Daily Clips
March31, 2018
LOCAL
Karns could follow in Minor's path in KC's 'pen
March 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Here is what the Royals' payroll looks like in 2018 and beyond
March 30, 2018By Maria Torres & Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Danny Duffy tweets message to Royals fans after disappointing opener
March 30, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
NATIONAL
Yanks place Hicks on 10-day disabled list
March 30, 2018By Bryan Hoch/MLB.com
Phils place Neshek on DL with shoulder strain
Kapler says bullpen moves in opener were 'well thought out'
March 31, 2018By Todd Zolecki/MLB.com
Flowers put on DL; Suzuki exits after HBP
March 31, 2018By Mark Bowman/MLB.com
29 percent of players on MLB rosters were born outside U.S.
March 30, 2018AP (ESPN.com)
Tulo to undergo surgery to remove bone spurs
Toronto's All-Star shortstop to miss at least two months
March 30, 2018By Gregor Chisholm/MLB.com
MLB TRANSACTIONS
March31, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Karns could follow in Minor's path in KC's 'pen
March 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
The Royals may have found an internal replacement for left-hander Mike Minor, who emerged as the team's closer last September and then signed a three-year, $28 million deal with the Rangers.
That replacement could be right-hander Nate Karns, who the Royals put on the disabled list Thursday because of elbow inflammation.
Both manager Ned Yost and general manager Dayton Moore confirmed that they believe once Karns comes off the disabled list, he will assume a bullpen role similar to the one Minor excelled in last season for Kansas City: a multi-inning reliever to start with and then possibly a late-inning specialist.
The Royals and their training staff have come to the conclusion that Karns, because of arm fatigue issues, is most effective throwing 65 pitches or fewer, the same conclusion they came to with Minor, whose first preference was to be a starter in 2017.
"My mindset, even entering Spring Training, was [Karns] was probably going to be a reliever for us," Yost said. "Kind of like in the vein of Mike Minor. Same thing, he'd get to the 60-65-pitch mark and start to fatigue or get tired or tight. But I wanted to give him an opportunity to start this spring."
Minor was an effective multi-inning reliever in 2017. Then in September, Minor took over the team's closer role from Kelvin Herrera, going 6-for-6 in save opportunities.
"We had a lot of discussion on how best to utilize [Karns] in 2018, knowing that when we made the deal for him, we felt he was going to be in our rotation every fifth day," Moore said. "And our scouts, all of our analytical people, everybody felt that was his best role. But he just hasn't been able to stay healthy to this point.
"You go into this thing with a plan, but you've got to be open-minded to adjust the plan. Allow the player to change your mind one way or the other. Allow the medical team to change your mind one way or the other. When we spoke to [trainer] Nick [Kenney] yesterday, my thought to Nick was just, 'Let's do this.' I was throwing it out there. If Nick would have felt differently, he would have said it. But there was no pushback."
Karns certainly has the sort of electric stuff to be a late-inning specialist. He has averaged 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings over his career, and he averaged a respectable 2.6 walks per nine last season.
Karns admitted Thursday that he hasn't had any lengthy discussions with Yost or pitching coach Cal Eldred about a future role in the bullpen.
"But at this point, I'm comfortable with any role that keeps me on the active roster," Karns said. "I believe in my capabilities to go out there and I believe the organization does, too, or else we wouldn't be having these talks. I just want to get healthy, get back out there and help the boys win."
Here is what the Royals' payroll looks like in 2018 and beyond
March 30, 2018By Maria Torres & Pete Grathoff/KC Star
In the hours before starter Danny Duffy threw the first pitch of an opening day loss to the White Sox on Thursday, the Royals announced a 25-man roster that matched in very few ways what the club entered spring training with nearly seven weeks ago.
The Royals added first baseman Lucas Duda, outfielder Jon Jay and reliever Justin Grimm and executed a one-year reunion with All-Star third baseman Mike Moustakas.
While they managed to trim $14 million from their 2017 payroll (about $143 million) with a pair of trades in January, they added about $12 million more with those spring-training signings. What's notable about those deals is that only one will lock in a financial obligation after the 2018 season: Moustakas will get at least $1 million via a mutual option.
But it's also worth noting that the Royals failed to significantly curtail spending. After two seasons of disappointing finishes, general manager Dayton Moore expressed a desire to field an opening day payroll around $110 million. The Royals opened the season, instead, with a payroll just north of $123 million.
Here is a look at the Royals' 2018 opening day payroll and payroll obligations for the 2019-22 seasons. Information is from Star sources and Cot's Contracts.
