Athletics' Homer Bailey: Signs minor-league contract
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Bailey signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Tuesday.
Bailey was let go by Minnesota in September of 2020, and he'll report to Triple-A Las Vegas going forward. The right-hander didn't appear with a team during spring training, but he made the roster for Team USA during the Olympic qualifying tournament. The 35-year-old has made 33 major-league starts across the last two seasons, and he posted a 4.52 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 171.1 innings during that time.
Minnesota signed Bailey to a one-year, $7 million deal this offseason with the hope that he would step in as a capable fifth starter, but a biceps injury essentially wiped out his 2020 campaign. He was able to return from the 45-day injured list last week and gave up one run over three innings in a spot start, but since Bailey wasn't a serious candidate to make the Twins' postseason roster, the team opted to cut him loose. He's now free to sign with another organization and should get the chance to compete for a rotation else elsewhere next spring.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Designated for assignment
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Bailey was designated for assignment by the Twins on Friday.
Bailey made just two starts for the Twins this season, spending the majority of the campaign recovering from biceps tendinitis. While he's healthy now, he won't be needed against for the rest of the season and isn't expected to play a role in the playoffs, so the Twins will give his roster spot to Edwar Colina, whose contract was purchased in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Lasts just three innings
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Bailey didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's contest between the Tigers and the Twins. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk while fanning three across three innings.
Bailey was activated from the 45-day injured list Tuesday and, as expected, he didn't go deep into the game -- this was just his second appearance of the 2020 season. It remains to be seen what role Bailey will have with the Twins during the playoffs, but it seems likely we see him come out of the bullpen since he spent most of the season sidelined with biceps tendinitis.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Activated from injured list
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Bailey (biceps) was activated from the 45-day injured list Tuesday, Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
Bailey made just a single start this season before being shut down by biceps tendinitis. He'll head straight into the rotation and will start Tuesday against the Tigers, but it's not clear how deep into the game he'll be allowed to pitch in his first game back from an extended absence. Sean Poppen was optioned in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Begins throwing
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Bailey (biceps) has started throwing, manager Rocco Baldelli told the St. Paul Pioneer press.
Bailey made just one start this season and then was shut down due to right biceps tendinitis. He then started throwing again in early August before having another setback. It sounds like he's making progress, but it's not clear if he'll be able to return this season.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Transferred to 45-day IL
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Bailey (biceps) was transferred to the 45-day injured list Saturday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Bailey had resumed throwing as he deals with right biceps tendinitis, but had a setback when he recently had to shut down a throwing session, The Athletic adds. He'll be shifted to the 45-day injured list. He'll be eligible to return Sept. 13, although it's unclear if he'll be able to return when first eligible. Sean Poppen and Daniel Coulombe were added to the roster in corresponding moves.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Resumes throwing
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Bailey (biceps) played catch Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Bailey is back to throwing following a brief shutdown period due to right biceps tendinitis. While this is a step in the right direction, the right-hander will need to progress through a throwing program before he's cleared to rejoin the rotation.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Hasn't resumed throwing
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Manager Rocco Baldelli said Friday that Bailey (biceps) still hasn't resumed throwing, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Bailey was unable to make his second start of the season as a result of right biceps tendinitis, and it appears as though he'll spend more than the minimum 10 days on the injured list. Baldelli didn't say when the right-hander could begin throwing again. In his first start of the year, Bailey allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings as he earned a win against the Cardinals.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Hits IL with biceps tendinitis
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The Twins placed Bailey on the injured list Sunday with right biceps tendinitis, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Initially lined up to start Sunday's series finale against the Indians, Bailey was pushed back a day in the pitching schedule for what was believed to be rest purposes, but his move to the injured list suggests otherwise. As a result of Bailey's shutdown, Randy Dobnak is expected to stick around in the rotation for at least another turn, while Jake Odorizzi (back) will likely be activated from the 10-day IL later this week to fill the vacated starting spot.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Start pushed to Monday
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Bailey is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Pirates, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The veteran right-hander lined up to pitch Sunday's series finale against Cleveland, but he'll instead receive an additional day of rest between starts. Bailey earned the win in his first start of the season after allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks over five innings. Tyler Clippard will serve as the opener Sunday.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Solid in Tuesday's win
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Bailey (1-0) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings Tuesday to pick up the win as the Twins downed the Cardinals 6-3. He struck out four.
The veteran right-hander cruised through four innings before serving up a two-run shot to Tyler O'Neill in the fifth, but he held on to finish the frame and qualify for the win. Bailey tossed 80 pitches (46 strikes), and while it wasn't the most efficient outing, it was more than serviceable for a No. 5 starter. If he can continue to give the Twins quality innings, Bailey could have surprising fantasy value this season with one of the league's most dangerous offenses at his back.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Begins season in rotation
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Bailey is expected to begin the season as the fifth starter and make his debut in Minnesota's first home series against the Cardinals that begins Tuesday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. He gave up four runs on three home runs in three innings in an exhibition game Wednesday against the Cubs.
It's not clear which game in the St. Louis series he will start since the Twins are waiting to see when Jake Odorizzi can return from a sore back. Bailey didn't look sharp Wednesday, but he did have three strikeouts (though also two walks). The 33-year-old rebounded from a four-season stretch in which he struggled to a 6.25 ERA to post a passable 4.57 ERA in 31 starts for the Royals and Athletics last season. However, he improved last year after joining Oakland from Kansas City and had a 4.30 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with a 68:15 K:BB over his final 73.1 innings.
Bailey threw 3.1 scoreless innings in a scrimmage Saturday and drew praise from the Twins coaching staff, MLB.com reports. "He was really locked in throwing the ball exactly the way you would want to throw the ball down in Fort Myers, [Fla.], and he's shown up here throwing the ball the exact same way," said manager Rocco Baldelli.
Bailey is competing with Randy Dobnak, Devin Smeltzer, Lewis Thorpe, Sean Poppen and Jhoulys Chacin for the final spot in the Minnesota rotation. It was thought he was a lock to make the rotation, but a recent report from Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com said that the fifth starter role is unsettled. Given Baldelli's praise Saturday, it would be a surprise if Bailey doesn't win the job.
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Twins' Homer Bailey: Fighting for rotation spot?
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Bailey is competing with Randy Dobnak, Devin Smeltzer, Lewis Thorpe, Sean Poppen and Jhoulys Chacin for the final spot in the Minnesota rotation, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Pitching coach Wes Johnson said the Twins plan to use a five-man rotation after management had previously talked about a six-man rotation. The Twins plan to have several long relievers stretched out in case the workload of starters is limited early in the season. Bailey was thought to be a lock for the rotation in the spring, but the return of Rich Hill to full speed from an elbow injury could change the equation. Still, it's hard to see Bailey not winning the fifth spot in the rotation despite this report after Johnson gave Bailey significant praise in spring training.
