The 2018 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread.

[El Nino]

21 pitch at bat is absurd, hope he got a standing ovation.

Ended with an out

[EmpireMaker]

The Phillies have struck a minor-league deal with veteran third baseman Trevor Plouffe, according to Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). (H/t to Eric English, who first tweeted the connection.)
Details are sparse beyond the fact that it is a minors arrangement. Plouffe spent the spring in camp with the Rangers but ultimately asked for his release after failing to crack the MLB roster.
The 31-year-old Plouffe returned to the open market in search of an opportunity to earn his way back to the majors. He has at times been a solid regular at the hot corner, and carries a .242/.304/.410 slash with more than a hundred long balls in over three thousand MLB plate appearances in eight seasons. Now, though, Plouffe is coming off of a brutal 2017 season in which he hit just .2198/.272/.318 over 313 trips to the plate.
It seems likely that Plouffe will mostly be viewed as a depth piece for the Phils. The club already has Maikel Franco lined up at third base and does not appear to have a clear use for a corner infield reserve on the major-league roster as things stand.

[koz-man]

The Reds finally win a Game!! Yahoo!!

[ApricotSinner32]

The Phillies have struck a minor-league deal with veteran third baseman Trevor Plouffe, according to Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). (H/t to Eric English, who first tweeted the connection.)
Details are sparse beyond the fact that it is a minors arrangement. Plouffe spent the spring in camp with the Rangers but ultimately asked for his release after failing to crack the MLB roster.
The 31-year-old Plouffe returned to the open market in search of an opportunity to earn his way back to the majors. He has at times been a solid regular at the hot corner, and carries a .242/.304/.410 slash with more than a hundred long balls in over three thousand MLB plate appearances in eight seasons. Now, though, Plouffe is coming off of a brutal 2017 season in which he hit just .2198/.272/.318 over 313 trips to the plate.
It seems likely that Plouffe will mostly be viewed as a depth piece for the Phils. The club already has Maikel Franco lined up at third base and does not appear to have a clear use for a corner infield reserve on the major-league roster as things stand.

[Otters27]

The Reds finally win a Game!! Yahoo!!

One game behind Marlins for worst record

[JAKEPEAVY21]

one of the Padres top pitching prospects, Eric Lauer, makes his first MLB start today in Coors Field....not an ideal place to begin your career but he will have to get used to pitching there.

[Cross]

Reds are already hopeless, and still in April.

[yisman]

Rays/Orioles game postponed.

[JMobile]

If you guys dont know him yet, Christian Villanueva.

I'm sure Padres will send Headley shipping out.

[batt33]

one of the Padres top pitching prospects, Eric Lauer, makes his first MLB start today in Coors Field....not an ideal place to begin your career but he will have to get used to pitching there.

agreed tough spot......

[EmpireMaker]

Over the next four months, I will be identifying Minor Leaguers who I believe are putting themselves in position to earn a big league call-up in the near future. Walker Buehler and Gleyber Torres would’ve gotten serious consideration had they not already been promoted. Many others who make this list will get never get the call. Ask Chance Adams, who made this list in 2016 and 2017.
Here’s a look at five Minor Leaguers who are currently “Knocking Down The Door” to the Major Leagues.
Willy Adames, INF, Rays (Triple-A Durham) | Rays Depth Chart

