RosterResource Roundup: April 4-5

by
April 6, 2024

Below you’ll find a roundup of notable moves and roster notes from the past two days, as well as future expected moves and a Minor League Report, which includes a list of recent major league debuts and top prospect promotions. For this column, any lineup regulars, starting pitchers, or late-inning relievers are considered “notable,” meaning that middle relievers, long relievers, and bench players are excluded. You can always find a full list of updated transactions here.

RosterResource News: Last week, we moved our RosterResource pages into regular season mode and introduced a new feature that allows you to view all 30 projected lineups (vs RHP and vs LHP) on one page.

Lineup Regulars

Boston Red Sox
•SS Trevor Story left Friday’s game with a shoulder injury. It seems like he’s going to miss some time, although the severity has not yet been reported. He’ll have an MRI on Saturday.

Pablo Reyes is the most likely candidate to fill in for Story with starting center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela also an option to fill in occasionally. Romy Gonzalez and David Hamilton, both utilitymen who can play shortstop, are options to fill Story’s roster spot if he is placed on the Injured List.

Roster/Depth Chart  |  Playing Time Projections

Baltimore Orioles
•INF Ramón Urías (1-for-17), INF Jordan Westburg (4-for-22), and OF Austin Hays (2-for-20) are off to slow starts.

A lot of players are struggling through the first week of the season, but this is significant because the Orioles have so many good MLB-ready prospects who are just waiting for their opportunity. These three, in particular, have to be feeling the pressure because their playing time will be directly affected once the Orioles decide it’s time for Colton Cowser (5-for-10 in MLB), Jackson Holliday (11-for-31, 2 HR, 8 BB in AAA), Heston Kjerstad (17-for-32, 6 HR in AAA), Coby Mayo (13-for-33, 2 HR in AAA), Connor Norby (12-for-33, 3 HR in AAA) and Kyle Stowers (12-for-35, 6 HR in AAA) to be penciled into the big league lineup on a regular basis.

Cowser, who is already on the big league roster, made his second start of the season on Friday in place of Hays, who was under the weather. Orioles’ manager Brandon Hyde will continue to work him into the mix, but it could be just a matter of time before he overtakes Hays for playing time. Same with Holliday, who will bump Urias or Westburg into a part-time role. The others can’t be too far behind.

Roster/Depth Chart  |  Playing Time Projections

Chicago White Sox
•OF Eloy Jiménez (strained adductor) placed on 10-Day IL; OF Robbie Grossman has contract selected from minors.
•OF Luis Robert Jr. left Friday’s game with a hip flexor injury.

Not only will the White Sox be without Jiménez, who will miss at least six more games before he’s eligible to return from the IL, but Robert also seems likely to miss some time. He missed more than three months in 2021 with a torn flexor tendon, although the severity of this latest injury won’t be known until Saturday.

In the meantime, Dominic Fletcher is a candidate to shift over to center field with Kevin Pillar also an option to fill in. Grossman was already expected to be in the lineup versus left-handed pitching, but now he could end up getting semi-regular playing time between right field and designated hitter. He went 0-for-3 in his White Sox debut on Friday. Oscar Colás and  Zach DeLoach should get an opportunity at some point, but probably not this early in the season.

Roster/Depth Chart  |  Playing Time Projections

Milwaukee Brewers
•RF Jackson Chourio has hit in the leadoff spot versus a right-handed starter in two straight games.

After batting 9th in the Brewers’ first three games against a right-handed starting pitcher while collecting five hits in 13 at-bats, Chourio has now been the leadoff man in back-to-back games against Chris Paddack (MIN) and Logan Gilbert (SEA). He’s only 1-for-9 in the two games, but he did hit his first MLB homer. It might be a temporary move with Sal Frelick off to a slow start (4-for-19), but Chourio could stick there if he has another big game this weekend.

Roster/Depth Chart  |  Playing Time Projections

Seattle Mariners
•1B Ty France placed on Paternity List; INF/OF Samad Taylor recalled.

Luke Raley played first base on Friday and went 0-for-2 before he was replaced by Dylan Moore, who reached base twice (HBP, single). If France is not back on Saturday, Moore should get the start with lefty DL Hall scheduled to pitch.

