max out their resources down the stretch? The Tampa Bay org is getting solid value from Ji-Man Choi at first base, with Yandy Diaz sliding over from third to handle lefties. There’s not a huge DH need since the club has a bit of a corner outfield surplus with Avisail Garcia, Tommy Pham, and Austin Meadows. That said, there’s some window for a deal since Choi and top hitting prospect Nate Lowe are both lefty hitters. The club will surely also consider putting its money and prospects to work to add pitching, but a move for Encarnacion is well worth considering.
The Astros may be the best fit, all things considered. It’s a team that sometimes seems to have it all, but there are caveats. Right now, the ‘Stros aren’t healthy, and it’d be preferable to ensure the offense keeps producing while the team awaits the returns of some star players. More importantly, there is a rather notable roster opening in the slugger department. Encarnacion was reputedly on the Houston radar before the season and he ought to be an even bigger target now, with Yuli Gurriel and Tyler White both producing at subpar rates. Even if Yordan Alvarez grabs hold of the DH spot, Encarnacion could step in at first base. This possibility is especially tempting to contemplate since it could help the Houston organization form up a historically exceptional lineup in time for the postseason.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Latest On Brett Cecil
Cardinals reliever Brett Cecil says he’s pleased thus far with the results of his carpal tunnel surgery, as Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. The southpaw is preparing to throw from a mound for the first time since his procedure in early April.
Cecil ended up going under the knife when he experienced a loss of sensation in his fingers this spring. That was only the latest in a line of woes for the veteran hurler, whose tenure in St. Louis has not gone as hoped when the team gave him a rare four-year deal in advance of the 2017 campaign. He’s earning $7.5MM this year and $7MM next, with full no-trade rights.
Last season, Cecil experienced shoulder and foot problems — along with notable declines in velocity, swinging-strike rate, and chase rate (among other things). Simply put, he wasn’t fooling opposing hitters. Cecil walked more of them than he struck out en route to 32 2/3 innings of 6.89 ERA pitching.
It’s anyone’s guess whether Cecil will ever be anything close to the stud setup man the Cards thought they were getting. But they’ll soon get a sense of his post-surgical form. If all goes well, Cecil could launch a rehab assignment not long after his 33rd birthday in early July and perhaps even make it back to the MLB mound by the end of the month.
A.J. Puk, Jesus Luzardo Impress In Rehab Debuts
A pair of highly talented Athletics lefties returned to competitive action yesterday after long layoffs. Prospects A.J. Puk and Jesus Luzardo each began injury rehab assignments last night, appearing for the High-A Stockton Ports.
That news is quite promising on its own. Better still for the A’s, the southpaw duo looked to be in fine form. As Tyler Maun of MiLB.com writes, both hurlers impressed in 33-pitch piggyback appearances.
Puk came out blazing in his first competitive work since the 2017 season, working in the upper nineties with his acclaimed heater. He ultimately ran up four strikeouts in two frames while permitting one run on one hit — a home run from highly regarded Giants prospect Heliot Ramos.
It’s excellent to see that Puk has regained his arm speed since undergoing Tommy John surgery. He underwent the procedure in April of 2011, temporarily halting what was likely to be a quick run through the Oakland farm system. Puk, who went sixth overall in the 2016 draft, had been expected to make his way to the majors early in the 2018 campaign after an impressive showing in MLB camp that year.
The story isn’t altogether different for Luzardo, who featured in a similar role in the spring of 2019. He also had hopes of a swift rise to the majors dashed by injury. In his case, shoulder troubles caused the team to order a shutdown late in camp. The organization understandably set a cautious course for the 21-year-old hurler.
Last night, Luzardo spun three scoreless frames. He struck out two, with Ramos among the victims, while logging 24 strikes in his 33 pitches. That’s efficient work from the precocious hurler, who is known most for his exceptional feel and command over his three-pitch arsenal.
Where things go from here will depend upon quite a few factors, including the way that Puk and Luzardo recover from their first big tests. There’s little question that they’ll be tasked with multiple additional rehab starts while they build up their pitch counts and the club evaluates their readiness. But it’s hard not to dream on successive MLB debuts as soon as early July.
“I just know that they’re going to be throwing pretty consistently now until the end of the year,” Stockton pitching coach Chris Smith says. “The gloves are off. They want to see those kids hit the ground running.”
That’s an encouraging takeaway for A’s fans. These exciting young pitchers still have hurdles to clear before reaching the majors, but that goal is now clearly in sight. Adding them to a generally subpar rotation mix would completely change the complexion of the Oakland pitching staff. Whether that’ll occur remains to be seen, but the A’s ought to have a good sense before the trade deadline.
Corey Seager Suffers Hamstring Injury
Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager exited the team’s game Tuesday with a left hamstring injury. Manager Dave Roberts said afterward the club believes he suffered a Grade 2 strain, though Seager will undergo an MRI for confirmation (via Pedro Moura of The Athletic).
