Tallarini’s Takes – MLB Transactions, May 15

Jose Butto #70 of the New York Mets pitches. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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MLB Transactions 

• Milwaukee Brewers recalled outfielder Chris Roller from Triple-A Nashville on May 15 prior to his MLB debut on Wednesday night.

 

• • Brewers infielder Oliver Dunn was optioned to Triple-A Nashville as part of this correspondence.

• • Roller, 27, was born in Austin, Texas, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 30th round of the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft and signed on June 14, 2017, after attending McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas.

• • Roller played in seven seasons in the minor leagues with the Dodgers from 2017-19, the Cleveland Indians-Guardians from 2021-23, and has been with the Brewers organization since he was traded in exchange for cash considerations on August 31, 2023.

• • Roller played in 14 games with Triple-A Nashville to start the 2024 season, hitting .250 with 58 plate appearances, 14 hits, four doubles, one triple, eight RBI, one stolen base, two walks, and 21 strikeouts prior to being called up by Milwaukee.

• • He started in six games in center field, two in left field, and six in right field for Triple-A Nashville.

• • Roller was placed on the seven-day injured list on April 21 and was sent to his rehab assignment at the Arizona Complex Level on May 6. He played in one game with five plate appearances, swiping one base, and did not record a hit. He was activated from the seven-day injured list on May 8 from Triple-A Nashville.

• • Last season, between Triple-A Columbus with the Guardians organization and Triple-A Nashville with the Brewers, Roller played in 108 games, batting .247 with 396 plate appearances, dialing 77 hits, 16 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 67 RBI, 19 stolen bases, 68 walks, 109 strikeouts, and a .843 OPS.
  • During Roller’s seven minor league seasons, he has played in 459 games with 1,786 plate appearances hitting .237 ripping 358 hits, 88 doubles, 16 triples, 34 home runs, 210 RBI, 73 RBI, 204 walks, 439 strikeouts, and a .726 OPS.

 

• The Houston Astros traded outfielder Corey Julks to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for right-handed pitcher Luis Rodriguez on May 15. Julks was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.
• • Julks was designated for assignment by Houston on May 10.

• • The White Sox opened up a 40-man roster spot for Julks To open a 40-man and designated outfielder Rafael Ortega for assignment and recalled outfielder Dominic Fletcher to take Ortega’s spot on the active roster as part of this correspondence.

• • Julks, 28, was born in Friendswood, Texas. The Astros drafted him in the eighth round of the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft and signed him after his junior season at the University of Houston on June 20, 2017.

• • Julks played in 31 games with Triple-A Sugar Land to start the 2024 regular season batting .266 with 148 plate appearances, with 33 hits, seven doubles, five home runs, 15 RBI, six stolen bases, 19 walks, and 27 strikeouts before being traded to the South Side.

• • Last season, he played between Houston and Triple-A Sugar Land. With Triple-A Sugar Land, he played in 27 games and batted .240 with 129 plate appearances. He scored 25 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 11 RBI, six stolen bases, 24 walks, and 23 strikeouts.

• • Julks made his MLB debut on March 31, 2023, at home against the White Sox. He played in 93 games with the Astros hitting .245 in 323 plate appearances, recording 73 hits, 14 doubles, six home runs, 33 RBI, swiping 15 bases, 22 walks, 75 strikeouts, and a .650 OPS.

• • Rodriguez, 20, was born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, and signed a minor league contract with the White Sox on May 1, 2023.

• • Rodriguez played in the Dominican Summer League complex level for the White Sox in the 2023 season and posted a 2-1 record with a 3.55 ERA, throwing 33 innings in 15 appearances out of the bullpen, recording two saves, allowing 32 hits, 13 earned runs, one home run, six walks, and 45 strikeouts.

• • Rodriguez made two appearances out of the bullpen at the Arizona Complex League level for the White Sox to begin the 2024 season and posted a 0-1 record with a 7.36 ERA throwing 3.2 innings allowing four hits, three earned runs, three walks, and four strikeouts before being traded to Houston.

 

• The New York Mets announced on May 15 that they optioned right-handed pitcher Jose Butto to Triple-A Syracuse, designated right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramirez and infielder Joey Wendle for assignment, and recalled right-handed pitcher Grant Hartwig, left-handed pitcher Joey Lucchesi and infielder Mark Vientos from Triple-A Syracuse.

 

• • Butto, 26, was born in Cumana, Venezuela, and has played in three MLB seasons with the New York Mets since making his big league debut on August 21, 2022.

• • This season, Butto was 1-3 in seven starts and posted a 3.08 ERA throwing 38 innings, allowing 22 hits, 13 earned runs, three home runs, 21 walks, 38 strikeouts, and a 1.132 WHIP.

• • Butto was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on March 20 and April 5 during the 2024 season. Butto started in one game with Triple-A Syracuse and threw five innings posting a 3.60 ERA allowing five hits, two earned runs, one home run, four walks, and two strikeouts before being recalled to the Mets on April 14.

• • Last season, Butto split his time between the Mets and Triple-A Syracuse. He went 3-7 in Triple-A Syracuse and posted a 5.93 ERA starting in 19 games, throwing 91 innings, allowing 99 hits, 60 earned runs, 17 home runs, 49 walks, 82 strikeouts, and a 1.626 WHIP.

• • With the Mets, Butto went 1-4 with a 3.64 ERA in nine appearances and seven starts, throwing 42 innings, allowing 33 hits, 17 earned runs, three home runs, 23 walks, 38 strikeouts, and a 1.333 WHIP.

• • During his three seasons in the MLB, Butto has a lifetime record of 2-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 17 appearances and 15 starts. He has pitched 84 innings, allowing 64 hits, 37 earned runs, eight home runs, 46 walks, 81 strikeouts, and a 1.310 WHIP.