Roster Roundup: June 25-28

by
June 28, 2019

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 a few players who are “knocking down the door” to the majors (Mondays only). 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
6/26/19: 1B/3B Jake Lamb activated from 10-Day IL.

Back on the roster after missing close to three months with a quad injury, Lamb started at first base on Wednesday and third base on Thursday. The 28-year-old, who has gone 0-for-6 with a walk and four strikeouts in the two games, could be in the lineup more often than not when the Diamondbacks are facing a right-handed starting pitcher. On the other hand, he struggled in 2018 and first baseman Christian Walker has been very good in 2019 (.818 OPS, 14 HR). Regular at-bats at third base could also be hard to come by unless Eduardo Escobar moves over to second base—he’s only made one start there this season—and Ketel Marte plays mostly in the outfield.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Chicago White Sox
6/28/19: SS Tim Anderson (sprained ankle) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to June 26.
6/28/19: 1B Yonder Alonso designated for assignment.
6/28/19: OF Daniel Palka recalled from Triple-A.

Anderson was on a 30-30 pace earlier in the season—he had eight homers and 12 stolen bases after 149 plate appearances—before falling off in recent weeks. Now, he’ll be lucky if he can get to 20-20, although the 26-year-old is having a terrific season (.832 OPS, 11 HR, 15 SB) and is one of the more notable All-Star snubs. Leury Garcia, who has been the team’s starting center fielder, will fill in at shortstop while Anderson is out.

Acquired in the offseason prior to the White Sox’s ultimately failed pursuit of his free agent brother-in-law, Manny Machado, Alonso’s performance with the team was also a disappointment. The 32-year-old slashed .178/.275/.301 with seven homers in 251 plate appearances and only four hits in his last 32 at-bats.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Cincinnati Reds
6/28/19: 2B Scooter Gennett activated from 60-Day IL.
6/28/19: C Tucker Barnhart (strained oblique) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to June 25.

The Reds’ offense has failed to live up to expectations with only Derek Dietrich and Jose Iglesias, both signed to minor league deals during the offseason, and rookie Nick Senzel putting up numbers that most would consider better than expected. Maybe the return of Gennett, who is playing second base and batting sixth in his 2019 debut on Friday, could give them a spark. In two seasons with the team, the 29-year-old is slashing .303/.351/.508 with 50 homers and 52 doubles.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Cleveland Indians
6/28/19: 3B Jose Ramirez placed on Paternity list.

It appears that Ramirez could finally be turning a corner in 2019 with 15 hits in his last 49 at-bats, including three doubles, two triples, and one homer. He also has seven walks with only one strikeout during that span. As Craig Edwards wrote a few days ago, maybe he “isn’t really that far off.” We’ll see if he can keep it up once he returns in the next day or two. In the meantime, Yu Chang and Mike Freeman will fill in at the hot corner.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Colorado Rockies
6/25/19: INF Brendan Rodgers (shoulder impingement) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to June 24.

After failing to take the second base job and run with it earlier in the season, Rodgers had another chance when shortstop Trevor Story went on the injured list with a thumb injury. Three games in, the 22-year-old was 0-for-10 with five strikeouts before joining Story on the injured list. Now, it’s Garrett Hampson’s turn. Like Rodgers, he failed to capitalize on an opportunity to become the team’s starting second baseman earlier in the season. His second chance, however, is off to a much better start than Rodgers. He has four hits in 12 at-bats, including a double and a triple, in three starts at shortstop. Story

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Detroit Tigers
6/25/19: 3B Jeimer Candelario recalled from Triple-A.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Houston Astros
6/25/19: OF George Springer activated from 10-Day IL.

After missing a month because of a hamstring injury, it appears that Springer hasn’t missed a beat. Leading off and playing center field in three consecutive games, the 29-year-old has five hits in 12 at-bats, including his 18th home run. Jake Marisnick, who made the majority of starts while Springer was out, didn’t give the team a whole lot of offense. He had a pair of homers and five doubles, but hit just .209 with four walks and 18 strikeouts in 74 plate appearances.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Los Angeles Angels
6/27/19: SS Andrelton Simmons activated from 10-Day IL.

As much as the Angels missed Simmons’ elite defense, they were 19-15 while he was out of action with Luis Rengifo and David Fletcher both contributing at the plate and helping the team reach .500 for the first time since mid-April. With an 8-3 win in Simmons’ return on Thursday—the 29-year-old was 1-for-4 with two strikeouts—the Angels continue to surge with four consecutive wins.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Miami Marlins
6/28/19: C Jorge Alfaro activated from 7-Day IL.
6/25/19: 1B Neil Walker activated from 10-Day IL.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Milwaukee Brewers
6/28/19: 2B Keston Hiura recalled from Triple-A.
6/28/19: INF Travis Shaw optioned to Triple-A.
6/28/19: INF/OF Hernan Perez designated for assignment.

