Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Big Game James
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn went out and acquired one of the top arms available on the open market to bolster his club’s pitching staff, sending Erik Johnson and Fernando Tatis Jr. to the Padres in exchange for James Shields. The 34-year-old right-hander is expected to join the White Sox on Tuesday, though it remains unclear when he will make his debut with the Pale Hose.
Shields has been as dependable as they come throughout his major league career. He has made at least 31 starts and hurled at least 200 innings in each of the last nine seasons. That kind of reliability will certainly prove to be an upgrade to the team’s starting rotation. His ability to work deep into games consistently will also help to save a bullpen that has been overworked.
The 2016 season hasn’t been kind to Shields though, as he owns a 2-7 record, 4.28 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 57/27 K/BB ratio over 67 1/3 innings across his 11 starts. Shields has traditionally had trouble keeping the baseball in the park, already having surrendered nine home runs in 2016 after allowing a league-worst 33 big flies in 2015. The move away from the pitcher’s paradise that is Petco Park to the bandbox known as U.S. Cellular Field is likely to amplify that issue. His fantasy value takes a hit with the move back to the American League as well.
The White Sox had no intentions of mortgaging their future to make this upgrade though, and would not agree to include top prospects Tim Anderson or Carson Fulmer in the deal. Instead, the Padres receive Erik Johnson and Fernando Tatis Jr. Johnson is a very intriguing talent, but has yet to figure things out at the major league level. He’s expected to fill the vacant spot in the Padres rotation left by Shields, and makes for an interesting streaming option in deeper mixed leagues. Tatis, the son of former major leaguer Fernando Tatis, is a very raw but talented 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic that has yet to play professionally at any level.
In order to receive anything of value in return, the Padres were forced to eat $31 million of the $58 million remaining on Shields’ contract. The White Sox will be on the hook for just $5 million for the remainder of this season, and then $10 million in each of the next two years, provided Shields doesn’t exercise his opt-out clause after the conclusion of the 2016 season.
Teixeira’s season in jeopardy?
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman admitted Saturday that Mark Teixeira, who is currently on the 15-day disabled list with an articular cartilage tear in his right knee, could require season-ending surgery. Cashman noted that the veteran slugger will try to treat the injury conservatively, through rest, rehab, and injections, though if that doesn’t work Teixeira will be forced to go under the knife. If that’s the case, it’s unlikely that he’ll return to the field in 2016.
After a resurgent 2015 season in which he blasted 31 home runs, Teixeira has crashed back to Earth in 2016. Through 48 games, he was hitting just .180/.271/.263 with three homers, 12 RBI and a 49/21 K/BB ratio. Teixeira is in the final season of an eight-year, $100 million deal, and if he’s forced to undergo surgery it’s very likely that he has played his last game with the Yankees.
Provided they don’t acquire any help from outside of the organization, the Yankees will roll with a combination of Rob Refsnyder and Chris Parmelee at first base. If either one of them were able to seize the bulk of the at-bats at first base, they could easily carve out value in AL-only formats, and Refsnyder could make for an interesting option in deeper mixed leagues given his eligibility in the middle infield.
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Gregerson fails to convert again
Luke Gregerson suffered his fifth blown save of the season on Saturday when he allowed a game-tying solo home run to Jed Lowrie with two outs in the final frame. All five of his blown saves have come since May 11, and for the season he owns a troublesome 4.56 ERA across his 25 2/3 innings.
Should manager A.J. Hinch opt to make a change in the ninth inning, it’s unclear just which direction he may turn. Ken Giles was brought in over the winter to be the team’s closer, but he lost the job to Gregerson with a terrible showing during spring training. Giles hasn’t fared much better in the regular season, compiling a 5.55 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in his 24 1/3 innings. What he does have going for him, is a high strikeout rate (11.84 K/9) and the fact that he has pitched better after a rough first month (3.14 ERA since May 1).
The best reliever in the Astros bullpen this season, and a sneaky addition if speculating on saves, is Will Harris. The 31-year-old right-hander owns a sparkling 0.36 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 27/4 K/BB ratio in 24 1/3 innings. That on the heels of a dominant 2015 season where he emerged as a shut-down reliever in the Astros bullpen.
American League Quick Hits: Francisco Lindor smacked a two-run homer and a pair of doubles in a victory over the Royals… Carlos Correa went 3-for-5 and delivered a walkoff RBI single in the 12th inning against the Athletics… Khris Davis left Saturday’s game after being hit by a pitch on his elbow, though he claimed afterwards that he’s fine and that he expects to play on Sunday… Steven Souza clobbered a three-run homer and stole a base as the Rays beat the Twins… Josh Tomlin improved to 8-1 with a victory over the Royals… Marcus Stroman was hammered for six runs in a loss to the Red Sox… Ryan Hanigan left Saturday’s game with a strained neck and could be out for awhile… Blake Swihart left the same game with a left ankle injury… Rougned Odor returned from his suspension, going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in a win over the Mariners… Brian McCann missed another game with a hyperextended elbow, but is expected to return on Sunday… Mariners add top pitching prospect Edwin Diaz to their bullpen mix… Sonny Gray will be activated from the disabled list and start for the A’s on Sunday… Nick Tropeano was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his right shoulder.
National League Quick Hits: Adam Duvall continued his power binge, smacking his 16th home run of the season to beat the Nationals… Stephen Strasburg was forced to leave his start against the Reds due to cramping in his left calf. He’s expected to be fine for his next scheduled start… Jonathan Villar homered for the third consecutive game and swiped his league-leading 20th base in a victory over the Phillies… Aledmys Diaz clubbed a three-run homer to help the Cardinals beat the Giants… Juan Lagares was forced to leave Saturday’s game with a left thumb injury sustained while making a diving catch… Julio Urias will start again for the Dodgers on Tuesday against the Rockies… Anthony Rizzo blasted his 13th home run as the Cubs topped the Diamondbacks… Yoenis Cespedes was scratched from Saturday’s lineup due to a sore right hip, he’s listed as day-to-day.
