Twins' Michael Tonkin: Sticking around in Minnesota
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Tonkin agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Tonkin started the 2024 regular season on the Twins' roster, then spent stints with the Mets and Yankees before finishing the year back in Minnesota after being claimed off waivers in late August. He appeared in 57 games between the three organizations, posting a 3.63 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 79.1 innings while primarily serving in a middle relief role.
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Yankees' Michael Tonkin: Booted off 40-man roster
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The Yankees designated Tonkin for assignment Sunday.
For the fourth time this season, Tonkin has now been removed from an organization's 40-man roster, after the Mets (twice) and Twins previously designated him for assignment. The Yankees claimed Tonkin off waivers from the Mets in April, and he had generally pitched well during his time in The Bronx, logging a 3.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 57:21 K:BB in 56 innings. However, with the Yankees in need of a fresh relief arm for Sunday's series finale with the Rockies, Tonkin ended up being the odd man out to make room on the roster for Phil Bickford, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Given his strong body of work out of the New York bullpen, Tonkin stands a good chance of being claimed off waivers by another team.
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Yankees' Michael Tonkin: Secures three-inning save
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Tonkin allowed two hits and struck out two without walking a batter over three innings to earn the save in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the White Sox.
The Yankees pulled ahead in the seventh inning and then rallied for more in the eighth, so Tonkin stayed in the game and ended up with his second save of the year. This was just his second scoreless appearance in nine outings since the All-Star break. He's added one hold this season while rarely featuring in high-leverage spots. Tonkin has a 3.21 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 63:22 K:BB over 61.2 innings between the Yankees, Mets and Twins in 2024.
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Yankees' Michael Tonkin: Earns first save
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Tonkin earned a save against the Royals on Monday, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Tonkin was called upon to protect a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning and worked around a walk to secure his first save of the season and second of his career. Usual closer Clay Holmes pitched three times in the past four days, so it was a rare appearance in the role for Tonkin. He now owns a 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB ratio in 29.1 combined innings pitched for the Twins, Mets and Yankees in 2024.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Exits 40-man roster again
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The Mets designated Tonkin for assignment Monday.
It's the third time this month that Tonkin has been DFA'd and the second time the move has been made by the Mets. The veteran reliever could clear waivers and would have the option to elect free agency.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Returns to New York
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The Mets claimed Tonkin off waivers from the Twins on Wednesday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
Tonkin doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so he'll be added to the Mets' 26-man active roster and will presumably join the big club for the start of its series three-game series in Los Angeles versus the Dodgers this weekend. New York designated lefty Tyler Jay for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster for Tonkin, who has allowed four earned runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings across his four relief appearances this season between the Twins and an earlier stint with the Mets.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Designated for assignment
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Tonkin was designated for assignment Saturday. He gave up two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out five over two innings in Friday's loss to Detroit.
Tonkin was traded to the Twins from the Mets for cash Tuesday as a way to fill in the bottom of the Minnesota bullpen. His reward for throwing two innings was for the Twins to jettison him for another reliever. Tonkin may chose to accept an outright assignment if he's not claimed off waivers as the Twins will likely need him again this season.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Traded to Minnesota
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Tonkin was acquired by the Twins from the Mets on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.
The right-hander was designated for assignment by the Mets on Friday and will now make his way to the Twin Cities. Tonkin made three appearances for New York this season and allowed two earned runs with a 3:1 K:BB over four innings.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Designated for assignment
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Tonkin was designated for assignment by the Mets on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 26-man and 40-man rosters for Julio Teheran. Tonkin allowed eight runs (two earned) over four innings covering three relief appearances with the Mets. There would seem to be a good chance the 34-year-old passes through waivers unclaimed.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Makes Opening day bullpen
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Tonkin will begin the season on the Mets' 26-man roster, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
With Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder) landing on the injured list, the Mets were able to find room for both Tonkin and Yohan Ramirez in the bullpen. Tonkin saw his first big-league action since 2017 last season with Atlanta, posting a 4.28 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 75:23 K:BB over 80 innings and winning seven games. The 34-year-old righty is expected to fill a long-relief role in New York.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: Notches first MLB save
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Tonkin picked up the save in Thursday's 8-3 win over the Rockies. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out six over 3.1 scoreless innings.
