Notice: Trying to get property 'display_name' of non-object in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-seo/src/generators/schema/article.php on line 52
keyboard_arrow_uptop
IN THIS ISSUE

American League

National League

DETROIT TIGERS
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
Return to Top

Recalled RHP Alex Wilson from Triple-A Toledo; optioned LHP Ian Krol to Triple-A Toledo. [4/23]

Labeling Wilson the forgotten man in the Yoenis Cespedes trade would be inaccurate (that honor belongs to Gabe Speier), but he's not far off. Wilson, who is up because—and this might surprise you—the Tigers are having bullpen problems, is a beefy feller with Lady Liberty arm action and a low-to-mid-90s sinker. The development of his slider means there's a chance he sneaks into a set-up role, though he's likely to serve in a less important role for the time being.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
Return to Top

Purchased the contract of 1B/3B-L Maxwell Muncy from Triple-A Nashville; placed INF/OF-S Ben Zobrist on the 15-day disabled list (knee surgery); designated LHP Eury De La Rosa for assignment. [4/25]

With Zobrist out for the next month-plus, you would expect the A's to recall a second baseman or outfielder. Nope. Muncy is an odd choice to fill the void. He's a first baseman with some experience at the hot corner, yet he doesn't have enough bat or glove to profile as a regular at either spot. Muncy's plate discipline is his greatest strength—he's never walked in less than 12 percent of his plate appearances—but that's true of countless minor-league types. Unless Muncy's hit and/or power tools play better in the majors than expected, he'll straddle the line between bench bat and up-and-down guy.

TEXAS RANGERS
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
Return to Top

Purchased the contract of LHP Wandy Rodriguez; designated RHP Logan Verrett for assignment. [4/24]

Rodriguez attended camp with the Braves, and would have cracked their Opening Day rotation were it not for the Trevor Cahill trade. Instead he was released right before the season began, freeing him to sign a minor-league pact with the Rangers. On Friday that deal came in handy for both sides, as Rodriguez slotted into Derek Holland's vacated rotation spot. He had an okay first start, lasting five innings and allowing one run while pitching off an upper-80s fastball. The most the Rangers can ask from Rodriguez is back-end caliber work. If that doesn't satisfy Jon Daniels, then expect Anthony Ranuado or, eventually, Luke Jackson to get the call.

ATLANTA BRAVES
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
Return to Top

Purchased the contracts of RHPs Michael Kohn and John Cornely from Triple-A Gwinnett; optioned RHPs Brandon Cunniff and Sugar Ray Marimon to Triple-A Gwinnett. [4/24]

John Hart brings a pair of wild things to Atlanta.

You remember Kohn from his Angels days. While he's always had the stuff to pitch in important situations, he's seldom done so because he has less control than a beaver in a log cabin. Last season Kohn walked 20 batters in 23 big-league innings, then walked 27 more in 34 minor-league innings; consistency is an underrated attribute. Kohn did show better control during his brief stay in Gwinnett, but a breakout is less likely than him latching on with another organization before year's end.

You don't remember Cornely because this is his first big-league promotion. Formerly the 476th pick in the 2011 draft, Cornely is a thick little righty with an over-the-top release point. Control is the question here, too, since he's walked fewer than four batters per nine only twice at any stop in the minors—and both were during stints that lasted fewer than 10 innings. Should Cornely improve his strike-throwing, he could become more than . . . well, a younger Kohn. We'll find out soon enough.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
Return to Top

Purchased the contract of RHP Sergio Santos from Triple-A Oklahoma; designated LHP Xavier Cedeno for assignment; optioned RHP Michael Bolsinger and OF-R Chris Heisey to Triple-A Oklahoma;outrighted RHP Daniel Corcino from the 40-man roster. [4/24]

So this is what happens when survivalists turn into consumers.

The Dodgers have developed a habit of claiming players, then waiving them as a means to send them to the minors. It's an okay way to build organizational depth—albeit the kind of organizational depth that no team wants on its 40-man roster—but also leads to some long, uneventful transaction logs.

The most noteworthy of the comings and goings is Santos. You know his story: good kid, m.A.A.d city—no, no: good stuff, bad location. Santos' days as an above-average closer are over, so the hope here is that he can turn into a wild middle reliever. It's worth a shot given the low stakes.

Thank you for reading

This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to Baseball Prospectus. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment.

Subscribe now
You need to be logged in to comment. Login or Subscribe
jeremykoo
4/27
Max Muncy is up primarily because Tyler Ladendorf sustained an ankle injury in the minor leagues, and the A's didn't need another outfielder.
jkaflagg
4/27
Dodgers remind me of people pulling up to the 99 Cent store in their Mercedes.....and there's nothing wrong with that. The new bosses appear determined not to pay big dollars for those last 2-3 spots on the roster, but at the same time provide respectable if not luxurious options in those spots....much like the 99 Cent store.