Taylor, who made a strong impression during spring training (9-for-33, 2 HR, 3 SB), entered Friday’s game off the bench and went 1-for-2 in his Mariners’ debut.

Roster/Depth Chart  |  Playing Time Projections

 

Starting Pitching

Atlant Braves
•Spencer Strider felt discomfort in his elbow after Friday’s start (4 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 4 K). He’ll get an MRI on Saturday.

Even if the MRI does not show any structural damage, the Braves aren’t likely to send their ace out for his next start. Bryce Elder would probably be the leading candidate to take Strider’s spot in the rotation, while AJ Smith-Shawver and Huascar Ynoa could also be in the mix.

Roster/Depth Chart

Miami Marlins
•Eury Pérez will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on Monday.

The surgery will happen early enough that Perez has a chance to return late in the 2025 season. But, in all likelihood, the Marlins will have to plan on being without him until 2026. He’ll be about six months behind his mentor, Sandy Alcantara, who underwent Tommy John surgery last October and could return by the start of next season.

Roster/Depth Chart

 

Click HERE to view our Starting Pitcher Probables Grid.

 

Late-Inning Relievers

Detroit Tigers
With the game tied at four and the middle of the A’s batter order due up, Jason Foley pitched a scoreless 8th inning. After the Tigers took a 5-4 lead in the bottom half of the 8th, Andrew Chafin was the next man up to start the 9th inning. He recorded two outs and put two runners on base with walks before manager A.J. Hinch decided to make a change. Alex Lange, who was the team’s closer for a majority of last season, struck out Zack Gelof on four pitches to pick up his 1st save of 2024.

Foley (7) and Lange (26) combined for 33 saves in 2023 and not one time did they pitch less than one inning to close out any of those games. They’ve now combined for three saves in 2024 and have entered the game mid-inning each time. Foley recorded two outs in each of his two saves.

The Tigers might have one of the best bullpens in baseball right now, so using Foley earlier than the 9th inning is going to happen on occasion. Hinch acknowledges that the unpredictability is not great for fantasy managers.

Roster/Depth Chart

Colorado Rockies
If your team is winning by four runs in the 9th inning, it is not considered a save chance for a reliever that starts the inning. On the flip side, you also can’t be charged with a blown save. Whatever you want to call whatever is worse than a blown save, Justin Lawrence was not very good on Friday. Pitching with a 6-2 lead over the Rays, he allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits while recording only one out in the top of the 9th inning. Fortunately, Ryan McMahon hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th. So, Lawrence didn’t get a blown save or a loss. His ERA is 27.00, though.

To his defense, it is Colorado. And he hadn’t pitched in six days. Tyler Kinley, the Rockies’ next in line for save chances, allowed three earned runs in 0.1 innings on Wednesday. It’s too early to start thinking about other closing options, but it should be noted that a few other Rockies’ relievers are off to good starts.  Jalen Beeks (4.1 IP, ER), Jake Bird (5.2 IP, 2 ER), Nick Mears (4.2 IP, ER, 7 K), and Victor Vodnik (5.2 IP, 0 R, 6 K) all will have a chance to move up the bullpen hierarchy if Lawrence and Kinley struggle.

Roster/Depth Chart

Kansas City Royals
Will Smith went into Friday’s game having had two bad outings in three chances. But, as I mentioned in the previous “RR Roundup”, his track record and James McArthur’s early struggles meant that he’d likely continue to be their closer. At least until he got himself in trouble in his very next appearance.

Handed a 2-1 lead in the 9th inning over the White Sox, the left-hander allowed a one-out double and a walk before manager Matt Quatraro turned the game over to McArthur. It took him two pitches to induce a game-ending double play ball, earn his 1st save of 2024, and possibly jump back into the mix to be the team’s closer once again.

Roster/Depth Chart

New York Yankees
•Jonathan Loáisiga (strained forearm flexor) placed on 60-Day IL.

The bridge to closer Clay Holmes keeps getting shakier and shakier as Loasiga has now joined setup men Scott Effross (back surgery), Tommy Kahnle (shoulder inflammation), and Lou Trivino (Tommy John surgery) on the Injured List. If all goes well, the Yankees could have all four back in the second half. But that’s a big “IF” in the case of Loaisiga, whose injury was described as “significant” by manager Aaron Boone.

