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Anthony bass designated for assignment by blue jays after anti-lgbtq+ controversy.

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Controversial relief pitcher Anthony Bass was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Friday in the wake of the firestorm caused by an anti-LGBTQ+ social media post .

It was the corresponding move after the Blue Jays reinstated Mitch White from the 60-day injured list.

Bass, 35, reposted a video to his Instagram story in late May discussing “the biblical reason Christians should boycott Target and Bud Light” amid the companies’ ongoing LGBTQ+ campaigns.

He was set to catch the ceremonial first pitch before the Blue Jays’ game against the Twins on Friday night as the team begins its Pride Weekend celebrations, but it appears they reversed course just hours before game time.

Bass has come under heavy criticism from fans and was booed at Rogers Centre shortly after the message.

He eventually apologized after sharing the post on his Instagram story.

“I’ll make this quick,” Bass told reporters  on May 30. “I recognize yesterday that I made a post that was hurtful to the Pride community, which includes friends of mine and close family members of mine, and I am truly sorry for that.

“I just spoke with my teammates and shared with them my actions yesterday. I apologized [to] them and, as of right now, I am using the Blue Jays’ resources to better educate myself to make better decisions moving forward. The ballpark is for everybody. We include all fans at the ballpark and we want to welcome everybody.”

Following Bass’ post, a Blue Jays spokesperson told Toronto’s CityNews that “individual player sentiments are not representative of the club’s beliefs.”

Bass also met with Pride Toronto executive director Sherwin Modeste on Tuesday, while the plan for him to catch Friday’s first pitch was reported Thursday.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told reporters on Friday said the decision was primarily because of performance but acknowledged that the controversy had a small part to do with it.

“There’s a myriad of variables,” Atkins said. “Performance is usually the driving one and performance was a large aspect of this decision. Distraction was a small part of it and something we had to factor in.”

Atkins refused to say whether Bass still would be on the team if his performance had been better.

“We’re trying to build the best possible team we can build,” Atkins said. “This was a baseball decision to make our team better.”

Atkins also said it was not “a realistic option” for Bass to land in Toronto’s minor league system.

“We won’t stand in his way to be with another organization,” Atkins said.

Bass owns a 4.95 ERA in 22 appearances out of the bullpen this season.

Blue Jays cut ties with pitcher Anthony Bass amid backlash over anti-LGBTQ social media post

Embattled reliever was scheduled to catch opening pitch of pride weekend on friday.

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Reliever Anthony Bass has been designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays.

It's the latest development in a controversy that began last week when Bass shared a social media post that supported anti-LGBTQ boycotts.

Bass, who made a public apology last week for the post, had been scheduled to catch the ceremonial first pitch by LGBTQ advocate leZlie Lee Kam when the Jays hosted Minnesota on Friday night to kick off their Pride Weekend.

The Blue Jays said pitcher Kevin Gausman would catch the first pitch instead.

WATCH | 'Distraction' of Bass saga a factor in parting ways:

Blue Jays brass on cutting ties with pitcher Anthony Bass

The decision to include Bass was met with criticism by some on social media.

Bass has a 0-0 record and 4.95 earned-run average over 22 appearances this season.

Toronto called up right-hander Mitch White in a corresponding roster move.

Bass had shared a since-deleted video post urging others to spurn Target and Bud Light over the support they showed for the LGBTQ community.

• Analysis Blue Jays' confounding Anthony Bass saga comes to inevitable conclusion
• Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass apologizes for sharing post supporting anti-LGBTQ boycotts

He said in a scrum that he initially did not think the video post — which described the selling of Pride-themed merchandise as "evil" and "demonic" — was hateful.

"That's why I posted it originally," he said. "When I look back at it, I can see how people can view it that way and that's why I was apologetic."

WATCH | Bass apologizes for Instagram post:

Blue Jays pitcher apologizes for sharing video endorsing anti-LGBTQ boycott

'baseball decision'.

Before Friday's game, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the decision to cut Bass was primarily motivated by performance and not by the pitcher's off-the-field circumstances.

"There's a myriad of variables," Atkins said. "Performance is usually the driving one and performance was a large aspect of this decision. Distraction was a small part of it and something we had to factor in."

