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Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura is reportedly on the hot seat after the club’s 33-33 start to the 2016 season, which leaves them fourth in the competitive AL Central. 

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Ventura’s Job Could Be In Jeopardy After Team’s Recent Slide

Thursday, June 16

Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported one source told him Ventura’s situation is “not great” after he has come under the microscope because of the team’s recent struggles. Heyman noted some people in the organization are starting to wonder whether a switch is on the horizon.

While the front office isn’t placing all of the blame at the manager’s feet, Heyman added there’s a “growing feeling” that it might be time to do something to spark the team. There’s no timetable for a decision on his status, though.

Bench coach Rick Renteria is listed as the favorite to fill the void if Chicago moves forward with the change. A source told Today’s Knuckleball he’s made the Sox “as prepared as they’ve ever been.”

General manager Rick Hahn wouldn’t provide a definitive update on the manager’s status when asked about the situation last week, per Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago.

“I don’t think you have ever seen me telegraph any move or comment on any individual,” Hahn said. “The best thing you do (is) rally around the guys you have here. My job is to put them in the best position to win, with the people you have in this clubhouse.”

Chicago started May with an 18-8 record, the best mark in the American League by 2.5 games and three games better than its closest division rival at the time, the Detroit Tigers. Since then, the South Siders have gone 15-25 and slid down the standings.

Given the overall parity in the division, with just 2.5 games separating the top four teams, the White Sox need to break out of their funk before the Tigers, Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians start to leave them in the dust.

Now the question is whether a managerial change is the way to go. Ventura, who’s in the final season of his current contract, has compiled a 330-384 record since taking over ahead of the 2012 campaign. The team hasn’t finished above .500 since the former third baseman’s first year in charge.

In the bigger picture, the White Sox haven’t qualified for the postseason since 2008 and last won a playoff series in 2005, when they won the World Series. It adds more urgency to take advantage of a wide-open division, which could leave Ventura as the fall guy if things don’t turn around soon.

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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday due to a triceps injury. It is uncertain when he will return to action.  

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Cole to DL, Taillon Called Up

Tuesday, June 14

Adam Berry of MLB.com reported touted prospect Jameson Taillon will take Cole’s place in the rotation. Cole, 25, lasted only two innings in a June 10 start against the St. Louis Cardinals due to a triceps injury. The results of an MRI have not been disclosed.

Cole Comments on Injury

Tuesday, June 14

“I’m all right,” Cole told reporters. “I’ll be fine.”

Cole’s Injury Will Be Major Blow to Pirates Rotation

The 25-year-old right-hander emerged as one of the top pitchers in the National League in 2015. He posted a 2.60 ERA and struck out 202 batters in 208 innings as part of his breakout campaign. So it’s no surprise Pittsburgh’s hopes this season are heavily dependent on him.

On the injury front, Cole was limited to just 22 starts in 2014 due to shoulder and lat issues. He bounced back nicely last season as he made 32 appearances for the Buccos. This year, he dealt with a rib cage problem during spring training but returned for the second series of the regular season.

A much bigger burden will fall on the shoulders of Francisco Liriano to lead the starting staff. It could also lead to more important outings for Juan Nicasio and Jeff Locke as the team is forced to reshuffle the rotation.

Ultimately, the Pirates will struggle to replicate Cole’s production and the staff as a whole could battle inconsistency without him providing stability every fifth day.

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The Chicago White Sox designated veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins for assignment Friday and called up highly touted prospect Tim Anderson to fill the roster void. 

The White Sox announced the moves on their official Twitter feed.

Rollins, once among the most offensively gifted shortstops in the league, failed to produce for Chicago through the first couple of months of the 2016 season. The former National League MVP had a .221 batting average with five steals and two homers through 41 games.

The 37-year-old veteran signed with the White Sox back in February. He won a starting job out of spring training but couldn’t rediscover his former magic once the regular season got underway.

