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    Astros sign Matt Thaiss to minors contract

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    Astros signed C Matt Thaiss to a minor league contract.

    Thaiss was a first-round pick of the division-rival Angels back in 2016 and never really went on to be a highly impactful contributor at the highest level. The 31-year-old has bounced around between several organizations over the last two years, including a stop with the Red Sox most recently where he hit .201 with three homers in 170 plate appearances at Triple-A Worcester. He’s merely emergency organizational depth at this stage of his career, but he still qualifies as an interesting addition given his former prospect status.
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  • FA Catcher #34
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    Thaiss had been with the Red Sox on a minor league deal. The 31-year-old backstop hit .201/.314/.313 with three homers and 24 RBI in 170 plate appearances at Triple-A Worcester. It shouldn’t take him long to latch on elsewhere, as most teams place a premium on quality catching depth.
  • BOS Catcher #34
    This means Connor Wong has won the job as Boston’s backup catcher. Thaiss put pressure on Wong this spring when he got off to a strong start as a hitter and also showcased his plus defensive skills and ability to manage a pitching staff. However, Thaiss wound up going just 4-for-21 this spring, and the Red Sox will see if they can keep him in the organization as catching depth. Gasper is on the 40-man roster, so he will likely head to Triple-A Worcester.
  • BOS Catcher #34
    Thaiss fortifies Boston’s catching depth chart behind starter Carlos Narváez and backup Connor Wong. The 30-year-old backstop could potentially push Wong for the backup role in spring training but figures to open the year at Triple-A Worcester. He batted .218/.349/.288 with one homer across 190 plate appearances between the Rays and White Sox this past season.
  • FA Starting Pitcher #24
    McKenzie headlines a group of 19 players who elected minor league free agency earlier this week, including catcher Matt Thaiss; infielders Scott Kingery, Keston Hiura, Sergio Alcántara, Terrin Vavra and Vimael Machín; outfielders Jose Siri, Connor Joe and Jordyn Adams; and relievers Noah Davis, Scott Blewett, Brooks Kriske, Kevin Herget, Cionel Pérez, Darren McCaughan, Richard Lovelady, José Ruiz and Jordan Weems.
  • TB Catcher #34
    Thaiss, who was bumped off the roster by the Hunter Feduccia addition, accepted the assignment, and he could be in line to rejoin the Rays as a third catcher once September comes around.
  • TB Catcher #34
    The Rays needed to clear a spot amid a flurry of roster moves on Friday which seems to have cost Thaiss his spot on the club’s active and 40-man rosters. The 30-year-old veteran backstop could have some appeal to teams that are looking for quality catching depth on the waiver wire.
  • TB Catcher #19
    The deal should be official at some point shortly. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal adds that the Rays are also on the verge of swinging an additional trade with the Marlins for veteran backstop Nick Fortes. He’ll split the catching duties in Tampa Bay with Matt Thaiss over the final two months. Meanwhile, Jansen provides Milwaukee with a reliable lefty-mashing option at catcher, allowing them to move William Contreras to DH with greater frequency down the home stretch.
  • TB Catcher #19
    The move would add some reliable catching depth behind William Contreras, who would likely be able to spend additional time at DH over the final two months. The 30-year-old backstop has split the catching duties this season for Tampa Bay along with Matt Thaiss.
  • TB Catcher #34
    The light-hitting backstop delivered a two-out, two-run double off of Jack Flaherty to cap off a four-run uprising in the opening inning. He then walked in the third and raced around to score on a three-run double by Taylor Walls. Thaiss also smacked an RBI single off of Carlos Hernandez in the sixth inning and added another RBI knock off of Brenan Hanifee in the eighth before scoring on Kameron Misner’s RBI single. Even with this huge night, he’s still hitting just .239/.396/.310 on the season with one homer, 13 RBI and a stolen base in 145 plate appearances.
  • TB Catcher #29
    Tampa Bay traded for Thaiss on Tuesday and will now add him to their active roster. He will likely serve as the backup behind Danny Jansen.

Rotoworld

  • ATH Starting Pitcher #59
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    Jeffrey Springs shut out the Mariners for seven innings in the Athletics’ 6-2 win Saturday.