The Rays didn’t get a great immediate return from the trade that sent away one of the best pitchers in baseball, David Price, nearly four years ago. Nick Franklin never panned out, and Drew Smyly made 49 starts in two and a half seasons before being flipped for outfielder Mallex Smith and lefty Ryan Yarbrough. Smith and Yarbrough are both on the roster now and controllable for years, and the trade could soon pay additional dividends with the 22-year-old Adamesclosing in on the Majors.
After hitting for the cycle Monday, Adames is slashing .345/.441/.582 in the first 16 games of his second Triple-A season. Year one wasn’t overly spectacular, though Adames was one of the league’s younger players at 21 years of age, and did have some very productive stretches. His strong start to year two, however, has to have the Rays’ infielders on notice. A current 10-for-22 hot streak could help the light-hitting Adeiny Hechavarria deflect any current thoughts of Adames taking his starting shortstop job. Second baseman Joey Wendle (.867 OPS) and fill-in third baseman Daniel Robertson, who went 4-for-4 on Sunday, are also doing what they can to extend Adames’ Triple-A tenure.
In all likelihood, Adames will be in the Majors very soon. The only question is where he’ll play. While he should be able to make a quick transition to second base, he’s played all but 21 games in his career at shortstop (10 games at third base in the Dominican Summer League and 11 games at second base in ’17). With Hechavarria in the last year of his contract and the Rays unlikely to compete for a playoff spot, Tampa Bay could look to trade him or move him into a part-time role where he could help mentor Adames.
—
Drew Ferguson, OF, Astros (Triple-A Fresno) | Astros Depth Chart
The combination of Derek Fisher, Marwin Gonzalez and Jake Marisnick appeared to be a sufficient stopgap for top prospect Kyle Tucker, who would presumably need at least a few months in Triple-A before taking over as the team’s starting left fielder. But despite a strong start by the Astros, they’ve gotten very little production out of the Fisher-Gonzalez-Marisnick trio. While Tucker is doing just fine early on in his first Triple-A season (.270/.360/.392) and Tony Kemp continues to be productive (.324/.427/.405), it’s the 25-year-old Ferguson who is making the most noise.
The former 19th-round pick is slashing .362/.457/.580 with two homers, five doubles and nine multi-hit games. He might not be the long-term answer in left field, but he could certainly give a spark to the Houston offense, particularly the bottom third of the order.
—
Nick Kingham, SP, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis) | Pirates Depth Chart

It was three years ago that Kingham was closing in on an MLB rotation spot. After allowing one run through five innings in an early May start at theTriple-A level and striking out the leadoff man in the sixth, though, he exited the game with elbow discomfort.
Kingham underwent Tommy John surgery a few weeks later and didn’t return until late in the 2016 season. Despite making 19 starts in Triple-A last year, he never quite made a push for a big league call-up. But after four starts into what is his fourth season in the International League, it appears he’s finally back on track. The 26-year-old pitched five shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in his 2018 debut, followed it up with back-to-back quality starts and another strong outing on Sunday (5 2/3 IP, ER, 6 K).
While Steven Brault has done a decent job filling in as the No. 5 starter, he could possibly give the Pirates a bigger boost as a multi-inning lefty out of the ’pen. The same could be said for Joe Musgrove, a setup man with the World Champion Astros, who was slated to the be the team’s No. 5 starter before landing on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. But that all depends on whether Kingham can lock down a rotation spot once he’s given a chance. And he deserves a chance.
—
Michael Kopech, SP, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte) | White Sox Depth Chart
A prospect of Kopech’s caliber isn’t necessarily waiting for a big league spot to open for him. When he’s ready, the White Sox will make room soon thereafter. But the need for a spot starter in Saturday’s double-header and an injury to Miguel Gonzalez—his spot is being filled by Chris Volstad on Tuesday and will come up again on Sunday—could at least force them to decide if the 21-year-old is ready now.
One of the best pitching prospects in the game, Kopech has a 4.4 BB/9 and 11.6 K/9 since being drafted by the Red Sox with 33rd pick in the 2014 draft. But in six Triple-A starts (three at the end of ’17 and three in ’18), he’s shown more control (3.0 BB/9) while maintaining his high strikeout rate. In his most recent start, the right-hander walked one and struck out 10 in five innings of work. He’s yet to reach 100 pitches in any of his three starts—he surpassed that total five times in ’17—but as long as he continues to throw strikes consistently, he should be able to navigate past the fifth inning on a regular basis against MLB hitters.
—
Colin Poche, RP, Dbacks (Double-A Jackson) | Diamondbacks Depth Chart
There is “dominant,” and then there’s whatever Poche has done in his first eight innings in Double-A. The 24-year-old lefty has allowed just one hit and one walk. Of the 24 batters he’s retired, he’s struck out 19. Left-handed hitters have yet to put a ball in play against him. He’s struck out all seven.
Keep in mind that another Diamondbacks lefty, Gabriel Moya, also had great success in Double-A last season (0.82 ERA, 14.2 K/9 in 43.2 IP). But instead of getting the call-up for Arizona’s playoff run, he was traded to the Twins in July for backup catcher John Ryan Murphy. In other words, the front office wasn’t all that impressed with Moya despite him making this list a month earlier. Still, it’s impossible to ignore what Poche has done thus far. He should be able to help the D-backs at some point in 2018.

