...and since we're all chock-full of good news, here's a proper old-school McHuge curveball from Monday in Corpus:
What he really meant to say was that Diaz got paid and is now content, with no sense of urgency to come back and play.
So, Springer with 2 bombs yesterday for Corpus. They're still saying "several more games" but I'm still holding out hope he's back Saturday. Worst case, he's back for the start of the Pittsburgh series on Tuesday.
So, with the off day on Monday, Tuesday is the most likely scenario. I'd guess the same for McHugh and Stassi...though Stassi did catch consecutive games Wed and Thursday. He could be back in NY.
So, who goes off the 25-man roster to make room for George? Kemp would be the logical answer, since Altuve is back at 2B, and we have too many outfielders. But, he's out of options. Do you think we trade him? I mean, we're obviously not sending Alvarez down. Straw would also make sense, but he's the backup SS. Without him, who plays short if Alex is hurt/resting/taken out?
For now, Armenteros or Guduan can go, I'd think, with the other going whenever McHugh is activated. That at least buys them a few days to figure out what to do with Kemp/White/Straw and their need for backup IFers. If they do get rid of a position player, its time to let Kemp go. He's pretty superfluous and isn't going to have any value in trade, so they are going to have to DFA him at some point anyway (same with White). If an outfielder gets injured again, then Tucker (or Fisher) can come up.
Yeah, that sounds right. I wonder if anyone would trade us a lottery ticket guy like Cleveland sent us for Hoyt? But probably not. If I had to guess, Fisher (barring a trade) is ahead of Tucker for the next 2 or so months because of the service time issue. And, if they need another infielder, than Mayfield is the next man in line.
Low-average, low-power, average defensive LFers are a dime a dozen and have no real value in modern MLB. No one is trading anything for him.