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 03/24/2015 MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Graveman, Kendall
RHP Kendall Graveman turned in another gem March 22, further
boosting his chances of landing a job in the A's rotation. Graveman
threw 5 1/3 shutout innings in a 4-3 A's loss to the Cincinnati
Reds. He allowed just one hit while striking out five. All 16 outs
he recorded came via strikeout or ground ball. Graveman lowered his
ERA to 0.60. In 15 innings of work, he has allowed seven hits and no
home runs while striking out eight and walking four. Graveman came
to the A's on Nov. 28 from Toronto, along with 3B Brett Lawrie, LHP
Sean Nolin and SS Franklin Barreto, in a trade for 3B Josh
Donaldson.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Reddick, Josh
RF Josh Reddick, who has been sidelined since sustaining a strained
right oblique on March 6, took swings off a batting tee on March 21
and 23 and still hopes to be in the lineup for the A's season-opener
on April 6. Melvin targeted March 26-28 for Reddick's possible
return to the lineup. He has appeared in just one spring training
game.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Fuld, Sam
OF Sam Fuld was hit in the left side of his jaw by a thrown ball on
March 20 during a game against Colorado. Fuld's jaw was sore and
swollen, but he did not suffer a concussion. He was sidelined March
21-23 but could return to the lineup as early as March 24. "It
really could be a lot worse," said Fuld, who has a history of
concussions. "My teeth are intact. In a lot of ways, it hit me kind
of in a perfect spot."
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Cook, Ryan
RHP Ryan Cook's spring training nightmare continued March 23 against
Cleveland. Cook, who is expected to be a key late-inning reliever
for the A's, gave up five hits and three earned runs over two
innings. His ERA climbed to 16.88. "It's a bit of a struggle for him
right now," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "You're going to get
tested. He's getting tested. It's no fun. He's not happy. We've got
some time left to get him right."
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Bassitt, Chris
RHP Chris Bassitt had another rough outing March 23, doing more
damage to his chances of earning a spot in the rotation. Bassitt
gave up seven hits, including a home run, and five earned runs
against Cleveland as his ERA rose to 8.76. Bassitt came to the A's
from the White Sox in an offseason trade as part of a package for
RHPs Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa, a prospect.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Peguero, Carlos
OF Carlos Peguero has emerged as a rather large candidate for the
backup job in center field. Peguero, who has seen action in the
majors in each of the last four seasons, hasn't played center in the
majors but made his first spring appearance in center field Sunday.
The club is looking at all options for the 6-foot-5 Peguero as he's
been one of the spring stars for Texas, raising his average to .440
after a three-hit game Sunday. Delino DeShields Jr., who has Rule 5
status and was the favorite to win the job, is hitting just .143.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Smolinski, Jake
LF Jake Smolinski may have pushed himself to the front of the pack
for the starting nod in left with his hitting this spring. Smolinski
has outperformed both Ryan Ludwick and Ryan Rua to this point.
Smolinski showed he could hit last season in limited action, batting
.349 in 23 games with the Rangers. He's hitting .367 this spring
while Rua is at .286 and Ludwick is struggling at .160.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Darvish, Yu
RHP Yu Darvish returned to Surprise Sunday after having Tommy John
surgery performed last week. Darvish, who has a hard cast on his
right arm, will remain in Surprise for the remainder of spring
training before returning to Arlington with the club in April.
Darvish will miss the entire 2015 season after being limited to 22
starts last season.
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MLB Note - Atlanta Braves Pastornicky, Tyler
INF Tyler Pastornicky was signed to a minor-league deal by the
Rangers, and he's in the minor-league camp for now. Pastornicky
played parts of each of the last three seasons with Atlanta. The
Rangers have Adam Rosales as the leading candidate for the utility
infielder spot, but he's batting just .190 on the spring.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Angels Yarbrough, Alex
2B Alex Yarbrough was sent to the Angels' minor league camp March
20. Yarbrough, 23, was the Texas League's most valuable player last
year after hitting .285 with 38 doubles in 136 games for Double-A
Arkansas. Against Cactus League opponents, Yarbrough went 4-for-16.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Angels Iannetta, Chris
C Chris Iannetta is trying to improve his pitch-framing during
spring training. Baseball Prospectus ranked Iannetta 87th of 105
catchers last year with a score of minus-19, which means umpires
called 19 projected strikes that he caught as balls. Iannetta ranked
115th of 116 in 2013 and 100th out of 108 in 2012. "Chris has worked
very hard on that aspect, and he takes it to heart," said manager
Mike Scioscia, a former major league catcher. "I think he's
receiving the ball well, and even though he hasn't been ranked very
high, he still does the job we need back there to help our
pitchers."
