MLB Weekly Digest May 28th Edition

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The last week in MLB was about a team parting ways with a position player due to financial reasons, a starting pitcher in the National League lands on the disabled list, and a club in the American League makes a move to bolster their roster.

Boston Red Sox DFA Hanley Ramirez, Activate Dustin Pedroia from Disabled List

The Boston Red Sox recently activated second baseman Dustin Pedroia from the disabled list as he had missed the start of the 2018 season due to undergoing knee surgery in the offseason.

The Red Sox needed to create a roster spot for Pedroia and decided to designate first baseman/designated hitter Hanley Ramirez for assignment Friday, per a team announcement.

To make room on the 25-man roster, the #RedSox designated 1B/DH Hanley Ramirez for assignment.

— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 25, 2018

Ramirez has posted decent numbers for the Red Sox this year, as indicated by his .254 batting average and .708 OPS with six home runs and 29 RBIs in 44 games.

The move to DFA Ramirez isn’t about his performance, but there’s a financial aspect, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.

He is still owed more than $15 million for the rest of the 2018 campaign, but there is a $22 million vesting option for 2019 if Ramirez has 497 plate appearances.

He is already at 195 plate appearances and would reach the amount for the option to vest if he continued to play for the Red Sox.

Chicago Cubs Place Yu Darvish on Disabled List with Right Triceps Tendinitis

The Chicago Cubs will be without one member of their starting rotation as they placed pitcher Yu Darvish on the 10-day disabled list (retroactive to May 23) with right triceps tendinitis Saturday, per an announcement by the team.

The #Cubs today placed RHP Yu Darvish on the 10-day DL (retroactive to May 23) with right triceps tendonitis and recalled LHP Randy Rosario from @IowaCubs.

Tyler Chatwood will make the start tomorrow. Monday’s starter in Pittsburgh is TBD. pic.twitter.com/2uAkf2a6TN

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 26, 2018

Darvish was inked to a six-year deal in the offseason by the Cubs to bolster their rotation, but he has struggled on the mound in 2018.

The right-hander has compiled a 4.95 ERA in 40 innings (eight starts) with 36 hits allowed, seven home runs surrendered, 21 walks issued and posted a 1.42 WHIP.

The Cubs will need to see a better version of Darvish as the season progresses to have any chance of winning the National League Central.

Seattle Mariners Acquire Reliever Alex Colome and OF Denard Span from Tampa Bay Rays

The Seattle Mariners have made a move to strengthen their team by acquiring reliever Alex Colome, outfielder Denard Span and cash considerations from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handed pitchers Andrew Moore and Tommy Romero.

Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto on the move to bring in @AlexanderColome and @thisisdspan. pic.twitter.com/3MsRGymlpE

— Mariners (@Mariners) May 25, 2018

The addition of Colome and Span was a smart move by the Mariners. Colome in his six years with the Rays posted a 3.21 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP and saved 95 games.

He has struggled this season, by having a 4.15 ERA in 23 games (21 2/3 innings), but a change of scenery could be very beneficial for him.

Span is a veteran who can play all three outfield positions. He is hitting just .238 with four homers, seven doubles, six triples and 28 RBIs this year. A positive for Span is his .364 on-base percentage.

The Mariners have lost a couple of essential players recently. The team’s everyday second baseman Robinson Cano fractured his hand earlier in the month and received an 80-game suspension for violating the drug policy of MLB.

Dee Gordon, who began the year in center field was supposed to be Cano’s replacement at second but was placed on the disabled list earlier this week with a fractured big right toe.

The Rays also receive some talented pitchers in this deal, as Minor League Baseball highlighted:

2018 Stats
Moore: 3-1, 3.04 ERA, 47 K, 14 BB, 50 1/ 3 IP, 9 GS at Double-A Arkansas.
Romero: 3-3, 2.45 ERA, 54 K, 15 BB, 44 IP, 9 GS at Class A Clinton. https://t.co/5ZlLz0Qp6h

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 25, 2018

They will be moving more players on their roster as we get closer to the July 31^st non-waiver trade deadline.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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