[El Nino]

Dodgers lose again as a -250 fav

[Chi_archie]

Dodgers lose again as a -250 fav

can Kershaw break the trend tonight

[BigSpoon]

Braves call up top prospect Ronald Acuna Jr. today, exciting.

[Cross]

Nice, Braves, they are above .500 right now too.

[mr. leisure]

can Kershaw break the trend tonight

Yes , easy win tonight .

[koz-man]

A day game may benefit Houston in avoiding a sweep: The Astros have scored 57 runs in their 9 day games (6.33 runs per game), giving them the third-highest runs per game mark in day games in the Majors behind the Yankees (6.67) and the Braves (6.57).

[JMobile]

Chase Headley with a .088 batting average. Unreal.

[batt33]

can Kershaw break the trend tonight

rough April for kershaw....Doesn't break my heart!

[yisman]

Ended with an out

helped the team big time with that AB and homered next time up I think

[EmpireMaker]

• ATLANTA BRAVES | Depth Chart
  • Promoted: OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (contract purchased)
    • Acuña played LF and batted 6th in his MLB debut.
    
    
  • Designated for assignment: OF Peter Bourjos
  • Outrighted: OF Lane Adams, RP Rex Brothers, RP Josh Ravin
  
  

• LOS ANGELES DODGERS | Depth Chart
  • Activated from 10-Day DL: RP Yimi Garcia
    • Garcia was optioned to Triple-A.
    
    
  
  

• MILWAUKEE BREWERS | Depth Chart
  • Placed on 10-Day DL: 1B/OF Eric Thames (torn thumb ligament)
    • Jesus Aguilar played 1B and batted 6th on Wednesday.
    
    
  • Promoted: RP Brandon Woodruff
  
  

• PITTSBURGH PIRATES | Depth Chart
  • Signed: 1B/OF Jose Osuna (26th man for double-header)
    • Osuna played RF and batted 6th in game 2.
    
    
  
  

• SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS | Depth Chart
  • Placed on Paternity list: SP Chris Stratton
    • Stratton is expected back for his next start on Saturday or Sunday.
    
    
  • Promoted: RP Roberto Gomez
  
  

—
AMERICAN LEAGUE

• BALTIMORE ORIOLES | Depth Chart
  • Placed on 10-Day DL: INF Tim Beckham (strained groin)
    • Beckham could require surgery and would possibly miss at least 6-7 weeks.
    
    
  • Added to 25-man roster: INF/OF Jace Peterson
    • Peterson played 2B and batted 9th in his Orioles’ debut.
    
    
  
  

• DETROIT TIGERS | Depth Chart
  • Promoted: RP Artie Lewicki (26th man for double-header)
  
  

• MINNESOTA TWINS | Depth Chart
  • Designated for assignment: RP Tyler Kinley (Rule 5 pick, Marlins)
  
  

• OAKLAND ATHLETICS | Depth Chart
  • Acquisition: RP/SP Wilmer Font (acquired from Dodgers for RP Logan Salow)
    • Font will presumably be added to the roster on Friday.
    
    
  
  

• TAMPA BAY RAYS | Depth Chart
  • Promoted: RP Jonny Venters (contract purchased)
    • Venters made his first MLB appearance since October 5, 2012. He retired the only batted he faced.
    