Atkins refused to say whether Bass would still be on the team if his performance had been better.

"We're trying to build the best possible team we can build," Atkins said. "This was a baseball decision to make our team better."

Atkins also said it was not "a realistic option" for Bass to land in Toronto's minor league system.

"We won't stand in his way to be with another organization," Atkins said.

With files from The Associated Press

Related Stories

• Pride Toronto director says Blue Jays have opportunity to turn a negative into a positive
• Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass meets with Pride Toronto director after apologizing for post

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Blue Jays make major move against Anthony Bass

Bass was scheduled to catch the ceremonial first pitch from Toronto LGBTQIA+ activist Lezlie Lee Kam prior to Friday's game.

The Toronto Blue Jays have decided that they could no longer afford to keep Anthony Bass on their roster. The team announced on Friday they had designated the controversial pitcher for assignment.

ROSTER MOVES: 🔹 RHP Mitch White has been reinstated from the 60-day IL and will be active for tonight’s game 🔹 RHP Anthony Bass has been designated for assignment pic.twitter.com/O36mqtPENc — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 9, 2023

The decision to move on from Bass could certainly have been performance-based. The Blue Jays pitcher had pitched to an ERA of nearly 5 this season. But Bass hadn’t pitched in nearly three days.

So, it could point to the fact that he completely backtracked from an apology he made just last week. Bass was in hot water after sharing a distasteful and hurtful post about the LGBTQIA+ community. He shared a post on his Instagram story that led to a serious backlash. 

As per a Sportsnet writeup , “Bass shared a post on his Instagram stories Monday urging others to spurn the American companies over support for they showed for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.” The posts highlighted recent Conservative boycotts of Bud Light and Target. Conservatives have taken issue with the companies, but the boycotts have been skewered with opponents calling them bigoted, homophobic, and transphobic.

While Bass later apologized (following criticism from team figures ), he said Thursday he doesn’t believe the anti-LGBTQIA+ post that he shared was hateful. As per ESPN , Bass said he was “working hard” to educate himself, which included meeting with the executive director of the Pride Toronto group.

For whatever reason, Bass was scheduled to catch the ceremonial first pitch from Toronto LGBTQIA+ activist Lezlie Lee Kam prior to Friday’s game. Now that Bass has been designated for assignment, that will no longer be taking place. And that may be why it happened on Friday.

In any event, those in the world of Major League Baseball were not exactly upset with the Blue Jays’ decision to kick Bass to the curb.

Oh, I feel so sorry for Bass…. #notreallly https://t.co/OaPrHXW4tJ — Ken Fang — Very Asian (@fangsbites) June 9, 2023

soooo…who is catching first pitch on pride night? https://t.co/4PEGMIXVy9 — Bradford William Davis (@BWDBWDBWD) June 9, 2023

happy pride month https://t.co/icPyHQhUuB pic.twitter.com/b4RkMwh5yJ — Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) June 9, 2023

Bass doubled down on his position and now he is position-less. And will remain so. #waittosee https://t.co/Vb3XGTPHOX — David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) June 9, 2023

https://twitter.com/bruce_arthur/status/1667219431150460929?s=20

It took some effort, but Anthony Bass finally managed to talk his way into a DFA. https://t.co/LG7hTD9N5h — Tao of Stieb (@TaoofStieb) June 9, 2023

Mitch White, it should be said, is an absolutely lovely young man. #Bluejays https://t.co/8XH0uIsvSs — Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness) June 9, 2023

Well, there's a notable roster move! https://t.co/809gQPIdLA — Andrew Bucholtz (@AndrewBucholtz) June 9, 2023

Can you still catch the first pitch when that happens? https://t.co/IITeIm08gP — CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 9, 2023

And let’s not give the Blue Jays credit for dumping a journeyman pitcher after shielding him from the press.

[ ESPN , Sportsnet ]

About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.

• Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays designate Bass for assignment

TORONTO — Reliever Anthony Bass has been designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays.

It's the latest development in a controversy that began last week when Bass shared a social media post that supported anti-LGBTQ boycotts.

