Jays bring back Phelps for depth out of the bullpen
Team also releases Yamaguchi
the Toronto blue Jays turned to a familiar veteran arm to add some bullpen depth Thursday as the team has signed right-handed pitcher david Phelps to a one-year deal.
Phelps, who was with the team in 2019, will be paid us$1.75 million and provides an experienced presence in the bullpen. Like many pitchers the team seems to acquire, Phelps will be looking for a bounceback effort after struggling in 2020.
Phelps was a compelling story with the Jays in 2019 with an emotional return from Tommy John surgery before being dealt to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline.
In 22 appearances last season with the Milwaukee brewers and Philadelphia Phillies, the 34-year-old struggled, however allowing seven home runs and a 6.55 earned-run average.
Phelps joins another former Jay, Francisco Liriano, who was signed by the team last week. With pitchers and catchers due to begin their first official workouts next Thursday, however, the Jays are still in need of some starting help.
The team released Shun yamaguchi on Thursday, cutting ties after the Japanese pitcher struggled in 2020, the first of a two-year deal he signed with the team. yamaguchi’s exit from the 40-man roster made room for waiver claim Joel Payamps. Another roster move will be required to make room for Phelps.
CUBS SIGN MARISNICK
The Chicago Cubs reached an agreement Thursday with outfielder Jake Marisnick on a one-year, $1.5-million deal, Mlb.com reported.
The contract, pending the results of a physical, would pay Marisnick a guaranteed $1 million in 2021 with a $4 million mutual option (or $500,000 buyout) for the 2022 campaign.
Marisnick, who turns 30 next month, batted .333 with two home runs and five rbis in 16 games with the New york Mets during the shortened 2020 season.
He’s a career .229 hitter with 56 homers and 183 rbis in 701 games for the Miami Marlins (2013-14) and Houston Astros (2014-19).
The Cubs' projected starting outfield has Jason Heyward in right field, Ian Happ in centre and the recently signed Joc Pederson in left.
Marisnick, who has mostly played in centre field, projects as a late-innings defensive replacement and pinch-hitter.
DODGERS, BUEHLER IN TWO-YEAR DEAL
The Los Angeles dodgers and pitcher Walker buehler avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year, $8-million deal plus incentives, multiple outlets reported on Thursday.
An arbitration hearing had been scheduled for Thursday for the 26-yearold right-hander, who can earn more than $12 million if he starts at least 28 games and wins the 2021 National League Cy young Award.
buehler was 1-0 with a 3.44 era in eight regular season starts and 2-0 with a 1.80 era in five post-season starts for the 2020 World Series champions.
In his last appearance, he struck out 10 in a 6-2 win against the Tampa bay rays in Game 3 of the World Series.
buehler was an all-star in 2019, finishing with a 14-4 record, a 3.26 era and 215 strikeouts in 182 1/3 innings.
RED SOX DEALING BENINTENDI
After an off-season full of trade rumours, Andrew benintendi knows for sure he’ll no longer be a member of the boston red Sox.
The former American League rookie of the year runner-up is on the move as the red Sox have agreed to a three-team trade, with outfielder benintendi being dealt to the Kansas City royals, according to multiple reports.
In exchange, the royals reportedly will ship outfielder Franchy Cordero to boston, in addition to trading outfield prospect Khalil Lee to the New york Mets. MLB Network also reports that the Mets will move righthander Josh Winckowski to boston as part of the trade. Other players to be named may also be part of the trade.
The headliner is boston's trade of benintendi, 26, who once was considered one of the more up-and-coming players in baseball. He finished second to the New york yankees’ Aaron Judge in the AL rookie of the year race in 2017, thanks to a sterling full-season debut (20 home runs, 90 rbis, 20 stolen bases).
benintendi set career highs in batting average (.290), steals (21) and doubles (41) in 2018 among several other categories while helping the red Sox to a World Series title. After hitting 16 homers with 87 rbis in that campaign, the left-handed hitter has hit just 13 long balls in the two seasons since. The shortened 2020 season was a disaster for benintendi, who hit just .103 with no home runs and a single rbi in 52 plate appearances.
Cordero, 26, has played in parts of four seasons after making his big league debut in 2017 with the San diego Padres, where he played for three seasons until being dealt to the royals in 2020. He has hit 12 home runs with 36 rbis and a .236/.304/.433 line in 95 career games.
Lee, 22, was a third-round pick by the royals in 2016. Known for his speed, he racked up 53 stolen bases while hitting .264 with eight homers and 51 rbis in 129 games with AA Northwest Arkansas in 2019.
Winckowski, 22, was a 15th-round pick by Toronto in 2016, is 18-17 in his minor league career since 2016.