Karinchak elected free agency Monday.
Karinchak refused an outrighted assignment by the Guardians, opting for free agency instead. He was limited to just seven rehab appearances in 2024 due to a shoulder issue but was pitching in games at the end of the season. Karinchak boasts a 36.3 percent strikeout rate but also a 14.1 percent walk rate over parts of five major-league seasons.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Rehabbing at Triple-A
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Karinchak (shoulder) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus on Sept. 6 and has struck out seven batters over 4.2 innings across five appearances while giving up two earned runs on two hits and five walks.
Karinchak has been on the injured list all season after reporting shoulder fatigue in spring training and being slow to recover from the issue and return to form. While working out at the Guardians' facility in Arizona in August, Karinchak seemed to turn a corner with his rehab program and was given the green light to report to Triple-A earlier this month. His results have been uneven thus far, but manager Stephen Vogt hasn't dismissed the possibility of Karinchak being an option out of the big-league bullpen before the regular season ends Sept. 29, per MLB.com.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: May not pitch in 2024
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Karinchak (shoulder) has been working out at Cleveland's spring training facility in Arizona, but he may not pitch for the Guardians before the end of the season, MLB.com reports.
With a 3.10 ERA and 22.2 K-BB% in 174 career relief appearances over five seasons in the majors, Karinchak has often been a dominant bullpen arm when available, but shoulder problems cost him a large chunk of the 2022 campaign and cropped up again in spring training. Though the Guardians have classified his injury as fatigue rather than something more severe, Karinchak has made minimal progress since being cleared to resume a throwing program March 11. According to the report, the quality and shape of the right-hander's pitches have degraded, and the team has thus far been unwilling to send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Karinchak will continue to work with the staff in Arizona in hopes of regaining his form.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Goes on 60-day IL
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The Guardians placed Karinchak on the 60-day injured list Thursday with right shoulder inflammation.
According to MLB.com, Karinchak reported to camp dealing with right shoulder fatigue, but he made enough progress to get clearance to begin a throwing program March 11. The Guardians' decision to have Karinchak open the season on the 60-day IL perhaps signals that his throwing sessions aren't going as well as hoped, as he won't be eligible to make his 2024 debut until late May. Karinchak will likely continue to build back up at the Guardians' spring training facility in Arizona over the next few weeks before potentially heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Initiates throwing program
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Karinchak (shoulder) has been cleared to begin a throwing progression Monday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Karinchak had been shut down from throwing all spring after he had been experiencing right shoulder fatigue prior to reporting to camp. Since he's projected to serve as a one-inning reliever for Cleveland once healthy, Karinchak won't require as extensive of a ramp-up program as a starting pitcher, but with Opening Day approximately two and a half weeks away, the right-hander may not be ready to go by the time the Guardians open the regular season. Provided that he navigates his throwing program free of setbacks, Karinchak should be in store for only a brief stint on the IL to begin the season if the Guardians opt not to include him on the Opening Day roster.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Experiencing shoulder fatigue
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Karinchak is behind schedule due to right shoulder fatigue, MLB.com reports.
Karinchak came into camp with the issue and will be held out of workouts for a few days. His availability for Opening Day doesn't seem to be in jeopardy, however.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Agrees to terms for 2024
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Karinchak signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Karinchak walked 28 batters across 39 innings in 2023, but he still managed a solid 3.23 ERA with 52 strikeouts. While Emmanuel Clase is almost certainly locked into the closer role in Cleveland, Karinchak could be a decent source of holds.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Dealt fifth loss
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Karinchak (2-5) allowed a run on two hits and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Tuesday versus the Reds.
Karinchak had posted 3.2 scoreless innings over his first four appearances back in the majors before faltering in the fifth inning Tuesday. The right-hander is now at a 3.29 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 52:25 K:BB with 13 holds and two blown saves over 38.1 innings this season. Karinchak is mostly seeing low-leverage work to finish the campaign.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Returns to majors
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Karinchak was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Karinchak holds a 3.44 ERA with 46 strikeouts over 34 innings with the Guardians this season, though he's also walked 23 batters. He'll probably be used in middle relief over the final two weeks of the season.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Optioned to Triple-A
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Karinchak was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Lucas Giolito will take Karinchak's place on the active roster. Karinchak had a 1.42 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and eight strikeouts in 6.1 innings over six appearances since being recalled Aug. 18.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: To be recalled Friday
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Karinchak is expected to be recalled Friday from Triple-A Columbus, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Karinchak has struggled to a 5.12 ERA in 19.1 innings at the Triple-A level since the Guardians demoted him in early June, but he's needed as a replacement for Michael Kelly (back), who will head to the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Optioned to Triple-A
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Karinchak was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Karinchak's 32 appearances are tied for the league lead, and while he hasn't been as dominant this season, his 3.90 ERA is still a solid mark. His demotion may not be performance-related, however, as the Guardians may simply be looking to bring in some fresh arms. Karinchak has options remaining and has pitched on five of the last seven days, so he was unlikely to be an option for the next game or two. Tim Herrin was called up to take Karinchak's place in the bullpen.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Picks up win
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Karinchak (2-4) earned the win over the Twins on Sunday after tossing a scoreless sixth inning. He allowed a hit and struck out two.
