Around the Horn: News and Notes 4/14
Two weeks in the books for the 2021 season. It has been fun to have baseball back! I have loved every moment so far. Welcome into regular season Around the Horn with Ball Boy Blog. We will keep up on the news for the regular season on the league news, free agent signings, call ups/send downs and injuries, and COVID-19 related news. Click or tap right here to view lasts week's news.
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League News:
-This year's trade deadline will be slightly earlier than usual, with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reporting that it'll fall on July 30 rather than the customary July 31. Major League Baseball preferred to have the 4 pm ET deadline fall on a day where afternoon games aren't scheduled to take place to avoid scenarios where players head out to the field as the hours until the deadline dwindle. Doing so eliminates some injury risk, and uncomfortable scenarios where a player could be injured during play as a trade surrounding him is completed.
-Is Trevor Bauer cheating? Bauer started against the Athletics on Wednesday, 4/7 when he yielded two earned runs on ten strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. According to Rosenthal, the umpires from that game have since collected multiple "suspicious baseballs" that Bauer threw, who writes that they "had visible markings and were sticky." As Rosenthal notes, though, the league may not be able to prove whether it was Bauer who doctored the ball, so it's unclear whether it will discipline him.
-The Buffalo Bisons, the Blue Jays Triple-A affiliate, announced this morning they would move to Trenton at the beginning of their season, which kicks off May 4. The move allows the Jays and Bisons to "complete a joint renovation project to prepare (Buffalo's) Sahlen Field for Major League regular-season games." While the Jays have not officially announced plans to play home games in Buffalo in 2021, the Bisons' temporary relocation is the strongest indicator. Yet, the Jays are preparing to return to Buffalo at some point after playing there in 2020. The Jays will continue to stage home games through the end of May at their Spring Training complex in Dunedin, Florida.
-Alex Rodriguez may finally secure an ownership role in North American sports, but it won't be with a baseball team. After attempting to purchase the Mets last year, Rodriguez has teamed with billionaire Marc Lore. They are finalizing a deal to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. If completed, Rodriguez and Lore would take over in 2023.
-The Marlin's new TV deal will run for seven years and pay just over $50mil a year. The deal is a steep increase after only paying $20mil last season, which was a league-low.
Roster Moves:
Callup/Send-down/Cuts:
-The Angels selected the contract of OF Jon Jay to fill Dexter Fowler's roster spot. The team also called up Anthony Bemboom.
-The Royals selected RHP Ervin Santana after placing RHP Josh Staumont on the IL.
-The Rangers called up OF Adolis Garcia from the alternate site to fill Ronald's Guzman roster spot.
-The Cubs called up INF Ildemaro Vargas from the alternate site to fill Matt Duffy's roster spot.
-The Royals called up RHP Jake Newberry to fill Hahn's spot on the roster.
-The Rays optioned Brent Honeywells Jr on 4/12 and recalled RHP Trevor Richards was called up to fill the spot. C Joe Odom was outrighted to the alternate site after clearing waivers.
-The Giants recalled LaMonte Wade Jr on 4/11 to fill RHRP Reyes Moronta roster spot.
-The Red Sox optioned INF Michael Chavis to the alternate site on 4/11.
-The Cardinals optioned RHP Jake Woodford on 4/10. OF Lane Thomas and RHP Johan Oviedo were called up to fill Woodford's and O'Neill's spots on the roster.
-The Phillies recalled LHP JoJo Romero to fill Archie Bradley's roster spot.
-The Tigers selected 1B/3B Renato Nunez's contract on 4/11 to fill Miguel Cabrera's roster spot.
-The Yankees optioned INF Tyler Wade and 1B Mike Ford to the alternate site on 4/10. The team optioned pitcher Domingo German as well.
-The Diamondbacks optioned INF Geraldo Perdomo to the alternate site on 4/10
-The Padres optioned RHP Nabil Crismatt to the alternate site. lHe was then recalled on 4/12 to fill a roster spot.
-The Angels called up RHP Jaime Barria to fill Dexter Fowler's spot on the roster.
-The Rays called up Brent Honeywell to make his MLB debut on 4/11 to fill Chris Archer's spot on the roster.
-The Rockies selected INF Alan Trego to fill Chris Owings's spot on the roster.
