Danny Hultzen DFA'd

[gunnarthor]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/11/mariners-designate-danny-hultzen-for-assignment.html

 

Seattle's drafting issues continue. Hultzen was the "safe" choice in the 2011 draft after Cole.  Rendon was the best bat and HS arms Bradley and Bundy were thought to have higher upside but Hultzen was probably the safest pick.  But he couldn't stay healthy and never made the majors. 

 

He'll be 26 next year and someone will probably claim him based on his pedigree.

[Homer Hanky]

Why would they just release him... he has great #'s?

 

[nicksaviking]

 

 

He'll be 26 next year and someone will probably claim him based on his pedigree.

 

And I'd be more than thrilled if it was my favorite team.

 

He was lights out in 2013 before he got hurt an missed a year.  The M's don't give him a pass on his rebound 2015 season? That kind of impatience would not fly on this site.  Chris Benson x10.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Why would they just release him... he has great #'s?

You mean the 5 runs allowed in 8 IP last year, before he was shut down for shoulder issues in July?

[gunnarthor]

 

Why would they just release him... he has great #'s?

He's out of options (so is Dylan Bundy) so he'd need to make the ML team, which he wasn't going to do.  He's only thrown 167 innings since being drafted.  He threw 35 innings in 2013, missed all of 2014 and only threw 8 innings last year.  Arm troubles.  He had a torn labrum and rotator cuff issues.

[nicksaviking]

 

You mean the 5 runs allowed in 8 IP last year, before he was shut down for shoulder issues in July?

 

The numbers prior to his original injury were mouth watering.

 

It's safe to say the Mariners know more than everyone else as to what's going on with him. On the other hand, the Mariners have made terrible decisions repeatedly lately.

[Thrylos]

Few things in play here:

 

- Yes Hatzen dominated the AAA PCL in 2014 as a 23 year old.  6 GS 27.6 % K%, 2.05 ERA, 2.56 FIP, 0.85 WHIP (but .225 BABIP).

- But Rotator Cuff issues since 2012 have limited his playing time. Surgery and back this year; not so good and shut down for shoulder issues after 3 games. 

 

The Mariners know his medicals better than anyone else.  Shoulder issues are nasty...

[Otto von Ballpark]

Seems like a good time to try to sneak him through waivers, with all of the Rule 5 hubbub going on, nobody probably wants to use a 40-man spot to claim him right now.  Seattle probably hopes to outright him and have at least one more season to evaluate.

 

If his missed season was due to TJ, he'd no doubt be claimed, but shoulder surgery is a lot worse, and his early returns from it haven't looked promising.

 

Still might be a name I'd like to claim, worst case you try to sneak him through waivers later yourself. Guys are going to have to come off our 40-man roster pretty early next year anyway if we really like our minor league relievers and Berrios, so we might as well make some tough decisions now and take a gamble on upside in the meantime.

 

[Mike Sixel]

I would wager he goes unclaimed. That said, if I'm one of the terrible teams that are probably not competing next year, I would consider claiming him and put him in the bullpen......and if he seems healthy, the rotation.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Heck, claim Hultzen now, and come next April, you could 60-day DL him to get the 40-man roster spot back, and you'd have 30 days worth of rehab to evaluate.

 

If he's still hurting next spring, you'd probably be able to outright him and evaluate the full season too, maybe get first crack at a minor league deal for 2017 if he likes your org.

[nicksaviking]

 

Seems like a good time to try to sneak him through waivers, with all of the Rule 5 hubbub going on, nobody probably wants to use a 40-man spot to claim him right now.  Seattle probably hopes to outright him and have at least one more season to evaluate.

 

If his missed season was due to TJ, he'd no doubt be claimed, but shoulder surgery is a lot worse, and his early returns from it haven't looked promising.

 

Still might be a name I'd like to claim, worst case you try to sneak him through waivers later yourself. Guys are going to have to come off our 40-man roster pretty early next year anyway if we really like our minor league relievers and Berrios, so we might as well make some tough decisions now and take a gamble on upside in the meantime.

 

I agree.  Even there's only a 10% chance that Hultzen makes it back, I'd roll the dice.  There are multiple guys on the 40-man now, or might be added by the end of the day, that I'd be OK losing to take a 10% gamble with Hultzen.  Heck, make that number 5%.  You just don't see a ceiling like this present itself with so little risk.

[nicksaviking]

 

 

I would wager he goes unclaimed. That said, if I'm one of the terrible teams that are probably not competing next year, I would consider claiming him and put him in the bullpen......and if he seems healthy, the rotation.

 

I'd be curious to know if the Mariners first tried to trade him, or if they are just trying to be sneaky and are trying to keep him.  If they tried to trade him and couldn't, he'll likely go unclaimed.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hultzen was one of the last draftees to sign a major league contract in 2011, before they changed that rule the following year.

 

That explains why he's used up 4 options in 4 years since being drafted, despite having never appeared in MLB.

Also suggests gambles of this particular type might not be as plentiful in the future (well, there will always be injured pitchers to gamble on, but probably not quite with Hultzen's background).

 

Fellow 2011 draftee Dylan Bundy is in a similar situation, although it doesn't look like the Orioles are letting go of him yet.