RosterResource Roundup: April 8-10

by
April 11, 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.

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Lineup Regulars

Baltimore Orioles
• 4/10: 2B Jackson Holliday had contract selected from minors; 2B/OF Tony Kemp designated for assignment.

After playing 10 games with Triple-A Norfolk and putting up some big numbers (14-for-42, 2 HR, 5 2B, 12 BB, 8 K), Holliday made his MLB debut in Wednesday’s 7-5 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The 20-year-old, batting 9th and playing second base, was 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts and an RBI groundout.

Kemp was the odd man out on the roster while Ramón Urías is expected to lose the most playing time with Holliday in the mix. It’s also become apparent that Colton Cowser will be getting the majority of at-bats in left field, putting him in a platoon with Austin Hays.

Because Holliday was called up with at least 172 days remaining in the regular season, he’ll qualify for the Prospect Promotion Incentive and will reach a full year of service time as long as he remains in the majors. The Orioles, as a result, will gain an extra draft pick after the first round if Holliday wins AL Rookie of the Year or finishes in the top three in AL MVP voting during his pre-arbitration seasons (2024-26).

Roster/Depth Chart  |  Playing Time Projections

 

Boston Red Sox
•4/8: OF/INF Ceddanne Rafaela agreed to 8-year, $50MM contract extension (2024-31).
•4/9: SS Trevor Story will undergo shoulder surgery (fractured glenoid) on Friday; INF/OF Romy Gonzalez recalled.

Rafaela also has a $16MM club option in 2032, which means he isn’t likely to reach free agency until after his age-31 season. He’s off to a slow start at the plate (7-for-36, 2B, 2 3B, 13 K), but the Red Sox clearly believe that he’s more than just an elite defender in center field. He had 20 homers and 36 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023.

Story’s timetable will likely become clearer after Friday’s surgery. The expected recovery time is six months, however, which would effectively end his season. He’ll still have three years remaining on the $140MM contract that he signed prior to the 2022 season. David Hamilton and Gonzalez are expected to platoon at shortstop. Pablo Reyes is also an option, although he’s currently part of the second base platoon.

Roster/Depth Chart  |  Playing Time Projections  |  Payroll

 

Chicago White Sox
•4/10: 3B Yoán Moncada (strained adductor) placed on 10-Day IL; OF Oscar Colás recalled.

Only four days after losing Luis Robert Jr. to a similar injury, the White Sox will now be without Moncada for 3-6 months. If it’s closer to six than three, there’s a good chance that the 28-year-old has played his last game with the team. He has a $25MM club option ($5MM buyout), which the White Sox are unlikely to exercise given his injury history and inconsistent performance.

In eight seasons with the White Sox, Moncada has a .758 OPS and 107 wRC+. He’s had two very good seasons, including 2019 when he slashed .315/.367/.548 with 25 homers and 34 doubles.

Lenyn Sosa played third base on Wednesday and figures to get the majority of starts there for the time being. Infielders Paul DeJong, Nicky Lopez, and Braden Shewmake could also see time at the hot corner. It’s not clear if Moncada’s injury could speed up the arrival of top prospect Colson Montgomery, who is the starting shortstop for Triple-A Charlotte.

Roster/Depth Chart  |  Playing Time Projections

Minnesota Twins
•4/8: 1B/3B Jose Miranda recalled.
•4/9: OF Max Kepler (knee contusion) placed on 10-Day IL.

Miranda started at third base on Monday against a left-handed starter and then drew a tough assignment against Tyler Glasnow on Wednesday, batting 5th in the DH spot. It’s not clear how much he’ll be in the lineup versus right-handed starting pitching, but the fact that he’s back at third base after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2023 should help his cause. As a rookie in 2022, Miranda had a .751 OPS and 15 homers in 483 plate appearances.

Austin Martin has been the beneficiary of Kepler’s IL stint, logging his first three MLB starts (CF, LF, LF) while Manuel Margot, Alex Kirilloff, and Matt Wallner have each made a start in right field. The 31-year-old Kepler is eligible to return on April 22.

Roster/Depth Chart  |  Playing Time Projections

Tampa Bay Rays
•4/10: 2B Brandon Lowe (strained oblique) will be placed on 10-Day IL.

Lowe injured his oblique while warming up as a pinch-hitter in Tuesday’s game and will be placed on the Injured List ahead of the team’s weekend series against the Giants. Curtis Mead, who has been platooning with Lowe at second base, could take on the full-time role for what will likely be at least a couple of weeks. Amed Rosario could also be in the mix, while Niko Goodrum is a candidate to take Lowe’s roster spot.

Roster/Depth Chart  |  Playing Time Projections

 

Starting Pitching

Atlanta Braves
•Allan Winans will start on Thursday.

