Roster Roundup: August 20-26
Below you’ll find a roundup of notable moves from the past few days, as well as future expected moves and a Minor League Report, which includes a list of recent major league debuts, and top prospect promotions. For this column, any lineup regulars, starting pitchers, or late-inning relievers are considered “notable,” meaning that middle relievers, long relievers, and bench players are excluded. You can always find a full list of updated transactions here.
Lineup Regulars
Arizona Diamondbacks
8/24/19: OF David Peralta (AC joint inflammation) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 24.
For the third time this season, Peralta has been placed on the injured list with a shoulder issue. He’s still managed to slash .275/.343/.461 with 12 homers and 29 doubles in 432 plate appearances, but he has only nine hits in his last 46 at-bats. With the Diamondbacks’ playoff hopes all but gone, they could just decide to shut him down for the year and take a long look at rookie Josh Rojas in the outfield.
Atlanta Braves
8/26/19: SS Dansby Swanson activated from 10-Day IL.
8/24/19: C Francisco Cervelli signed to MLB contract.
8/21/19: C Brian McCann (knee spasm) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 21.
Swanson returns with his team on an eight-game winning streak. His recent replacement, Adeiny Hechavarria, has gone 7-for-28 with four doubles and a homer during that span, likely earning him a spot on the Braves’ bench for at least the remainder of the regular season.
Only weeks after a report surfaced that Cervelli would not return to catching due to his multiple concussions—he refuted those claims soon after—the 33-year-old shined in his Braves debut with three hits and three runs batted in while catching his first game in three months.
Chicago White Sox
8/22/19: 3B Yoan Moncada activated from 10-Day IL.
Moncada had a double, homer, and two runs batted in in each of his first two games since returning to the lineup. The 24-year-old is batting .300 with 22 homers in his second full major league season.
Cincinnati Reds
8/23/19: INF/OF Derek Dietrich activated from 10-Day IL.
8/22/19: OF Jesse Winker (cervical strain) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 19.
Getting a chance to play first base with Joey Votto on the injured list, Dietrich is 1-for-9 with a double in three games since his return. Since his OPS peaked at 1.087 on June 1, the super-utilityman has a .571 OPS with two homers and 40 strikeouts in 135 plate appearances.
With Winker out of the lineup, rookie Josh VanMeter continues to show off his versatility by filling in as the leadoff man. In addition to left field, where he’s started 16 times, the 24-year-old has made starts at first base, second base, and third base.
Cleveland Indians
8/25/19: 3B Jose Ramirez (fractured hamate) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 25.
It took awhile, but Ramirez finally broke out of a deep slump in late June and had slashed .325/.370/.675 with 21 homers over his last 219 plate appearances. The Indians will now have an even tougher time catching the Twins in the AL Central—they’re currently 3 1/2 games back—and holding on to a playoff spot without one of their best players, who might not even be ready for the post-season if they make it. In the meantime, Yu Chang and Mike Freeman will likely share time at third base.
Colorado Rockies
8/26/19: OF Raimel Tapia (hand contusion) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 25.
Tapia has made a strong case to be a starting outfielder for the Rockies in 2020, hitting .341 with 13 multi-hit games in the second half. Garrett Hampson and Yonathan Daza will each get a chance to play center field while he is out of action.
Detroit Tigers
8/24/19: INF/OF Niko Goodrum (strained groin) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 24.
8/24/19: SS Willi Castro recalled from Triple-A.
Castro was rewarded for a strong Triple-A performance (.301/.366/.467; 11 HR, 28 2B, 8 3B, 17 SB) with what should be about a 30-35-game audition to be the team’s starting shortstop in 2020. The 24-year-old switch-hitter has a pair of singles, a double, and a walk in his first two major league games.
Houston Astros
8/21/19: SS Carlos Correa (back discomfort) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 20.
8/22/19: 3B Abraham Toro has contract purchased from minors.
While Correa rests up in hopes of returning to full health before the start of the post-season, the Astros will get a look at Toro, one of the team’s fastest-rising prospects in 2019. The 22-year-old switch-hitter, who slashed .324/.411/.527 with 17 homers and 31 doubles between Double-A and Triple-A, has three singles and a walk in his first 15 major league at-bats.