If the Dodgers’ fears are correct, Seager could end up missing at least a few weeks. To cite one recent example, Astros outfielder George Springer suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain May 25 and still hasn’t returned. A similar absence would mean another frustratingly short campaign for Seager, the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year who underwent Tommy John surgery last season and missed all but 26 games as a result. The 25-year-old also required left hip surgery in August, though his season was already long over at that point.
Seager had been enjoying a healthy, productive 2019 prior to incurring his latest injury. Not only has Seager appeared in 66 of the Dodgers’ 68 games, but he has slashed .279/.359/.468 (121 wRC+) with eight home runs and 2.1 fWAR over 265 plate appearances.
Seager’s production would be difficult to replace, especially given the tear he has been on this month. However, the cushion the 45-23 Dodgers have built in the National League West and the NL as a whole will give them some breathing room without Seager. For now, LA’s poised to turn to Chris Taylor as its primary shortstop, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
MLB Draft Signings: 6/12/19
Here are the latest notable MLB draft signings…
- Second-round outfielder Matt Gorski (No. 57) has signed a below-slot deal with the Pirates, according to Jim Callis of MLB.com. He’ll earn $1MM, down from the $1,243,600 recommended slot value of the selection. Callis and Jonathan Mayo ranked Gorski as the 112th-best player in the draft, crediting the Indiana Hoosier with possessing “one of the best toolsets in college baseball.” They contend the 21-year-old Gorski could become a 20-20 player and a plus center fielder in the majors, though he’ll have to overcome concerns regarding the length of his swing.
- Along with inking Gorski, the Pirates signed third baseman Jared Triolo for full slot value ($870K), Callis tweets. Triolo, out of the University of Houston, went to the Pirates in Comp Round B (No. 72 overall). Callis and Mayo had him at No. 146 going into the draft, noting, “He doesn’t have any plus tools or glaring flaws, and scouts love his makeup.”
- The Angels have signed second-rounder Kyren Parris, the team announced. Parris’ pick, No. 55, came with a $1.31MM slot value, but he received $1.4MM, Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs relays. McDaniel and colleague Eric Longenhagen rated the 17-year-old Parris as the draft’s 39th-best player, thanks in part to his speed, defensive skills at shortstop, and a “projectable” frame.
- The Rockies announced the signings of several picks, including second-round infielder Aaron Schunk. The 62nd pick, Schunk received the full slot value of $1.1MM, Callis reports. Callis and Mayo, who had Schunk 92nd in his class, write that the Georgia Bulldog could develop into a .270/20-HR hitter and a quality third baseman in the pros.
Health Notes: Angels, Gordon, Brewers, M. Kemp, Reds
The Angels appear likely to activate left fielder Justin Upton sometime during their upcoming road trip from June 13-23, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register suggests. Upton, out all season because of a toe injury, began a rehab assignment last Friday. Meanwhile, injured shortstop Andrelton Simmons is “progressing quickly” and may start taking live at-bats soon, per Fletcher. Simmons hasn’t played since May 20 because of a Grade 3 left ankle sprain.
- The Mariners activated second baseman Dee Gordon from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, the team announced. They optioned righty Matt Festa to Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move. Gordon’s back after missing 19 games with a right wrist contusion. The 31-year-old trade candidate is off to a .280/.309/.366 start (85 wRC+) with three home runs and 12 steals on 14 attempts across 177 plate appearances.
- Brewers right-hander Jhoulys Chacin is on track to return during their series in San Diego, which runs from June 17-19, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. Chacin has been on the IL since June 2 with a lower back strain. Before that, he struggled to build on last season’s quality performance, logging 58 innings of 5.74 ERA/5.75 FIP ball with 6.83 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9.
- Mets minor league outfielder Matt Kemp is dealing with lingering effects of a broken rib he suffered in April, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. The Mets placed Kemp on the minor league IL as a result. The 34-year-old Kemp settled for a minors pact with the Mets on May 24, three weeks after Cincinnati released him. Kemp slashed a brutal .200/.210/.283 (23 wRC+) in 62 plate appearances with Cincy and hasn’t been much better as a member of the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse. So far, Kemp has hit .235/.278/.324 (52 wRC+) in 36 tries at the minors’ top level.
- Reds righty reliever Robert Stephenson began a Triple-A rehab stint Tuesday, according to the team. Stephenson went to the IL on May 31 with a cervical strain. Once a well-regarded starting pitching prospect, Stephenson looked as if he was emerging as a credible reliever before his injury. In his first full-time look out of the bullpen, the 26-year-old has notched a 3.96 ERA/2.58 FIP with 12.6 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 across 25 innings.