    
  • Optioned: RP Hunter Wood
  
  

• TEXAS RANGERS | Depth Chart
  • Placed on 10-Day DL: 3B Adrian Beltre (strained hamstring)
    • Isiah Kiner-Falefa played 3B on Wednesday.
    
    
  • Activated from 10-Day DL: SP Doug Fister
  • Promoted: INF/OF Ryan Rua
  • Optioned: RP Matt Bush
  
  

—
FUTURE EXPECTED MOVES

• BOS: SS Xander Bogaerts could return from the DL on Friday April 27th, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.
• LAD: SP Rich Hill will be activated from the DL on Monday April 30th, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times.
• MIA: SP Wei-Yin Chen will be activated from the DL on Saturday April 28th, according to Craig Mish of SiriusXM.
• NYM: SP Jason Vargas will be activated from the DL on Saturday April 28th, according to Tim Healey of the Athletic.
• SEA: 1B Ryon Healy will likely be activated from the DL on Friday April 27th, according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. Daniel Vogelbach will be optioned to Triple-A to make room.
• STL: SP Jack Flaherty is lined up to pitch on Saturday April 28th, according to Joe Trezza of MLB.com, and is the leading candidate to be recalled for what is likely just a spot start.

[ApricotSinner32]

• ATLANTA BRAVES | Depth Chart
  • Promoted: OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (contract purchased)
    • Acuña played LF and batted 6th in his MLB debut.
    
    
  • Designated for assignment: OF Peter Bourjos
  • Outrighted: OF Lane Adams, RP Rex Brothers, RP Josh Ravin
  
  

• LOS ANGELES DODGERS | Depth Chart
  • Activated from 10-Day DL: RP Yimi Garcia
    • Garcia was optioned to Triple-A.
    
    
  
  

• MILWAUKEE BREWERS | Depth Chart
  • Placed on 10-Day DL: 1B/OF Eric Thames (torn thumb ligament)
    • Jesus Aguilar played 1B and batted 6th on Wednesday.
    
    
  • Promoted: RP Brandon Woodruff
  
  

• PITTSBURGH PIRATES | Depth Chart
  • Signed: 1B/OF Jose Osuna (26th man for double-header)
    • Osuna played RF and batted 6th in game 2.
    
    
  
  

• SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS | Depth Chart
  • Placed on Paternity list: SP Chris Stratton
    • Stratton is expected back for his next start on Saturday or Sunday.
    
    
  • Promoted: RP Roberto Gomez
  
  

—
AMERICAN LEAGUE

• BALTIMORE ORIOLES | Depth Chart
  • Placed on 10-Day DL: INF Tim Beckham (strained groin)
    • Beckham could require surgery and would possibly miss at least 6-7 weeks.
    
    
  • Added to 25-man roster: INF/OF Jace Peterson
    • Peterson played 2B and batted 9th in his Orioles’ debut.
    
    
  
  

• DETROIT TIGERS | Depth Chart
  • Promoted: RP Artie Lewicki (26th man for double-header)
  
  

• MINNESOTA TWINS | Depth Chart
  • Designated for assignment: RP Tyler Kinley (Rule 5 pick, Marlins)
  
  

• OAKLAND ATHLETICS | Depth Chart
  • Acquisition: RP/SP Wilmer Font (acquired from Dodgers for RP Logan Salow)
    • Font will presumably be added to the roster on Friday.
    
    
  
  

• TAMPA BAY RAYS | Depth Chart
  • Promoted: RP Jonny Venters (contract purchased)
    • Venters made his first MLB appearance since October 5, 2012. He retired the only batted he faced.
    
    
  • Optioned: RP Hunter Wood
  
  

• TEXAS RANGERS | Depth Chart
  • Placed on 10-Day DL: 3B Adrian Beltre (strained hamstring)
    • Isiah Kiner-Falefa played 3B on Wednesday.
    