By sending Hiura back to the minors and re-inserting Shaw into the starting lineup when he returned from the injured list earlier this month, the Brewers showed confidence and loyalty in a player who has been very good in his first two seasons with the team. But Shaw’s latest three-week stint (8-for-48, 2 HR, 19 K) looked a lot like his first month-and-a-half of the season (.548 OPS, 4 HR, 50 K), making it an easy call to bring their top prospect back to the majors, probably for good.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Minnesota Twins
6/28/19: OF Eddie Rosario (sprained ankle) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to June 27.

Already down Byron Buxton and Marwin Gonzalez, the Twins will now be without Rosario, who has 20 homers and leads the American League with 60 runs batted in. Luis Arraez, who had only played a handful of games in the outfield during his minor league career, played left field on Thursday and is out there again on Friday. Lamonte Wade Jr and Ehire Adrianza, activated off of the injured list today, are also options to play fill in while Rosario is out.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

New York Yankees
6/27/19: OF Giancarlo Stanton (sprained knee) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to June 26.

Their offense finally back at full strength with the return of Stanton and Aaron Judge last week, the Yankees looked poised to run away from the competition in the AL East. But six games into his return and after only three games in the lineup with Judge, Stanton is headed back to the injured list with a sprained knee just ahead of their two-game series in London. The Yankees will be just fine—they’ve won 12 of 13 games and have a 6.5 game division lead—but they’re expected to be without the 29-year-old Stanton until sometime in August.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Tampa Bay Rays
6/27/19: 3B/1B Yandy Diaz activated from 10-Day IL.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Texas Rangers
6/25/19: OF Joey Gallo activated from 10-Day IL.

After not homering in his first nine plate appearances since being activated from the injured list, Gallo hit his 18th and 19th homers in consecutive at-bats. It was his first multi-homer game of the season. I’ll be anyone $1 that it won’t be his last.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Toronto Blue Jays
6/28/19: 1B Justin Smoak activated from 10-Day IL.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Washington Nationals
6/28/19: 1B Ryan Zimmerman activated from 10-Day IL.

Zimmerman could have a tough time working his way back into the starting lineup ahead of Matt Adams (.814 OPS, 12 HR) and Howie Kendrick (.956 OPS, 12 HR), but he’s in the lineup on Friday as the designated hitter.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Notable Moves Involving Part-Time Players

    • Arizona Diamondbacks: C Alex Avila activated from 10-Day IL.
    • Minnesota Twins: UTL Willians Astudillo (strained oblique) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to June 26.

 

Starting Pitching

Arizona Diamondbacks
6/27/19: Alex Young has contract purchased from minors.

In his major league debut, Young allowed a solo home run to Brandon Belt and nothing else in a 5-1 victory over the Giants. The 25-year-old lefty had a 6.08 ERA in 54 2/3 innings in the Pacific Coast League, where the conditions are much less pitcher-friendly than Oracle Park.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Atlanta Braves
6/27/19: Bryse Wilson recalled from Triple-A.

In his first major league start since March 30, Wilson allowed four earned runs over 4 1/3 innings in a 9-7 loss to the Cubs on Thursday. The Braves won’t need a fifth starter again until July 6.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Baltimore Orioles
6/28/19: John Means activated from 10-Day IL.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Chicago White Sox
6/28/19: Ross Detwiler has contract purchased from minors.

The 33-year-old Detwiler was pitching for the York Revolution of the Atlantic League just last month. Today, he’s starting at Guaranteed Rate Field against the first place Twins after making eight starts for Triple-A Charlotte. He’s pitching for his seventh major league team.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Cleveland Indians
6/28/19: Mike Clevinger activated from 10-Day IL.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Colorado Rockies
6/25/19: Chi Chi Gonzalez has contract purchased from minors.

Making his first start since July 2016, Gonzalez allowed three earned runs in five innings in a 4-2 loss against the Giants. He’ll face the Dodgers at Coors Field in his second start on Sunday.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Detroit Tigers
6/28/19: Spencer Turnbull (shoulder fatigue) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to June 28.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Houston Astros
6/28/19: Brad Peacock (shoulder discomfort) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to June 28.
6/27/19: Framber Valdez optioned to Triple-A.

Valdez had two really good starts and then he had two really bad starts, followed by a demotion to Triple-A. It could’ve been performance-related, but the Astros didn’t need a fifth starter again until after the All-Star break. With Peacock’s injury, however, they will need a replacement next week. Relievers Josh James, Collin McHugh, and Cy Sneed can all pitch multiple innings, so a bullpen game is possible. Looking ahead, though, it’s becoming clear that the Astros might need to pursue a starting pitcher before the trade deadline.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Los Angeles Angels
6/26/19: Jaime Barria recalled from Triple-A.
6/26/19: Trevor Cahill activated from 10-Day IL.

Barria’s last two major league appearances have been very good, resulting in nearly identical stat lines (5 IP, ER, 3 H, 6 K) with only a pair of walks being the difference in his start on June 6. He’s been sent to the minors following each game, however, as the Angels continue to shuffle pitchers into the No. 5 spot in their rotation. Whether Cahill will get another chance is still undetermined. For now, he’s available out of the bullpen, where he pitched two scoreless innings on Wednesday.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Los Angeles Dodgers
6/26/19: Tony Gonsolin has contract purchased from minors.
6/25/19: Ross Stripling moved to rotation.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Oakland Athletics
6/26/19: Daniel Mengden recalled from Triple-A.