Karinchak was the first name called out of the bullpen after Triston McKenzie's day was done following five dominant frames. He allowed a leadoff single but was able to get through the inning unscathed. The 29-year-old has not allowed a run over his last seven outings and has picked up two holds and a win over that span. For the year, Karinchak owns a 3.86 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 36:16 K:BB and has 11 holds over 25.2 innings.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Takes third loss
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Karinchak (0-3) allowed a run on one hit over one inning, taking the loss in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Tigers.
Karinchak got the last out of the eighth inning and two more outs in the ninth before giving up a walkoff solo shot to Kerry Carpenter. Prior to Tuesday, Karinchak had a five-inning scoreless streak that made it seem like he'd gotten his earlier struggles out of the way. He has a 5.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through nine innings, though his 15:3 K:BB is an encouraging component of an otherwise lackluster line.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Takes second loss
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Karinchak (0-2) allowed a run on a hit and a walk with one strikeout over two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss against the Athletics on Tuesday.
It's been a less-than-stellar start to the season for Karinchak, who has racked up two losses and two holds through four appearances. He walked the leadoff batter in the ninth inning Tuesday, then allowed a walkoff single to Tony Kemp after getting two outs. Karinchak has had some issues with walks, posting a 5:3 K:BB over three innings so far. The Guardians' bullpen has been a strength dating back to last season, so Karinchak could move down the hierarchy if he can't get his early struggles under control quickly.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Clean outing Tuesday
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Karinchak struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings in Tuesday's Cactus League loss to the Dodgers.
Karinchak has covered 7.1 innings this spring, though he's allowed five home runs, five hits and five walks with nine strikeouts. There shouldn't be too much concern for his performance this spring, as long as he can leave his uneven pitching in Arizona when the Guardians begin the campaign. Karinchak should serve in a high-leverage role as a setup man to Emmanuel Clase.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Roughed up in first spring game
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Karinchak allowed two runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over one inning in Sunday's Cactus League loss to the Rangers.
Karinchak enters 2023 after a sharp second half of the 2022 season. After recovering from a shoulder injury, the right-hander logged a 2.08 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, three saves, eight holds and 62 strikeouts over 39 innings. He is poised to again serve as a setup man to closer Emmanuel Clase, though Karinchak will need to clean up his early spring struggles to avoid losing his grip on a high-leverage role.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Earns win Wednesday
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Karinchak (2-0) struck out the side to earn the extra-inning win over the Rays on Wednesday.
Karinchak needed 15 pitches (10 strikes) to keep the game tied at 1-1 in the 10th inning, and Amed Rosario delivered a walkoff single in the bottom half of the frame. Over his last six innings, Karinchak has a 9:1 K:BB and has allowed only two hits without surrendering a run. The righty owns a 1.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 59:19 K:BB with three saves, eight holds and a blown save through 37.1 innings this year.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Tallies third save
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Karinchak allowed one hit and struck out one across a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Angels.
Karinchak was called upon to protect a two-run lead and did so successfully to earn his third save of the season. He won't see save opportunities regularly going forward, but Emmanuel Clase had worked two consecutive days and was likely unavailable. Karinchak owns an impressive 1.47 ERA and 49:18 K:BB across 30.2 innings for the season.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Earns second save
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Karinchak picked up the save in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Twins. He struck out three in one scoreless inning with two walks and no hits allowed.
With Emmanuel Clase unavailable after recording the save in each of the previous two games, Karinchak stepped in and shut the door for his second save. The 26-year-old allowed two runners to reach base via the walk, but he struck out the other three batters he faced, giving him 47 punchouts in just 28.2 innings. Karinchak owns a strong 1.57 ERA to go along with a 1.15 WHIP on the season.