    
  • Activated from 10-Day DL: SP Doug Fister
  • Promoted: INF/OF Ryan Rua
  • Optioned: RP Matt Bush
  
  

—
FUTURE EXPECTED MOVES

• BOS: SS Xander Bogaerts could return from the DL on Friday April 27th, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.
• LAD: SP Rich Hill will be activated from the DL on Monday April 30th, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times.
• MIA: SP Wei-Yin Chen will be activated from the DL on Saturday April 28th, according to Craig Mish of SiriusXM.
• NYM: SP Jason Vargas will be activated from the DL on Saturday April 28th, according to Tim Healey of the Athletic.
• SEA: 1B Ryon Healy will likely be activated from the DL on Friday April 27th, according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. Daniel Vogelbach will be optioned to Triple-A to make room.
• STL: SP Jack Flaherty is lined up to pitch on Saturday April 28th, according to Joe Trezza of MLB.com, and is the leading candidate to be recalled for what is likely just a spot start.

[mr. leisure]

Yes , easy win tonight .

Dodgers are a -390 loser

[El Nino]

Kershaw

[Cross]

Gotcha Kershaw, hope someone made money here.

[Chi_archie]

OH the Doyers!!!

[Chi_archie]

Gotcha Kershaw, hope someone made money here.

495312983-5	4/25/18 7:01am	$110.00	$160.00	$270.00	Win	4/25/18 7:35pm Reduced Baseball 959 Miami Marlins +1½ +145* vs Los Angeles Dodgers (T Richards - R must Start C Kershaw - L must Start)
495312983-6	4/25/18 7:01am	$100.00	$325.00	$425.00	Win	4/25/18 7:35pm Reduced Baseball 959 Miami Marlins +325* vs Los Angeles Dodgers (T Richards - R must Start C Kershaw - L must Start)

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Chase Headley with a .088 batting average. Unreal.

guy is absolute and utter garbage.

[BigSpoon]

guy is absolute and utter garbage.

He was great for the Padres, 6 years ago...

[koz-man]

The Cubs say no change in the status of Kris Bryant who remains "under evaluation" after getting hit in the helmet by a pitch on Sunday. He'll miss his third straight game and is scheduled to meet with the Cubs team doctor today. Tommy La Stella starts at third base in his place.

[JMobile]

He was great for the Padres, 6 years ago...

He was a huge deal when he was in the minors in Portland. Was suppose to be the chosen one.

[batt33]

The Cubs say no change in the status of Kris Bryant who remains "under evaluation" after getting hit in the helmet by a pitch on Sunday. He'll miss his third straight game and is scheduled to meet with the Cubs team doctor today. Tommy La Stella starts at third base in his place.

Hate to see that...hope he makes it back

[yisman]

Acuna is really driving the ball.

[EmpireMaker]

