Week in Transactions: Michael Brantley begins rehab assignment

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Some quick comments:

• The starting pitching staff took a hit the last week, but still is by far the best part of this club.
• That Tyler Naquin has a 0.7 WAR is a testament to how well he’s hit, for his defensive rating has been awful (-10 Fielding Runs).
• Yan Gomes has -24 Hitting Runs, which is I believe the worst among MLB players. This can’t go on, can it?
• Danny Salazar is being held out of the All-Star Game because of “mild elbow discomfort”. Elbow issues of any kind for a pitcher should be a concern, though the Indians don’t seem to be particularly troubled by it. Let’s hope the extra rest will help.

Major League Transactions

July 7

Placed RHP Zach McAllister on the 15-day Disabled List (right hip discomfort)

Recalled RHP Joseph Colon from Columbus (AAA) - MLB Debut

Optioned RHP Mike Clevinger to Columbus (AAA)

Recalled Austin Adams from Columbus (AAA)

The bullpen issues had for a time been hidden by how well the starting pitchers have fared; at one point there were five different relievers who hadn’t pitched in a week. The 19-inning game in Toronto laid those weaknesses bare, and as a result the Indians have been tinkering with the pen quite a bit. Clevinger was a short-term fix for when the team needed long relief options, and now that that danger has passed he’ll go back to starting in AAA.

Colon has been outstanding in Columbus, and is getting his first MLB shot. Adams is back for the umpteenth time, trying to finally stick with the major-league club.

July 8

Sent LHP Tom Gorzelanny outright to Columbus (AAA)

Traded UT Michael Martinez to the Boston Red Sox for Cash

Gorzelanny accepted his outright assignment, so he’ll stay in the organization. Martinez gets to stay in the majors, and with another playoff contender to boot.

July 9

Claimed LHP Tyler Olson off waivers from the Kansas City Royals; optioned him to Columbus

July 10

Released RHP Joba Chamberlain

Chamberlain (probably correctly) thought that some other team would be willing to give him a shot on their major-league club.

July 11

Sent OF Michael Brantley on Rehab Assignment to Mahoning Valley (SSA)

The biggest move of the week, as far as I’m concerned. Brantley’s health has been one of the underlying questions of the season, even when the team was winning 14 games in a row. Getting back a healthy Brantley is a big deal for a team that is going to need some offensive help down the stretch.

Minor-League Transactions

July 5

AAA: RHP Cody Anderson activated from Disabled List

July 6

AAA: Adam Moore placed on Disabled List (right elbow) retro to July 5

AAA: LHP Ryan Merritt activated from Disabled List

C Alex Monsalve promoted from Lynchburg (A) to Columbus (AAA)

LHP Nick Maronde promoted from Akron (AA) to Columbus (AAA)

LHP Billy Strode promoted from Lake County (A-) to Lynchburg (A)

RHP Leandro Linares promoted from Mahoning Valley (SSA) to Lake County (A-)

A-: Activated 2B Sam Haggerty from the Disabled List

With Anderson and Merritt both now healthy, and Clevinger’s return from Cleveland, the AAA rotation

July 7

RHP Craig Stammen demoted from Columbus (AAA) to Akron (AA)

RHP Toru Murata promoted from Akron (AA) to Columbus (AAA)

Stammen pitched in Arizona (on rehab assignment from Columbus), and now is back in the high minors. I would expect the next step for him would be pitching with Columbus, and then, if everything checks out, a return to the majors.

July 8

SSA: Released Juan Gomes

If you’re wondering: yes, Juan Gomes is the brother of Yan Gomes.

July 9

LHP David Speer promoted from Lynchburg (A) to Columbus (AAA)

C Martin Cervenka promoted from Lake County (A-) to Lynchburg (A)

A-: C Jack Goihl activated from Disabled List

July 11

LHP Kenny Matthews promoted from AZL Indians (R-) to Mahoning Valley (SSA)