-The Tigers selected RHP Alex Lange from the taxi squad to fill Julio Teheran's spot. Michael Fulmer will be taking over the rotation spot.
-The Mets selected INF Jose Peraza's contract on 4/10 to fill JD. Davis's spot on the roster.
-The Braves called up Jacob Webb to fill Chris Martins's spot on the roster.
-The Astros called up RHP Nivaldo Rodriguez to fill Enoli Parades' spot on the roster.
-The Padres optioned OF Brain O'Grady to the alternate site on 4/9.
-The Dodgers called up OF/1B Luke Raley from the alternate site.
-The Nationals optioned Carter Kieboom, Tres Barrera, Ryne Harper, Cody Wilson were optioned to the alternate site.
-The Rays selected RHRP Hunter Strickland's contract on 4/9 to fill Pete Fairbanks's spot in pen.
Free Agent Signings:
-The Astros and C Martin Maldonado are finalizing a 1-year contract extension and a vesting option for 2023.
-The Diamondbacks signed OF Josh Reddick to a minor league deal on 4/12.
-The Rockies signed RHP Ivan Nova to a minor league deal on 4/12.
-The Rockies also signed LHP Chris Rustin to a minor league deal.
-The Marlins signed RHP Brett Eibner to a minor league deal on 4/10.
-The Brewers signed INF Dee Strange-Gordon to a minor league deal on 4/8.
-The Giants claimed RHP Ashton Goudeau from the Dodgers.
Free Agent Rumors:
-The Marlins were one of the teams, along with the Nationals and others, to attended Anibals Sanchez showcase of 4/9.
Trades:
-The Giants acquired INF Thairo Estrada from the Yankees in exchange for cash considerations. Estrada has spent his entire professional career in the Yankees organization, hitting .280/.337/.389 with 26 home runs over 1949 minor league plate appearances from 2013-19 and .214/.267/.348 over 121 PA at the Major League level in 2019-20.
-The Braves acquired RHP Edgar Santana from the Pirates in exchange for cash considerations. Santana just finished an 80-game PED suspension that followed TJ surgery in Oct. of 2018.
Trade Rumors:
-We have our first actual trade deadline candidate. Marlins OF Corey Dickerson doesn't appear to be in the team's plan beyond this season.
Returning from Injury:
-The Reds get RHP Sonny Gray back Friday or Saturday.
-The Diamondbacks got back RHP Zac Gallen on 4/13.
-Padres RHP Dinelson Lamet won't rejoin the Padres rotation until at least one outing at the alternate site.
-The White Sox expects to get back TA7 from the IL when he is first eligible tomorrow, 4/15.
-The Cardinals could soon get back Kwang Hyun Kim as he threw a 90 pitch sim game on 4/11. He will rejoin the rotation on Saturday, 4/17.
-The Diamondbacks activated SS Nick Ahmed from the 10-day IL on 4/10
-The Orioles reinstated DJ Stewart from the 10-day IL on 4/10.
-The Padres reinstated RHP Austin Adams from the 10-day IL on 4/10
-The Diamondbacks activated OF Kole Calhoun from the 10-day IL on 4/9.
-The Padres activated OF Trent Grisham from the 10-day IL on 4/9.
-The Yankees activated LHRP Justin Wilson from the IL on 4/9.
-The Rays activated OF Brett Phillips from the IL.
-Blue Jays LHP Robbie Ray threw a sim game on 4/9, and he rejoined the team on 4/11.
-Giants LHP Alex Wood could be activated this week after his next outing at the Alternate Site. He has been working back from an ablation procedure on his spine for the past few weeks.
New Injuries:
-Angels 3B Anthony Rendon left that game 4/10 with left groin tightness. On 4/12, he was placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to 4/10.
-Rays RHP Chris Archer left his start on 4/10 due to right lateral forearm tightness. Cash said imaging showed nothing serious, and he should miss only a couple of starts. He was placed on the 10-day IL
-Mariners LHP James Paxton is contemplating TJ surgery. He left his first start of 2021 after only 24 pitches. As of 4/10, he was still undecided on the next steps. It's official as of 4/13 that Paxton will have season-ending TJ surgery.
-Angels OF Dexter Fowler departed the game on Friday, 4/9, with a left knee contusion. He left on a cart. The team revealed on 4/11 that he tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. Fowler is not contemplating retirement, even though that might be wise. He is focused on rehab and returning in 2022.
