Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: All Hail Jaime
Coming into the 2015 season, it was hard to see a way the Cardinals would option their $11.5 million option on Jaime Garcia next season.
With every passing start, Garcia is making it harder to see how they won’t.
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Garcia turned in another stellar start Friday, holding the Marlins to a lone unearned run over 8 1/3 innings in the Cards’ 3-1 win. The left-hander scattered six hits and a walk while striking out six in the start.
The win improved Garcia to 5-4 with a 1.57 ERA and 0.90 WHIP through 11 starts this year. He’s allowed more than two runs in just two of those starts, and he hasn’t allowed more than four runs in any outing.
Garcia has long been one of the Cardinals’ best starters — hence the reason the team signed him to a four-year, $27 million extension in 2011 — but his problem has been staying on the field. Even this season, Garcia has missed time with a groin strain and a left shoulder injury.
When healthy, though, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said the sky is the limit for Garcia.
“You go out there with a healthy Jaime and you never know what you could end up watching,” Matheny said. “Just watching their good hitters take the kind of at-bats they take against him, you can just see that when we talk about something looking different. It’s unlike a lot of pitching they’re going to see all season long. That’s what makes him special.”
Cards general manager John Mozeliak has already intimated the team is likely to exercise the 2016 option. If Garcia keeps going like he has been, the Cards may be forced to pick up the $12 million option for 2017 soon as well.
Miggy Returns To Tigers
Not even the return of one of the game’s best hitters could help the Tigers stop the bleeding.
Miguel Cabrera, who missed six weeks with a left calf strain, rejoined the Tigers’ lineup on Friday, but the Astros and Dallas Keuchel provided a rude welcome back in a 5-1 victory. Cabrera went 0-for-3 with a walk in the game.
“It’s been a long road back,” Cabrera said before the game.
Cabrera skipped a rehab assignment but had been hitting for over a month prior to his activation. The 32-year-old, a career .321/.399/.564 hitter, said his feeling at the plate isn’t a concern.
“I worry about my calf more than my swing,” he said.
It shouldn’t take long for Cabrera to start mashing again. It may be too late to save the Tigers’ season, but the first baseman should certainly help some fantasy squads make a run at a championship down the stretch.
Utley Drawing Interest
The Chase Utley sweepstakes should soon have a conclusion.
A number of teams have expressed interest in Utley, who is 11-for-22 with hits in each of his six games since returning from the disabled list, including a 4-for-5 performance in Friday’s loss. At least four clubs — the Giants, Angels, Cubs and Astros — have been connected to Utley in recent days.
The Giants made an offer to the Phillies on Thursday, rumor had it, with the teams exchanging names on a possible return for the 36-year-old. Then on Friday, the report was that the Cubs and Angels were the two likeliest destinations for Utley.
Utley cleared waivers and, due to the ankle injury that sidelined him for over a month, his 2016 option won’t vest automatically. The second baseman does have the power to veto any trade due to his 10-5 rights, however, so he will have some say over his final destination.
All four clubs have some use for a second baseman — or, in the Astros’ case, a bat who happens to play second base — and Utley still seems to have something left in the tank to provide for a playoff club. With things heating up, Utley should have a new home sooner than later.
National League Quick Hits: Freddie Freeman (oblique) began a rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast League Braves on Thursday. Freeman is expected to be activated on Wednesday, the first day he’s eligible … Jose Reyes has cleared waivers, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, and a few teams have been “poking around” the shortstop. Heyman lists the Yankees as at least one club that has talked with the Rockies about Reyes … David Wright (back) is hoping to be activated from the disabled list next weekend in Colorado. The potential activation will be determined largely by how Wright’s back holds up to rehab games in the coming days … the Braves signed Edwin Jackson to a one-year deal after he was released by the Cubs last month … Lucas Duda (back) remained out of the Mets’ lineup on Friday … Justin Morneau, who sustained another concussion in late May, took batting practice for the first time since the injury Friday. He remains out indefinitely, but it was a promising step for his eventual return.
American League Quick Hits: Jason Kipnis (shoulder) made roughly 50 throws on Thursday. It was the first time Kipnis had thrown since he hit the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, one of the final steps ahead of possible activation on Monday … Michael Pineda (elbow) could rejoin the Yankees’ rotation as soon as next week. Pineda was expected to be out until at least September, but he’ll start a rehab assignment with Double-A Trenton on Sunday … Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Bruce Rondon may end up getting more save chances moving forward … Hanley Ramirez (foot) remained out of the Red Sox’ lineup on Friday. Ramirez missed a week of games after fouling a ball off his left foot, and he’s still awaiting results of tests … Desmond Jennings was activated from the 60-day disabled list by the Rays on Friday. Jennings enjoyed better results than Miguel Cabrera in his first game back, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI … Drew Smyly (shoulder) will rejoin the Rays rotation on Sunday. He’s been out since early May after suffering a partial tear of the labrum in his left shoulder … Michael Brantley underwent an MRI on his left shoulder on Friday. It doesn’t seem serious, but more should be known soon … Corey Kluber allowed a single hit in a complete game victory over the Twins. The hit was a solo homer, depriving him of a shutout, but it was still a dominant effort for the right-hander, who is now 8-12 with a 3.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 193/34 K/BB ratio this season.
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