The ’ 26-man roster was going through a recognized crunch Monday, when Mookie Betts was scheduled to rejoin the staff in Milwaukee for its collection opener towards the Brewers.
The ensuing roster casualty was a shock.
Amed Rosario, whom the acquired July 29 from the Tampa Bay Rays in alternate for minor league pitcher Michael Flynn, was designated for project.
Rosario, 28, has seen a resurgence on the plate this season. In 81 video games with the and Rays, he’s hitting .305 with a .331 on-base share and .415 slugging share. His 113 OPS+ can be his highest over a full season in a profession that started in 2017, and his .746 OPS can be his highest since 2019.
Rosario is the type of versatile fielder the entrance workplace led by president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman loves. He’s seen time at second base, third base and shortstop this season. In concept, these can be positions of want with Betts heading again to proper discipline for the rest of this season.
Nonetheless, the didn’t have many selections. Kiké Hernandez has been swinging a fair hotter bat of late (.278/.342/.444 slash line for the reason that All-Star break) and provides much more positional versatility.
Current deadline acquisition Kevin Kiermaier (1 for 16 in six video games) hasn’t been swinging nicely since he was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for lengthy reliever Ryan Yarbrough. However he’s maybe the one above-average heart fielder on the roster, and the weren’t able to half with him — not less than not with Tommy Edman nonetheless on the injured record.
Supervisor Dave Roberts stated Edman would be the staff’s on a regular basis heart fielder upon his return.
Assuming the remainder of the ’ place participant contingent was wholesome, that successfully left two gamers on the potential chopping block: Rosario and shortstop Nick Ahmed.
Ahmed, 34, is a two-time Gold Glove award winner at shortstop who has appeared in 14 of the 16 video games the have performed since he was signed as a free agent on July 24, beginning 12. Ahmed price the nearly nothing to signal — he was designated for project and launched two weeks earlier by the San Francisco Giants.
Ahmed isn’t sturdy with the bat; he’s slashing .268/.286/.341 since he was acquired. His strikeout fee (28.6 %) and stroll fee (2.4 %) counsel his plate self-discipline isn’t as sturdy as Rosario’s, and his .357 batting common on balls in play counsel his batting common is maybe a bit inflated by batted-ball luck.
As we speak’s transaction suggests the worth Ahmed’s protection at shortstop greater than Rosario’s versatility. For now not less than, his roster spot is secure.
The are anticipated to activate Edman and Max Muncy this week, nonetheless. Don’t be stunned if Ahmed (and Kiermaier) finds his identify on the chopping block.
Photograph Credit score: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports activities
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