Nationals' Jaff Decker: Inks minor-league deal with Nats
Rotowire
Decker signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Tuesday, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.
Decker compiled a solid .271/.407/.458 slash line across 15 games with Triple-A Gwinnett before being cut loose by the Braves. He figures to serve as organizational outfield depth for the Nationals.
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Braves' Jaff Decker: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
Decker was reassigned to minor-league spring training on Sunday.
Decker agreed to a minor-league deal with the Braves that included a spring training invite this offseason, but the veteran outfielder wasn't able put together a strong enough camp to place himself into the Opening Day roster consideration. Decker hit just .212 this spring (7-for-33) and struck out in over one-third of his at-bats. He'll begin the 2018 campaign in the minors.
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Braves' Jaff Decker: Inks NRI deal with Atlanta
Rotowire
Decker agreed to a minor-league contract with the Braves on Thursday that includes an invite to spring training.
The 27-year-old made appearances in the majors each of the past five seasons, but he hasn't impressed much in any of those stints. Decker's biggest calling card is his ability to get on base, as he holds an 11.5 percent walk rate for his career. However, his high strikeout numbers and inability to hit for average in the big leagues largely limits his value to that of a Quad-A outfielder.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Outrighted after clearing waivers
Rotowire
Decker cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville on Saturday.
The 27-year-old failed to impress in 62 plate appearances with the big club (.200/.322/.260). Decker will serve as organizational depth while hoping to earn an opportunity later in the season.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Designated for assignment Tuesday
Rotowire
Decker was designated for assignment Tuesday.
Through 62 plate appearances this season, Decker is slashing a paltry .200/.322/.260. The 27-year-old has never had much success at the plate during his brief stints in the majors, as evidenced by his .174 career batting average. If another team fails to claim the outfielder off of waivers, he'll likely settle in at Triple-A Nashville.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Starts Monday
Rotowire
Decker will bat seventh and start in center field against the Angels on Monday, MLB.com's Jane Lee reports.
Decker smacked two hits Thursday against the Twins, then went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during his start Saturday. Rajai Davis will take a seat as Oakland faces right-hander Ricky Nolasco.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Raps out pair of hits Thursday
Rotowire
Decker went 2-for-2 with a run and a walk in Thursday's 8-5 win over the Twins.
The 27-year-old opened the game in the starting lineup, and although he was eventually pinch hit for by Rajai Davis, he managed to snap out of a prolonged slump before exiting. After hitting safely in his first four starts, Decker had subsequently gone 2-for-27 over the subsequent eight games in which he'd logged at least one official at-bat. However, despite Thursday's production, his line remains a subpar .227/.358/.295, and now that Davis is back from the disabled list, his playing time figures to remain sporadic.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Sitting out Sunday
Rotowire
Decker is out of the lineup Sunday against the Astros.
Decker has settled into the leadoff role for the last seven games while Rajai Davis (hamstring) has been sidelined, but he hasn't really impressed in that capacity, going 2-for-26 with 12 strikeouts. He'll hit the pine Sunday in favor of Ryan LaMarre and could soon be bound for a permanent role on the bench with Davis expected to come off the disabled list ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Twins.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: On base twice out of leadoff spot
Rotowire
Decker went 1-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Angels.
The 27-year-old has now reached safely in seven of the nine games he's played this season, and he's done it on multiple occasions within four of those contests. Decker is projected for a string of starts in place of Rajai Davis (hamstring), meaning he'll have a chance to build on the solid .280/.419/.400 line he's compiled over his first 33 plate appearances.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Positioned atop Friday's order
Rotowire
Decker will man center field and hit leadoff in Friday's game against the Mariners.
Decker will enter the lineup in place of Rajai Davis, who is getting a night off Friday. Decker's been getting fairly consistent playing time since being called up last weekend and owns a .400 batting average, two extra-base hits, and a stolen base over 17 plate appearances.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Leading off Tuesday
Rotowire
Decker is playing center field and leading off Tuesday against the Rangers, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.