Los Angeles Angels
8/23/19: SS Andrelton Simmons activated from 10-Day IL.
After an 0-for-4 in his first game back, Simmons hit his sixth homer of the season in his first at-bat on Sunday. The 29-year-old, who has been on the injured list twice with an ankle sprain, is on pace to finish with his least amount of plate appearances in seven full seasons in the majors.
Los Angeles Dodgers
8/20/19: INF/OF Enrique Hernandez and INF/OF Chris Taylor activated from 10-Day IL.
Since returning from the injured list, Hernandez has started four of six games—three at second base, one in left field—while Taylor has started five games at three different positions.
Miami Marlins
8/24/19: 3B/OF Brian Anderson (fractured metacarpal) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 24.
8/24/19: OF Austin Dean recalled from Triple-A.
Anderson is likely done for the season, opening up a spot for Dean in the short term and possibly one of their top outfield prospects, Monte Harrison, in September.
New York Mets
8/24/19: INF/OF Jeff McNeil activated from 10-Day IL.
McNeil came off the bench in his first game back and went 2-for-2 with his 32nd double on the season. He’s currently leading the league with a .333 batting average.
Oakland Athletics
8/26/19: OF Stephen Piscotty (sprained ankle) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 25.
Brown, who slashed .297/.352/.634 with 37 homers in 500 plate appearances, is playing left field and batting sixth in his major league debut. The 27-year-old was the team’s 19th round pick in 2015.
Philadelphia Phillies
8/23/19: OF Bryce Harper placed on Paternity list.
The Phillies lost two of three with Harper out of the lineup, although they scored a total of 22 runs. Brad Miller got two starts in his place (1-for-4, 2B, BB) and Maikel Franco (0-for-3, K) got one start.
Seattle Mariners
8/20/19: OF Domingo Santana (elbow inflammation) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 19.
8/20/19: OF Jake Fraley has contract purchased from minors.
Santana had been battling through the elbow injury since July, but his current slump—2-for-32 with 20 strikeouts in August—made it an easy decision for the Mariners to shut him down while simultaneously calling up Fraley, who had a .910 OPS, 19 homers, and 22 stolen bases between Triple-A and Double-A.
St. Louis Cardinals
8/20/19: OF Harrison Bader recalled from Triple-A.
After a few weeks in Triple-A, the Cardinals are giving Bader a chance to reclaim the starting center field job. So far, he’s doing a pretty good job with four hits, including a triple and homer, and seven walks in 23 plate appearances in six starts.
Tampa Bay Rays
8/25/19: INF/OF Joey Wendle activated from 10-Day IL.
8/24/19: OF Avisail Garcia activated from 10-Day IL.
With Yandy Diaz likely done for the season and Eric Sogard entrenched at second base, Wendle is expected to get most of his at-bats at third base. He’ll likely share time with Matt Duffy, who has struggled at the plate since he returned from injury last month.
Texas Rangers
8/20/19: OF Nomar Mazara (strained oblique) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 20.
8/20/19: OF/INF Nick Solak has contract purchased from minors.
With Mazara out and Hunter Pence unavailable with back tightness over the past few games, there has been a spot in the starting lineup for Solak in each of his first seven games. The 24-year-old, who seven hits in his first 22 at-bats, including a homer and two doubles, could also be in line for regular playing time at second base if Rougned Odor doesn’t heat up anytime soon.
Notable Moves Involving Part-Time Players
- BAL: OF Dwight Smith Jr. activated from 10-Day IL and optioned to Triple-A.
- DET: C Grayson Greiner, 3B/1B Jeimer Candelario, and OF Christin Stewart activated from IL and optioned to Triple-A.
- LAA: C Kevan Smith activated from 10-Day IL.
- MIL: INF/OF Cory Spangenberg has contract purchased from minors.
- WSN: 2B Brian Dozier reinstated from Paternity list.
Future Expected Moves
- KCR: SS Adalberto Mondesi will likely return from the injured list on Sunday September 1.
Starting Pitching
Arizona Diamondbacks
8/25/19: Robbie Ray activated from 10-Day IL.