Bass, who made a public apology last week for the post, had been scheduled to catch the ceremonial first pitch by LGBTQ advocate leZlie Lee Kam when the Jays hosted Minnesota on Friday night to kick off their Pride Weekend.

The decision to include Bass was met with criticism by some on social media.

Bass has a 0-0 record and 4.95 earned-run average over 22 appearances this season.

Toronto called up right-hander Mitch White in a corresponding roster move.

Bass had shared a since-deleted video post urging others to spurn Target and Bud Light over the support they showed for the LGBTQ community.

The right-hander, who was booed by Blue Jays fans in his first appearance following his post and initial brief apology, said Thursday he was "in a better place moving forward'" after a recent meeting with Pride Toronto executive director Sherwin Modeste at Rogers Centre.

He said in a scrum that he initially did not think the video post — which described the selling of Pride-themed merchandise as "evil'' and "demonic'' — was hateful.

"That's why I posted it originally,'' he said. "When I look back at it, I can see how people can view it that way and that's why I was apologetic.''

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After making far more headlines for his social media posts than for his play on the field, Anthony Bass has been designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Blue Jays designate controversial reliever Anthony Bass for assignment Back to video

The team announced on Friday that the reliever had been DFA’d to make room on the roster for a returning Mike White.

Bass has been at the centre of controversy recently after sharing an anti-LGBTQ video on his Instagram account. He later apologized and was not punished by the team.

He had been slated to catch the ceremonial first pitch at Friday’s night game against the Minnesota Twins, which kicks off the team’s Pride Weekend.

Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.

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Earlier this season, he had posted on Twitter complaining about airline staff not cleaning up after his family.

On the field, Bass, 35, had an ERA of 4.95 in 22 appearances, pitching 20 innings and striking out 19 batters.

More to come…

ROSTER MOVES: 🔹 RHP Mitch White has been reinstated from the 60-day IL and will be active for tonight’s game 🔹 RHP Anthony Bass has been designated for assignment pic.twitter.com/O36mqtPENc — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 9, 2023

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Blue Jays' Anthony Bass: Designated for assignment

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Bass was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Friday.

Bass has put up a 4.95 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 19:9 K:BB over 20 relief innings with the Jays this season. He also was recently reprimanded, although not suspended, after sharing an anti-LGBTQIA+ video on social media. Bass will now go through the waiver process.

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• Designate for Assignment (DFA)

When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster. Within seven days of the transaction (had been 10 days under the 2012-16 Collective Bargaining Agreement), the player can either be traded or placed on outright or unconditional release waivers.

If the player is claimed off waivers by another club, he is immediately added to that team's 40-man roster, at which point he can be optioned to the Minor Leagues (if he has Minor League options remaining) or assigned to his new team's 26-man roster.

If the player clears outright waivers, he may be assigned outright to the Minor Leagues. However, players with more than five years of Major League service time can reject an assignment to the Minor Leagues, and players with more than three years of Major League service time, or who have been previously outrighted, may reject the outright assignment in favor of free agency in lieu of the assignment. If the player clears unconditional release waivers, he is unconditionally released.

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What does designated for assignment mean in baseball? Explaining MLB's 'DFA' and contract implications

There are numerous transactions that can happen to an MLB player. They can be optioned down to the minors. They can be traded to another team. They can even just simply be cut.

One of the more unique-to-baseball transaction types is to be designated for assignment. If a big leaguer is underperforming significantly, a team might decide that it is time to hit the DFA button, which can have several different outcomes.

During the course of the MLB season, fans will often see players DFA'd by their teams. It is a particularly common process for players who are a bit more on the experienced side and in the middle of contracts.

Much of the other processes are more self explanatory. Trades and releases are obviously simple. Even options are fairly common knowledge. But what exactly does it mean to be designated for assignment? 

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Here's what you need to know.

What does designated for assignment mean in baseball?

Teams are only allowed to have 40 players on their roster at all times, with 26 of them active in the majors. Sometimes, teams make decisions to add someone to that 40-man roster, which means removing someone else.

