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Craig Breslow

Rangers Release Craig Breslow

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The Rangers have released southpaw Craig Breslow, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports (Twitter link).  The veteran reliever signed a minor league deal with Texas two weeks ago that contained an opt-out clause (for next week), though as Bradford notes, the two sides agreed to end their relationship now rather than wait Breslow to officially opt out.

Breslow posted a 4.50 ERA, 4.5 K/9 and 1.75 K/BB rate over 14 innings with Miami this season before the Marlins released him in May.  He had only a brief stint with the Rangers’ Triple-A club (allowing three runs in two innings over three games), and apparently wasn’t close to receiving a promotion to the majors.  The Texas bullpen has struggled as a whole, though the Rangers did acquire Jeremy Jeffress at the trade deadline and Jake Diekman and Alex Claudio are already in the fold as left-handed options, leaving little room for Breslow.

Breslow, who turns 36 on Monday, has been his effectiveness diminish over the last two seasons, thanks in large part to a spike in his home run rate.  He was also hit hard by both left-handed and right-handed batters in 2014-15, after spending the majority of his career posting solid splits against hitters on both sides of the plate.  Given that Breslow has a solid track record of effective relief pitching, however, he’ll likely get looks from several clubs in need of relief depth.

Rangers Sign Craig Breslow To Minor League Deal

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The Rangers have signed left-handed reliever Craig Breslow to a minor league contract, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).

Breslow, a Baratta Partners client, became free to sign anywhere when the Marlins released him from their Triple-A affiliate Monday. The 35-year-old threw 23 2/3 minor league innings for the Marlins this season and struck out an impressive 11.03 batters per nine frames, but he offset that somewhat with a high walk rate (4.18) and logged an ugly ERA (6.46). His run prevention (4.50 ERA) and BB/9 (2.57) were better in 14 big league innings this year with the Marlins, though he fanned a meager 4.5 hitters per nine.

In 535 1/3 career major league innings, including 65 with the Red Sox in 2015, Breslow has compiled a 3.35 ERA, 7.04 K/9 and 3.56 BB/9. He’ll now try to work his way back to the big leagues with the Rangers, whose bullpen is among the worst in the league statistically. However, Texas’ current left-handed options –  Jake Diekman and Alex Claudio (depth chart) – have fared well this year.

Marlins Release Craig Breslow

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The Marlins have released veteran left-hander Craig Breslow from their Triple-A affiliate, reports WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford (Twitter link).

Breslow, 35, tossed 14 innings for the Marlins’ big league club earlier this season and posted a 4.50 ERA but has  struggled following a demotion to Triple-A New Orleans. In 23 2/3 innings at the minor league level this season, Breslow has fanned an impressive 29 batters but has also been tagged for a 6.46 ERA and averaged 12.9 hits and 4.2 walks per nine innings pitched. He’ll now look to latch on with another club and work his way back to the big leagues.

In parts of 11 Major League seasons, Breslow has compiled a 3.80 ERA and averaged 7.0 K/9 against 3.6 BB/9 in 535 1/3 innings between the Red Sox, Twins, A’s, D-backs, Padres, Indians and Marlins.

Marlins Designate Craig Breslow, Select Dustin McGowan

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The Marlins have designated southpaw Craig Breslow for assignment, as MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro first reported on Twitter. His roster spot will go to right-hander Dustin McGowan, whose contract was selected from Triple-A.

Breslow, 35, has provided 14 innings to the Miami pen thus far, allowing seven earned runs on 21 hits and four walks while retiring seven batters via strikeout. But Breslow has had several rough outings in which he’s given up multiple runs, including his most recent. And with his 45-day advance consent clause soon due, the Fish obviously decided not to keep his salary on the books for the rest of the season.

As for the 34-year-old McGowan, a fellow minor league signee over the winter, this will represent his second run of the year with the Marlins. He was previously outrighted after 5 1/3 innings. Though he allowed just two earned runs on six hits, McGowan managed only a pair of strikeouts to go with two walks.