2018: $123.23 million
Alex Gordon: $20 million
Ian Kennedy: $16 million
Danny Duffy: $14 million
Jason Hammel: $9 million
Salvador Perez: $8.7 million
Kelvin Herrera: $7.937 million
Travis Wood: $6 million
Mike Moustakas: $5.5 million
Jorge Soler: $4.667 million
Lucas Duda: $3.5 million
Brandon Moss: $3.25 million
Jon Jay: $3 million
Brandon Maurer: $2.95 million
Alcides Escobar: $2.5 million
Drew Butera: $2.3 million
Nate Karns: $1.375 million
Justin Grimm: $1.25 million
Blaine Boyer: $1 million
Ryan Goins: $1 million
Joakim Soria: $1 million
Jesse Hahn: $574,000
Cheslor Cuthbert: $573,500
Brian Flynn: $573,500
Whit Merrifield: $569,500
Paulo Orlando: $568,500
Jorge Bonifacio: $561,900
Jakob Junis: $554,250
Burch Smith: $552,450
Adalberto Mondesi: $547,125
Eric Skoglund: $546,625
Cam Gallagher: $546,400
Bubba Starling: $546,200
Tim Hill: $545,000
Brad Keller: $545,000
Miguel Almonte: $545,000
Notes: This figure does not include $1.5 million owed to Wily Peralta, who was designated for assignment. The Royals would be absolved of any obligation to his salary if he is picked up by another team or he opts for free agency. The total payroll includes salaries for players on the active roster and disabled list, as well as guaranteed salaries to be earned by players no longer on the roster. Performance bonuses are not included.
The Royals also owe $6.25 million on the contract for deceased pitcher Yordano Ventura, a figure not included in the opening day total.
2019: $79.37 million
Alex Gordon: $20 million
Ian Kennedy: $16.5 million
Danny Duffy: $15.25 million
Salvador Perez: $10 million
Jorge Soler: $4.667 million*
Jason Hammel: $2 million buyout on $12 million mutual option
Mike Moustakas: $1 million buyout on $15 million mutual option
Notes: Cheslor Cuthbert, Nate Karns, Paulo Orlando, Jesse Hahn and Brian Flynn will all be eligible for arbitration. The Royals will owe $9.95 million on the contract for Ventura.
*May be eligible for arbitration
2020: $53.75 million
Ian Kennedy: $16.5 million
Danny Duffy: $15.25 million
Salvador Perez $13 million
Jorge Soler: $4 million*
Alex Gordon: $4 million buyout on $23 million mutual option
Notes: The Royals will owe $1 million on the contract of Ventura. Cheslor Cuthbert, Nate Karns, Paulo Orlando, Brian Flynn, Whit Merrifield, Burch Smith and Jesse Hahn will be eligible for arbitration.
*May be eligible for arbitration
2021: $28.5 million
Danny Duffy: $15.5 million
Salvador Perez: $13 million
Note: Cheslor Cuthbert, Paulo Orlando, Brian Flynn, Whit Merrifield, Burch Smith and Jesse Hahn will be eligible for arbitration.
Danny Duffy tweets message to Royals fans after disappointing opener
March 30, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Not sure that could have gone much worse for the Royals.
Thursday's season opener started with a bang as the Royals scored four runs in the first inning and Kauffman Stadium was buzzing.
Alas, there were eight more innings to play.
The White Sox dominated after that and won 14-7. Royals starter Danny Duffy allowed five runs on seven hits in four innings and Chicago hit three home runs off him.
It was a chilly day and a majority of the 36,517 fans at Kauffman Stadium left early.
Hours after the game, Duffy tweeted a message to Royals fans:
@duffkc41
Thanks to all of yall who braved the cold today. Didnt go as planned but the boys never quit. We’re so thankful for the support of you fans. On to the next one! Go royals!
If you can't see that tweet, Duffy wrote:
"Thanks to all of yall who braved the cold today. Didnt go as planned but the boys never quit. We’re so thankful for the support of you fans. On to the next one! Go royals!"
NATIONAL
Yanks place Hicks on 10-day disabled list
March 30, 2018By Bryan Hoch/MLB.com
After a pair of lengthy stints on the disabled list interrupted his breakout 2017 campaign, Aaron Hicks focused on his diet and his core exercises, aiming to avoid any similar future layoffs. One game into the new season, the switch-hitting outfielder is back on the shelf.
The Yankees placed Hicks on the 10-day DL on Friday with a strained right intercostal muscle, and recalled outfielder Billy McKinney from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
McKinney immediately got to work, hitting a single in his first MLB at-bat - a ground ball through the right side of the infield during the second inning.
Hicks went 2-for-4 in the Yankees' season-opening victory over the Blue Jays on Thursday at Rogers Centre, after which he mentioned some tightness in his right chest. An MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain.
"It's frustrating," Hicks said. "You spend the whole offseason trying to prevent stuff like this, and now it happens. I just want to play. I'm tired of spending time on the DL. I want to play baseball."
Hicks is expected to resume baseball activities after three days of rest, and he aims to return to the lineup in the minimum 10 days. He was on the DL twice last season with oblique strains, one on the left side and one on the right.
"We don't believe it's too serious, but we're taking some caution," manager Aaron Boone said. "Aaron actually thought maybe he was feeling ... he didn't have to go on the DL. We just thought it was the best thing for him and for us, trying to avoid a long-term situation."
Hicks' absence has shaken up the outfield depth chart. Brett Gardner moved from left field to center field for Friday's contest at Rogers Centre, with the 23-year-old McKinney making his Major League debut as New York's left fielder.