The 29-year-old had pitched four scoreless innings so far this season and was expected to be used in a multi-inning role whenever necessary. Ian Hamilton is currently the team’s primary setup man with Caleb Ferguson and Nick Burdi also in the mix for high-leverage innings.

Roster/Depth Chart

Toronto Blue Jays
Jordan Romano is getting close to a rehab assignment, which could put him on track to return from the Injured List sometime around mid-April.

Until then, it appears that Chad Green is the team’s leading candidate for save chances. The 32-year-old pitched a scoreless 9th inning to complete a 3-0 shutout over the Yankees and pick up his 1st save since May 2, 2022. He was pitching for the Yankees at the time. His opponent was the Blue Jays.

Roster/Depth Chart

 

Click HERE to view our Closer Depth Chart.

 

Minor League Report

Major League Debuts 

  • Ryan Fernandez, RP, St. Louis Cardinals: IP, 0 R, H, BB, 3 K  4/3/24
  • Jorge Barrosa, PH, Arizona Diamondbacks: 1-for-1, 2B  4/1/24
  • Shota Imanaga, SP, Chicago Cubs: 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 9 K, W  4/1/24
  • Nick Avila, RP, San Francisco Giants: 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K  4/1/24
  • Matt Sauer, RP, Kansas City Royals: IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, K  3/31/24
  • Kai-Wei Teng, RP, San Francisco Giants: 3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K  3/31/24
  • Justin Slaten, RP, Boston Red Sox: 0 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 0 K  3/30/24
  • Ben Brown, RP, Chicago Cubs: 1.2 IP, 6 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, K  3/30/24
  • Jordan Leasure, RP, Chicago White Sox: IP, 0 R, H, BB, K, Hold  3/30/24
  • Cade Smith, RP, Cleveland Guardians: 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 5 K  3/30/24
  • Oliver Dunn, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers: 1-for-4, K  3/30/24
  • Austin Martin, PR, Minnesota Twins: 0-for-0  3/30/24
  • Jared Jones, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates: 5 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 10 K, W  3/30/24
  • Austin Shenton, PR, Tampa Bay Rays: 0-for-1  3/30/24
  • Trey Lipscomb, 3B, Washington Nationals: 1-for-4, SB 3/30/24
  • Clayton Beeter, RP, New York Yankees: IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 0 K  3/29/24
  • Mitch Spence, RP, Oakland Athletics: 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K  3/29/24
  • Landen Roupp, RP, San Francisco Giants: IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K  3/29/24
  • Blaze Alexander, DH, Arizona Diamondbacks: 2-for-5, RBI, 2 K  3/28/24
  • Anthony Molina, RP, Colorado Rockies: 0.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, BB  3/28/24
  • Colt Keith, 2B, Detroit Tigers: 1-for-4  3/28/24
  • Darell Hernaiz, PH, Oakland Athletics: 0-for-1  3/28/24
  • Victor Scott II, CF, St. Louis Cardinals: 0-for-3, SB, K  3/28/24
  • Jung Hoo Lee 이정후, CF, San Francisco Giants: 1-for-3, RBI, K, CS  3/28/24
  • Erik Miller, RP, San Francisco Giants: IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, K  3/28/24
  • Wyatt Langford, DH, Texas Rangers: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, K  3/28/24
  • Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers: IP, 5 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K  3/21/24
  • Stephen Kolek, RP, San Diego Padres: 0.2 IP, 2 ER, 0 H, BB  3/21/24
  • Jackson Merrill, CF, San Diego Padres: 0-for-3   3/20/24
  • Graham Pauley, PH, San Diego Padres: 0-for-1, K  3/20/24
  • Yuki Matsui, RP, San Diego Padres: 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, K  3/20/24

Promotions: Top 101 Prospects





 

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bsgoldberg
1 year ago

Ian Hamilton, not Caleb Hamilton

1
edwinblumeMember since 2016
1 year ago
Reply to  bsgoldberg

But only 1 Ian Hamilton, not 2 of them

1
Jason MartinezFanGraphs Staff
1 year ago
Reply to  bsgoldberg

You know I was up too late writing this when my brain couldn’t handle writing about Ian Hamilton and Caleb Ferguson in the same sentence without making that mistake.

1