A few players recently designated for assignment have passed through unclaimed waivers. We’ll round up the latest outrights around the game.
- The Angels announced that outfielder Dillon Thomas has been outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake. The 29-year-old has the right to refuse the assignment in favor of free agency, having previously been outrighted by the Mariners last year. Thomas has only played in eight MLB games this season, but he’s bounced around the waiver wire a bit. Signed to a minor league deal by the Halos, he was briefly selected onto the big league roster. He was quickly waived, landed with the Astros, then went back to Orange County before going unclaimed. Thomas has an excellent .294/.389/.500 showing through 319 Triple-A plate appearances this season.
- A’s right-hander Wandisson Charles cleared waivers and was sent outright to Double-A Midland, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. It’s the first career outright for Charles, so he doesn’t have the right to elect free agency at the moment. The 25-year-old (26 next month) will stick with the RockHounds and try to play his way back onto the 40-man roster. Charles has a power arm, but he’s had a disastrous season in Double-A. He owns a 9.53 ERA across 34 innings of relief, striking out and walking batters at a matching 18.6% clip. If he’s not selected back onto the 40-man by the start of the offseason, Charles would qualify for minor league free agency at the end of the year.
- Marlins reliever Aneurys Zabala has been sent outright to Triple-A Jacksonville, according to his MLB.com transactions log. It’s the second outright of the season for the righty, who has the right to elect free agency this time around. Zabala has made his first two MLB appearances this season, working 2 2/3 scoreless frames while averaging north of 99 MPH on his fastball. Zabala clearly has high-octane stuff, but he’s walked an unacceptable 27.9% of batters faced in Triple-A this year. Those strike-throwing concerns have prevented him from finding a roster spot despite his elite arm strength.
.