It’s unclear what the next step will be for the longtime Philadelphia Phillies star, who spent last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His skills have shown plenty of natural erosion from the days when he was hitting 20 home runs and stealing 40 bags in Philly.

Even his play in the field, which was also a major asset early in his career, has faded. He posted minus-three defensive runs saved in 2016, according to FanGraphs.

Assuming he has no plans for playing minor league ball while waiting for another chance, he’ll have to see whether another team shows interest. That could happen either through a trade while he’s on the DFA list or if he ends up getting released.

Rollins stated after Chicago signed him that he planned to play “until basically they take the uniform and tell me to go coach somewhere,” per Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.

Anderson, 22, heads to Chicago after posting a .304 average with 11 stolen bases and four home runs with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. He’s the franchise’s No. 2-rated prospect, behind only pitcher Carson Fulmer, according to MLB.com.

Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times noted Rollins spoke highly of the rising star back in March after seeing him in the spring.

“They like him here. He has a bright future,” Rollins said. “He has some pop, which is good. Just continue to polish himself defensively and in the field—footwork, turning double plays and making sure he turns the makes the routine plays over and over.”

The White Sox hoped strong play from Rollins would give Anderson more time in the minors to develop those defensive skills. While the call-up may have come early, the young infielder’s offensive numbers in the minors suggest he’s ready for the challenge.

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We will likely remember the 2016 MLB draft more for its depth than its top-end talent. Plenty of promising prospects in the draft are capable of bolstering a farm system, but there are no can’t-miss future stars in the mold of Bryce Harper or Kris Bryant.

In turn, most front offices are probably going to approach the first round with the mindset of addressing an organizational need rather than merely going for the best player available. There isn’t a major difference-maker in Round 1 outside of the top seven or eight picks, so it comes down to filling roster holes.

Let’s check out of a complete mock draft of the opening round, including the compensatory selections. That’s followed by a closer look at the top players on the board before the three-day event gets underway on June 9.

Round 1 Mock Draft

Analyzing Top Prospects

1. A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida

Puk has the stuff to become a top-flight starter in the major leagues. His fastball can reach the upper 90s, and he also has a solid changeup and developing slider that should become a reliable out pitch with a little more seasoning.

The question is whether things will ever click with his command. He’s struggled to contain his walks at Florida, racking up 31 in 65.2 innings across 14 starts before the NCAA tournament. He has to improve in that area in order to become an ace.

Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan is confident the lefty will make the necessary adjustments as he gains more experience, per C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer:

I mean, I’m going to say this again, go back and look what his video looked like out of high school and see the progression he’s made — everybody’s trying to pick him apart. We’re still talking about a kid from Iowa, I see the improvement he’s made over the last three years. Everyone says why is he up-and-down, well, he’s a 6-7 lefty who doesn’t have a lot of innings under his belt. He’s gotten a lot better.

The bottom line is that it’s tough to showcase consistency from start to start when the control isn’t there. A couple of seasons in the minor leagues, where the focus is on development rather than winning, can help him to at least make his command less of a concern.

Furthermore, if the organization isn’t convinced it can count on Puk in the rotation, he could make the shift toward becoming a potentially dominant reliever, a la Aroldis Chapman. That limits the downside of taking him inside the top five and maybe first overall.

2. Jason Groome, LHP, Barnegat (N.J.) H.S.

Groome dominated his senior season in high school. His combination of fastballs and curveballs overwhelmed a majority of the players at that level. In turn, he produced some eye-popping numbers, as relayed by Matt Manley of the Shore Sports Network:

Striking out more than two batters per inning makes quite a statement. That said, the difference between high school hitters and pros, even at the lowest levels of the minor leagues, is enormous. So those numbers are necessary to become a top prospect.

It’s going to take some time for him to learn how to pitch, though. He’s relied on his fastball, which is good but not great in the mid-90s. That means he must polish his curveball and changeup to keep pro hitters off balance.

