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 10/07/2015 MLB Note - Los Angeles Angels Street, Huston
RHP Huston Street (strained left groin) missed the final eight games
of the season. He is expected to be ready for spring training.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Bird, Greg
1B Greg Bird was initially called up Aug. 13 when the team was in
Cleveland, and the idea was he would enable incumbent Mark Teixeira
to get some rest down the stretch. Bird wound becoming the everyday
first baseman when Teixeira injured his leg Aug. 17. He finished
with a .261/.343/.529 slash line in 46 games. On the team, only
Teixeira had a higher OPS in 100 at-bats. However, if the assumption
is if Teixeira is healthy enough to play regularly at first base and
DH Alex Rodriguez is healthy, Bird won't get regular at-bats in
2016. Bird already switched positions once after being drafted as a
catcher, and even though various first basemen spent time in the
outfield over the years, it doesn't seem likely for Bird. However, a
good season in the minors and majors could put him in competition
for the first base job in 2017 when Teixeira's contract expires.
"From Day One here, it's just been about doing my job," Bird said.
"Whatever my job is next year, I'll worry about that then."
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Ryan, Brendan
INF Brendan Ryan has a team and player option for next season as
part of a two-year contract he signed following the 2013 season when
he was a September trade acquisition from the Mariners. While
versatile (he saw time at all four infield positions) and solid
defensively, Ryan had two disabled-list stints and did not offer
much with the bat, making him a candidate to become a former Yankee.
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MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Rodriguez, Sean
INF/OF Sean Rodriguez started at first base Wednesday in the
Pirates' 4-0 loss to the Cubs in the National League wild-card game,
despite making just 10 starts at the position during the regular
season. Manager Clint Hurdle opted for defense in facing Cubs RHP
Jake Arrieta. However, Rodriguez never got to bat as he was removed
for a pinch hitter in the third inning with the Pirates trailing
3-0. Rodriguez was ejected following a bench-clearing brawl in the
seventh inning after Pirates LHP Tony Watson hit Arrieta with a
pitch.
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MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Alvarez, Pedro
1B Pedro Alvarez was on the bench despite having a team-high 27 home
runs in the regular season. Alavrez led all major league first
baseman with 23 errors during the regular season. He also was
2-for-17 in his career against Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta. However, he
pinch-hit for 1B Sean Rodriguez in the third, stayed in the game and
went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.
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MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Kang, Jung Ho
INF Jung Ho Kang joined the team for pregame introductions in a
wheelchair. The rookie from South Korea was lost for the season
Sept. 17 when he underwent surgery to repair a lateral left meniscal
tear in his left knee and a broken left tibia, injuries sustained
when Cubs OF Chris Coghlan slid into him at second base while trying
to break up a double play. Kang will stay in Pittsburgh indefinitely
to continue his rehab, but the Pirates hope he will be able to
return home for at least part of the offseason.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Eovaldi, Nathan
RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right elbow inflammation) missed the last month
of the season. He should be fine for spring training. Eovaldi, who
is arbitration-eligible, could have some leverage for a higher
payday after his strong second half, which was halted by an inflamed
right elbow.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Ellsbury, Jacoby
CF Jacoby Ellsbury's first year of his seven-year, $153 million
contract was decent in 2014, but the second year was a bust,
especially after he returned from a knee injury in July. The earlier
parts of long-term contracts are supposed to be the good years, but
Ellsbury was disappointing, and it reached a point where he was
benched for the AL wild-card game. His .345 slugging percentage was
a career low for a full season, and from Sept. 1 through the end of
the season, he hit .202 with a .246 slugging percentage.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Refsnyder, Rob
2B Rob Refsnyder wound up taking the second base job late in the
season, especially against left-handed pitching, and he could get
another opportunity at the position next season. The 24-year-old
South Korea native and University of Arizona product hit
.302/.348/.512 with two homers and five RBIs in 16 regular-season
games for the Yankees, though he went 0-for-3 in the AL wild-card
game. A fifth-round pick in the 2012 draft, Refsnyder posted a
.290/.380/.432 batting line over four minor league seasons.
