Stephen

Gonsalves

Gonsalves was cut loose by the Dodgers last week and quickly found a new home with the division-rival Rockies. The 29-year-old lefty hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2021 campaign and represents extra organizational relief depth for Colorado at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Gonsalves was a notable pitching prospect with the Twins back a few years ago, but hasn’t appeared in the majors since the 2021 season when he made three relief appearances for the Red Sox. The 29-year-old southpaw signed a minor league pact with Los Angeles back in mid-January and never wound up making it to Dodger Stadium.

With the Dodgers and Padres set to open the regular season sooner than the rest of the league, expect them to trim down their rosters more quickly than the rest of the league. Knack, 26, had been a dark horse to see occasional starts as part of a six-man rotation to begin the season, but he’ll start out as excess depth at the Triple-A level instead.

Gonsalves last appeared in the majors with the Red Sox back in 2021 when he made three relief appearances. The 29-year-old southpaw was limited to just 22 appearances (five starts) last year in the Cubs’ minor league system. He’ll serve as extra organizational relief depth for the Dodgers entering 2024.

The Cubs have just 31 players left in major-league camp this spring after the latest round of cuts. No major surprises, but Vargas’s inclusion means that Chicago won’t have a true backup shortstop behind Nico Hoerner to open the regular season while Andrelton Simmons is out with a shoulder issue.

The deal doesn’t include an invite to major-league spring training. Gonsalves was a highly-regarded pitching prospect in the Twins’ system a few years ago and made three relief appearances for the Red Sox last season. The 27-year-old southpaw will serve as organizational relief depth for the Cubs next season.

Gonsalves pitched pretty well during his brief time with the big club but is being sent out in favor of fellow southpaw Austin Davis.

Gonsalves will give the Red Sox some much-needed bullpen depth while they work through a COVID-19 outbreak. The 27-year-old hasn’t appeared in a game at the MLB level since 2018.

Gonsalves was pushed off Boston’s 40-man roster in late August, but the two sides have now worked out a new non-guaranteed pact for 2021. The 26-year-old southpaw last pitched in the major leagues in 2018, when he struggled to a 6.57 ERA, 2.03 WHIP, and 16/22 K/BB ratio in 24 2/3 innings with the Twins.

Gonsalves was designated for assignment by Boston last week and passed through waivers unclaimed. He will remain with the Red Sox organization but is no longer a member of the 40-man roster.