The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Figured it’s time to start this thread with the lockout over. And, for the first news, Andrew Chafin signed a 2 year $13M contract with the Tigers. That’s about what I thought he would be able to get as he was one of the most attractive lefties still on the FA market after the lockout and I dare say, the Tigers might have gotten him a little bit cheap.

Still looking out for Travis Shaw and Taylor Williams. Both will be hurt by the lockout since they would be hoping for a big league contract and likely have to settle for a minor league contract with an invitation to the big league spring training camp, but the shortened spring training will hurt their chances. I expect both will start the year at AAA and, if they do well, end up getting a chance, but who knows where at this point.

Shaw back to the Red Sox on a minor league deal. Hopefully this is his comfort zone and he goes back to producing at the major league level.

I could see Shaw making the club as the 13th position player. The Red Sox only have 17 position players on their 40-man roster and a few are kids that have little chance of making the club. Shaw is a reasonable backup plan for Dalbec at 1B if he slips and a good backup for Devers at 3B with the benefit of being a leftie power off the bench.

It looks like Chafin might have given the Tigers a bit of a ‘hometown’ discount because he seemed happy about being closer to home (I think Detroit is about 2 hours from where he lives). Shame the Guardians don’t think that way, but they have bigger problems than left-handed relief.

Williams to the Giants on a minor league deal.

Quote: The Giants have signed right-handed pitcher Taylor Williams to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp, per Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com.

Williams was drafted by the Brewers and spent the first three years of his big league career there, before bouncing to the Mariners, Padres and Marlins over the past two years. Over his five seasons, he’s gotten into 97 games and thrown 98 2/3 innings. His career ERA is 5.29, along with a 23.3% strikeout rate and 10.9% walk rate.

Now 30 years old, Williams is out of options. If he’s able to crack the Giants’ roster, he’ll have to stay there, or else be designated for assignment. However, with just over three years of MLB service time, if he can earn and hang onto a roster spot, he can be retained by the club via arbitration.

SF had a really good bullpen last year, but teams keep 13 pitchers now, so there is a chance. And, with injuries, getting called up from AAA isn't out of the question.

Taylor Williams was sent to AAA from the Giants camp. Not a surprise; he didn’t pitch well in spring training. We’ll see how he does in the minors.

Travis Shaw made the Red Sox roster. He'll be the left-handed option off the bench and back up 1B and 3B.

Just a quick rundown on some Kent players in the minors:

Jake Latz is at Round Rock, the Ranger's AAA team. He gave up 2 runs in 4 IP in his first start.

Dylan Rosa is at Toledo, the Tiger's AAA team as a backup OF.

Joey Murray is at New Hampshire, the Blue Jay's AA club. He gave up 4 runs in 4 IP in his first start.

I know the minors and mlb draft have been substantially revamped over the past couple of years, but it seems the tracking of alumni in the pros has been greatly simplified. No longer seems to be multiple draft prospects every year and guys scattered all over the levels. Our once prosperous program has been reduced to average, hopefully we can get things back on track.

(04-10-2022 12:38 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  I know the minors and mlb draft have been substantially revamped over the past couple of years, but it seems the tracking of alumni in the pros has been greatly simplified. No longer seems to be multiple draft prospects every year and guys scattered all over the levels. Our once prosperous program has been reduced to average, hopefully we can get things back on track.

Well, there are others out there, but I'm not sure where they landed. Also, the way things will be set up going forward, there will be less chances for good college players that probably don't have the potential to reach the bigs in the affiliated minors, so we might see more players end up in the independent leagues (like Pavin Parks did last year).

I wonder if you'll see big league clubs form relationships with some indy league clubs to 'check out' some of these players. Like, sign Jimmy Rider and give him a chance and if he is looking promising, we'll buy him off of you at the end of the season.

A little bit of an update:

* Andrew Chafin started the year on the DL from a pulled groin which didn't heal quickly. He had a good pitching session last week and is expected back in late April.

And a few more minor league players:

* John Matthews is pitching for High A Hickory in the Texas organization. He's gotten hit pretty good in his first two appearances.

* Luke Albright is pitching for High A Hillsborough and off to a really good start.

* Zach Willeman is pitching for AA NW Arkansas and off to a good start. He's now in the Royals organization after being a "Player to be named later" in a trade from the last season.

Shaw is going to be DFAd today after his 0-19 start, 4-43 counting spring trainings 4-24.

TODAY: Shaw has elected to become a free agent rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A. As noted by WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford, the Red Sox will only owe Shaw the prorated portion of his $1.5MM salary for the time spent on the active roster. Because Shaw was let go within the season’s first 40 days, the Sox don’t owe the entire salary.

As we hit the quarter point in the season, here's a quick update.

Travis Shaw was designated for assignment two weeks ago and chose free agency over going to AAA Pawtucket. With Bobby Dalbec struggling, Shaw definitely had an opening, but did nothing in his limited play with the BoSox. I honestly think it's unlikely he'll get another chance in the bigs, but he vastly exceeded my expectations.

Andrew Chafin started the year on the DL with a groin injury, but once healthy, he has pitched well again, mostly used in close games in the 7th inning or so by the Tigers. He's been the same Chafin as last year with 4 holds and not allowing any inherited runner to score so far. I expect more of the same. If he isn't an 'elite' reliever, he is the level right below that.

Eric Lauer is off to a fast start (3-1, 2.60 ERA with 49 Ks in 34.2 innings pitched). I was wondering what has changed that he went from an average starter to a very good one, and, apparently, Lauer changed his arm motion because of an injury and pitched up a mph or two on the fastball. With the exception of giving up too many homeruns (6 so far this year), he has been awesome.

A few Kent players are in the independent Frontier League:

* Pavin Parks is playing for Tri-City (Troy, NY) after smashing up the Pioneer League last year.
* Cam Touchette made his minor league debut for Gateway (Sauget, IL near St. Louis) this week. Cam is from that area (playing at nearby John Logan College before coming to Kent).

A few updates in the high minors:

* Jeff Latz has had a problem with the homerun bug at AAA Round Rock, but has generally been okay (4.79 ERA) as a starting pitcher.

* Taylor Williams has had control problems in AAA Sacramento (9 BBs, 5 HBP, 5 WP in 16.2 IP), which will probably keep him from getting called up.

* Dylan Rosa was demoted to AA Erie from AAA Toledo this week. He was really buried on the bench at Toledo, playing very little and should get more playing time at Erie. Dylan’s really an organizational soldier and I kind of expect him to bounce up and down I-90 all year between Erie and Toledo.

Another sign that Duncan has run this program into the ground is that we had nobody drafted in this years MLB draft. draft is 20 rounds now but central (3), ball state and toledo (2) and western, eastern and miami all with 1 taken.

Former flash and recent Ohio State coach Greg Beals has been hired by that school next door. One more average Georgia season and Randale growing a pair and solving our managerial problem and we could have a Stricklin vs Beals showdown again.

Stricklin isn't going anywhere. I pray however, Duncan is.