|
 03/27/2015 MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Wood, Travis
LHP Travis Wood worked five innings March 25 in a 3-2 loss to
Seattle as he remained in hunt for a fifth starter's spot. Wood
retired nine of 10 batters he faced prior to C Mike Zunino's home
run to open the third. Wood was 1-1 with a 4.11 ERA over 19 1/3
innings through five spring appearances.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Castillo, Welington
C Welington Castillo may yet stay with the Cubs. Seen as potential
trade bait earlier in spring training, he may now join Miguel
Montero and David Ross on the Opening Day roster. Castillo was
batting .375 (9-for-24) with three doubles, two home runs and seven
RBIs through March 26.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Jackson, Edwin
RHP Edwin Jackson drew maanger Joe Maddon's ire after arriving just
25 minutes before his scheduled start against Oakland on March 24.
"I put Oakland A's spring training complex (in Google maps) and it
took me to the old one," Jackson said. "It was crazy. That pretty
much sums it up."
The Cubs instead started RHP Blake Palmer. Jackson entered in the
second inning, and he gave up eight runs and nine hits in 1 2/3
innings, including seven straight two-out hits in the third. He
ended the outing with a 7.59 ERA this spring.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Lester, Jon
LHP Jon Lester, slowed by what was described as a "dead" arm, did
not pitch for 10 days before returning to action Thursday in a
controlled setting against minor-leaguers. He threw 54 pitches
against Cubs prospects, with his fastball topping out at 93 mph.
"Today was good," Lester said. "I look forward to the next one (in
spring training), and then we can talk about ... if everything goes
well ... then we can talk about Opening Night (against the
Cardinals)."
Lester is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday, probably with an
80-pitch limit and likely against minor-leaguers again. Cubs manager
Joe Maddon said Lester's potential start in the April 5 opener
against the St. Louis Cardinals might be similarly restricted.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Bryant, Kris
3B Kris Bryant led the major leagues with nine home runs, 42 total
bases and 15 RBIs through March 25. Due in part to his spring
success, agent Scott Boras and the Cubs traded barbs over Bryant's
status with the major league club. Boras believes Bryant should
start the season in Chicago, while Cubs president Theo Epstein
hinted that Bryant could be destined for to begin 2015 the minors.
Boras charges that the team is merely keeping the prospect in
Triple-A to prevent the clock from starting on Bryant's march toward
eventual arbitration eligibility and free agency. The Cubs tried out
Bryant in left field on March 26, and he caught a fly ball and made
a throw to second base to catch a runner and complete a double play.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Milwaukee Brewers Henderson, Jim
RHP Jim Henderson will work out on the Brewers' minor league side
and is expected to begin the season on the disabled list as the
former closer continues to regain his velocity. Henderson battled
the same issue last spring and was replaced as closer by RHP
Francisco Rodriguez on Opening Day then struggled through 14
appearances. He had a 7.14 ERA when he went on the disabled list on
May 2 and underwent season-ending surgery in August. But despite
feeling healthy early in camp, struggled to get above 90-92 mph.
Henderson, who saved 29 games in 2013, will receive treatment on in
the major league clubhouse but will work out with the minor league
players.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Milwaukee Brewers Fiers, Mike
RHP Mike Fiers returned to a major league mound for the first time
in a week Thursday and allowed a run on three hits with a walk over
3 2/3 innings of work. Fiers had been battling weakness in his right
shoulder and was scratched from his last scheduled start. The
Brewers sent him over to minor league camp where he made a scoreless
appearance last Sunday. Fiers' start Thursday came on short rest as
the Brewers wanted to keep him in line to be the fourth starter
after the regular season opens April 6.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Milwaukee Brewers Sardinas, Luis
INF Luis Sardinas was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs on
Thursday. Sardinas was in the mix for a backup infielder role and
got off to a slow start (1-for-19) but had eight hits in his last 11
at-bats to improve his spring average to .294. Acquired from Texas
in the Yovani Gallardo trade, Sardinas is expected to be the
everyday shortstop for the Sky Sox.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Milwaukee Brewers Rodriguez, Francisco
RHP Francisco Rodriguez allowed a run on three hits with two
strikeouts last Sunday in his first appearance of the spring and
followed that up with a scoreless inning Wednesday against Oakland.
Rodriguez reported to camp late after agreeing to a two-year
contract early in spring training, then was delayed while waiting
for a work visa.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Kang, Jung-Ho
INF Jung Ho Kang has struggled mightily in his first American spring
training, going 3-for-27 (.111) with 11 strikeouts in exhibition
play. Kang was the Most Valuable Player in the Korean Baseball
Organization last season when he hit .356 with 40 home runs in 117
games. The Pirates signed him to a four-year, $11-million contract
in January and also paid his team in Korea, the Nexen Heroes, a
posting fee of $5,002,015. Despite his struggles, the Pirates plan
to have Kang on their season-opening roster as a utility player.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates McCutchen, Andrew
CF Andrew McCutchen says he is "100 percent" after returning to
action March 24. He sat out 10 consecutive Grapefruit League games
because of what the Pirates describe as "lower-body soreness."