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MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Cole, Gerrit
RHP Gerrit Cole took the loss in the NL wild-card game, allowing
four runs and six hits in five innings with one walk and four
strikeouts. Cole gave up home runs to Cubs CF Dexter Fowler and RF
Kyle Schwarber. He allowed multiple homers just once in 32
regular-season starts -- May 27 against Miami.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies De Fratus, Justin
RHP Justin De Fratus, who went 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA in 61 relief
appearances this year, was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on
Wednesday. De Fratus, 27, is 7-6 with a 4.08 ERA in 191 appearances
over the past five seasons for the Phillies. He would have been
eligible for arbitration this winter if he remained on the 40-man
roster.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Pettibone, Jonathan
RHP Jonathan Pettibone, who missed the entire 2015 season after
undergoing right shoulder surgeries in June 2014 and July 2015, was
outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. His prognosis for
the start of 2016 is unknown.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Loewen, Adam
LHP Adam Loewen, who went 1-0 with a 6.98 ERA in 20 relief
appearances for the Phillies this year, was outrighted to Triple-A
Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. Loewen, who returned to pitching after
being an outfielder, has a career 9-8 record with a 5.55 ERA in 55
games (29 starts).
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Nova, Ivan
RHP Ivan Nova struggled immensely in his season back from Tommy John
surgery, but he could return to the Yankees. He had a disappointing
6-11 record and a 5.07 ERA in 17 starts after returning in late
June. Nova is eligible for arbitration, and while his numbers might
suggest he is a candidate to be non-tendered, it appears the Yankees
will offer him a contract, according to the New York Post. Nova is
entering his final season of arbitration eligibility, and if he is
tendered a contract, he likely would get a small raise from his $3.3
million salary from this season.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Warren, Adam
RHP Adam Warren made 17 starts and 26 relief appearances this season
but could have been making some of those appearances for Oakland.
Manager Brian Cashman said after New York's loss in the AL wild-card
game he could have obtained INF/OF Ben Zobrist from the Athletics
but it would have cost the Yankees Warren and 2B Rob Refsnyder.
Zobrist wound up going to the Royals and will be a free agent after
this season. "I'm not going to do that for a three-month rental,"
Cashman said.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Severino, Luis
RHP Luis Severino was the likely candidate to start Game 1 of the AL
Division Series against the Royals had the Yankees won the wild-card
game. He also was the main addition to the rotation after GM Brian
Cashman did not make a trade for one of the bigger names in the
pitching market. Severino was the likely asking price in any deals,
and other than LHP David Price, Cashman felt there was not a better
option than the 21-year-old. Severino's worst start was Sept. 11
against Toronto, when he gave up five runs in the first inning, but
in 11 starts overall, he went 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Roberts, Ken
LHP Ken Roberts, who went a combined 1-1 with a 7.24 ERA in 15
appearances for Colorado and Philadelphia this year, was outrighted
to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. The Phillies claimed him off
waivers from the Rockies in August.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Kratz, Erik
C Erik Kratz, who hit .227 with two RBIs in 12 games for the
Phillies this year, was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on
Wednesday. The 35-year-old veteran went 0-for-4 in four games for
Kansas City earlier this season.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Danks, Jordan
OF Jordan Danks, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in four games
with the Phillies this year, was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh
Valley on Wednesday. He spent most of the season with Lehigh Valley,
hitting .257/.318/.368 with six homers and 46 RBIs in 120 games.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies d'Arnaud, Chase
INF Chase d'Arnaud, who hit .176 with no RBIs in 11 games for
Philadelphia this year, was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on
Wednesday. He spent most of the season with Lehigh Valley, where he
hit .268/.317/.354 with five homers and 35 RBIs in 120 games.
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MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Arrieta, Jake
RHP Jake Arrieta made his postseason debut and pitched a four-hit
shutout Wednesday in a 4-0 win at Pittsburgh in the NL wild-card
game.
Arrieta was 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA in 32 starts during the regular
season, the fifth major league pitcher to win at least 22 games with
no more than six losses and an ERA under 2.00 since the earned run
became an official stat in 1913. The others were Sandy Koufax
(1963), Denny McLain (1968), Ron Guidry (1978) and Dwight Gooden
(1985). Arrieta has won 12 straight decisions, dating to Aug. 4, and
has pitched 31 consecutive scoreless innings. He threw the first
shutout by a Cubs pitcher in the postseason since Claude Passeau
threw a one-hitter at Detroit in Game 3 of the 1945 World Series.
