Juan Cruz had to go back home to deal with personal matters in late May, and that brought Doug Slaten to Pittsburgh and started the ball rolling. The next day, Yamiaco Navarro was sent to Indy and Jordy Mercer called up when Clint Barmes went into bat rehab for a couple of days.
Nate McLouth was released, saving Slaten's spot, and Charlie Morton was put on the 15-day DL the following day to allow Cruz to rejoin the team. Then it hit the fan the past couple of days.
The Bucs needed a hand in the pen. Brad Lincoln was in limbo after being converted to a reliever again (he won't be available until tomorrow) and a couple of guys out of commission temporarily; enter Bryan Morris. To make room for him, the little used Jordy Mercer was sent down.
The Jeff Karstens came back; Morris was returned to the Tribe the very next day. Drew Sutton, a utility infielder, was claimed on waivers and reported today. Needing another roster spot, Doug Slaten was optioned to Indy. The 40-man was cleared for Sutton by transferring Charlie Morton from the 15-day to 60-day DL.
Rod Barajas bruised his knee, and Mike McKenry was hit in the hand by a pitch, though still ambulatory. But the team needed a back-up other than emergency catcher Casey McGehee, so Eric Fryer was called up. That, in turn, dropped another domino; Matt Hague was sent to Indy to make room for the backstop.
That required someone else to be lopped from the 40-man roster, too, as Fryer wasn't a member of that list, and so Danny Moskos was DFA'ed.
It's a lot of effort for what will probably be a very short stay. Fryer was hitting .167; if the FO thought Barajas was going to be on ice for more than a day or three, they would have brought up veteran back up C Jose Morales. So as soon as Hot Rod is ready to don the tools again, Fryer will be DFA'ed (he's out of options).
That will free a spot for another Indy player to come to Pittsburgh. Could be Navarro, Jeff Clements or maybe even Gorkys Hernandez, as neither Mercer nor Hague should have their mandatory ten-day minimum served at Indianapolis, as Barajas is day-to-day with his injury.
Done? Heck, no. Chris Leroux has been tossing rehab ball, and he's due back. No options for him, either. So when his time comes to fish or cut bait, someone has to be DFA'ed. Of course, he could be designated, although it's more likely that Chris Resop or Juan Cruz will bite the dust.Tony Watson, Jared Hughes and Brad Lincoln have options, but they're probably bulletproof.
And hey...then it'll be trade season, and it all starts over again. No wonder scorecard sales are so good.
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