Spring training notes by Maureen Mullen
Houston Astros
Manager A.J. Hinch has indicated he would like to carry 13 pitchers to start the season. That would make it challenging for position players vying for a spot on the 25-man roster, including infielders A.J. Reed, Tyler
White and Colin Moran and outfielders Tony Kemp and Teoscar Hernandez.
“Our position-player group is tough to crack,” Hinch told MLB.com. “We’re going to most likely carry 13 pitchers, and if we do that, it makes the last bench spot very difficult to make. The 13th pitcher vs. extra position player will be debated over the next few weeks.”
Right- hander Brad Peacock, who is fighting for a spot on the roster, is out of minor league options. “I just want to pitch in the major leagues, whatever way I can and just trying to do well,” he said.
Los Angeles Angels
Right-hander Kirby Yates, claimed off waivers from the New York Yankees in the offseason, is adding a splitter to his repertoire after relying primarily on his four-seamer and slider since breaking into the majors in 2014.
“The slider has been so hitand-miss the last two years that I feel like I can’t rely so heavily on the slider anymore,” Yates told MLB.com. “I need something to back that up along with the fastball.
“If I have three pitches instead of two, I have a split-finger that I can go to when the slider is not there or vice versa. It’s just another weapon. Kind of another idea to throw around and give a hitter a different look.” Closer Huston Street’s availability for opening day is uncertain because of the back strain that has sidelined him since March 3, his first and only outing this spring. In his absence, Cam Bedrosian or Andrew Bailey could take over the closer duties.
Oakland A’s
For now, the A’s will not be looking outside the organization to cover for Sonny Gray, who is expected to miss the first month of the season because of a strained back muscle.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily a fertile market to be diving into right now anyway this time of year,” said Billy Beane, the club’s executive vice president of baseball operations. “I think we prefer to stay in-house and give maybe somebody an opportunity.”
Kendall Graveman, who is expected to start on opening day,
Sean Manaea and Jharel Cotton will be at the front of the rotation. Jesse Hahn, Andrew
Triggs and Raul Alcantara are vying for the remaining spots.
Alcantara is out of minor league options. Beane said that would be a consideration in finalizing the 25-man roster but added that it won’t outweigh performance if another pitcher is performing better.
Seattle Mariners
Shawn O’Malley and Taylor Motter are in contention for a utility role, and they both can fill a lot of different needs. O’Malley played all three outfield positions as well as second base, third and shortstop for the Mariners in 2016. Motter, acquired from Tampa Bay in November, played every position except catcher and center field, including pitching one-third of an inning last season, for the Rays.
“They’re both going to help us at some point this year,” Mariners manager Scott Servais told MLB.com. “There’s no doubt. One may start, another may come up later. They’re so versatile. They’ll find a way onto our roster.”
It appears right-handed reliever Shae Simmons will start the season on the disabled list, according to The (Tacoma, Wash.)
News Tribune. Simmons has been in a no-throw status since March 12 after an MRI revealed a strained forearm muscle. There is no timetable for him to resume throwing.
“Depending on how long he’s going to be down,” Servais said, “my guess is, yeah, he’s going to need to be built up a little bit.”
Texas Rangers
Right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez, who had been competing for a spot in the Rangers rotation, could miss three months because of a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Gonzalez, the Rangers’ firstround draft pick (23rd overall) in 2013, was set to receive a stem cell injection. He will be shut down from throwing for six weeks and re-evaluated at that point. The Rangers hope he can avoid season-ending surgery.
“He is a very talented young pitcher, a guy we think highly of,” Rangers manager Jeff Ban
ister told MLB.com. “We’ll be conservative with it and see if we can get him back out there.”
Mike Hauschild, a Rule 5 pick from the Astros who is competing for a rotation spot, took Gonzalez’s scheduled start March 17 but struggled against the Angels. He is expected to get at least two more spring starts.
“We are not going to overevaluate it,” Banister told MLB.com. “This guy is still getting the feel for a major league game.”