The A’s have approached Khris Davis’ representatives at Octagon about a one-year extension for the 2019 season, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports within his latest column on the A’s (subscription required). The two sides are in the early stages of talks about a deal that’d buy out Davis’ final year of arbitration well in advance. Davis is controlled through 2019 regardless, so a one-year extension would largely be about establishing cost certainty for the club and about protecting against injury or a notable decline from Davis’ vantage point.
Oakland and Davis came to terms on a one-year, $10.5MM contract this past offseason, avoiding arbitration in the process. With another characteristically strong season at the plate — Davis is off to a .257/.339/.535 start with seven homers — the 30-year-old slugger would be primed for one more significant boost in his salary. As a loose point of reference, he received a $5.5MM raise this past offseason, so a typical season could push his salary beyond the $16MM point next year.
Davis’ skill set, while not one that has been rewarded handsomely in free agency in recent years, is one that still plays quite well in the arbitration process. Locking Davis up now could potentially save the A’s a bit of cash over what he’d command in his final trip through the arbitration process. Extensions of this nature aren’t exactly commonplace, though the Nationals brokered a one-year deal that bought out Bryce Harper’s final arbitration around this time last season.
While a salary ranging anywhere from $14-17MM (speaking speculatively) would be substantial for the budget-conscious A’s, Oakland can certainly afford to make that type of commitment to Davis in 2019. At present, right-hander Yusmeiro Petit and outfielder Stephen Piscotty are the only players signed to guaranteed contracts for the 2019 season. They’ll earn just under $13MM combined.
Oakland will have a sizable arbitration class, with Marcus Semien, Kendall Graveman, Blake Treinen, Liam Hendriks, Chris Hatcher, Josh Phegley, Jake Smolinski, Ryan Dull, Ryan Buchter and emerging ace Sean Manaea each qualifying in addition to Davis. Of that group, only Semien seems likely to command anything north of $5MM, though. Manaea will be first-time eligible as a Super Two player, while the others are primarily role players that are either first-time eligible as well (Dull, Buchter) or are currently earning relatively minimal salaries.
The A’s will surely want to leave some room for potential free-agent signings and trade acquisitions, particularly given their increasingly promising young core, though it certainly seems that there’d be room for Davis’ salary, the rest of their arb class, and a few new additions. Oakland will watch $26MM come off the books when Jonathan Lucroy, Matt Joyce, Jed Lowrie, Santiago Casilla and Trevor Cahill come off the books, and their Opening Day payroll of roughly $68.9MM was quite a bit lower than the $83.6MM they averaged from 2014-17.

[ApricotSinner32]

The A’s have approached Khris Davis’ representatives at Octagon about a one-year extension for the 2019 season, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports within his latest column on the A’s (subscription required). The two sides are in the early stages of talks about a deal that’d buy out Davis’ final year of arbitration well in advance. Davis is controlled through 2019 regardless, so a one-year extension would largely be about establishing cost certainty for the club and about protecting against injury or a notable decline from Davis’ vantage point.
Oakland and Davis came to terms on a one-year, $10.5MM contract this past offseason, avoiding arbitration in the process. With another characteristically strong season at the plate — Davis is off to a .257/.339/.535 start with seven homers — the 30-year-old slugger would be primed for one more significant boost in his salary. As a loose point of reference, he received a $5.5MM raise this past offseason, so a typical season could push his salary beyond the $16MM point next year.
Davis’ skill set, while not one that has been rewarded handsomely in free agency in recent years, is one that still plays quite well in the arbitration process. Locking Davis up now could potentially save the A’s a bit of cash over what he’d command in his final trip through the arbitration process. Extensions of this nature aren’t exactly commonplace, though the Nationals brokered a one-year deal that bought out Bryce Harper’s final arbitration around this time last season.
While a salary ranging anywhere from $14-17MM (speaking speculatively) would be substantial for the budget-conscious A’s, Oakland can certainly afford to make that type of commitment to Davis in 2019. At present, right-hander Yusmeiro Petit and outfielder Stephen Piscotty are the only players signed to guaranteed contracts for the 2019 season. They’ll earn just under $13MM combined.
Oakland will have a sizable arbitration class, with Marcus Semien, Kendall Graveman, Blake Treinen, Liam Hendriks, Chris Hatcher, Josh Phegley, Jake Smolinski, Ryan Dull, Ryan Buchter and emerging ace Sean Manaea each qualifying in addition to Davis. Of that group, only Semien seems likely to command anything north of $5MM, though. Manaea will be first-time eligible as a Super Two player, while the others are primarily role players that are either first-time eligible as well (Dull, Buchter) or are currently earning relatively minimal salaries.
The A’s will surely want to leave some room for potential free-agent signings and trade acquisitions, particularly given their increasingly promising young core, though it certainly seems that there’d be room for Davis’ salary, the rest of their arb class, and a few new additions. Oakland will watch $26MM come off the books when Jonathan Lucroy, Matt Joyce, Jed Lowrie, Santiago Casilla and Trevor Cahill come off the books, and their Opening Day payroll of roughly $68.9MM was quite a bit lower than the $83.6MM they averaged from 2014-17.