Cotton signed a contract with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball in late January.
Cotton was an effective starter for a brief stretch with the Athletics to close the 2016 season, but arm injuries derailed his chances to remain a regular member of a big-league rotation. He managed to rebound to put up decent numbers as a reliever in recent campaigns, including maintaining a 3.56 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 43 innings with the Twins and Giants in 2022. It's unclear what his role will be with the Buffaloes, though it's possible he could serve as a starter.
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Jharel Cotton: Hits open market
Rotowire
Cotton elected free agency Thursday after he was outrighted off the Giants' 40-man roster, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Cotton surrendered six earned runs over five outings after being claimed off waivers by the Giants in mid-September, and he won't remain in the organization to begin the offseason. He has a 3.54 ERA over 73.2 innings over the past two seasons but has been unable to maintain a roster spot in the majors.
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Giants' Jharel Cotton: Picks up extra-inning win
Rotowire
Cotton (4-2) earned the extra-inning win Sunday versus the Diamondbacks, allowing an unearned run on two hits and striking out one over one inning.
Cotton allowed Arizona to go ahead quickly in the 10th inning, but he limited the damage to just one run. The Giants then replied with David Villar's walkoff two-run single in their half of the frame. Over 7.1 innings across four appearances as a Giant, Cotton has allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven. He's posted a 2.76 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB across 42.1 innings overall when accounting for his time with the Twins this year.
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Giants' Jharel Cotton: Wins in team debut
Rotowire
Cotton (3-2) won his Giants debut Thursday. He allowed two hits and struck out one over 2.2 innings versus the Rockies.
Cotton faced eight batters, benefiting from double plays to end the sixth and seventh innings after allowing singles in each frame. His team debut was a success, lowering his season ERA to 2.63 with a 1.09 WHIP and 32:16 K:BB through 37.2 innings between the Giants and the Twins. The right-hander could be a candidate for occasional work as a primary pitcher since the Giants have opted not to call up a starter to replace Alex Wood (shoulder) in the rotation, instead filling the void with bullpen games.
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Giants' Jharel Cotton: Joins big-league club
Rotowire
Cotton reported to the Giants' major-league facility and is active ahead of Wednesday's game against Colorado.
After being designated for assignment by the Twins for the fourth time this season Thursday and then claimed by San Francisco on Sunday, Cotton is officially ready to make his Giants debut. The 30-year-old reliever holds a 2.83 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 35 innings of work this season. Sean Hjelle was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in order to make room for Cotton on the roster.
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Giants' Jharel Cotton: Claimed by San Francisco
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Cotton was claimed off waivers by the Giants on Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Cotton was designated for assignment Thursday by Minnesota for the fourth time this season, and this time he was plucked off the waiver wire by San Francisco. The 30-year-old has a 2.83 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 31:16 K:BB across 35 innings this season.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: DFA'd by Minnesota
Rotowire
Cotton was designated for assignment by the Twins after Thursday's win over the Royals, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Cotton was called up from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday but was jettisoned from the 40-man roster without making an appearance. The 30-year-old has a 2.83 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 31:16 K:BB across 35 innings this season.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Called up from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Twins selected Cotton's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Minnesota will swap Cotton into the bullpen in place of Cole Sands, who was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. Cotton has previously covered 35 innings over 25 relief appearances for Minnesota, logging a 2.83 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 31:16 K:BB.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Reporting to Triple-A
Rotowire
Cotton cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.
Cotton was designated for assignment earlier this week but will stick in the organization after going unclaimed on waivers. The 30-year-old has a 2.83 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 31:16 K:BB across 35 innings for the Twins this year, so he figures to be in the mix for a promotion when the team needs bullpen depth.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: DFA'd on Tuesday
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The Twins designated Cotton for assignment Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
It's very possible that Cotton, with a 2.83 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 31:16 K:BB in 35 innings of relief this season, generates some interest on waivers. Granted, he's pitched in mostly low-leverage situations, but a team needing bullpen help could certainly claim him.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Rejoins parent club
Rotowire
The Twins selected Cotton's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Cotton will rejoin the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster as a replacement for fellow reliever Juan Minaya, who was designated for assignment. Over his previous four stints on the Twins' active roster this season, Cotton made six appearances out of the bullpen and gave up two runs (one earned) while striking out 10 and walking six in 9.2 innings.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Cotton was returned to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Cotton appeared in two games with two wins and three scoreless innings with three strikeouts over the weekend in Toronto. He displayed an impressive changeup and it would seem likely he'll be back in the majors soon.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Contract purchased by Twins
Rotowire
Cotton's contract was purchased from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.
A starter turned reliever, Cotton has a 3.09 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 11.2 innings at Triple-A. He should work in the middle innings but could get sent back down once the Twins conclude this series in Toronto and can activate the likes of Trevor Megill, Emilio Pagan and Caleb Thielbar.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Accepts outright assignment
Rotowire
Cotton cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Cotton was designated for assignment by the Twins on Monday, and he'll remain in the organization with the Triple-A club. The right-hander has posted a 2.08 ERA and 0.73 WHIP in 4.1 innings over four relief appearances in St. Paul this year.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Loses roster spot
Rotowire
The Twins designated Cotton for assignment following Monday's 3-1 win over the Athletics, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
By booting Cotton from the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster, the Twins prematurely cleared room for Dylan Bundy (illness), who will be reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list to start Tuesday's contest. Cotton made two appearances out of the bullpen following his May 10 call-up from Triple-A St. Paul, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out five across 4.2 innings.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Back with big-league squad
Rotowire
Cotton's contract was selected by the Twins on Tuesday.
Cotton made the Twins' Opening Day roster but was designated for assignment within a week after throwing a pair of scoreless innings. He's back with the team after allowing one run on three hits in 4.1 frames for Triple-A St. Paul while striking out eight batters and will likely fill a low-leverage relief role.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Remains with Minnesota
Rotowire
Cotton cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Cotton was designated for assignment by the Twins last week but will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 30-year-old delivered two scoreless frames for Minnesota this season and had a 3.52 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 30:15 K:BB across 30.2 innings with Texas last year.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Cotton was designated for assignment by the Twins on Wednesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
After tossing two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to open the season, Cotton was designated for assignment Wednesday. He'll now either report to Triple-A St. Paul, get claimed off waivers by another team or be released outright. The move was made in conjunction with the Twins adding Dereck Rodriguez to the 40-man roster.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Scoreless inning in Twins debut
Rotowire
Cotton threw a scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout in his Twins debut in Sunday's loss to Seattle.
After missing nearly two years due injuries, Cotton had a decent season with Texas in 2021, posting a 3.52 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 30:15 K:BB across 30.2 innings. With the long layoff, it's possible he could improve in his second full year back, especially if he can reduce his walks. He'll work in a middle-relief role for the Twins.
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Twins' Jharel Cotton: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Cotton agreed to a one-year, $700,000 deal with the Twins on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Cotton was claimed off waivers by the Twins in early November, and he'll remain on the 40-man roster heading into 2022. The 29-year-old appeared in 23 games out of the bullpen last season for Texas and had a 3.52 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 30:15 K:BB across 30.2 innings.