In order to take someone off the 40-man roster, they must be designated for assignment. When that happens, a player is taken off the roster immediately and sits in a holding pattern for seven days. During that time frame, the team can trade the player away or place him on waivers.

Another team can claim the player on waivers, but it would require immediately placing that player on their own 40-man roster and taking on the remainder of that contract. Because waiver claims operate in a particular order, teams will sometimes trade for a DFA'd player rather than wait until waivers to make sure no one ahead of them in the order is able to claim that player.

There is always a chance the players go through waivers unclaimed. If that happens, teams have a few different options for what comes next. The team can release them or can outright them to the minors. However, not all DFA'd players have to go to the minors. A player can reject the minor-league assignment and head to free agency if he's been in the majors for at least three years or if he has been outrighted to the minors previously.

Being designated for assignment is different than being optioned to the minors, though sometimes the two can overlap. Players early in their careers have option years, during which they can be sent back to the minors five times per season after MLB promotions. Being optioned to the minors does not mean a player has to be designated for assignment unless he runs out of options. 

If a team claims a player that has been designated for assignment, and that player still has minor league options left, the team can choose to use one to send the player to the minors, so long as he is still on the 40-man roster.

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DFA contract implications

There are often talented players that hit waivers that will go unclaimed for one big reason: the contract. 

If a player is claimed on waivers or acquired via trade, the team that added him would be taking on the remainder of the contract as well. Often, part of the reason a team would make the decision to DFA a player is in the hopes another might claim them and take the contract off the books.

However, if the player reaches free agency, he can sign a deal with any other team on a prorated portion of the MLB minimum, which is $720,000. The team that DFA'd would then pay that player the remaining salary owed to him on his original deal minus the prorated MLB minimum paid by the acquiring team.

Edward Sutelan is a content producer at The Sporting News.

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What does designated for assignment mean? Phils’ Harper, Schwarber news have fans asking

Two of the most popular Phillies — and most-important to their World Series hopes — are back in the lineup after sitting out 10 days for injuries.

Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper came back on the teams roster  in time for Tuesday’s game.

But, it meant that the Phillies had to jettison two players.

Kody Clemens was sent to the team’s Lehigh Valley club, but outfielder David Dahl was designated for assignment.

What does designated for assignment mean?

For Dahl, being designated for assignment likely means his time with the Phillies is over.

But what does it actually mean when a player is designated for assignment?

A player designated for assignment is effectively removed from their team’s active roster, providing flexibility to address roster needs.

During this period, the team can trade the player to another team, place them on waivers for other teams to claim, release them outright, or even assign them to their minor league affiliate if they clear waivers.

Dahl, though, has enough MLB experience that he can’t be traded unless he agrees to the move. So, he’ll be designated for assignment while Phillies look for  an agreeable trade or put him on waivers for another team to claim .

Here are some other MLB roster-move terms to know:

• Waivers: Players who are designated for assignment must go through waivers before they can be assigned to a minor league team or released outright. Once on waivers, another team can claim the player.
• Optioning: When a team sends a player on its 40-man roster down to the minors, it’s called optioning the player. But teams can only option a player so many times before they’re forced to use waivers instead.
• Recall: A recall is when a team brings a player back up to the MLB after being sent down to the minors.
• Release: If a player clears waivers or is not claimed, the team can release the player from their contract. The player is then a free agent who can sign with any other club.

Anthony Bass designated for assignment

by Ari Koslow | Fri, Jun 9th 1:20pm EDT

ROSTER MOVES: 🔹 RHP Mitch White has been reinstated from the 60-day IL and will be active for tonight’s game 🔹 RHP Anthony Bass has been designated for assignment pic.twitter.com/O36mqtPENc — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 9, 2023

Fantasy Impact:

Bass has been all over the headlines as of late following a post he shared on social media. He has recorded a 4.95 ERA across 20 innings so far this season out of the Blue Jays bullpen.

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What's your take? Leave a comment

• Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays designate Anthony Bass for assignment, activate Mitch White off IL

The Blue Jays have made a pair of roster moves, activating Mitch White off of IL and designating controversial Anthony Bass for assignment.