McCutchen used "tightness" to describe his condition and said he
would have been playing it if were the regular season.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Stewart, Chris
C Chris Stewart, who has not played since March 9 because of a
strained right hamstring, began taking batting practice March 24. He
will begin the season on the disabled list but appears on course to
be activated in mid-April.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Pham, Tommy
OF Tommy Pham (left quad strain) hasn't played since March 13,
basically ending his chances of going north with the club after
spring training. Pham's injury history has stalled his progress
during nine minor league seasons as he's battled eye, wrist and
shoulder injuries. Prior to this latest ailment, Pham was batting
.412 in 17 at-bats with five RBIs, but he appears headed for Memphis
or the DL.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Reynolds, Mark
1B/3B Mark Reynolds started in left field on March 23 against Boston
as manager Mike Matheny continues to look for ways to get his power
bat into the lineup. Reynolds has played 15 career innings in the
outfield, all in right field, but he's also blasted 20 homers or
more in seven straight years. St. Louis, which was last in the NL in
homers last year, is willing to trade some of Reynolds' strikeouts
for his long balls, even if it means shoehorning him into the lineup
in the outfield.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Carpenter, Matt
3B Matt Carpenter (right quad contusion) left the March 25 game with
Washington after two innings. Carpenter was plunked by Max Scherzer
in the first inning and was removed as a precautionary measure.
Carpenter was back in the lineup March 26 for a game with Miami. He
batted .348 in his first 23 at-bats of the spring.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Cincinnati Reds Bailey, Homer
RHP Homer Bailey pitched two scoreless innings March 22 in a minor
league start. He threw 29 pitches, 20 for strikes, allowing a double
with a walk and two strikeouts. He reached 90-91 mph on his fastball
and was able to mix in some secondary pitches. Bailey is expected to
miss two starts to begin the season after undergoing surgery to
repair a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm last September.
"It'd say we're on a pretty good track," Bailey said. "We haven't
had any setbacks. This whole thing's gone pretty smooth."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Cincinnati Reds Cueto, Johnny
RHP Johnny Cueto, last year's National League Cy Young Award
runner-up, returned to camp in Goodyear, Ariz., after spending a
week in the Dominican Republic with his, who underwent open-heart
surgery. Cueto worked out while in the Dominican and will make two
more appearances, probably one in a minor league game, before
starting Opening Day, April 6.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Cincinnati Reds Lorenzen, Michael
RHP Michael Lorenzen earned an audition when he started March 26 in
place of RHP Johnny Cueto, who returned home to the Dominican
Republic to be with his ailing mother. Lorenzen, the organization's
fourth-best prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, allowed one run
on four hits in three innings in the Reds' 13-2 win over the
Indians.
-----------------------------------------------
[to top of second column] |
MLB Note - Cincinnati Reds Gregg, Kevin
RHP Kevin Gregg, who agreed to a minor league deal in February, is
among the leading candidates for the setup role ahead of closer
Aroldis Chapman. That role last season was held by RHP Jonathan
Broxton, who since was traded. Gregg, 38, had a 1.80 ERA in his
first five spring training appearances (five innings) through March
26. He had four strikeouts and no walks.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Cincinnati Reds Suarez, Eugenio
SS Eugenio Suarez needs to play every day, according to Reds manager
Bryan Price, so the 23-year old was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.
Price felt that Suarez remaining in the big leagues in a utility
role wouldn't help his development. Suarez was acquired from the
Tigers in the Alfredo Simon trade.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Soto, Neftali
INF Neftali Soto was traded to the White Sox on March 23 in exchange
for cash. Soto, who appeared in 34 games for Cincinnati the past two
seasons, batted .071 with three hits in 42 at-bats with a double and
an RBI. He hit .302 with two homers and 34 RBIs in 75 games last
year at Triple-A.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Cincinnati Reds Maholm, Paul
LHP Paul Maholm believed he was competing for one of the open spots
in the Reds' rotation, but the 32-year-old veteran is now relegated
to the bullpen. Maholm said he would consider opting out of his
contract, which he can do as a six-year player on a minor league
deal. Maholm was 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in five spring outings through
March 26.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Cincinnati Reds Johnson, Dan
1B Dan Johnson was acquired by Cincinnati from the Astros on March
26 in exchange for a player to be named or cash. He reported to the
Reds' minor league camp in Goodyear, Ariz. Johnson, 35, hit .211
with one homer in seven major league games for Toronto last year. He
batted .158 with one homer and six RBIs in 14 games for Houston this
spring. Johnson has major league experience with the A's, Rays,
White Sox, Orioles and Blue Jays.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Lohman, Devin
INF Devin Lohman was acquired by the Phillies from the Reds on March
26 in exchange for a player to be named or cash. Lohman, 25, spent
the past two seasons at Double-A Pensacola, hitting a combined
.240/.307/.339 with 13 homers and 82 RBIs in 240 games.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Miami Marlins Cosart, Jarred
RHP Jarred Cosart said he is cooperating fully with Major League
Baseball's investigation into his alleged gambling activity. The
Miami New Times reported March 25 that an investigation was launched
after direct Twitter messages were sent between Cosart and a person
affiliated with the gambling industry.
