Cubs' Sam McWilliams: Gets minor-league deal from Cubs
Rotowire
McWilliams signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
McWilliams was out of baseball for a while but impressed enough in the Mexican League and Dominican Winter League to earn a minor-league deal. The 28-year-old has never pitched in the big leagues and has always had control problems, but he struck out 74 over 67.2 innings from 2021-22 after focusing on being a reliever.
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Reds' Sam McWilliams: Lands with Reds
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McWilliams signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Saturday, Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.
McWilliams displayed potential in the minors earlier in his career but struggled at the Triple-A level in 2021. Across 25 appearances (one start) between Syracuse and El Paso, he posted a 10.27 ERA and 2.12 WHIP in 30.2 innings. The right-hander will presumably begin the 2022 campaign at Triple-A Louisville but should be in the mix for a spot in the major-league bullpen if he can turn things around early in the season.
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Padres' Sam McWilliams: Sent down to Triple-A
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The Padres outrighted McWilliams to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.
The righty is removed from the 40-man roster after struggling quite a bit since joining the Padres organization, allowing five runs in four innings with El Paso. McWilliams has also pitched to a miserable 4:9 K:BB ratio with the Padres' Triple-A squad. Lefty pitcher Daniel Camarena will replace McWilliams on the 40-man roster.
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Padres' Sam McWilliams: Claimed by Padres
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McWilliams was claimed off waivers by the Padres on Saturday.
McWilliams was designated for assignment by the Mets on Monday after he posted a 10.80 ERA and 2.22 WHIP in 8.1 innings across seven relief appearances for Triple-A Syracuse to begin the season. He'll likely report to Triple-A El Paso going forward, while right-hander Taylor Williams (knee) was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.
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Mets' Sam McWilliams: Dropped from 40-man roster
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The Mets designated McWilliams for assignment Monday.
McWilliams will cede his spot on the 40-man roster to Seth Lugo (elbow), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list ahead of Monday's series opener in Arizona. The 25-year-old McWilliams has yet to make his MLB debut, but that didn't deter the Mets from signing him to a one-year, $750,000 deal in free agency over the winter. New York had hoped that McWilliams might develop as an interesting option out of the bullpen, but a call-up never materialized after he walked eight in 8.1 innings over his first seven appearances for Syracuse.
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Mets' Sam McWilliams: Returns from injured list
Rotowire
McWilliams returned from the COVID-19 injured list for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
McWilliams signed a major-league contract in November despite the fact that he's yet to make his big-league debut. He's spend all of this season at the Triple-A level, allowing eight runs (seven earned) while walking eight batters in six innings of work.
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Mets' Sam McWilliams: Lands on COVID IL
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McWilliams (undisclosed) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The 25-year-old has been with Triple-A Syracuse to begin the season and will step away from the team while on the COVID IL. No reason for the move was given, so it's unclear how long McWilliams is expected to be sidelined.
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Mets' Sam McWilliams: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
McWilliams was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.
McWilliams did not allow a run while striking out four over three innings this spring, but he also walked five batters over that stretch. He has swing-and-miss stuff but will need to tighten up his control in the minors with the goal of eventually earning a spot toward the back of the Mets' bullpen.
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Mets' Sam McWilliams: Competing for bullpen spot
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McWilliams has impressed in the early stages of training camp and is battling for a spot in the Mets' bullpen, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The right-hander didn't post particularly good numbers for Triple-A Durham in 2019 prior to becoming a minor-league free agent this offseason, but at 6-foot-7 and featuring a fastball that now touches the high 90s thanks to mechanical tweaks made at the Rays' alternate training site last year, in addition to three other pitches, McWilliams still has some intrigue. The Mets aren't lacking for right-handed relievers, however, so even if he has a good showing this spring, the 25-year-old could need to keep proving himself in the minors.
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Mets' Sam McWilliams: Signs one-year deal with Mets
Rotowire
McWilliams agreed to a one-year, major-league contract with the Mets on Friday.
Seeing McWilliams get a major-league deal is something of a surprise, as he's yet to make his big-league debut. He spent last season with the Rays and advanced as far as the team's taxi squad but never made the big-league roster. In 44 innings at the Triple-A level in 2019, he struggled to an 8.18 ERA. It would seemingly be a surprise if he winds up in the rotation to start his Mets career.
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Rays' Sam McWilliams: Summoned from alternate site
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McWilliams was added to the Rays' active roster Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The hard-throwing right-hander had been at the team's alternate training site in Port Charlotte since the start of the regular season. McWilliams made it as far as Triple-A Durham last season, but he was lit up there to the tune of an 8.18 ERA and 2.02 WHIP across 44 innings, although his 4.78 FIP implies he pitched somewhat better than those numbers indicate.
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Rays' Sam McWilliams: Tabbed for roster pool
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McWilliams is expected to be a part of Tampa Bay's 60-man roster pool, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 24-year-old made his Triple-A debut in 2019, but he largely struggled with an 8.18 ERA, 2.02 WHIP and 43:17 K:BB over 44 innings. There's potential for McWilliams to make his big-league debut during 2020's shortened season, but his inconsistency in the minors means it's far from a sure bet.
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Rays' Sam McWilliams: Returned to Rays
Rotowire
McWilliams was returned to the Rays on Sunday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
The Rule 5 pick struggled through four appearances this spring, posting a 15.43 ERA, 3.00 WHIP and 2:6 K:BB through 4.2 innings. As such, the Royals opted to send McWilliams back to the Rays rather than keep him on their 25-man roster all season. The 23-year-old will likely report to Double-A to open the season.
