Blue Jays' Eric Stamets: Rejoins Toronto organization
Rotowire
Stamets re-signed with the Blue Jays on a minor-league contract Wednesday.
Stamets is back in the Toronto organization less than a month after the Blue Jays released him from his minor-league contract. He returned to the lineup for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday and will most likely remain with the affiliate for the rest of the season. The 30-year-old infielder, who last appeared in the majors with Cleveland in 2019, is slashing .181/.290/.301 over 194 plate appearances with Buffalo on the campaign.
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Blue Jays' Eric Stamets: Joins Jays on minor-league deal
Rotowire
Stamets signed a minor-league contract with Toronto on Friday.
The 30-year-old's only big-league experience came with Cleveland in 2019, when he struggled to a .049/.149/.073 line in 15 games while striking out in half of his plate appearances. He's unlikely to offer the Guardians anything more than organizational depth in the middle infield, as his .569 OPS in 34 Triple-A games last season hardly suggests he's ready to make an impact at the highest level.
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Rockies' Eric Stamets: Signs minor-league contract
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Stamets signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Tuesday.
Stamets got his first taste of major-league action in 2019, recording a batting average of .049 with 24 strikeouts over 15 games with Cleveland. The 28-year-old will get a chance to compete in major-league spring training this year, although it's unclear whether he will be able to make an impact given his previous struggles to produce.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Stamets cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus.
He was designated for assignment earlier in the week and went unclaimed. Stamets hit .049 in 48 MLB plate appearances and has a 76 wRC+ at Triple-A.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Hit with DFA
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Stamets was designated for assignment by the Indians on Wednesday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
This move frees up a roster spot for Thursday's starter, Danny Salazar (shoulder), who was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move. The 27-year-old Stamets has spent most of the season with Triple-A Columbus, slashing just .232/.313/.378 with six homers and 12 steals in 71 games for the Clippers.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Stamets was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday.
Stamets got an extended run of starts with Francisco Lindor (ankle) on the injured list. He looked way out of his depth, hitting .049/.149/.073 in 15 games with a 50 percent strikeout rate. Mike Freeman was called up to take his place.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Not starting Saturday
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Stamets is not in the lineup Saturday against Kansas City, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Stamets gets just his second day off of the season. Max Moroff starts at shortstop in his place.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Starts in Lindor's absence
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Stamets started at shortstop and went 0-for-2 in Thursday's season opener against Minnesota.
Stamets wasn't the only Cleveland starter to struggle at the dish, as the team was shut out on Opening Day. With Francisco Lindor (calf/ankle) beginning the season on the 10-day injured list, Stamets is the next man up at shortstop. He'll look for his first hit of 2019 in Friday's matchup with the Twins.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Back in action Sunday
Rotowire
Stamets (hip) is starting at shortstop and batting ninth in Sunday's spring game against the White Sox.
Stamets has been battling left hip tightness since Wednesday, but his relatively quick return to action confirms it was a minor issue. According to Mandy Bell of MLB.com, the 27-year-old is expected to fill in at shortstop while the newly signed Brad Miller steps in at second base with Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis heading to the injured list with calf strains.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Poised to open year with Indians
Rotowire
Stamets (hip) is in line to break camp with the Indians, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
With Francisco Lindor (calf) and Jason Kipnis (calf) both expected to miss the start of the season, Stamets and Max Moroff look poised to open the season up the middle for the Indians, barring a late free agent signing. The 27-year-old Stamets spent all of 2018 with Triple-A Columbus, slashing .202/.272/.324 with five homers and five steals in 78 games. He figures to revert to a reserve role, or return to Triple-A, once Kipnis or Lindor are healthy.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Could return over weekend
Rotowire
Stamets (hip) could return Saturday against the Reds, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Stamets was removed from Wednesday's game due to left hip tightness, but the issue doesn't appear to be anything overly serious. According to Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal, manager Terry Francona said Stamets could play Thursday if needed, but added that there's no reason to push the infielder.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Removed with hip injury
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Stamets was removed from Wednesday's spring game after experiencing left hip tightness, Mandy Bell of MLB.com. reports.
The Indians are labeling his removal as precautionary. Stamets, who represents an insurance option at shortstop if Francisco Lindor (calf) is forced to open the season on the shelf, was 0-for-1 prior to exiting. He should be considered day-to-day.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Stamets was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Monday, T.J. Zuppe of The Athletic Cleveland reports.
Stamets hit a respectable .286/.355/.536 with two homers across 31 plate appearances for the Indians this spring, but he was always on the outside looking in at a roster spot with Giovanny Urshela and Erik Gonzalez both seen as preferred options for a utility role. He'll open the season back with the Clippers, where he hit a respectable .251/.324/.455 across 101 games last season. Stamets could make his debut at some point in 2018 if he excels in the minors.
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Indians' Eric Stamets: Added to 40-man roster
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Stamets was added to the Indians' 40-man roster on Monday to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
A 26-year-old who has not yet played in the big leagues, Stamets isn't much of a prospect, but he is close to the majors and could possibly serve in a utility infield role. He hit .251/.324/.455 with 15 home runs and eight steals in 101 games at Triple-A last season. He will likely head back to the minors after spring training, but could make his debut at some point in 2018.
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Angels acquire David Murphy from Indians for Eric Stamets
Rotowire
The Indians traded outfielder David Murphy to the Angels prior to Tuesday's game.
Murphy was scratched from the lineup, leading to speculation that a deal was in the works. CBSSports.com's baseball insider Jon Heyman reports that the Indians will receive Eric Stamets from the Angels.
Murphy is hitting .296 with .781 OPS for the Indians this year. He's started games in left field, right field and DH.
Stamets, a shortstop, was hitting .248 at Double-A Arkansas.
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Sean Newcomb among Angels cuts on Sunday
Rotowire
The Angels reassigned seven players to minor league camp on Sunday, led by first-round draft pick Sean Newcomb .
Newcomb had a 10.80 ERA this spring. "His talent is real," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He has a chance to be special."
The Angels also reassigned RHP Trevor Gott (3.86 spring ERA), LHP Atahualpa Severino (no spring appearances), LHP Nate Smith (18.00 ERA in one inning), C Stephen McGee (no plate appearances in one game), C Jackson Williams (0-for-2), SS Eric Stamets (3-for-3 with a triple and stolen base).
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Angels re-assign four to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Angels re-assigned four players to minor-league camp Monday, including catcher Jett Bandy and infielders Kaleb Cowart, Eric Stamets and Alex Yarbrough.
Cowart, who is one of the top prospects in the organization, went 1 for 7 with one walk this spring. Bandy went 1 for 3 with a home run, Stamets went hitless in three at-bats and Yarbrough went 2 for 5 and scored a run.