After giving up six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings in his last major league start, Mengden was sent to the minors for three weeks. By shutting out the Cardinals over six innings (4 H, BB, 5 K) in his latest start on Wednesday, the 26-year-old probably won’t be heading back to Triple-A Las Vegas anytime soon.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Pittsburgh Pirates
6/26/19: Dario Agrazal recalled from Triple-A.

In his second career start, Agrazal picked up his 1st win with six strong innings (ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K) in a 14-2 victory over the Astros. But with Jordan Lyles due back from the injury list on Saturday, the Pirates currently don’t have a spot for the 24-year-old right-hander, who was optioned back to Triple-A.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Expected Future Moves

    • Pittsburgh Pirates: Jordan Lyles will be activated from the 10-Day IL on Saturday June 29.
    • New York Mets: Noah Syndergaard will be activated from the 10-Day IL on Sunday June 30.
    • Tampa Bay Rays: Brendan McKay will be recalled from Triple-A on Saturday June 29 after officially being added to the 40-man roster today. He was a “Knocking Down The Door” pick less than a month ago.

Late-Inning Relievers

Chicago Cubs
6/27/19: Craig Kimbrel recalled from Triple-A.

Less than three weeks after agreeing to a three-year contract, the 31-year-old made his Cubs debut and picked up his first save in Thursday’s win over the Braves. It was Kimbrel’s 334th career save, good for 14th place on the all-time list. He is seven behind Rollie Fingers and only 318 behind Mariano Rivera.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

St. Louis Cardinals
6/25/19: Jordan Hicks (Tommy John surgery) placed on 10-Day IL, retroactive to June 23.

With Hicks out for the season, the Cardinals will turn to Carlos Martinez as their closer. John Gant (2.34 ERA, 3 saves, 10 holds) has probably been the team’s most reliable relief pitcher this season, but the 27-year-old Martinez was impressive in the role late last season—he picked up five saves in five chances over his last eight regular season appearances—and has a chance to take hold of the job permanently.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Tampa Bay Rays
6/28/19: Jose Alvarado reinstated from Restricted List.

It shouldn’t take Alvarado long to get back into the closer’s mix with Emilio Pagan, who has one of the Rays’ two saves this month. The other belongs to Diego Castillo, who is on the injured list with a shoulder impingement.

Depth Chart | Roster Resource

Minor League Report

Major League Debuts (June 24-27)

  • Alex Young, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks: 5 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 5 K, W  6/27/19
  • Cy Sneed, RP, Houston Astros: 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, BB, 4 K  6/27/19
  • Edwin Rios, PH, Los Angeles Dodgers: 0-for-1  6/27/19
  • Tony Gonsolin, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers: 4 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K, L  6/26/19

Promotions (May 29-June 29): Top 130 Prospects

  • Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays #2  High-A Charlotte 6/25/19
  • Jo Adell, CF, Los Angeles Angels #11  Double-A Mobile 6/3/19
  • Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers #13  MLB 6/28/19
  • Brendan McKay, SP/DH, Tampa Bay Rays #14  MLB 6/29/19
  • Dustin May, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers #21  Triple-A Oklahoma City 6/27/19
  • Gavin Lux, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers #23  Triple-A Oklahoma City 6/27/19
  • Nick Madrigal, 2B, Chicago White Sox #32  Double-A Birmingham 6/6/19
  • Chris Paddack, SP, San Diego Padres #34  MLB 6/22/19
  • Mitch Keller, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates #37  MLB 6/12/19
  • Kyle Wright, RP, Atlanta Braves #39  MLB 6/24/19
  • William Contreras, C, Atlanta Braves #55  Double-A Mississippi 6/5/19
  • Francisco Mejia, C, San Diego Padres #57  MLB 6/17/19
  • Alec Bohm, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies #66  Double-A Reading 6/21/19
  • Bryse Wilson, SP, Atlanta Braves #72  MLB 6/27/19
  • Jose Suarez, SP, Los Angeles Angels #79  MLB 6/2/19, 6/8/19
  • Will Smith, C, Los Angeles Dodgers #80  MLB 6/23/19
  • Andrew Knizner, C, St. Louis Cardinals #82  MLB 5/31/19
  • Jarred Kelenic, CF, Seattle Mariners #84  High-A Modesto 5/30/19
  • Nolan Gorman, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals #85  High-A Palm Beach 6/20/19
  • Logan Allen, SP, San Diego Padres #93  MLB 6/18/19
  • Leody Taveras, CF, Texas Rangers #94  Double-A Frisco 6/20/19
  • Yu Chang, INF, Cleveland Indians #103 MLB 6/28/19
  • Peter Lambert, SP, Colorado Rockies #120 MLB 6/6/19
  • Yordan Alvarez, OF, Houston Astros #125 MLB 6/9/19

*Bo Bichette #9 and Jesus Luzardo #27 had short stints in High-A after returning from injuries and subsequently promoted to Triple-A during this period.

 





 

Comments are closed.