Tonkin was dominant in relief Thursday to earn his first career save. He now sports a 3.21 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP and a 28:7 K:BB through 33.2 innings this season. While the 33-year-old Tonkin won't see any ninth-inning usage, he could work his way into a higher-leverage role with Atlanta while Jesse Chavez (lower leg) is on the IL.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: First MLB win since 2016
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Tonkin (1-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's victory over the Reds, allowing one hit and striking out three over three scoreless innings of relief.
Kyle Wright lasted only three innings in his 2023 debut, but Tonkin took over in the top of the fourth and shut down Cincy's offense, giving Atlanta a chance to come back from a 4-2 deficit. It's the right-hander's first big-league win since 2016, and he's looked great in his return to the majors in a long-relief role, posting a 2.16 ERA and 7:1 K:BB through 8.1 innings for four appearances.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: Joins MLB roster
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Tonkin was added to Atlanta's major-league roster Thursday.
The right-hander joined Atlanta on a minor-league contract for 2022 and will now enter the offseason on the big-league roster. Tonkin spent the campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett and had a 3.17 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 73:15 K:BB over 48.1 innings. He hasn't appeared in the majors since 2017 with Minnesota.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: Signs with Atlanta
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Tonkin signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Jan. 11.
Tonkin has thrown 146.1 innings at the highest level, posting a 4.43 ERA. The last of those came back in 2017, however. Since then, he's spent time pitching in Japan, Mexico and the independent Atlantic League, where he recorded an 0.53 ERA and a 21:5 K:BB last season in 17 innings as a member of the Long Island Ducks.
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Brewers' Michael Tonkin: Latches on with Brewers
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Tonkin signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Friday.
It didn't take long for Tonkin to find a new home after being released by the Rangers earlier Friday. The right-hander spent last season in Japan, notching a 3.71 ERA in 51 innings for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He'll report to minor-league camp.
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Michael Tonkin: Let go by Rangers
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Tonkin was released by the Rangers on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Tonkin spent last season in Japan and signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers in January. The 29-year-old allowed one run on two hits over 4.2 spring innings, but Texas nonetheless decided to move in a different direction.
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Rangers' Michael Tonkin: Signs minors deal with Texas
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Tonkin agreed to a minor-league deal with the Rangers on Tuesday, Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
Tonkin had previously spent parts of five seasons with the Twins, throwing 146.1 innings of relief with a 4.43 ERA. He pitched for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan last season, finishing with a 3.71 ERA in 51 innings.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Contract selected by Twins
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Tonkin had his contract selected by the Twins on Tuesday.
Tonkin will rejoin the big club after being designated for assignment by the Twins back in May. He posted an impressive 1.73 ERA and 61:13 K:BB through 41.2 innings with Triple-A Rochester, but his 6.55 ERA across 11 big-league innings this season will likely limit his opportunities to lower-leveraging situations. J.T. Chargois (elbow) was shifted to the 60-day disabled list to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for Tonkin.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Passes through waivers
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Tonkin cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
As expected, Tonkin will remain in the Twins organization as a farmhand. Given his 6.52 ERA in the majors this season, he'll likely just act as an organizational depth piece from now on.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Playing small role in pen
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Tonkin has given up six runs, three of them earned, over seven innings to kick off the 2017 season.
Tonkin has not pitched in any significant situation yet this season, entering in the middle innings or in mop-up duty. He's struck out nine and walked five while allowing seven hits. In 2016, the 27-year-old surrendered 80 hits over 71.2 innings on his way to a 5.02 ERA.