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MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Fowler, Dexter
CF Dexter Fowler went 3-for-4 for the second multi-hit postseason
game of his career. His other came in 2009 for Colorado against
Philadelphia in Game 3 of a National League Division Series. His
three runs tied a franchise postseason record set by Frank Demaree
in the 1932 World Series against the Yankees. Fowler's fifth-inning
solo shot off Pittsburgh RHP Gerrit Cole was his first homer in
exactly one month since connecting Sept. 7 off St. Louis RHP Lance
Lynn.
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MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Schwarber, Kyle
RF Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer off Pittsburgh RHP Gerrit Cole
in the third inning. He became the third Cubs rookie to hit a
postseason homer, joining Geovany Soto in Game 2 of the 2007 NL
Division Series against Arizona and Frank Demaree in the 1932 World
Series against the Yankees.
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MLB Note - Milwaukee Brewers Guerra, Junior
RHP Junior Guerra was claimed off waivers by the Brewers from the
White Sox on Wednesday. Guerra, 30, allowed three runs in four
innings over three relief appearances for Chicago this year. In 31
minor league games (11 starts), he went 4-7 with seven saves and a
3.13 ERA.
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MLB Note - Milwaukee Brewers Ashley, Nevin
C Nevin Ashley was designated for assignment by the Brewers on
Wednesday, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster for newly acquired
RHP Junior Guerra. Ashley, 31, went 2-for-20 with one RBI in 12
games for Milwaukee this year. He hit .306/.374/.442 with eight
homers and 61 RBIs in 94 games for Triple-A Colorado Springs.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Angels Green, Grant
INF/OF Grant Green, designated for assignment by the Angels on Sept.
30, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on
Wednesday. Green hit .263 in 104 games over parts of three seasons
with the Angels after coming to the club in a trade from the A's in
2013.
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MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Nieto, Adrian
C Adrian Nieto was outrighted to Double-A Birmingham by the White
Sox on Wednesday. Nieto, 25, hit .207/.344/.316 with five homers and
27 RBIs in 81 games for Birmingham this year.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Lackey, John
RHP John Lackey, a key member of the World Series-winning 2002
Angels and 2013 Red Sox, will start Game 1 of the NLDS for St.
Louis.
The 36-year-old veteran posted a 13-10 record with a 2.77 ERA in 218
innings and 33 starts this year. He fared better at home (1.93 ERA)
than on the road (3.82 ERA).
"He's been as consistent as anybody in the league," Cardinals
manager Mike Matheny said. "The fact he's been able to be on this
stage, has had success on this stage, there are so many different
things that he's brought to this club this year that makes it a
pretty obvious choice."
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Hutchison, Drew
RHP Drew Hutchison proved that pitching wins are overrated. He was
13-5 despite a 5.57 ERA. He was 11-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 16 games (15
starts) at home and 2-3 with a 9.83 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) on
the road. By September, he was relegated to the bullpen, and he was
left off the roster for the AL Division Series. He showed such
promise in 2014 that he was the Opening Day starter in 2015.
Hutchison is only 25 and has time to recapture that promising form
of previous seasons.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Reyes, Alex
RHP Alex Reyes, 21, is considered a top-20 prospect in all of minor
league baseball after a superb 2015. Forget the 5-7 record he
compiled between high Class A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield.
Look at the 148 strikeouts and a mere 70 hits allowed in 98 1/3
innings as proof of his electric stuff. If Reyes can harness his
stuff -- he walked 49 batters and tossed nine wild pitches -- he
could see St. Louis sometime late next year.
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MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Bryant, Kris
3B Kris Bryant started in left field as manager Joe Maddon opted to
go with a stronger defensive infield by playing INF Tommy La Stella
at third base. Bryant, a rookie, made just two starts in left field
during the regular season. Kyle Schwarber, normally the left
fielder, played right field as Bryant shifted to left. Schwarber
started in right field just twice during the regular season. Bryant,
who finished 0-for-3 with a walk, moved back to third base in the
sixth inning.
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MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Lester, Jon
LHP Jon Lester is scheduled to start Friday at St. Louis in Game 1
of the best-of-five National League Division Series. Lester went
11-12 with a 3.34 ERA in 32 starts in the regular season after
signing a six-year, $155 million contract as a free agent in
December. He is 1-3 with a 2.56 ERA against the Cardinals in six
career starts, including 1-3 with a 2.59 ERA in five starts this
season. Lester is 6-4 with a 2.57 ERA in 14 career postseason games,
including 12 starts. Lester had 207 strikeouts, setting a
single-season franchise record for left-handers that had stood since
1970, when Ken Holtzman had 202.
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