Contract Notes: Gonzalez, Breslow, McGowan, Narveson, Russell, Burriss

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Here are a few contract details relating to some recent roster decisions …

  • Miguel Gonzalez’s contract with the White Sox does not include an opt-out clause, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports on Twitter. The veteran righty will represent useful rotation depth in Triple-A. Though he is coming off of a disastrous 2015 and didn’t show well in the spring, the 31-year-old has provided plenty of solid innings (with occasionally excellent results) over the years. He’s all the more useful to Chicago without concern of a hard opt-out date.
  • Marlins relievers Craig Breslow and Dustin McGowan have both signed advance consent agreements allowing them to be removed from the major league roster without guaranteeing the remainder of their salary within 45 days of Opening Day, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports on Twitter. Breslow will earn at a $1.5MM rate in the majors, as was reported upon his signing, while McGowan will take home $1MM annually. Meanwhile, Heyman adds, lefty Chris Narveson will earn $1.2MM in the majors. He doesn’t specify whether Narveson has an advanced consent agreement.
  • The Phillies are set to pay southpaw James Russell at a $1.5MM rate and Emmanuel Burriss $925K annually, Heyman adds on Twitter. Russell has had some productive campaigns in the past, and cracked the Opening Day roster after posting nine strikeouts and no walks in his 6 2/3 spring innings. As for Burriss, 31, he appeared briefly in the big leagues last year for the first time since a five-year run of part-time action with the Giants between 2008 and 2012.

Marlins Designate Brad Hand, Cole Gillespie For Assignment

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The Marlins announced that they have designated left-hander Brad Hand and outfielder Cole Gillespie for assignment.  In related moves, Mike Dunn and Raudel Lazo have been placed on the 15-day disabled list and Carter Capps has been put on the 60-day DL, allowing the team to select the contracts of Craig Breslow, Dustin McGowan, and Chris Narveson.

Gillespie, 32 in June, spent nearly half of the 2015 season on the Marlins’ big league roster.  In 157 plate appearances, the outfielder hit .290/.333/.428 with two home runs.  Gillespie has also had short major league stints over five seasons with the D’Backs, Giants, Cubs, Mariners, and Blue Jays.

Hand, 26, has spent his entire career with the Marlins organization since being selected in the second-round of the 2008 draft.  Over the last five years, Hand has pitched to a 4.71 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 (43 starts, 47 relief appearances).  Hand has drawn trade interest in the past, so he might not be in limbo for long.

Now that Breslow has made Miami’s Opening Day roster, he will earn $1.5MM for the 2016 season.  To keep up with the whereabouts of Hand, Gillespie, and all of the other players in DFA limbo, check out MLBTR’s DFA Tracker.

NL East Notes: Torres, Ramos, Narveson, Breslow

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Here’s the latest from around the NL East…

  • Carlos Torres has an opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the Braves, MLBTR’s Zach Links reports (Twitter links), and Torres’ representatives are now talking with other teams after Atlanta didn’t put the righty on the Opening Day roster.  Torres posted a 3.59 ERA, 8.18 K/9 and 3.00 K/BB rate over 241 innings for the Mets in 2013-15, with all but 10 of his 165 appearances coming out of the bullpen.  He was outrighted off New York’s 40-man roster in January.
  • Wilson Ramos hopes to remain with the Nationals beyond this season, the catcher tells James Wagner of the Washington Post.  Ramos underwent Lazik surgery and adopted a new offseason training regiment to get in better shape, and the results have paid off thus far in the form of strong Spring Training numbers.  The catcher is looking to rebound from a down year in 2015, both to “be well prepared for the market” as a free agent and to prove himself to the Nats as deserving of a new deal.  “I hope they give me a chance to stay longer and I hope I can have a good year to prove that I can be here longer,” Ramos said.  There is a fair amount of quality catching available in next winter’s free agent market, though a big season would nicely position Ramos within an overall thin class of players.
  • Left-handers Craig Breslow and Chris Narveson both have opt-out clauses today in their minor league deals with the Marlins, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports.  Breslow seems likely to make the roster, so with Mike Dunn established as the other lefty in the bullpen, Narveson could be the odd man out.  Narveson posted a 4.45 ERA, 9.5 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 with Miami last season but was punished by the long ball, allowing seven homers in just 30 1/3 innings.  The veteran southpaw re-signed with Miami after being outrighted in October.  Frisaro wrote more earlier this week about Narveson’s quest to make the Marlins.
  • Former Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd and an American League scout break down the Marlins roster for Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.  Both O’Dowd and the scout like Marcell Ozuna and Adam Conley this season, though the Marlins’ bullpen is a problem area.
  • In other NL East news from this morning, John Schuerholz is stepping down as the Braves’ president to take a new role as the club’s vice chairman.

