This article is part of our Transaction Analysis series.
The 2013 season is drawing to a close, but that didn't stop several teams from making roster changes this week. Here's a look at some of the most noteworthy:
SATURDAY
Blue Jays
Colby Rasmus, OF - placed on the 15-day DL (left eye)
Impact: The Jays center fielder saw his 2013 season come to a premature end after he was struck in the face by a warm-up throw Friday night. He finishes the year with a .276 average, 22 home runs and 66 RBI over 118 games. Anthony Gose should be the primary center fielder over what little remains of this season. Rajai Davis will continue to be a regular in the Jays outfield, with Kevin Pillar and Moises Sierra sharing the remaining outfield spot. Journeyman Ryan Langerhans has since had his contract purchased from Triple-A Buffalo to provide some additional outfield depth.
Rays
Enny Romero, LHP - recalled from Triple-A Durham
Impact: The 22-year-old Romero got his first taste of big-league action Sunday, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings on one hit and four walks against the Orioles. The free passes are nothing new for the Dominican left-hander, as he has struggled with control throughout his minor-league career. Still, he has demonstrated an impressive ability to miss bats and could have a bright future ahead of him. He's auditioning for a possible rotation spot next season, so those in keeper leagues should take notice.
MONDAY
Phillies
Kyle Kendrick, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right shoulder)
Impact:
The 2013 season is drawing to a close, but that didn't stop several teams from making roster changes this week. Here's a look at some of the most noteworthy:
SATURDAY
Blue Jays
Colby Rasmus, OF - placed on the 15-day DL (left eye)
Impact: The Jays center fielder saw his 2013 season come to a premature end after he was struck in the face by a warm-up throw Friday night. He finishes the year with a .276 average, 22 home runs and 66 RBI over 118 games. Anthony Gose should be the primary center fielder over what little remains of this season. Rajai Davis will continue to be a regular in the Jays outfield, with Kevin Pillar and Moises Sierra sharing the remaining outfield spot. Journeyman Ryan Langerhans has since had his contract purchased from Triple-A Buffalo to provide some additional outfield depth.
Rays
Enny Romero, LHP - recalled from Triple-A Durham
Impact: The 22-year-old Romero got his first taste of big-league action Sunday, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings on one hit and four walks against the Orioles. The free passes are nothing new for the Dominican left-hander, as he has struggled with control throughout his minor-league career. Still, he has demonstrated an impressive ability to miss bats and could have a bright future ahead of him. He's auditioning for a possible rotation spot next season, so those in keeper leagues should take notice.
MONDAY
Phillies
Kyle Kendrick, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right shoulder)
Impact: Kendrick has been shut down for the rest of the season due to inflammation in his right shoulder. The right-hander had a somewhat disappointing campaign, going 10-13 with a 4.70 ERA and a strikeout rate of just 5.44 K/9 over 30 starts. There is no reason at this point to believe that he won't be ready to go for next season, though he's probably still not going to be worth a look in most mixed leagues. Zach Miner gets to hold onto a rotation spot after he made a spot start for Kendrick on Sept. 18. Before this year, Miner hadn't pitched in the majors since 2009, and his career numbers have not been overly impressive. He made a second start on Tuesday, and is slated to start the season finale against the Braves on Sunday.
Rays
Jesse Crain, RHP - activated from the 60-day DL
Impact: Crain was traded from the White Sox to the Rays in July, but had yet to throw a single pitch for Tampa Bay before his activation Monday. He had been pitching extremely well for the ChiSox before missing nearly three months with a strained right shoulder. He makes his Rays debut sporting a nifty ERA of 0.74 with 19 holds in just 38 appearances.
WEDNESDAY
Orioles
Manny Machado, 3B - placed on the 60-day DL (left knee)
Impact: Machado's first full season in the majors has come to an end a bit early due to a torn ligament in his left knee. The 21-year-old third baseman had appeared in all 156 of the team's games through Monday, and finishes 2013 with a .283 average, 14 home runs and 71 RBI. Ryan Flaherty appears to be the most likely candidate to handle the duties at the hot corner over the rest of the season, though Danny Valencia could also see some time there. Flaherty has struggled to make consistent contact this year and is a clear downgrade offensively for the O's.
Yankees
CC Sabathia, LHP - placed on the 60-day DL (left hamstring)
Travis Hafner, DH - activated from the 60-day DL
Impact: Sabathia's disappointing 2013 campaign has come to an early end due to a strained left hamstring. The veteran lefty finishes the year 14-13 with a career-high 4.78 ERA through 32 starts. He's expected to be fully recovered in time for spring training of 2014. David Huff takes over the vacant rotation spot, and Phil Hughes gets to hang onto his rotation spot as well. Hafner returns to a lousy .205 average, after missing a couple months with a strained rotator cuff. He did manage to hit 12 long balls in just 81 games, so at least he still has some power left in his bat.
THURSDAY
Cubs
Welington Castillo, C - placed on the 15-day DL (right knee)
Impact: Castillo had arthroscopic surgery on his ailing right knee Monday, thus ending his first full season as the Cubs' primary backstop. He did relatively well offensively, hitting .274 with eight home runs and 32 RBI in 113 games. Dioner Navarro will take over the regular catching duties, and actually appears to be an offensive upgrade for Chicago. Navarro has already set a career high in home runs (13) despite limited playing time and also has a career-high .867 OPS.