Dan Fappiano

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass has been embroiled in controversy due to anti-LGBTQ+ posts on social media. The Blue Jays have come to a resolution with Bass while welcoming back a pitcher with potential in the process.

Toronto has designated Bass for assignment, the team announced. In turn, the Blue Jays have activated Mitch White off of the 60-day injured list.

Bass came under fire after sharing a post on Instagram that encouraged boycotts of Target and Bud Light due to the brand supporting Pride month and the LGBTQ+ community. The post used bible verses to justify Bass' feelings towards the LGBTQ+ community.

Once he was put on the spot, Bass seemed to walk back his original comments, if ever so slightly. He stood by his ‘personal beliefs' while claiming he didn't mean to offend anyone. In the end, the Blue Jays decided Bass wasn't worth the controversy that surrounded him.

Instead, Toronto welcomed back Mitch White who had been out all season with an elbow injury. He was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Blue Jays in the middle of last season. He struggled in his Toronto debut, pitching to a 7.74 ERA over 10 games.

However, now healthy, Toronto is looking for White to bounce back. He'll join the team on Friday looking to make an impact.

The same can't be said for Anthony Bass. His stance towards the LGBTQ+ community made airwaves across the baseball world. Now, his baseball future is in the air after his DFA from the Blue Jays.

Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut based sports journalist covering NFL and MLB news for ClutchPoints. He has a degree from Central Connecticut State and previously wrote at Shore Publishing.

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Twins Designate Diego A. Castillo For Assignment

By Steve Adams | July 24, 2024 at 9:28am CDT

The Twins announced Wednesday that they’ve designated infielder Diego Castillo for assignment and optioned right-hander Ronny Henriquez to Triple-A St. Paul. Their spots on the roster will go to reliever Brock Stewart , who’s been activated from the 60-day injured list, and righty David Festa , who’s been recalled from St. Paul.

Castillo, 26, appeared in four games with the Twins and went 2-for-6 with a double, two walks and a strikeout in eight plate appearances. He’s had a nice season in the minors as well, hitting a combined .274/.382/.403 in 296 plate  appearances between the Triple-A affiliates for Baltimore and Minnesota. That marks the continuation of a long run of OBP-driven production in the upper minors. Castillo has played in parts of four Triple-A seasons, and while he doesn’t hit for a ton of power, he’s a .290/.402/.406 hitter in 1073 Triple-A plate appearances. He’s primarily been a shortstop (3906 innings) but also has 1922 innings at second base, 619 innings at third base, 535 innings in left field, 224 innings in right field and 66 innings at first base.

Despite that versatility and a strong Triple-A track record, Castillo hasn’t gotten much big league playing time. He made his debut with the 2022 Pirates and logged a career-high 283 plate appearances. However, he hit just .206/.251/.382. The D-backs gave him one big league plate appearance in 2023, and the Twins have given him all of eight.

It’s certainly arguable that Castillo deserves a longer look somewhere, but a Twins organization that’s deeper in the infield than anywhere else on the diamond was probably never going to have that opportunity. Even with each of Royce Lewis , Carlos Correa , Jose Miranda , Kyle Farmer and Alex Kirilloff on the injured list, Minnesota has Carlos Santana at first base, Edouard Julien at second base, All-Star Willi Castro at shortstop and top prospect Brooks Lee at third base. Several of the injured Twins will be back sooner than later, too. Lewis began a rehab assignment in Triple-A last night. Miranda will follow suit today.

Minnesota will either trade Castillo or place him on outright waivers within the next five days. Waivers themselves could be another 48-hour process. Castillo will know the outcome of his DFA within the next week.

As for Stewart, his return will be a significant boon for the Twins’ bullpen. The former Dodgers prospect has proven to be an exceptional find on a minor league pact. He’s missed time with injury in each of the past two seasons, but Stewart has added considerable velocity since his rotation days in the Dodgers’ system and has been a bullpen behemoth in Minnesota when healthy. He’s pitched 41 innings dating back to 2023 and carries a remarkable 0.66 ERA with a huge 34.8% strikeout rate against a 10.6% walk rate.

