CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) - The Cleveland Indians have designated first baseman Jake Bauers for assignment, the team announced on Saturday.
In a corresponding move, first baseman Bobby Bradley has been called up to the majors, while pitcher Eli Morgan has been optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Minor league right-hander Blake Parker also had his contract selected by the team.
Bauers' time in Cleveland may be coming to an end after just over two seasons. A former Top-100 prospect under the Tampa Bay Rays' farm system, Bauers was traded to the Tribe in December 2018 as part of the major three-team trade that involved the Rays and Seattle Mariners. Between the 2019 and 2021 seasons (as Bauers spent the abbreviated 2020 campaign at Cleveland's alternate training site), Bauers has hit .218/.305/.352 with 14 home runs, over 536 plate appearances.
Bradley, who returns to the big leagues after a brief 2019 run (in which Bradley batted .178 in 49 plate appearances), had a solid Spring Training but has seen struggles with Columbus this year: a .196/.266/.485 slash line and nine homers in 109 plate appearances. The 2014 third-round pick recently picked up four hits over a doubleheader, and will head to the Indians' roster immediatley.
Parker, meanwhile, signed a minor league deal with the Indians in the offseason. With just one official appearance, Parker will make it seven different teams over parts of nine MLB seasons. The right-hander (who turns 36 on June 19) most recently pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020, recording a 2.81 ERA.
Morgan already has one appearance for the Tribe this season - his debut start back on May 28, in which he lasted 2.2 innings and gave up six runs and eight hits to the Toronto Blue Jays, who beat the Indians 11-2. In three games with Columbus this year, Morgan has recorded an 0-1 record with an ERA of 3.95.