Decker earned himself an opportunity to lead off after going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in his first game after being called-up. It's only one game, but if the 27-year-old is able to keep producing at the plate he could continue to steal some at-bats away from the struggling Rajai Davis.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Excels in first game after call-up
Rotowire
Decker went 3-for-4 with an RBI single, triple, run and stolen base in Saturday's 10-6 loss to the Astros.
Called up from Triple-A Nashville earlier in the day to replace the struggling Mark Canha, Decker did some damage out of the eight-hole, an extension of the impressive season he's put together thus far for the Sounds. The 27-year-old has slashed .387/.472/.452 in 31 at-bats in the minors, and Saturday's splashy debut certainly provides reason for optimism. Decker was also impressive while with the A's this spring, but his career .183 average over 133 plate appearances at the major-league level offers some sobering perspective for the time being.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Promoted by A's
Rotowire
Decker's contract was selected by the A's on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Decker will take the roster spot of Mark Canha, who was optioned in a corresponding move after a tough start to the year. Decker, on the other hand, has been on a tear at Triple-A Nashville, slashing .387/.472/.452 over 31 at-bats. He figures to slot into a bench role and could see the occasional start in the outfield.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Decker was reassigned to minor-league camp Saturday, Joe Stiglich of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Mark Canha will serve as the A's lone extra outfielder with Oakland opting to keep an eight-man bullpen to start the season. With that, Decker was the last position player sent down prior to Opening Day. Decker slashed an impressive .313/.421/.500 this spring and manager Bob Melvin said that sending him down was "the hardest one" of the final roster cuts.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Scheduled to play in Cactus League game Monday
Rotowire
Decker (oblique) is scheduled to rejoin the Athletics for Monday's Cactus League game against the Royals, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Decker seems to be in the clear from the oblique injury, as he was cleared to play five innings in center field in a minor-league game Sunday. Assuming he comes out of that appearance OK, he'll be available Monday for the A's, though he may not be included in the lineup. The 27-year-old is competing for a reserve gig in the outfield with the big club.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Set for minor league game Sunday
Rotowire
Decker says his oblique injury has subsided and he will play in a minor league game Sunday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
It's great news for Decker, who is battling Alejandro De Aza for a reserve outfield role on the Oakland roster. The lefty has put together a solid spring thus far, slashing .304/.407/.478 through 16 Cactus League games. Look for him to return to regular action within the coming week.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Doing field work Thursday
Rotowire
Decker (oblique) will participate in on-field baseball activities except batting practice Thursday, though he'll hit off a tee, Joe Stiglich of CSN California reports.
The once-hyped prospect is making progress in rehabbing his injury and has handled the bat well this spring, owning a .304/.407/.478 line that includes four doubles, two RBI, four walks and four runs over 23 at-bats. If he can return to action and sustain that performance, Decker could lock down a roster spot when the A's break camp.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Aiming for minors game Saturday
Rotowire
Decker (oblique) took 60 swings in the batting cage Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. He hopes to participate in batting practice Friday and suit up for a minor league game Saturday.
Decker is ramping up his activity in his quest to break camp with Oakland. The former prospect had been hitting well this spring (.304/.407/.478 in 23 at-bats) before this setback.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Dealing with minor oblique injury
Rotowire
Decker said he is dealing with a minor oblique injury but was able run and throw without a hitch Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Decker joined the A's camp as a non-roster invitee looking to claim a major league roster spot as the team's fifth outfielder, something that is within reach with Jake Smolinski sidelined for the start of the season. It's unclear how much longer this injury will sideline him, but the 27-year-old could be in jeopardy of missing the Opening Day cut if he isn't able to return to the field shortly.
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Athletics' Jaff Decker: Could take swings Tuesday
Rotowire
Decker (oblique) was examined by a doctor Monday and could start taking swings again Tuesday, Joe Stiglich of CSN Bay Area reports.
The 27-year-old outfielder is attempting to secure a roster spot and is therefore highly motivated to jump back into action as soon as possible. Decker originally suffered the injury while taking swings in the batting cage on Saturday but could be back to handling a bat Tuesday if he's deemed ready to do so. He's slashing .304/.407/.478 with four doubles, two RBI, four walks and four runs over 23 at-bats this spring.