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Angels Krauss, Marc
1B Marc Krauss is creating maximum impact from minimal playing time.
Claimed off waivers from the Houston Astros, Krauss had just 18
at-bats in 13 spring training games through March 23. However, he
collected nine hits in that span, including two doubles and a home
run, while driving in seven runs. Krauss is competing with 1B Efren
Navarro for a spot as a left-handed-hitting reserve and potential
platoon player. Both Krauss and Navarro can play the outfield, as
well. "Of all the guys in camp, I don't think Marc has had a bad
at-bat," manager Mike Scioscia said.
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Straily, Dan
RHP Dan Straily was optioned to Triple-A Fresno on Monday. He
allowed seven runs on 12 hits in 10 2/3 innings for the Astros this
spring. "Once we determined that he wasn't going to break with us,
we felt like we needed to get him ramped up and ready for his
season," manager A.J. Hinch said. "Innings were starting to dry up,
and we made a decision based on where we were in spring training and
also factor in what Roberto (Hernandez) is doing, what Wojo (Asher
Wojciechowski) is doing. We got to pare this down a little bit."
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Gattis, Evan
LF Evan Gattis bashed his first home run of the spring on Monday, a
two-run shot to left field off Braves LHP James Russell in the
Astros' 14-10 loss. Gattis had been slowed by a right wrist injury
before showcasing the power that made him an attractive acquisition
during the offseason. Gattis made his first appearances since March
14.
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Castro, Jason
C Jason Castro is enjoying a bounce-back spring at the plate,
hitting .296/.367/.630 with two home runs and five RBIs in 11 games
(27 at-bats). Castro is undoubtedly the No. 1 catcher, but the
acquisition of Hank Conger and the continued emergence of Max Stassi
added to the quality depth at backstop. Last season, Castro slumped
to a .222/.286/.366 line and lost 47 points from his OPS+ in 2013.
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Fields, Josh
RHP Josh Fields was removed from his outing on Monday after
suffering a right groin strain. Fields was scheduled to make
consecutive appearances on Monday against the Atlanta Braves as well
as on Tuesday against the New York Mets before the injury. He will
be re-evaluated on Tuesday. Fields was sidelined earlier in spring
training with left hamstring tightness.
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Oberholtzer, Brett
LHP Brett Oberholtzer (mild left lat strain) threw a bullpen session
March 22, and he expects to be ready for the start of the season. He
was scratched from a minor league start over the March 14-15
weekend.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Angels Rasmus, Cory
RHP Cory Rasmus will undergo surgery March 23 to repair a core
injury. He will miss six to eight weeks. Rasmus, 27, was projected
as a middle-inning reliever. Last year, he appeared in 30 games,
including six spot starts after RHP Garrett Richards tore a knee
ligament, and finished with a 3-2 record and a 2.57 ERA. Rasmus
could be able to resume throwing in mid-April but might not engage
in more strenuous activity until May, manager Mike Scioscia said.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Angels Richards, Garrett
RHP Garrett Richards pitched against Giants minor-leaguers on March
23 in Scottsdale, Ariz., and threw four no-hit innings. He threw 53
pitches and came away with no physical difficulties. The outing was
his first against another team since Aug. 20, when Richards tore the
patellar tendon in his left knee while covering first base in a game
against the Red Sox. "Today was a great day," Richards said March
23. "Another step in the right direction. It was a big building
block."
Richards likely will remain in Arizona for more work before
beginning a minor league rehabilitation assignment once the Angels
break camp.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Rollins, David
LHP David Rollins, a Rule 5 draft pick from the Houston
organization, has been such a pleasant surprise that he now has a
legitimate shot at making the Mariners' Opening Day roster. A
converted starter who has pitched only one game above the Double-A
level, Rollins didn't allow a run in his first five appearances of
the spring. He struck out six without issuing a walk over 5 1/3
innings. "There are other guys out here who I'm competing against,"
Rollins told The News Tribune of Tacoma. "I'm just trying to do the
best I can."