While the Braves won’t have an update on Spencer Strider’s sprained elbow until this weekend, it’s Winans who will take his turn in the rotation. The 28-year-old, who threw seven shutout innings against the Mets in his second MLB start last season and then allowed seven runs in 4.1 innings against them in his third start, will face them again on Thursday.

Out of all the rotation candidates — Dylan Dodd, Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, Darius Vines, Huascar Ynoa — Winans is probably the least likely to stick. He’ll have at least has one chance to make his case, though, before the Braves move on to the next option.

Roster/Depth Chart

Boston Red Sox
•4/8: Nick Pivetta (strained elbow flexor) placed on 15-Day IL; RP Brennan Bernardino recalled.

There’s probably no such thing as “being out of the woods” when it comes to elbow and forearm strains, but Pivetta’s initial diagnosis seems like very good news.

Still, the Red Sox will proceed with caution and will need to add a starter for at least the next two times through the rotation. Cooper Criswell is a candidate to make Saturday’s start against the Angels, as is Chase Anderson, although that duo could each throw multiple innings.

Roster/Depth Chart

Houston Astros
•4/9: Framber Valdez (elbow inflammation) placed on 15-Day IL.
•4/10: Spencer Arrighetti has contract selected from minors.

The severity of Valdez’s injury won’t be known for at least a few more days.

In the meantime, with five starting pitchers now on the Injured List, the Astros have had to reach way down on their depth chart and the results haven’t been great. Blair Henley, who was called up to fill in for Valdez on the day he was scratched, recorded only out and allowed five runs on Monday. Spencer Arrighetti, considered to be the Astros’ best pitching prospect, made his MLB debut on Wednesday and allowed seven runs in three innings. The 24-year-old will likely stick around for at least another start or two, though. Justin Verlander is on a rehab assignment and could be back later this month.

Roster/Depth Chart

Los Angeles Angels
•4/9: Chase Silseth (elbow inflammation) placed on 15-Day IL; José Soriano moved to rotation.

The news on Silseth’s injury is about as “best-case scenario” as possible, although he will still likely miss at least three turns in the rotation.

It also gives the Angels a chance to see if Soriano, who has been electric out of the bullpen at times, can have success as a starting pitcher. The results were mixed in his first start on Wednesday. He allowed three runs to the Rays in the first inning and a homer to Jose Caballero leading off the second. The 25-year-old settled down, though, finishing his outing with three scoreless innings and five strikeouts over that span. He should get at least one or two more starts.

Roster/Depth Chart

Milwaukee Brewers
•4/10: Wade Miley activated from 15-Day IL on Wednesday; Aaron Ashby optioned.

The results of Ashby’s spot start weren’t great (3.2 IP, 8 R, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K), but it was an encouraging step forward after he missed most of 2023 with a shoulder injury.

Miley was terrific on Wednesday, allowing just one run on one hit over four innings in the team’s 7-2 win over the Reds.

Roster/Depth Chart

New York Mets
•4/9: Julio Teheran designated for assignment.

Teheran allowed four earned runs in 2.2 innings in his lone start for the Mets before he was placed on waivers the following day. José Buttó is expected to step into the rotation over the weekend against the Royals.

Roster/Depth Chart

St. Louis Cardinals
•4/9: Sonny Gray activated from 15-Day IL.

Gray was victorious in his Cardinals’ debut, pitching five scoreless innings (5 H, 0 BB, 5 K) in a 3-0 shutout over the Cardinals.

Roster/Depth Chart

Texas Rangers
•4/10: Michael Lorenzen made the 3rd (and likely final) start of his rehab assignment on Wednesday.

The expectation has been that Lorenzen would join the rotation when he’s ready. Monday or Tuesday against the Tigers seems like a good bet. But who he replaces in the rotation is not as clear-cut as it had been when the season began. Cody Bradford, who had been the most likely candidate to move to the bullpen, has been one of the team’s best starting pitchers thus far. After allowing just one unearned run over 6.2 innings against the A’s on Wednesday, the 26-year-old lefty is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA, two walks, and 17 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.

It’s possible that the Rangers go with a six-man rotation, at least temporarily — they don’t have a day off until April 22 — or they could move Andrew Heaney to the bullpen if he struggles in his next start against the Astros on Saturday. He allowed six earned runs in 3.2 innings against them in his last start.

Roster/Depth Chart

Washington Nationals
•4/9: Josiah Gray (strained elbow/forearm flexor) placed on 15-Day IL; Joan Adon recalled.

More good news, at least for now. Another elbow injury with no structural damage.