Stewart will slide right into a late-inning, high-leverage mix also including Jhoan Duran , Griffin Jax and Jorge Alcala . Righty Justin Topa also also went out on a rehab assignment yesterday, providing another potential boost in the near future. He’s been out all season with a knee injury but posted a 2.61 ERA, 21.9% strikeout rate, 6.5% walk rate and 56.7% ground-ball rate in 69 innings for the Mariners last season. The Twins added Topa in the offseason trade that send Jorge Polanco to Seattle.

13 Comments

10 hours ago

Twins getting healthy at the right time. Correa, Lewis and Miranda coming back should kickstart our lineup again:)

9 hours ago

Some health and Pablo being Pablo is all they really need

2 hours ago

Good to see you here TD buddy.

Angels should snag him and give him the next two months at the MLB level.

Castillo changes teams as often as Cole Tucker

I wish the Twins had DFA’d Castillo before Monday’s game against the Phillies, during which he was a complete pain in the nuts (from the Phillies’ prospective, that is).

Seattle now needs a shortstop. And any live body that can hold a bat…

Castillo probably won’t clear waivers, but it would be nice to see him clear—not only could he be useful if injuries deplete the roster again, but the Twins could keep collecting Diegos Castillo.

(Caught “born 1997” to disambiguate him from the reliever in MLBTR’s player tags too.)

Good Braves candidate!

Dude never gets a full shot. He’s a decent hitter.

7 hours ago

the dude got a full shot playing for the Pirates and failed to make his case to be a full time player

5 hours ago

Agree but he showed some HR power and his batting average not so bad compared to some of our present day Pirates

A’s should grab Castillo

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James paxton designated for assignment by the dodgers.

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James Paxton seemingly made his last start for the Dodgers against his former team, the Red Sox. ... [+] (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

When the Dodgers signed James Paxton over the off-season , they sought to add a stalwart lefty with minimal risk. After agreeing to a 1-year/$11 million deal, the team took a look at his medicals and reduced that to 1-year/$7 million. The Dodgers paid a $3 million signing bonus, leaving $4 million in salary (this will become important). In addition, Paxton and the team built in a bunch of incentives to mitigate risk and reward performance. Paxton got an additional $2 million for being on the roster when the club opened the season in South Korea; an additional $3 million for making 16 starts ($600,000 over five thresholds); and $1 million for making an 18 th start (which he earned against the Red Sox this past Sunday). He is due another $1 million if he makes two more starts this season.

On Monday morning, the Dodgers designated Paxton for assignment. At first blush, this is a confounding roster move. By all accounts, the team wanted to open a roster spot for River Ryan to make his major league debut. As Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic has reported , Los Angeles did not see Paxton getting innings in October, so they are trying to rework their rotation with an eye towards the post-season. The club could have tried some fancy foot/paperwork and put the pitcher on the “phantom” injured list, but after seeing former Mets general manager Billy Eppler being placed on MLB’s ineligible list for doing just that, the team elected to play it straight and above-board.

The Dodgers believe they can trade Paxton during the 10-day window after his designation, and expect they will improve the club with such a deal. (If they obtain a major league player, they still will have too many players on the roster.) But, the “Big Maple” may be an intriguing trade candidate for many teams looking for pitching down the stretch. Paxton’s last home – Boston – needs another starter, and has enough players in its farm system to make a robust offer; not to mention that the Dodgers and Red Sox have made many trades in recent years.

Could James Paxton end up back in Boston with the Red Sox? (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Orioles need another starter, and may like the idea of a pitcher who it battle-tested in the gauntlet that is the American League East. They, too, have a bevy of players in the minors available for trade.

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The Guardians, Astros, and Braves all have needs on the hill, and are possible trade partners with the Dodgers.

And, because Los Angeles has already paid Paxton (a) his $3 million signing bonus, (b) more than 60% of his $4 million salary, (c) $2 million for being with the club on Opening Day, and (d) $4 million for the making 18 starts, an acquiring team could obtain Paxton for the rest of the year for the low, low price of roughly $1.5 million + one additional bonus of $1 million. Getting a pitcher of Paxton’s caliber for a total commitment of $2.5 million gives the Dodgers additional leverage to extract additional value out of any trade. You can trust that Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes will do just that.