Nevertheless, Groome has the skill set to lead a rotation one day. All three of his main pitches have shown plus potential, and there’s still time to tinker with a slider if he wants more variety. It’s just going to take a while for everything to come together.

3. Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer

If Lewis is still on the board at No. 3, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Atlanta Braves don’t pick him. The power-hitting outfielder is exactly what the rebuilding organization needs after spending the past couple of years stockpiling young pitchers.

The Mercer standout has shown effortless power to all fields. His natural pop could become even more promising as he fills out his frame with more muscle. The Southern Conference provided a little taste of his capabilities:

While the amount of movement in his swing, including a high leg kick and a bat waggle, may concern some teams, his motion has a nice flow to it. Trying to make him more quiet at the plate could take away a portion of his bat speed, and it’s not worth losing the power potential.

The other aspects of Lewis’ game are either average or slightly above at this stage. He’s not a generational five-tool prospect. But for the Braves, who desperately need young power hitters who can take an accelerated trip through the minors, he’s an ideal fit.

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Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig did not play Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs because of a sore hamstring, per Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago. 

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Crawford Replaces Puig

Tuesday, May 31

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times confirmed Carl Crawford would play, while Doug Padilla of ESPN.com said Crawford would shift to left field and Trayce Thompson would occupy right field.

This season, Puig has batted .239 with five home runs and 20 RBI in 51 games played. 

Puig has been one of the Dodgers’ most exciting and frustrating players since his electrifying rookie campaign in 2013. The question coming into this season revolved around whether he could rebound from a lackluster 2015.

Injuries played a key role in the lack of production last season. He appeared in just 79 games while dealing with a variety of ailments, including two trips to the disabled list with hamstring problems. So it wasn’t an encouraging sign when he got scratched from a spring training start due to a hamstring issue, especially since Tuesday’s concern was again with the hamstring.

If the 25-year-old Cuba native is forced back out of the lineup, Crawford and Thompson should both get their fair share of opportunities to fill the void in right field. It should ensure there isn’t a massive drop-off in overall production.

Ultimately, the Dodgers would love to see Puig get healthy and then stay that way for an extended period of time. But the injury issues continue to pop up, which is a concern for both the short and long term.

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Major League Baseball on Tuesday provided the first voting update for the 2016 All-Star Game on July 12 with a look at the American League leaders. Results for the National League were released Wednesday.

Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles and longtime Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz—in his final season before retirement—headline the current AL starters, according to MLB:

MLB Communications passed along a complete look at the early returns for the AL:

Wednesday, the NL returns were made available:

The Royals’ voting dominance is nothing new. Last season, their fanbase helped secure spots in the starting lineup for Alex Gordon (who missed the game because of injury), Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar and Salvador Perez. They are on pace for a similar result in 2016.

Shortstop is the most competitive position, with less than 6,000 votes separating Escobar from front-runner Xander Bogaerts of Boston. The outfield spots behind Trout are also up for grabs, with about 107,000 votes separating second (Cain) from sixth place (Gordon).

Ortiz isn’t yet a lock for the starting lineup, though it would take quite an effort from the Royals faithful to get Kendrys Morales to overcome a deficit of more than 466,000 votes. Even if that happened, however, the Red Sox designated hitter would surely get in as a reserve based on his numbers.

The slugger is off to an outstanding start with a .337 average and 14 homers in 45 games. He announced in November on the Players’ Tribune he will retire after the 2016 season. His MVP-level performance has raised questions about that decision, but Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald believes it is final and recently provided comments from the 40-year-old veteran about the situation.

“As the times go by, it just gets harder and harder and harder, man,” Ortiz said. “This is just something where you get to the point where you feel like you can’t do it any more.”

If Ortiz’s stance remains firm for another month, the All-Star Game will become a celebration of his career—similar to how Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was honored at the NBA All-Star Game in February—providing a chance for rival fans to give him a respectful send-off despite all the damage he’s likely done against their teams over the years.

In the National League, Chicago Cubs fans produced a Royals-like effort that has players from Wrigley Field atop four of the six listed positions on the returns.

