Yup, and they didn't lose him (yet, hopefully he doesn't opt to go elsewhere), so he's still around... hopefully there'll be 3-5 better options by spring training.
Printable View
Already are 4-5 better options (depends on who is counting) : Diamond, DeVries, Gibson, Hendriks, Baker. But I hope that they get at least 2 pitchers better than Diamond and have DeVries and Hendriks fight for the 5th spot and keep it warm until Gibson is well-rested.
I think, with the timing of these moves, that players have longer to decide if they're going to accept their assignment or not. In fact, I think they all have until tomorrow/midnight tonight (or in some cases, longer) to decide if they're going to become minor league free agents or not. I would be surprised if any of them simply accept the assignment. (BA usually releases the list of minor league free agents within a couple of days of free agency starting.)
(After the previous moves - Walters, Waldrop, etc - there was a quote from TR saying he "hoped to re-sign" a couple of them, so I'm under the assumption that if they have the required service time, they'll take the free agency.)
Doesn't Deduno have some health issues? Eyesight issues or dizziness or something? Maybe TR and company didn't like what they saw.
ROC now boasts retread starters Nick Blackburn, Sam Deduno, PJ Walters, Cole DeVries, Pedro Hernandez & probably Kyle Gibson & Liam Hendriks. Doesnt bode well for BJ Hermsen or David Bromberg getting to AAA.
Hopefully that means they wont sign any more retread pitchers as they've already signed Aaron Thompson & Shairon Martis back also