"Obviously, I was caught off guard by the whole situation," Cosart
said. "I'm following the MLB protocol and talking with MLB security,
and they're taking care of it. I'm putting everything in their
hands, and when we know something else, we'll let everybody know."
Cosart said there is no timetable for the investigation, based on
his initial conversations with MLB.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - New York Yankees Ellsbury, Jacoby
CF Jacoby Ellsbury tested his strained right oblique by resuming
some on-field activities March 24, and he began swinging a bat March
26. Ellsbury has not played since getting hurt March 15 while
throwing in the outfield, and manager Joe Girardi thinks he will be
ready for the season opener if he can get into a game by March 31.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Tampa Bay Rays Archer, Chris
RHP Chris Archer will replace injured RHP Alex Cobb as the Rays'
Opening Day starter. Archer will pitch April 6 against the Orioles
at Tropicana Field. Archer, 26, becomes the 11th Opening Day starter
in the Rays' 18 seasons. He went 10-9 with a 3.33 ERA in 32 starts
last season. Cobb will miss the start of the season with forearm
tendinitis. "You don't want to take anything away from Cobb. It was
his. He'd earned that," manager Kevin Cash said. "But we're
extremely comfortable with having that guy now be Arch."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - New York Yankees Rodriguez, Alex
3B/DH Alex Rodriguez will be tested for drugs more often in the wake
of his 162-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs,
commissioner Rob Manfred said. "Let me be clear about this: He'll be
tested exactly like every other player who has violated the program.
The program requires more frequent testing for players who are
coming back after a suspension," Manfred said March 26. Players who
have been penalized under baseball's drug policy are subject to six
unannounced urine tests and three unannounced blood tests every
year.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - New York Yankees Burton, Jared
RHP Jared Burton, who strained a lat muscle in mid-March, was
released March 26. Burton, 33, signed a non-guaranteed minor league
contract with the Yankees during the offseason after the Twins
rejected a $3.6 million option for the 2015 season. Burton pitched
in 68 games for the Twins last year and was 3-5 with three saves and
a 4.36 ERA. He made four scoreless appearances this spring for New
York before getting hurt.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Texas Rangers Gallardo, Yovani
RHP Yovani Gallardo will be the Rangers' Opening Day starter on
April 6 against the Athletics, manager Jeff Banister announced March
26. Gallardo, 29, started five consecutive openers for Milwaukee
before joining Texas during the offseason. Banister cited Gallardo's
experience as a key reason for selecting Gallardo despite his slow
start in spring training with the Rangers. Gallardo had allowed 13
earned runs in 10 1/3 innings. Last season for the Brewers, he
posted an 8-11 record with a 3.51 ERA.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Texas Rangers Detwiler, Ross
LHP Ross Detwiler will be in the Rangers' rotation, manager Jeff
Banister announced March 26. Detwiler worked as a reliever last
season for the Washington and had a 2-3 record with a 4.00 ERA in 47
appearances. This spring, he had a 4.15 ERA through 8 2/3 innings.
Detwiler, who joined the Rangers in December as part of a trade, is
projected as the No. 4 starter behind Gallardo, LHP Derek Holland
and RHP Colby Lewis.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - No MLB Team Free Agents Aiken, Brady
LHP Brady Aiken, the No. 1 overall pick in the June 2014 draft who
went unsigned, underwent Tommy John elbow ligament replacement
surgery March 25. The 18-year-old experienced tightness in his elbow
a week ago while pitching for IMG Academy. He announced March 26 in
The Players Tribune that he had the surgery. "I know the road ahead
will be full of patience and hard work, and I'm ready for that
challenge," Aiken wrote.
Aiken was drafted by the Houston Astros last June, but a contract
agreement was never reached. At the time, the Astros expressed
concerns about the health of Aiken's elbow. Because Aiken was
unsigned, he could have been the No. 1 overall pick again in this
year's draft before the injury. There is still a chance he could be
selected in the first round in June, but he is expected to be
sidelined for at least a year in his recovery and rehab from the
surgery.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - San Diego Padres Gustave, Jandel
RHP Jandel Gustave was claimed off waivers by the Padres from the
Royals on March 26. Gustave, 22, is an intriguing Rule 5 pick with a
102 mph fastball, but he has yet to pitch above Class A. He went 1-0
with a 3.68 ERA in five spring appearances for Kansas City, striking
out six and walking three in 7 1/3 innings. The Padres must keep him
on the roster all season or offer him back to his 2014 organization,
the Astros.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - San Diego Padres Federowicz, Tim
C Tim Federowicz, who underwent right knee surgery March 15, was
placed on the 60-day disabled list March 26. He had a complete tear
of the meniscus repaired, and he likely is out until at least the
All-Star break.
-----------------------------------------------
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
