3:20pm: Supervisor Terry Francona tells reporters that an MRI certainly revealed a strained indirect for Naylor (hyperlink by way of Lewis). The workforce has positioned a tentative timetable of three to 6 weeks on his restoration, however he’ll be evaluated weekly to see if that timeline adjustments. If it proves to be on the longer finish of that restoration window, Naylor would miss nearly all of the remaining season.
1:50pm: The Guardians on Friday positioned first baseman Josh Naylor and infielder Tyler Freeman on the injured listing, tweets Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon-Journal. Cleveland additionally known as up infielder Jose Tena and purchased veteran outfielder Kole Calhoun from the Dodgers in alternate for money. He’s been chosen to the Main League roster. Calhoun was eligible to be traded by advantage of the truth that has not been on a 40-man roster or Main League injured listing this season. (You possibly can learn extra about the right way to purchase gamers after the commerce deadline right here.)
Naylor was scratched from the lineup earlier this week as a result of an indirect damage and is now sidelined not less than 10 days — although even Grade 1 indirect strains can typically sideline a participant as much as a month. The 28-year-old has been having fun with a breakout season, slashing .306/.346/.500 with 15 house runs, 25 doubles and 6 steals. Naylor regarded like a lock to set new career-highs in homers and doubles, topping final season’s respective private data of 20 and 28. It stays to be seen simply how lengthy he’ll be sidelined, however as long as he doesn’t face a prolonged keep on the IL, he nonetheless seems in good place to take action. Both means, his glorious manufacturing will give him a notable increase over this yr’s $3.35MM wage.
Freeman, 24, has but to obtain an opportunity to settle into an everyday function in Cleveland regardless of lengthy rating as one of many system’s prime prospects. He’s a complicated hitter who’s missing energy however is touted for his glorious contact expertise and hit instrument. He’s punched out in simply 13.8% of his huge league plate appearances and is batting .286/.344/.357 in 95 plate appearances this yr. The commerce of Amed Rosario opened up some extra reps within the Cleveland infield, however Freeman’s shoulder pressure will deprive him of additional alternatives in the interim.
The veteran Calhoun, 35, was in spring coaching with the Mariners and has since signed minor league offers with the Yankees and Dodgers. None of these golf equipment gave the previous Angels All-Star a glance within the Majors, regardless of Calhoun doing his greatest to drive the problem. Although he’s struggled to a .208/.269/.343 batting line over the previous two huge league seasons, Calhoun has posted terrific numbers in Triple-A this season, slashing .297/.376/.530 in 266 plate appearances. He’s swatted 9 homers, 17 doubles and 5 triples — all whereas strolling in simply over 10% of his plate appearances and placing out at a lower-than-average 18% clip.
Tena will make his huge league debut when he first takes the sector. He’s not as touted as among the Guardians’ different younger center infield however remains to be a prospect of some observe. The 22-year-old had simply been bumped up for his Triple-A debut (throughout which he went 1-for-3 with a double) after hitting .260/.353/.370 in 362 Double-A plate appearances. That cease in Columbus will show little greater than a layover en path to Cleveland. Baseball America ranks Tena 14th amongst Cleveland prospects, crediting him with an above-average hit instrument and pace however beneath common energy. He’s a flexible defender who can capably play any of shortstop, second base or third base.