Even still, the Dodgers are taking a massive risk. Tyler Glasnow comes back to the rotation this week after a brief stint on the IL, and Clayton Kershaw is set to make his 2024 debut on Thursday. But neither pitcher is what one would call a guarantee. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is still dealing with a shoulder issue, and considering that the team has invested $325 million in him over 12 years, they may not want to rush him back. Walker Buhler has a few rehab starts ahead of him to see if he can regain his dominance. Bobby Miller is back in the minors to work out his kinks. Justin May was lost for the season after suffering an esophageal tear.

Without Paxton, with all of the other uncertainty, the team many picked to win it all this season is putting a lot of eggs in the Gavin Stone, Landon Knack, River Ryan, basket. That said, Friedman has historically done more with less, and the playoffs are a crapshoot anyway. Thus, it may make sense for the Dodgers to roll the dice on dealing a dominant lefty. Time – as it always does – will tell.

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Dodgers pitcher James Paxton designated for assignment

James Paxton , a veteran starting pitcher who brought stability to a needy Los Angeles Dodgers rotation this season, was designated for assignment Monday.

It's a rather surprising move for the Dodgers, who have a long list of starting pitchers on the injured list and have relied on Paxton to lead an inexperienced rotation. But the team will activate Tyler Glasnow on Wednesday and Clayton Kershaw on Thursday. Walker Buehler (on the injured list because of hip inflammation but mostly working through mechanical issues) and Bobby Miller (in the minor leagues and also trying to iron out his mechanics) are not considered far behind.

Paxton's departure from the 40-man roster, which is currently full, created room for River Ryan , who started Monday's series opener against the San Francisco Giants . The Dodgers will have to clear another 40-man spot for Kershaw to start Thursday's game.

Ryan allowed one unearned run over 5⅓ innings in his major league debut, as the Dodgers won 3-2 . The 23-year-old right-hander, acquired from San Diego in a 2022 trade, gave up four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

Justin Wrobleski and Landon Knack are two more of the younger pitchers the Dodgers want to see more. Knack will start Tuesday night.

Paxton, 35, signed a one-year, $7 million contract over the offseason and has been everything the Dodgers could have hoped for. After limiting the Boston Red Sox to three runs in five-plus innings Sunday, Paxton improved to 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 89⅓ innings in 2024. He has been one of just two Dodgers -- along with Gavin Stone -- to not miss a turn through the rotation.

Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said with the return of Glasnow and Kershaw, it was tough finding a fit for Paxton the rest of the way, adding that "it was a difficult decision. He handled it like a pro. We feel good about the starting staff going forward."

Paxton's underlying metrics are not favorable; he has walked a National League-leading 48 batters while striking out just 64, and he ranks within the bottom 20% of the sport in expected ERA, chase percentage and hard-hit rate, among other stats. But given the overall need for starting pitching throughout the league and the short list of teams expected to trade away players before the July 30 trade deadline, the expectation is that the Dodgers will be able to find a trade partner for Paxton in the coming days. They'll have seven days to do so, after which Paxton would be released.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Dodgers designate James Paxton for assignment. Is there another move forthcoming?

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With a personnel crunch looming on their 40-man roster and in their starting rotation, the Dodgers shook up their pitching staff Monday afternoon.

The team announced it designated veteran starter James Paxton for assignment.

A 35-year-old left-hander who signed a one-year contract with the Dodgers in the offseason, Paxton had given the team’s short-handed rotation important innings over the first half of the season, going 8-2 in 18 starts.

But with a diminished fastball and inconsistent command, his production often fluctuated, reflected in a 4.43 ERA and NL-leading 48 walks.

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Paxton’s last start, a five-plus-inning, three-run effort against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday , was one of his better performances, highlighted by an uptick in velocity and seven strikeouts.

After the game, he seemed encouraged by the performance, hopeful his up-and-down season had finally turned a corner.

“I was just kind of attacking the zone with everything I had,” Paxton said after getting up to 96 mph with his fastball. “The velo kind of came out of nowhere, so that was nice.”

By Monday, however, Paxton’s Dodgers tenure had all but certainly come to an end.