Ray didn’t miss a beat as he returned with five shutout innings in Sunday’s win over the Brewers. He walked four and struck out six batters, leaving him only seven short of what will be his third 200-strikeout season.
Baltimore Orioles
8/25/19: John Means placed on Family Medical Emergency list.
Colorado Rockies
8/26/19: German Marquez (arm inflammation) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 23.
8/23/19: Antonio Senzatela recalled from Triple-A.
8/22/19: Kyle Freeland (strained groin) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 21.
8/21/19: Jon Gray (fractured foot) placed on 60-Day IL, retroactive to August 21.
8/21/19: Tim Melville has contract purchased from minors.
The Rockies’ four starting pitchers currently on the injured list—Tyler Anderson, Freeland, Gray, and Marquez—combined to make 129 starts in 2018.
Houston Astros
8/25/19: Framber Valdez recalled from Triple-A.
8/21/19: Aaron Sanchez (pectoral soreness) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 21.
Making his first start since a July 11 debacle when he was knocked out after recording just two outs, Valdez was much better on Sunday. The 25-year-old lefty allowed just one earned run and two hits in six innings en route to an 11-2 win over the Angels.
Kansas City Royals
8/23/19: Eric Skoglund recalled from Triple-A.
His ’19 debut delayed by an 80-game PED suspension, Skoglund made a good first step towards getting back in the team’s good graces with a solid effort on Friday. The 26-year-old left-hander allowed just two earned runs on two hits against a powerful Indians lineup.
Los Angeles Angels
8/23/19: Griffin Canning (elbow inflammation) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 20.
8/23/19: Jose Suarez recalled from Triple-A.
8/23/19: Jaime Barria recalled from Triple-A
Miami Marlins
8/26/19: Pablo Lopez activated from 10-Day IL.
Throw out one awful start on May 10 and Lopez has a 3.18 ERA and only 58 hits allowed in 73 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old will be making his first start since June 15 on Monday.
Milwaukee Brewers
8/24/19: Jhoulys Chacin activated from 10-Day IL; designated for assignment.
Including his first two starts in 2019, Chacin was 17-8 with a 3.44 ERA in 214 2/3 innings over his first 40 starts, including the 2018 post-season. With those numbers alone, the $15.5MM the Brewers guaranteed Chacin was well worth it. That he struggled since and was ultimately released, however, could make it difficult for him during the upcoming offseason.
Pittsburgh Pirates
8/21/19: Chris Archer (shoulder inflammation) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 21.
San Francisco Giants
8/24/19: Shaun Anderson activated from 10-Day IL.
Aside from Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija, the Giants’ rotation should have plenty of moving parts over the final month of the season. Expect Anderson to get at least a few more starts, although he pitched out of the bullpen on Saturday (0.2 IP, ER).
Seattle Mariners
8/24/19: Felix Hernandez activated from 60-Day IL.
8/23/19: Justus Sheffield recalled from Double-A.
In what is likely Hernandez’s last stretch of starts with the Mariners before he hits free agency, he began it with 5 2/3 strong innings (2 ER, 3 H, 4 K) against the Blue Jays on Saturday. He should be able to make five or six more starts as long as he stays healthy.
Texas Rangers
8/20/19: Brock Burke and Joe Palumbo recalled from Triple-A.
Palumbo’s had a rough introduction to the majors in 2019, allowing 11 earned runs in his first two starts. He bounced back with three scoreless innings in a relief appearance last month, but he was knocked out in the second inning (3 ER) of his latest start. Burke, on the other hand, has had no such trouble. After tossing six shutout innings in his major league debut against the Angels last week, he was almost as good (6 IP, ER, 2 H) in start number two against the White Sox on Sunday.
Toronto Blue Jays
8/25/19: Clay Buchholz activated from 60-Day IL.
After he posted a 2.01 ERA in 16 starts for the Diamondbacks in 2018, the Blue Jays gave Buchholz in the hopes that he could stay healthy for a full season. At $3MM, the signing was a low-cost move that didn’t pay off in this case. His start on Sunday, a solid six-inning effort (2 ER, 3 H, 3 K), was only the sixth of the season for the 35-year-old.