    Springs allowed just two hits and struck out six in his second scoreless start of the year. The other was against the Yankees way back on Apr. 9. He won that one and then beat Texas five days later to improve to 3-0 on the season. Since then, though, he had been 0-10 in 21 starts. The showing tonight lowered his ERA to 6.02. He’ll face the A’s again in Sacramento next weekend.
  • SEA Starting Pitcher #68
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    George Kirby yielded four runs — three earned — in 6 2/3 innings Saturday in a loss to the A’s.

    Kirby’s recent struggles had been limited to his road outings, but back at home tonight, he was outpitched by Jeffrey Springs in another Mariners loss. He has a 6.35 ERA in his last five starts, leaving him 9-11 with a 4.18 ERA overall. He’s neck and neck with Seth Lugo for the most hits allowed in the AL. If he ends up on top, it’d be his second time in three years leading the AL, which seems unfathomable for a pitcher who gets to spend half of his time in a ballpark that just kills batting average. He’ll face the A’s again next weekend, this time in Sacramento. It makes him a poor option in mixed leagues.
  • ATH 3rd Baseman #3
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    Max Muncy went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI against the Mariners on Saturday.

    With Tommy White needing a break, Muncy has started three straight games, including the last two at DH, and he’s homered in back-to-back contests. The success might get him some extra playing time after White returns; the 24-year-old is not necessarily one of the Athletics’ best options, but there isn’t much reason to play Donovan Walton and Michael Stefanic over him.
  • SEA Right Fielder #99
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    Lazaro Montes struck out in both of his at-bats off the bench Saturday versus the A’s,

    Montes was able to come off the bench as a DH tonight after leaving Friday’s game with hip soreness. He probably won’t start Sunday with the Mariners facing another lefty, but he should again be available.
  • LAD 2nd Baseman #25
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    Tommy Edman hit a three-run homer in the seventh to power the Dodgers past the Nationals 6-5 on Saturday.

    Leading off in Shohei Ohtani’s place, Edman hit his sixth homer off Clayton Beeter, giving him 32 RBI in 65 games since he returned from ankle surgery. He’s batting a solid .273/.348/.414.
  • LAD Starting Pitcher #31
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    Tyler Glasnow surrendered four runs in six-plus innings Saturday versus the Nationals.

    Glasnow was hit pretty hard and issued three walks, but he struck out eight and would have had a quality start if he hadn’t been brought back out to give up a double to start the seventh. The runner later scored off Alex Vesia. It’s the second time in 10 starts this season that Glasnow has allowed four runs. Thanks to the Dodgers’ comeback, he still hasn’t taken a loss while going 4-0 with a 3.12 ERA. He’ll face the Marlins next weekend.
  • LAD Relief Pitcher #66
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    Tanner Scott earned his 21st save despite allowing a run in the ninth Saturday against the Nationals.

    The six hitters Scott faced tonight combined for three hits and three strikeouts. It’s the fourth time in six appearances that Scott has given up a run, but he still hasn’t allowed more than one run in an outing since July 6.
  • WSH Starting Pitcher #24
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    Cade Cavalli pitched six innings of two-run ball Saturday in a no-decision against the Dodgers.

    Cavalli, who struck out eight and walked none, departed with a two-run lead that immediately disappeared in the bottom of the seventh. It’s the fourth time this year that he’s left in line for a win and watched the bullpen blow it, but he’s a fine 12-5 anyway. He’ll face the Angels next weekend.
  • WSH Relief Pitcher #39
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    Clayton Beeter gave up a three-run homer in the seventh to take his seventh blown save and fifth loss Saturday against the Dodgers.

    Beeter did pretty decent work back when the Nationals were treating him as a one-inning closer, but he’s about a month removed from his last save chance now and the fireman role of coming into games in the seventh and pitching more than an inning doesn’t really seem to suit him. Giving up six runs in his last two appearances has taken his ERA from 3.45 to 4.50. It doesn’t seem like anyone in the Nationals pen will be worth rostering over the final three weeks.
  • STL Left Fielder #22
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    Joshua Báez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a solo home run against the Rockies on Saturday.

    Báez’ home run was his seventh of the season. He hit a solo shot off Mason Adams in the second inning. Báez is now 8-for-21 (.380) with three home runs and six RBI over his last seven games. He’s hitting .229 with an .872 OPS and 15 RBI in his first taste of the major leagues. Báez’ tools are loud enough to put up with the strikeouts and low average.