Boone said that it is possible Aaron Judge could see time in center field to spell Gardner, and Giancarlo Stanton remains an option in both left field and right field.
General manager Brian Cashman said that the team will accelerate the return of outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who has been gathering at-bats in Minor League games at the team's complex in Tampa, Fla.
Ellsbury missed most of Spring Training with a strained right oblique, and is eligible to be activated from the DL on April 5.
"In a perfect world, you want to give somebody 55 at-bats to finish them off," Cashman said. "We're not in a perfect world. This will necessitate us taking [Ellsbury] when he's physically ready, but maybe not totally finished off."
In the meantime, McKinney hopes to make the most of his opportunity, capitalizing on a pair of back-to-back strong Spring Training performances.
A former first-round pick of the Athletics, McKinney hit a combined .277/.338/.483 with 16 homers and 64 RBIs in 124 games for Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season.
In 22 Spring Training games, he tied for the Yankees' team lead with five home runs and 13 RBIs while batting .167/.340/.524.
"Even when he's not getting hits or not getting on base, it's just a quality at-bat," Boone said. "He runs the bases really well. He's a guy that I feel very comfortable throwing right into the lineup, knowing he's going to do the right things in the field."
Phils place Neshek on DL with shoulder strain
Kapler says bullpen moves in opener were 'well thought out'
March 31, 2018By Todd Zolecki/MLB.com
It has been a bad week for the Phillies' veteran relievers.
On Friday, the team announced it had placed right-hander Pat Neshek on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Four days ago, it was announced that right-hander Tommy Hunter would open the season on the DL with a strained hamstring. The Phillies signed both pitchers to a combined $34.25 million in December.
"For me, it could be something serious, I think, and that's why they're taking more of a precaution with me," Neshek said.
But Neshek, 37, added that he thinks the injury is "not anything major." Either way, he said he does not know when he will return. The Phillies recalled right-hander Yacksel Rios to take his place on the roster. Rios threw two-thirds of an inning in Friday's 5-4, 11-inning win over the Braves, allowing one hit and striking out one in the scoreless appearance.
The Phillies could have used Neshek in Thursday's bullpen meltdown against the Braves. Instead, he watched like everybody else.
"It's terrible," Neshek said. "I went in yesterday and they looked at me and recommended to [manager] Gabe [Kapler] that I get a day off. So Gabe came up to me about an hour before the game and he said, 'I don't want you to pitch today.' You get this high level of excitement and then you're not pitching. Everyone is excited and you're just sitting there. Of course, [the loss] happens and you just feel like a bum at the end."
Neshek said he started feeling something in the back of his shoulder in the last week of Spring Training.
"I just haven't been getting much better for the last few days, so it kind of worries me a little bit, and it's not really helping the team," Neshek said.
Flowers put on DL; Suzuki exits after HBP
March 31, 2018By Mark Bowman/MLB.com
Tyler Flowers awoke feeling better than he had approximately 12 hours earlier, when he felt discomfort with every step he took as he exited SunTrust Park. But the Braves catcher has already conceded he will likely be sidelined for at least a month with a strained left oblique.
A few hours after placing Flowers on the 10-day disabled list, the Braves' catching concerns grew more significant when Kurt Suzuki exited Friday's night's 5-4, 11-inning loss. Suzuki was struck on the right hand by a Nick Pivetta pitch in the fourth inning. The swelling was too significant for the medical staff to review an X-ray, so the Braves will have to wait until Saturday to know whether they will be without both of their top two catchers for an extended period of time.
"You just never know what's going to happen," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "You can't ever prepare enough. We were in really good shape coming in, and two games in, we're hurting already."
The Braves are hopeful Suzuki can avoid the disabled list. But even if he does, the Braves may need to promote Rob Brantly from Triple-A Gwinnett to serve as Chris Stewart's backup for a few days. The 36-year-old Stewart signed with the Braves after the start of Spring Training, and there was uncertainty about his immediate future until the Braves opted for three catchers on their Opening Day roster.
It's too early to project a potential return date for Flowers. But all involved seem to fully understand the potential pitfalls of attempting to rush back from this oblique strain, which was suffered as the 32-year-old catcher attempted to complete his first plate appearance of the season.
"I've had teammates over the years try to rush it to get back, and they end up dealing with it for the entire season," Flowers said. "I definitely don't plan on doing that. I think we'll be as aggressive as we can be, but I don't want this to turn into multiple months when it can be something significantly shorter if we take our time."
The Braves thought about filling Flowers' roster spot with outfielder Danny Santana, but instead, they purchased right-handed reliever Miguel Socolovich's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett. Socolovich will serve as a short-term roster filler. The move prevents the team from possibly losing Santana or one of its other more valuable out-of-options players when Johan Camargo and Anibal Sanchez are added to Atlanta's roster next week.
Flowers felt discomfort with the first swing he took during the second inning of Thursday's Opening Day win over the Phillies. He motioned for the Braves' trainers to stay on the bench and might have done more damage when he took his next swing, which led to his immediate exit.