Notable Opening Day Roster Decisions

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With Opening Day fast approaching, and a variety of deadlines hitting clubs around the league, we’re seeing plenty of final roster and initial playing time decisions being made. While many don’t necessarily implicate control rights or other contractual matters, some are particularly noteworthy. Among them:

  • Ricky Nolasco has won the Twins’ final rotation spot, with the club optioning Tyler Duffey to Triple-A, MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger tweets. The 25-year-old Duffey had an impressive ten-game debut last year, but was outperformed in camp by the high-priced veteran Nolasco, who struck out 14 in his 13 1/3 innings. Duffey, meanwhile, surrendered a 7.30 ERA in 12 1/3 innings, with six walks to go with just six strikeouts. Minnesota also seems to have set its pen and the rest of its 25-man Opening Day roster, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune tweets, by reassigning Logan Darnell to minor league camp. It appears that Fernando Abad will function as the sole lefty middle reliever on the club.
  • It appears that reliever Craig Breslow has made the Marlins’ roster, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com tweets.  Breslow inked a minor league deal with Miami this winter and will earn $1.5MM in 2016 if he makes the roster.
  • The Giants have optioned catcher Andrew Susac and will go with Trevor Brown in the reserve role to open the season, Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area was among those to report on Twitter. Susac has dealt with injuries this spring and could certainly stand to receive more steady playing time. That creates a nice opportunity for the 24-year-old Brown, a glove-first receiver who has a lot to prove with the bat.
  • The Brewers will go with Yadiel Rivera and Rule 5 pick Colin Walsh as bench infielders, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy tweets. That leaves Hernan Perez without an apparent role. He’s out of options, so a roster move could be coming for the 25-year-old. Meanwhile, Walsh will get a chance to stick in Milwaukee, which is obviously intrigued at the idea of keeping his future rights.

Marlins To Sign Craig Breslow To Minors Deal

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The Marlins have agreed to a minor league pact with veteran southpaw Craig Breslow, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports. He would earn $1.5MM if he can crack the MLB roster.

Though he had kicked around the idea of seeking a starting opportunity, Breslow will reportedly chase a pen slot in Miami. He also considered offers from the Cubs, Blue Jays, and Red Sox.

Working for Boston last year, the 35-year-old carried a 4.15 ERA over 65 frames with 6.4 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9. While the results were improved after a tough 2014, Breslow wasn’t able to show quite the same form that led to a 2.82 earned run mark over his first 402 MLB frames over the span of 2005 to 2013.

The veteran’s groundball rate is down and his home run susceptibility is up, and it’s reflected in advanced metrics, which do not put a positive spin on his past two seasons. While he has long outpaced ERA estimators, and did so again in 2015, they are increasingly sour on his work (5.27 FIP, 5.07 xFIP, and 4.51 SIERA last year).

On the other hand, Breslow still pitches with about the same fastball velocity (he averaged 90.0 mph with his four-seamer last year) as he always has. And he boosted his swinging strike rate into double digits for the first time since 2012. He ought to have every opportunity to earn a job this spring in a Miami pen that was in need of options behind top southpaw Mike Dunn.

Pitching Notes: Tomlin, O’Flaherty, Masterson, Marlins, Breslow

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Indians righty Josh Tomlin and club GM Mike Chernoff discussed their newly-minted extension, as Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. While noting that Tomlin has some experience in the pen, Chernoff said that “he’ll have every opportunity to be in the starting rotation” this year. For the pitcher, the agreement was not just about maximizing his career earnings. “When they approached my agent about that contract, it was something that excited me and got me looking forward to this season,” he said. “I wasn’t really looking towards the future saying, ‘OK, these guys are getting this much money. I could potentially have that kind of money.’ It never entered my head. It was, ‘The Cleveland Indians wanted to give me a shot and I’m all about it.’”

Here’s the latest on the market for arms:

  • Veteran lefty Eric O’Flaherty is set to throw for scouts today in Seattle, according to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). He’ll be looking to prove that he’s not only healthy, but has worked out some mechanical kinks, per the report. Soon to turn 31, O’Flaherty endured a tough 2015 campaign — in particular, he showed an uncharacteristic inability to avoid the free pass — and will be looking for an opportunity to bounce back in 2016.
  • Righty Justin Masterson is beginning a throwing program and could be lining up a mid-March display for teams, SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo tweets. We’ve heard previously of interest from a handful of clubs, but it seems that the one-time Indians stalwart will be looking to show off his form at full strength before signing.
  • The Marlins had interest in right-hander Bronson Arroyo before he inked with the Nationals, according to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro, and the team is leaning toward other free agent options that won’t require a guaranteed deal. While Miami will still consider a rotation piece on a MLB deal, per the report, it will only do so if it’s sure that any such player is at full health. Frisaro explains that the team is looking to maximize an approximately $75MM payroll with players that will be on the field.
  • Left-hander Craig Breslow is drawing interest from teams that view him as both a rotation and pen possibility, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. The 35-year-old has been looking for a chance at a late-career move back to the rotation after a successful pair of starts late last year.
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