Bruce among vets who land jobs
Arm issue returns for Colorado’s Oberg
Jay Bruce returned to the major leagues Saturday, making the New York Yankees’ roster at the deadline for decisions on free agents who had gone to spring training with minor league contracts.
Atlanta added third baseman Pablo Sandoval, infielder Ehire Adrianza and reliever Nate Jones to its major league roster.
The Chicago Cubs told infielder Eric Sogard he will be added.
Detroit, having already told pitcher Julio Teheran he will be on the roster, informed pitcher Derek Holland he will be added and decided to pay a $100,000 retention bonus to keep pitcher Erasmo Ramirez.
Under baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, players who became free agents after the World Series and then went to spring training with minor league contracts had to be told by 10 a.m. MST Saturday that they would be added to the 40-man roster, paid the retention bonus or released.
Released players can re-sign with the same team.
Miami paid the retention bonus to catcher Sandy Leon, the only other player given the bonus.
Oakland told infielder Jed Lowie he will be added, and Philadelphia informed pitcher Brandon Kinztler and infielder Matt Joyce they will be added.
Texas committed to add pitcher Ian Kennedy and infielder Brock Holt, and Toronto told infielder Joe Panik he will be added.
Released players included Arizona catcher Bryan Holoday, Atlanta infielder Jason Kipnis, Cubs outfielder Cameron Maybin, Philadelphia pitcher Tony Watson, Pittsburgh infielder Todd Frazier, Texas pitcher Nick Vincent and catcher Drew Butera, and Washington pitcher T.J. McFarland and outfielder Yasmany Tomas.
ROCKIES: The morning after throwing in a game, Colorado right-handed reliever Scott Oberg showed up at the training facility in Arizona with a scary sensation that’s become all-too-familiar — numbness in his pitching arm.
The blood-clot issue — the one he hoped was finally behind him — had returned.
After surgery Thursday to dissolve blood clots in his right elbow, the status of Oberg for the season — possibly for his career — remains unknown. The Rockies placed Oberg on the 60-day injured list Saturday.
“We’re crushed,” Rockies manager Bud Black said of the news. “This one hurts. He’s in relatively good spirits overall. From the team, we’ll support Scotty, put our arms around him when we see him.”
What’s next for Oberg will be more consultations with specialists to see what else can be done as he deals with blood clots for the fourth time in his career. He was optimistic the issue was under control after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery last September.
It’s a big blow to the Colorado bullpen. Oberg, who turned 31 on March 13, was steadily working his way back to the mound after missing all of the 2020 pandemic-shortened season due to a blood clot.
He hasn’t appeared in a big league game since Aug. 16, 2019, against Miami. A few days after that outing, he went on the injured list with axillary artery thrombosis (blood clot) in his right arm.
NATIONALS: Carter Kieboom, a first-round draft pick and the expected starting third baseman for Washington, was sent to the minor leagues Saturday along with catcher Blake Swihart, a Cleveland High alum.
Drafted in 2016, Kieboom has struggled at the plate in limited opportunities in the majors, batting .181 in 44 games over two seasons with Washington. Kieboom and Starlin Castro had been getting time at third in preseason camp.
Also optioned to Triple-A Rochester were INF Luis Garcia, LHP Sam Clay, RHP Kyle McGowin and OF Yadiel Hernández.
Surprising additions to the team’s major league roster were INF Jordy Mercer and INF/OF Hernán Pérez. Mercer has a split contract: $1,000,000 while he’s in the majors and $150,000 in the minors, plus $50,000 each for 100, 150, 200, and 250 plate appearances, and $100,000 each for 300 and 400 plate appearances.
Also re-assigned to minor league camp were RHP Aaron Barrett, RHP Paolo Espino, RHP Javy Guerra, RHP Todd Peterson, C Welington Castillo, C Brandon Snyder, INF Adrían Sanchez, OF Gerardo Parra and OF Carlos Tocci.
INDIANS: Cleveland traded right-hander Adam Plutko to Baltimore, a move that brings some clarity to its bullpen situation.
Cleveland will get a player to be named or cash in return for Plutko, who was out of minor league options and seemed to be destined for a role in long relief this season. The 29-year-old has appeared in 50 games and made 36 starts for the Indians since 2016.
Plutko’s departure seems to point to Logan Allen, Triston McKenzie and Cal Quantrill all making the Indians’ opening-day roster.
Manager Terry Francona said the first three spots in the rotation were set with AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale. Allen, who is a left-hander, seems to have locked up the No. 4 spot after a strong camp. He pitched five shutout innings in a start on Friday.
McKenzie or Quantrill will either be the fifth starter or go to the bullpen. McKenzie makes his last exhibition start Sunday against San Diego.
Plutko was Cleveland’s player representative last season. The right-hander has been versatile for Francona over the past few seasons. He pitched in relief in 2020, going 2-2 with a 4.88 ERA in 10 games, including four starts.
CUBS: David Bote has won the second-base job with the Chicago Cubs, and Trevor Williams and Adbert Alzolay will round out the team’s pitching rotation at the beginning of the season.
The Cubs cleared the way for Bote when they optioned infielder Nico Hoerner to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday. Bote, Hoerner and Eric Sogard had been in the mix at second, and manager David Ross said Bote was the choice.
“Every second baseman, really, that we brought in camp had a great spring,” Ross said. “I think it’s an opportunity for David that David has earned, he deserves. I think it’s a chance to play every day at second base.”
Bote, who turns 28 on April 7, batted .200 with seven homers and 29 RBIs during the pandemic-shortened season last year. He was selected by Chicago in the 18th round of the 2012 amateur draft.
The 34-year-old Sogard is in camp on a minor league deal, but he has been told he will be added to the big league roster.
The Cubs also optioned reliever Brad Wieck to Iowa.