MLB Weekly Digest July 9th Edition

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The last week in MLB was about a team in the American League signing a starting pitcher to an extension, a young player lands on the disabled list, and a division leader will be without a bullpen arm until after the All-Star break.

Seattle Mariners Sign Wade LeBlanc to One-Year Contract Extension with Three Club Options

The Seattle Mariners have decided to lock up one member of their starting rotation. They’ve signed starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc to a contract extension through 2019, which includes club options in 2020, 2021 and 2022, per an announcement by the team.

The Mariners have signed starter Wade LeBlanc to a contract extension.

The deal covers 2019 with club options for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons.

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— Mariners (@Mariners) July 4, 2018

LeBlanc will earn $2 million in 2019, plus a $300,000 signing bonus, and the club options will be worth $5 million for each year with $450,000 buyouts each season, per Jon Heyman of Fancred.

Leblanc: 300k (corrected bonus) signing bonus, 2M salary in 2019, 5M club options with 450k buyouts in 2020, 2021, 2022. # mariners

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 4, 2018

The left-hander has played a significant role in the Mariners having a successful 2018 campaign. He’s posted a 3.19 ERA in 17 games (12 starts) across 79 innings with 60 strikeouts, 16 walks issued, a 3.89 FIP.

LeBlanc has limited opposing teams to a .248 batting average while yielding more than three runs just once in his 12 outings.

This is a fantastic deal for not only LeBlanc but the Mariners as well. LeBlanc receives financial security over the next couple of seasons, and the Mariners have a starter they can rely on to keep them in games for the long-term with minimal risk.

New York Yankees Place Second Baseman Gleyber Torres on 10-Day Disabled List with Hip Injury

The New York Yankees have placed rookie second baseman Gleyber Torres on the 10-day disabled list with a right hip strain, per an announcement by the team.

Roster Move: Following today’s game, the Yankees placed INF Gleyber Torres on the 10-day disabled list (effective July 5) with a right hip strain.

— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) July 4, 2018

This is a significant loss for the Yankees as the rookie infielder has been arguably one of the best hitters in a lineup that includes outfielders Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, and shortstop Didi Gregorius.

Torres has compiled a .294 batting average and .905 OPS with 30 runs scored, 15 home runs, 42 RBIs, a 141 OPS+ and 121 total bases in 63 games.

Torres excels in situations when his team needs him to come through with critical hits, as indicated by a .360 average and 1.107 OPS with two homers and 12 RBIs with two outs and runners are in scoring position.

The Yankees are in a dogfight with the Boston Red Sox for the top spot in the American League East, and it’s expected to remain that way until the last week of the season.

The team is hopeful that Torres will be back on the baseball diamond when he’s eligible to be activated, considering the positive impact he’s provided.

Cleveland Indians Reliever Andrew Miller Out Until Post All-Star Break with Knee Injury

The Cleveland Indians will be without stellar reliever Andrew Miller until after the All-Star break, per the Associated Press.

He hasn’t thrown a pitch in a game for the Indians since May 25 due to inflammation in his right knee.

It’s a been a tough year for Miller as he hasn’t looked like his dominating self. The left-hander has posted a 4.40 ERA in 14 1/3 innings (17 games) with 23 strikeouts, 10 walks surrendered, a 3.33 FIP and a 1.60 WHIP.

He accumulated a 1.44 ERA in 62 2/3 innings (57 games) with 95 strikeouts, 21 walks allowed, a 1.99 FIP and 0.83 WHIP for the Indians in 2017.

The health of Miller has impacted his ability too shut down opposing lineups. The Indians have a comfortable 10 ½ game lead in the American League Central and can allow Miller to become fully healthy.

They will need the best version of Miller once the playoffs begin.

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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