“It was tough,” manager Dave Roberts said of his Monday morning conversation with Paxton. “James is an absolute pro. I was very fortunate, we were all fortunate, to have him don the Dodgers uniform. It’s one of those decisions that are very difficult, trying to understand the guys that we have coming back, the guys that we want to get looks at.”

The team was in need of 40-man roster spots, with rookie River Ryan starting Monday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants and veteran Clayton Kershaw expected to be activated later this week.

Club officials knew the returns of Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller wouldn’t be far behind, with both getting midseason resets (Buehler on the injured list ; Miller by being optioned to triple A ) after bumpy starts to the year.

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Also, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is still expected to return later this season — rounding out a wave of forthcoming reinforcements that probably would have pushed Paxton out of the rotation.

Rather than wait until then, and potentially lose Paxton for nothing, the Dodgers sensed an opportunity.

“If we didn’t see James being part of the stretch run,” general manager Brandon Gomes said, “now would be the best time to see if there’s interest there.”

The team will have seven days to find a trade for Paxton before he goes on waivers. And given the number of rival clubs in need of pitching help before next Tuesday’s trade deadline, the Dodgers are expecting to find suitors willing to give something up for the 11-year veteran (who reached the last performance bonus in his contract Sunday by making his 18th start, maxing out the deal at its full potential value of $13 million).

“It is tough,” Roberts said of the decision to part ways with a healthy starter from an injury-ravaged rotation, “but I think that having River here, [Justin] Wrobleski, Landon [Knack], obviously Clayton coming back, Tyler [Glasnow] coming back, we feel good about where the starting staff is at going forward.”

The risk, of course, is that the Dodgers are sacrificing the potential depth Paxton could provide later this season in the event their staff is ravaged by more injuries.

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To this point, they’ve needed Paxton to help carry a rotation that at times has featured three or four rookies.

In the end, however, the club was confident enough in its numerous arms on the mend to try to recoup something for Paxton before next Tuesday’s trade deadline.

His season might still be turning a corner. He might still make important starts for a playoff-contending team. After Monday‘s decision, however, Paxton will have to wait and see where, as the Dodgers start the clock to try to flip him somewhere else.

Staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this report.

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Angels vs Mariners: Infielder Designated for Assignment, How to Watch, Odds and More

J.p. hoornstra | jul 23, 2024.

• Los Angeles Angels

The Angels will welcome back Luis Rengifo to their starting lineup for the second game of their series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. He missed the last 15 games with right wrist inflammation:

#Angels lineup with Luis Rengifo back in there against the Mariners after being activated from the IL. pic.twitter.com/hqEuMYUagQ — Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 23, 2024

The addition comes at the expense of infielder Keston Hiura, who was designated for assignment to make room for Rengifo on the roster.

Here's what else you need to know for the game.

How to Watch

Time : 6:40 p.m.

Location : T-Mobile Park, Seattle

TV : Bally Sports West

Radio : 570-AM

Moneyline : Angels +140/Mariners -166

Over/under : 6.5

All odds via DraftKings

The pitching matchup sees Jose Soriano (5-7, 3.71 ERA) for the Angels against Logan Gilbert (6-5, 2.79 ERA) for the Mariners. Soriano gotten shown solid results on the road, while Gilbert has been reliable at home. Given their recent performances, a low-scoring contest seems likely. While the Angels are welcoming back one of their better hitters in Rengifo, the Mariners placed All-Star Julio Rodriguez on the injured list Tuesday amid a series of roster moves, which could tilt the advantage to the Angels.

The moves pic.twitter.com/sYSOvj7OAJ — Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) July 23, 2024

• Closer Carlos Estévez is tied for fifth in the American League with 19 saves, and is enjoying an impressive streak of 18 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run.

• Angels outfielder Jo Adell is hitting .429 during his 7-game hitting streak.

• Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel is hitting .305 since June 12, including his first multi-extra-base hit game.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

J.P. HOORNSTRA

J.P. Hoornstra writes and edits Major League Baseball content for Halos Today, and is the author of 'The 50 Greatest Dodger Games Of All Time.' He once recorded a keyboard solo on the same album as two of the original Doors.

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