Not only are Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant and Addison Russell leading the way at first base, second base, third base and shortstop, respectively, but Dexter Fowler is currently sandwiched between reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper and New York Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes as a projected starter in the outfield.

However, the Cubs may not have a monopoly on infield positions for long. Russell is a meager 20,000 votes ahead of Colorado Rockies rookie phenom Trevor Story, and he’s batting just .246 with 49 strikeouts to date. If he continues to struggle at the plate, his starting spot figures to be in jeopardy.

And with voting just heating up, there’s plenty of time for things to change before the festivities get underway at the San Diego Padres’ Petco Park.

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Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was a late scratch prior to Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays with a sore left foot. However, he has since returned to action.

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Ortiz in Lineup vs. Orioles

Monday, May 30

Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe confirmed that Ortiz will be active against Baltimore on Monday. He will bat fourth and serve as the designated hitter.

Farrell Comments on Ortiz’s Injury

Sunday, May 29  

Manager John Farrell told reporters Ortiz “came to the stadium more sore than he was yesterday” and added that X-rays were negative.

Ortiz Removed from Lineup vs. Blue Jays

Sunday, May 29  

The Red Sox announced the change Sunday, noting Hanley Ramirez would take over as the designated hitter. Guerin Austin of NESN passed along word that Ortiz is considered day-to-day.

Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal noted Ortiz was hit in the foot with a pitch during the fifth inning of Saturday’s game, adding that it was “not entirely surprising he’s not able to go today.”

Ortiz Continues to Dominate Despite Age

Even though the slugger announced his intention to retire after the 2016 campaign during the offseason, he’s still a major power threat in the middle of the Red Sox lineup.

The 40-year-old veteran has remained relatively healthy despite getting toward the back end of his career. The only season in which he missed significant time over the previous six years was in 2012, when he suffered an Achilles injury. Playing DH helps limit his chances of getting hurt, of course.

If he’s forced to miss further action during the season, the Red Sox will probably use the opening to give their regular position players like Ramirez what amounts to a half-day off at DH. In turn, reserves like Josh Rutledge and Chris Young could draw some additional starts in the field.

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Shelby Miller is reportedly heading to the 15-day disabled list because of a lingering finger injury.

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Miller Hasn’t Fully Recovered from April Issue

Friday, May 27

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported Miller’s trip to the DL. The move comes after Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale stated Thursday night that the starter never completely got over a problem with his right pointer finger, per Nick Piecoro of AZCentral Sports.

“I think his finger is still not where we’d like it to be after hitting it on the ground in San Diego,” Hale said. “He’s still having some residual effects of that with feel. He’s been good to pitch. He’s pitched through it. But we’ve got to make 100 percent sure that thing is not affecting his performance.”

Arizona showed how highly it thought of Miller during the offseason when it traded a talented package of players and prospects, including Ender Inciarte and Dansby Swanson, to acquire him in a deal with the Atlanta Braves. In turn, the team will lean on him in the years ahead.

He’s struggled during his first couple of months with the organization, though. He heads to the DL with a 7.09 ERA and 1.86 WHIP through 10 starts. The organization will hope those poor numbers were at least partially due to the injury.

The 25-year-old right-hander made at least 30 starts in three straight seasons since becoming a full-time major leaguer in 2013 with the St. Louis Cardinals. That durability is likely one of the reasons the D-Backs felt comfortable paying the high price to get him.

Strong outings from Rubby De La Rosa, Patrick Corbin and Robbie Ray are now going to become more vital to the team’s success behind ace Zack Greinke. The team’s pitching depth really needs to showcase its worth for Arizona.

Having other capable starters also means the club doesn’t have to rush Miller back into action. Once healthy, he should slide right back into his usual spot in the rotation.

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Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies star Lenny Dykstra said Tuesday that he used to take performance-enhancing drugs with his breakfast.  