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Paxton, James
LHP James Paxton pitched a three-inning simulated game March 17,
then pitched 3 1/3 shutout innings in his delayed Cactus League
debut March 22 and announced that he would be ready for his first
start of the regular season. The starter bruised both forearms in a
pre-camp fall, and the Mariners were being cautious with him this
spring. Paxton is penciled in as the Mariners' No. 3 starter, but it
is conceivable that he could miss his first start. Seattle has an
off day in the opening week, so it could go with a four-man
rotation.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Seager, Kyle
3B Kyle Seager missed a spring game with oblique tightness but was
back in the lineup for the March 22 game against the Cubs. Seager
was having a solid spring, although he didn't need to do much to
solidify his spot as the Mariners' No. 5 hitter and everyday third
baseman. The addition of DH Nelson Cruz in the cleanup spot should
only help Seager in terms of offensive output this season.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Hernandez, Felix
RHP Felix Hernandez got touched up in a March 21 Cactus League game
against the Cubs but still had two scheduled spring starts to find
his rhythm before Opening Day. Hernandez allowed six runs off six
hits over 2 2/3 innings in his start against the Cubs. "I definitely
didn't have the results I wanted," he told MLB.com, "but I got my
work in and threw a lot of pitches. That's what I'm here for."
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Montero, Jesus
1B Jesus Montero didn't get much of an opportunity this spring
(3-for-15 over seven Cactus League appearances), but he made a step
toward earning his way back into favor by showing up for camp in
playing shape. The once-promising prospect is on his ninth life in
the organization but could end up getting a call-up at some point
this season. He was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on March 20.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Jones, James
OF James Jones ended up being a victim of the numbers game after
Seattle brought in veterans Justin Ruggiano, Seth Smith and Rickie
Weeks to add outfield depth. The starting center fielder until the
Mariners acquired Austin Jackson from Detroit at the 2014 trade
deadline, Jones was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on March 20, and he
probably won't be back unless there is an injury. The Mariners still
like his speed and offensive potential.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Correia, Kevin
RHP Kevin Correia made his first two spring outings March 17 and
March 21, but don't bet on him being the latest veteran starter to
sign late and make the Mariners' rotation. In the two games, he
allowed a combined five runs on four hits over 1 2/3 innings.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Weeks, Rickie
OF Rickie Weeks, a converted shortstop, is spending some time
learning first base this spring. Weeks would give the Mariners
another option behind 1B Logan Morrison. There is no established
backup at first base, although UT Willie Bloomquist and DH Nelson
Cruz could see time there this season.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Wendle, Joe
2B Joey Wendle was one of seven players sent to the Athletics' minor
league camp on March 22, but he made a strong impression on manager
Bob Melvin before being reassigned. "He comes better than
advertised," Melvin said. "We heard early on that his bat was ahead
of his glove. He's got a nice bat, but his glove comes with him. If
you watch him, he hangs in on double plays, gets rid of it quickly.
Side to side he moves really well. He gets to balls up the middle in
a hurry. He's an all-around player. He's going to be a really good
player."
Wendle hit .286 for the A's this spring, going 10-for-35 in 18
appearances. He had one double, one triple and two RBIs. But what
most impressed Melvin was that fact that Wendle played flawless
defense He had 29 total chances and made zero errors.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Beimel, Joe
LHP Joe Beimel was released by the Rangers on March 23. Signed
earlier in the month, the 37-year-old would have been paid $1.5
million if he had made the Opening Day roster, but he gave up 14
runs (11 earned) on 13 hits (three homers) and two walks over three
innings in Cactus League play. Beimel had a 2.20 ERA over 45 innings
with the Mariners last season.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Harrison, Matt
LHP Matt Harrison, recovering from spinal fusion surgery performed
last June, threw off a full mound for the first time March 23. The
timetable for his return to game action was unknown.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Scherzer, Max
RHP Max Scherzer will be the Nationals' Opening Day starter on April
6 against the Mets at Nationals Park, manager Matt Williams
announced March 23. It will be the first Opening Day start of
Scherzer's career. Washington's last three Opening Day starts went
to RHP Stephen Strasburg. Scherzer, who won the American League Cy
Young Award in 2013, joined the Nationals this offseason after
signing a seven-year, $210 million contract in January. In his first
spring training with Washington, Scherzer had allowed three runs in
14 innings and led the team with 14 strikeouts through March 23.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Bell, Heath
RHP Heath Bell was released by the Nationals on March 23. The
37-year-old former All-Star closer signed a minor league deal in
December that would have paid him $1 million if he had made the
Opening Day roster. He posted a 7.27 ERA for Tampa Bay last year and
struggled in camp with the Nationals (5.68 ERA in seven
appearances).
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Swisher, Nick
DH/OF Nick Swisher is not expected to be ready for Opening Day on
April 6, Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona said Monday.
Swisher underwent surgery on both knees in August. On Sunday, he
shed the braces he had been wearing since September and ran the
bases. He put them back on for a minor-league intrasquad game
Monday.
He will run bases again Tuesday. If he suffers no setbacks, Swisher
is expected to serve as designated hitter in a minor-league game
this week. The Indians want him to play DH and right field this
season.
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