Headed to the IL:
-The Angels placed C Max Stassi on the 10-day IL with a left thumb sprain and OF Juan Lagares on the 10-day IL with a calf injury.
-Rangers placed 1B/OF Ronald Guzman on the 10-day IL on 4/13 with a meniscus cartilage tear in his right knee.
-Rangers RHP Jonathan Hernandez underwent season-ending TJ on Monday, 4/12.
-The Royals placed RHP Jesse Hahn on the 10-day IL on 4/12 due to the right shoulder impingement syndrome.
-The Padres placed RHP Adrian Morejon the 10-day IL after leaving his tart with forearm/elbow strain in this throwing arm.
-The Giants placed RHRP Reyes Moronta on the 10-day IL on 4/11 with a right flexor strain.
-The Cardinals placed OF Tyler O'Neill on the 10-day IL due to a right groin strain on 4/11.
-The Phillies placed RHP Archie Bradley on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain on 4/11.
-The Tigers placed 1B/DH Miguel Cabrera on the 10-day IL due to a left biceps strain on 4/11.
-The Astros shifted RHP Pedro Baez to the 10-day IL on 4/10 from the COVID IL with right shoulder soreness.
-The Brewers placed INF Kolten Wong on the 10-day IL on 4/10 due to a left oblique strain.
-The Rockies placed UTL Chris Owings on the 10-day IL due to a left thumb sprain.
-The Tigers placed RHP Julio Teheran on the 10-day IL, retroactive to 4/7, with a right shoulder strain.
-The Athletics placed AJ Puk on the 10-day IL with strained left biceps. Trevor Rosenthal was moved to the 60-day IL after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery.
-The Mets placed INF JD Davis on the 10-day IL, retroactive to 4/7, with a left-hand contusion.
-The Braves placed RHP Chris Martin on the 10-day IL, retroactive to 4/7, with inflammation in this throwing shoulder.
-The Blue Jays placed RHP Tyler Chatwood on the 10-day IL on 4/10 with right triceps inflammation.
-The Astros placed RHRP Enoli Paredes on the 10-day IL on 4/9.
-The Rangers placed RHRP Matt Bush on the 10-day IL with inflammation in his pitching elbow. He will undergo an MRI and could require TJ surgery for the third time.
-The Dodgers placed OF Cody Bellinger on the 10-day IL with a left calf contusion, retroactive to April 6.
-The Rays placed RHP Pete Fairbanks on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain. He will be out for over a month.
-The Athletics placed INF/OF Chad Pinder on the IL on 4/9. The team expects him to be out longer than the 10-day minimum with a left knee sprain.
-Angels RHRP Luke Bard will undergo season-ending hip surgery that will require to miss 6-8 months of action.
Injury Updates:
-Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr. has progressed in his rehab to fielding drills, running, and hitting drills.
-Blue Jays OF Geroge Springer is still working his way back from a quad injury that happened while recovering from an oblique strain.
-Reds RHP Sonny Gray threw a sim game on 4/10, and he is in line to make his regular-season debut this week.
-Blue Jays RHP Nate Pearson threw a pen on
4/9 and come out feeling good. He could return soon.
-Astros LHP Framber Valdez hasn't pitched for the team this season yet due to a broken finger. He has returned to throwing off of the flat ground on 4/8.
-Reds OF Shogo Akiyama is expected to return to the team early-to-mid May.
COVID News:
-The Cubs placed INF Matt Duffy on the COVID IL on 4/13.
-The Red Sox activated JD Martinez off of the COVID-19 IL on 4/11.
-The Blue Jays placed OF Teoscar Hernandez on the COVID-19 IL after "someone close to him tested positive." LHP Ryan Borucki was also placed on the COVID-IL with vaccine-related symptoms. OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. left the game on 4/9 with vaccine-related symptoms. Gurriel Jr. was activated on 4/12.
-The Yankees placed 3B Gio Ursehla on 4/9. His placement was due to vaccine-related symptoms. Urshela and Odor were reinstated from the COVID-19 IL on 4/10.
-The Nationals had Patrick Corbin, Alex Avila, Yan Gomes, Brad Hand, and Jordy Mercer from the covid-19 IL.
Thanks for reading today! One love, blessings!