Adon made a spot start on Tuesday and allowed just one run on three hits in four innings before he was optioned back to Triple-A. The Nats will need a fifth starter again as soon as Monday versus the Dodgers. Jackson Rutledge is a likely candidate to make that start.

Roster/Depth Chart

 

Click HERE to view our Starting Pitcher Probables Grid.

 

Late-Inning Relievers

Colorado Rockies
•Since the disastrous outing when he couldn’t hold a four-run lead over the Rays, Justin Lawrence made back-to-back successful appearances in non-save situations. On Wednesday, he entered in the 9th inning in another non-save situation but with the game tied at 3. He allowed a pair of runs on two walks and a hit as the Rockies fell to the Diamondbacks. It wasn’t a save chance, but it’s the spot when a home team will typically use their closer. And Lawrence didn’t come through.

Who gets the team’s next save chance is up in the air. Nick Mears got a save chance on Monday with a three-run lead, but he walked three batters, allowed a run, and needed Jake Bird to close things out. Mears had been good, otherwise. Bird has been decent. But neither has done enough to surpass Lawrence on the depth chart. Victor Vodnik has pitched 8.2 scoreless innings to begin the season while averaging 97 MPH with his fastball. But he has six walks and had allowed 11 runs in 10.2 innings in Spring Training. The next step for Vodnik is probably high-leverage outings but not save chances. At least not yet. A committee seems most likely.

Roster/Depth Chart

Minnesota Twins
Brock Stewart and Griffin Jax are clearly the Twins’ top two relievers and widely expected to take on the final six outs of a close win. But manager Rocco Baldelli apparently has enough trust in at least one other reliever, lefty Steven Okert, that he called on Stewart and Jax in the 7th and 8th innings of Wednesday’s game, respectively, with a 3-2 lead over the Dodgers and doing everything possible to avoid getting swept and extending their losing streak to four games. All three pitchers put up a zero and the 32-year-old Okert got his first career save.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Jorge Alcala was also a part of this circle of trust, but I’d still expect to see Stewart or Jax in a save situation on most days until Jhoan Duran returns from the Injured List. And, even then, Baldelli might continue with a closer committee due to “too many good options.”

Roster/Depth Chart

Pittsburgh Pirates
David Bednar is off to a rough start, which isn’t entirely surprising after he missed most of Spring Training with a strained lat and then wasn’t available on Opening Day because of “ongoing rehab” from the injury. After allowing four runs in a loss to the Tigers on Tuesday, Bednar has three blown saves in four chances. He has a strong enough track record to withstand this rough patch, but taking a step back and allowing Aroldis Chapman to take the next save chance or two wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Pirates.

The 36-year-old lefty has not allowed a run or a hit while striking out eight in 4.1 innings. As he demonstrated in 2023, he can still be dominant but is not nearly as effective pitching without any days of rest. A co-closer situation seems like a strong possibility, at least in the short-term.

Roster/Depth Chart

Texas Rangers
•After a blown save in Tuesday’s game, José Leclerc has allowed at least one run in four of his five appearances. He also has six walks in five innings. I’d expect the next save chance to go to David Robertson (7.1 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 8 K, 5 holds) or Kirby Yates (4 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 4 K, 2 holds) while Leclerc figures things out in lower-leverage outings.

Roster/Depth Chart

 

Click HERE to view our Closer Depth Chart.

 

Minor League Report

Major League Debuts 

  • Jackson Holliday, 2B, Baltimore Orioles: 0-for-4, RBI, 2 K  4/10/24
  • Spencer Arrighetti, SP, Houston Astros: 3 IP, 7 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 3 K  4/10/24
  • Dedniel Núñez, RP, New York Mets: 2 IP, ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 3 K  4/9/24
  • Davis Wendzel, 3B, Texas Rangers: 0-for-3  4/9/24
  • Blair Henley, SP, Houston Astros: 0.1 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 0 K  4/8/24
  • Josh Maciejewski, RP, New York Yankees: IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K  4/8/24
  • Wenceel Pérez, PH, Detroit Tigers: 0-for-2, K  4/8/24
  • Pedro Pagés, PH, St. Louis Cardinals: 0-for-1, K  4/7/24
  • Justin Foscue, 2B, Texas Rangers: 0-for-1  4/5/24
  • 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
  • Nasim Nuñez, PR, Washington Nationals: 0-for-0, 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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drbn8rMember since 2016
1 year ago

These articles are wonderful. It is so difficult to keep up with every move and development in mlb, but these cover most everything. Your work to keep us up to date it greatly appreciated.

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Jason MartinezFanGraphs Staff
1 year ago
Reply to  drbn8r

Thanks! I really appreciate that. Good to hear any feedback and glad to know it’s on the right track.

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