Tigers Notes: Zimmermann, Ross, Goodrum
Detroit’s rotation has been without its elder statesmen, injured right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Tyson Ross, for a large portion of the season. It’s going to stay that way for at least a little while longer, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press explains.
Zimmermann, down since April 26 with a sprained right UCL, pitched a rain-shortened rehab game at the Single-A level Saturday and “just didn’t feel comfortable with his stuff,” manager Ron Gardenhire told Fenech, adding: “He wants to get back into a normal routine before he comes up here and pitches, which is absolutely 100% right. You can’t come up here with below average stuff.”
The 33-year-old Zimmermann will make another rehab stint this week with a to-be-determined affiliate, per Fenech. At this point, it’s unclear how much more time Zimmermann will miss. Barring setbacks, though, a pitcher’s rehab stint is allowed to go on for up to 30 days. Zimmermann’s began June 8.
Ross, 32, hasn’t started a rehab assignment since landing on the injured list May 12 with a nerve issue in his right elbow. He’s now dealing with a stiff neck and won’t return to throwing for “probably five days,” Fenech writes.
Thanks to an unattractive combination of injury and performance woes, Zimmermann and Ross are all but guaranteed to go down as failed free-agent signings for Detroit. Zimmermann parlayed high-end production as a member of the Nationals from 2009-15 into a five-year, $110MM contract with the Tigers heading into 2016, but the union hasn’t worked out at all for the club. Zimmermann owns a 5.29 ERA/4.82 FIP in 427 innings as a Tiger, and the former workhorse hasn’t exceeded 160 frames in a season since signing his deal. The Ross investment’s going to hurt Detroit a lot less, as it only gave him a one-year, $5.75MM guarantee last winter. Still, his woeful numbers – a 6.11 ERA/5.92 FIP with 6.37 K/9 and 4.58 BB/9 in 35 1/3 innings – aren’t what the Tigers had in mind when they signed Ross.
Injuries to starters, not just to Zimmermann and Ross, have been an unfortunate theme for struggling Detroit in 2019. In addition to the absences of Zimmermann and Ross, the Tigers have been without righty Michael Fulmer and lefty Matt Moore for all or most of the season. Fulmer underwent Tommy John surgery before the campaign began, while Moore turned in one and a half excellent starts before undergoing season-ending right knee surgery in mid-April.
With Zimmermann, Ross, Fulmer and Moore unavailable, the Tigers’ rotation has seen a potential ace emerge in Matthew Boyd, though the 28-year-old could be an in-season trade candidate. Meanwhile, fellow 20-somethings Spencer Turnbull and Daniel Norris have also offered encouraging signs. They’re the only members of the Tigers’ rotation who have racked up at least 10 starts this season. Ryan Carpenter and Gregory Soto, who have combined for 10 starts, have joined Zimmermann and Ross in recording horrific production.
In further unwelcome news for the Tigers, one of their top position players, Niko Goodrum, departed Tuesday’s loss to the Royals with “significant” right knee swelling, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News tweets. It’s unclear whether Goodrum will require an IL stint, though. The switch hitter’s batting .233/.315/.393 (90 wRC+) with six homers and seven steals on nine tries through 248 plate appearances. More impressively, the versatile Goodrum has seen action at every position but pitcher and catcher this year.
Latest On Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Dellin Betances
The Yankees have been without injured corner outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge for almost the whole season, but it appears they’ll be back in the team’s lineup soon. Manager Aaron Boone suggested Tuesday that the sluggers could return during an upcoming homestand that spans from June 17-26, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com (Twitter links). In the meantime, both players will need to tune up in the minor leagues. Stanton started a rehab assignment at the High-A level Tuesday, while Judge is likely to embark on a rehab stint with either Triple-A Scranton or another affiliate this weekend.
New York’s one of nine teams that have cracked at least 100 home runs this year, but it hasn’t gotten any from the prodigious Stanton. The 29-year-old totaled only eight plate appearances before going to the injured list with a biceps strain April 1. While that problem is in the past, Stanton has since dealt with left shoulder and calf issues – the latter of which forced him back to the IL on May 22 shortly after he began a rehab assignment.
Judge, meanwhile, headed to the IL on April 21 with a significant left oblique strain. He opened his age-27 season with a flourish before that, slashing .288/.404/.521 (145 wRC+) with five homers in 89 trips to the plate.
Just as the Yankees’ offense has had to get by without Stanton and Judge, among others, their bullpen has been forced to survive without one of its best pieces. Right-hander Dellin Betances hasn’t pitched this season after being diagnosed with a bone spur in his shoulder in early April. That injury has healed, but the four-time All-Star is now battling a right lat strain. Although Boone announced it’s a low-grade strain, the Yankees will shut Betances down “for a few weeks,” Hoch writes.
“He’s still going to play a big role for us this year, just a little later than we thought,” Boone said of Betances.