Angels' Jonathan Aro: Joins Angels on minor-league deal
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Aro signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Thursday, Jared Tims of Talkin' Halos reports.
Aro has spent most of the last two seasons playing in the Mexican League and Dominican Winter League. The right-hander's last stateside experience was in the Atlanta organization in 2019, when he posted a 3.53 ERA and 40:9 K:BB across 63.2 innings between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Aro threw 11 combined major-league frames for Boston and Seattle in 2015 and 2016, allowing eight earned runs and posting an 8:5 K:BB.
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Braves' Jonathan Aro: Reaches deal with Atlanta
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Aro agreed Thursday with the Braves on a minor-league contract, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The 28-year-old had a cup of coffee in the big leagues with Seattle in 2016 but has pitched exclusively at the Triple-A level the past two seasons. As a member of Triple-A El Paso in the Padres organization in 2018, Aro accrued a 3.89 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 44 frames. He'll likely function as a depth arm for Atlanta during the upcoming season and is a long shot to surface in the big leagues.
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Padres' Jonathan Aro: Signs NRI deal with Padres
Rotowire
Aro agreed to a minor-league deal with the Padres on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Aro spent the last couple years in the Mariners' organization but missed a decent chunk of last season after a violation of the minor-league drug policy. He's only appeared in seven major-league games over the course of his career, and pitched 42.2 innings at the Triple-A level in 2017. During that time with Tacoma, he posted a 3.16 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, which was good enough to land him an invitation to a big-league camp with the Padres for this upcoming spring. He will serve as organizational depth in the club's bullpen moving forward.
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Mariners' Jonathan Aro: Suspended 50 games
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Aro was slapped with a 50-game suspension after violating the minor-league drug policy, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Aro hadn't appeared in a minor-league game as he was awaiting his suspension. The 26-year-old will likely head back to a minor-league bullpen role once he's eligible to return.
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Mariners' Jonathan Aro: Reassigned to minor-league camp
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Aro was reassigned to minor-league camp Friday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
The Mariners made their final round of roster cuts to get down to 25 men on Friday with Opening Day approaching. Aro was hit hard throughout the spring, notching a 6.57 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. He figures to slot into a bullpen role at either Double-A or Triple-A.
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Mariners' Jonathan Aro: Clears waivers Wednesday
Rotowire
Aro cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday.
The right-hander was DFA'd last week to make room on the 40-man roster for Tuffy Gosewisch, but after not garnering any interest during his waiver period, he'll head back to Triple-A to develop more. Aro did still receive an invitation to big league camp for spring training, but his chances of cracking the major league roster are certainly lower given his standing in the organization.
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Mariners' Jonathan Aro: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Aro was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Thursday, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.
The move was to make room for Tuffy Gosewisch, whom the Mariners claimed off waivers from Atlanta. Aro hasn't pitched particularly well in his major league appearances to date, posting a 6.55 ERA across 11.0 innings. He did enjoy success with Seattle's Triple-A affiliate in 2016, registering a 2.48 ERA over 36.1 innings.
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Mariners' Jonathan Aro: Optioned to Triple-A Tacoma
Rotowire
Aro was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday.
Aro was optioned in a corresponding move with the M's signing righty reliever Tom Wilhelmsen to a one-year deal. He appeared in one game in his stint in majors. At the Triple-A level this season, Aro has pitched 33 innings and posted a 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP.
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Mariners' Jonathan Aro: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Aro was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.
The 25-year-old righty reliever had a 2.45 ERA but just 24 strikeouts in 33 innings at Triple-A. Aro is expected to work in low-leverage situations for the time being.
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Mariners' Jonathan Aro: Progressing at Triple-A Tacoma
Rotowire
Aro has a 0.97 WHIP and 1.46 ERA after pitching 24.2 innings in 16 games at Triple-A Tacoma.
The need for further development at the Triple-A level was evident after Aro gave up eight runs in only 10.1 innings during his first ever stints in the MLB last season. Thus far, he seems to be making the most of the opportunity to improve, holding opponents to a .186 batting average. Aro will likely stay at Tacoma for the time being, as Seattle's bullpen is dominating with a 2.43 ERA and .192 opponent batting average. While in Triple-A, Aro will look to increase his strikeout rate and improve his K/BB ratio of 2.13.
Aro was traded to the Mariners on Monday, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.
Wade Miley was the big haul for the Mariners in the deal, but Aro could help out the major league team next season as well. The 25-year-old put up impressive numbers in the minors last season, including a 3.14 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 51.2 innings at Triple-A, but struggled after earning a promotion to the majors so he may begin the year back down in the minors.