Washington Nationals
8/22/19: Max Scherzer activated from 10-Day IL.
Despite not being at full health, by his own admission, Scherzer allowed just one run over four innings in the team’s 7-1 win over the Pirates on Thursday. With a four-game lead in the Wild Card race, the Nats could probably afford to give their ace another break in September if they think it would help.
Future Expected Moves
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- KCR: Danny Duffy will be activated from the 10-Day IL on Saturday August 31.
Late-Inning Relievers
Houston Astros
8/22/19: Ryan Pressly (arthroscopic knee surgery) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 21.
Milwaukee Brewers
8/25/19: Jeremy Jeffress (strained hip) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to August 24.
Toronto Blue Jays
8/25/19: Ken Giles reinstated from Paternity list.
Minor League Report
Major League Debuts (August 19-August 25)
- Willi Castro, SS, Detroit Tigers: 2-for-4, 2B, K 8/24/19
- Abraham Toro, 3B, Houston Astros: 0-for-4 8/22/19
- Eric Yardley, RP, San Diego Padres: 0.1 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 0 K, L 8/21/19
- Jake Fraley, CF, Seattle Mariners: 0-for-3, R, K 8/21/19
- A.J. Puk, RP, Oakland Athletics: 0.1 IP, 0 R, H, BB, 0 K, Hold 8/21/19
- Jonathan Hernandez, RP, Texas Rangers: 2.1 IP, 0 R, H, 2 BB, K, W 8/21/19
- Nick Solak, DH, Texas Rangers: 1-for-3, K 8/20/19
- Brock Burke, SP, Texas Rangers: 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K 8/20/19
Promotions (July 26-August 25): Top 130 Prospects (pre-season rank)
- Yu Chang, INF, Cleveland Indians #103 MLB 8/25/19
- Justin Sheffield, SP, Seattle Mariners #60 MLB 8/23/19
- Jose Suarez, SP, Los Angeles Angels #79 MLB 8/23/19
- Nick Solak, OF/2B, Texas Rangers #111 MLB 8/20/19
- Nate Pearson, SP, Toronto Blue Jays #63 Triple-A Buffalo 8/19/19
- A.J. Puk, RP, Oakland Athletics #40 MLB 8/20/19
- Bryse Wilson, RP, Atlanta Braves #72 MLB 8/16/19
- Cole Tucker, INF, Pittsburgh Pirates #83 MLB 8/16/19
- Jon Duplantier, RP, Arizona Diamondbacks #87 MLB 8/15/19
- Logan Allen, RP, Cleveland Indians #93 MLB 8/14/19
- Mitch Keller, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates #37 MLB 8/12/19
- Jarred Kelenic, CF, Seattle Mariners #84 Double-A Arkansas 8/10/19
- Luis Patino, SP, San Diego Padres #42 Double-A Amarillo 8/8/19
- Joey Bart, C, San Francisco Giants #41 Double-A Richmond 8/8/19
- Kristian Robinson, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks #109 Low-A Kane County 8/4/19
- Cristian Pache, OF, Atlanta Braves #19 Triple-A Gwinnett 8/5/19
- Drew Waters, OF, Atlanta Braves #49 Triple-A Gwinnett 8/5/19
- Ian Anderson, SP, Atlanta Braves #38 Triple-A Gwinnett 8/5/19
- Isan Diaz, 2B, Miami Marlins #104 MLB 8/5/19
- Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels #11 Triple-A Salt Lake 8/1/19
- Dustin May, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers #21 MLB 8/2/19
- Nick Madrigal, 2B, Chicago White Sox #32 Triple-A Charlotte 8/1/19
- Oneil Cruz, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates #62 Double-A Altoona 7/30/19
- Josh Naylor, OF, San Diego Padres #124 MLB 7/29/19
- Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays #9 MLB 7/29/19
- Royce Lewis, SS, Minnesota Twins #6 Double-A Pensacola 7/28/19
- Will Smith, C, Los Angeles Dodgers #80 MLB 7/26/19
- Spencer Howard, SP, Philadelphia Phillies #67 Double-A Reading 7/26/19
I look forward to this every week.