Jonah Birenbaum of theScore.com passed along comments the longtime outfielder made during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd about his PED habits.

“I put [human growth hormone, or HGH] in my cereal man. It was in my cereal. We’re talking about the good stuff. … We’re talking about the difference of making $30 million or getting a real job and working and making $60,000. What, do you want the guy next to you taking them and you’re not going to take them?”

Dykstra has provided various details about using steroids and other PEDs in recent years. According to Stephen Borelli of USA Today, the first such instance was in a book by Randall Lane—The Zeroes: My Misadventures in the Decade Wall Street Went Insane—in 2010 after the speedy center fielder was named in MLB‘s Mitchell Report three years earlier.

“You know, I was like a pioneer for that stuff,” Dykstra said. “The juice. I was like the very first to do that. Me and [Jose] Canseco.”

He also further explained his reasoning for the decision and how he obtained steroids in a prior discussion with Cowherd last year, as relayed by Enrico Campitelli of CSN Philly:

I said, “Look, this year is going to determine if I get paid and be an everyday player or not. So I need something to keep me strong.” I went and read about the runner Ben Johnson who was the first guy to use [steroids]. I went to the library and I found I needed Deca Durabolin. The doctor said, “okay.” And he writes it. He said, “come back and I’ll show you how to do it.” Then I hire a trainer and I show up to spring training looking like Greek statue, 190 [pounds]. Now, I lead the league in hits, I hit .325, hitting .400 in June, the cover of Sports Illustrated. You think they work? Maybe.

Although the exact number of players using PEDs during Dykstra’s career will never be known, the belief that other people were getting a leg up by using substances was always present. Former ace Pedro Martinez, who debuted in 1992, told Bob Nightengale of USA Today last year he figured 60 percent of players were enhancing their performance in some way when he pitched.

Dykstra ended up carrying a .375 on-base percentage across 12 years in the big leagues. He also tallied 802 runs scored and 285 stolen bases during that stretch en route to three All-Star Game selections, a Silver Slugger Award and a World Series title with the Mets in 1986.

The lingering question when somebody reveals PED use is how much that impacted their play. Dykstra’s comments make it clear he believes it benefited him enough to maintain a starting spot, which must frustrate others from the same era who stayed clean while fighting for the same opportunities.

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The Chicago Cubs reached an agreement Tuesday with veteran relief pitcher Joe Nathan on a major league contract for the rest of the 2016 season.

The Cubs officially announced the signing and confirmed Nathan would be placed on the 60-day disabled list as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery performed in April 2015. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported the deal includes a team option for 2017 that can turn into a mutual option based on performance. Heyman added Nathan can make up to $2.4 million in incentives this season and up to $4.6 million next season. 

It’s a low-risk addition for Chicago. Nathan, who was once among the league’s most dominant closers, owns a 2.89 ERA with 967 strikeouts in 917 career innings. Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reports he could return to action by the start of July.

The 41-year-old reliever enjoyed most of his success with the Minnesota Twins, where he registered 260 saves across seven seasons. He’s also made stops with the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers during a career that began in 1999.

What he’s going to eventually provide to the Cubs is a mystery, though. He struggled for the Tigers in 2014, posting a 4.81 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 62 games and making just a single appearance last season before suffering the season-ending elbow injury.

Still, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports thinks it’s a worthwhile chance to take:

Ultimately, the Cubs will probably work Nathan into the bullpen mix with some low-leverage innings once he’s ready. They have been blowing teams out on a regular basis, as their league-best run differential illustrates, so there have been plenty of those opportunities to go around.

Should he showcase some vintage form in that role, there’s a chance he could work his way into the seventh-inning spot in front of Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop. While those two relievers have been reliable for Chicago, the bullpen as a whole ranks a middling 13th in ERA, per ESPN.

A healthy, rejuvenated Nathan could certainly help further bridge that gap between the starters and the back end of the bullpen, but for now, there are obvious question marks about whether he’s still capable of that high-end production at this stage of his career.

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