Howard signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Friday.
Howard made three major-league appearances with the Rangers in 2023, though most of his time was spent in Triple-A, where he put up a 6.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 21 frames. Given his career 7.20 ERA and 1.67 WHIP across 115 innings in the majors, it's unlikely Howard makes an impact with the Giants.
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Spencer Howard: Cut loose by Yankees
Rotowire
The Yankees released Howard (undisclosed) on Wednesday.
Howard was acquired from the Rangers at the trade deadline but made just three appearances with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before going on the affiliate's 7-day injured list with an undisclosed issue. Though the Yankees haven't indicated whether or not he's healthy again, Howard is free to seek a gig in another organization. Howard holds a 7.20 ERA over 38 appearances in the majors, but he's a former top prospect who has missed plenty of bats in the minors, so he'll likely latch on somewhere.
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Yankees' Spencer Howard: On minor-league injured list
Rotowire
Howard left his outing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a team trainer Saturday and was placed on the seven-day injured list with an undisclosed issue,Conor Foley of The Scranton Times-Tribune reports.
The nature and severity of Howard's injury are not clear. The 27-year-old righty likely wasn't going to play a major role for the Yankees down the stretch even if healthy, as he was acquired for cash at the deadline and owns a career 7.20 ERA in 115 major-league innings.
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Yankees' Spencer Howard: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Yankees optioned Howard to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.
After being dealt from Texas to the Yankees on Tuesday in exchange for cash, Howard will head back to Triple-A. The 27-year-old righty holds a 5.40 ERA and 1.05 WHIP through 18.1 frames in the minors this season and hasn't been very effective throughout his big-league career.
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Yankees' Spencer Howard: Dealt to Yankees for cash
Rotowire
Howard was traded from the Rangers to the Yankees on Tuesday in exchange for cash, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
It has been quite a fall from grace for Howard over the past few years, as he was once seen as one of the better pitching prospects in the game as part of the Phillies' farm system, but he is now on his third team. The 27-year-old righty has a 7.20 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 115 career innings in the majors and had been working as a low-leverage reliever for the Rangers.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Returns to majors
Rotowire
Howard was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.
Howard had a disastrous appearance last month with the Rangers but has pitched well in the minors this season after recovering from a lat strain. He figures to be used in low-leverage situations.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Sent down to Triple-A
Rotowire
Howard was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.
Howard made his season debut Friday after missing the first two months of the season with a lat strain, and it couldn't have gone much worse. The Rays bullied him to the tune of four runs in one-third of an inning, as he walked one batter, hit another and gave up four hits. Per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, the Rangers believe they called Howard up too early, as he joined the team after making just two rehab outings. He'll continue to get stretched out in the minors and is a potential rotation option if the Rangers get hit with more injuries.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Brought back from IL
Rotowire
The Rangers activated Howard (lat) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Howard has been sidelined all season with a right lat strain but has been cleared to return following a two-appearance minor-league rehab assignment in which he struck out seven and walked one over 3.2 hitless innings. Though he's worked primarily as a starter for the Rangers since being acquired from the Phillies in July 2021, his usage in the minors prior to being activated suggests Texas plans on deploying him as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen now that he's healthy again.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Howard (lat) has been sent to Triple-A Round Rock to begin a rehab assignment.
Howard has been out all season with a right lat strain but has been throwing the ball well of late at the Rangers' spring training complex, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. It's not clear whether the Rangers plan to use him as a starter or reliever once he's activated.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Rangers diagnosed Howard with a right lat strain and transferred him from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of catcher Sandy Leon. Howard was first injured back in early March and now isn't eligible to return until late May.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Goes on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Texas placed Howard (arm) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Howard began experiencing right arm fatigue in early March and still needs to build back up into regular-season form. There's no exact timeframe for when he might be an option in Texas.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Dealing with arm fatigue
Rotowire
Howard will not pitch Monday as hoped due to arm fatigue, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
The Rangers do not believe this to be a serious setback for the right-hander. Howard projects to open the 2023 season in the rotation at Triple-A Round Rock, although it's possible he could be look at as a bullpen arm. He'll need to get healthy first, though.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Reinstated, sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Howard (shoulder) was activated from the 15-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.
Howard appeared in four games with Round Rock during his rehab assignment, and he'll remain with the affiliate now that he's been fully cleared from the right shoulder impingement that put him on the IL in early August. The 26-year-old has appeared in 10 games for the Rangers this year and has a 7.41 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 32:15 K:BB across 37.2 innings.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Goes five innings in rehab outing
Rotowire
Howard (shoulder) covered five innings and struck out six while allowing three runs on four hits and no walks in his most recent rehab outing Friday with Triple-A Round Rock.
Making the third appearance of his rehab assignment, Howard tossed 63 pitches (44 strikes). The Rangers haven't outlined their next steps for Howard, but he looks like he could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list and slot back into the big-league rotation at some point during the team's series this weekend in Anaheim. Before landing on the IL on Aug. 10 with right shoulder impingement syndrome, Howard had compiled a 7.41 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 32:15 K:BB in 37.2 innings with Texas.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Two starts into rehab
Rotowire
Howard (shoulder) allowed six runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out one in a rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, the Rangers' official site reports.
Howard ran his pitch count to 68 in what was his second rehab outing. The right-hander also threw Sept. 7, allowing one run on five hits while striking out four over four innings. Howard is expected to make a third rehab start, likely Sept. 23.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Will begin rehab Sunday
Rotowire
Howard (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
Howard was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder impingement syndrome in early August and hasn't pitched in a game since Aug. 7. No target return date is in place, at least not publicly. It doesn't seem the Rangers are in a hurry for the 26-year-old righty to return.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Scheduled for live BP
Rotowire
Howard (shoulder) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
The 26-year-old was placed the injured list with a right shoulder impingement syndrome Aug. 10, and he resumed throwing in a bullpen session last week. Howard is expected to throw 30-35 pitches Saturday and could begin a rehab assignment next week if all goes well.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Out with shoulder injury
Rotowire
Howard was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder impingement syndrome, Richard Justice of Texas Monthly reports.
Howard surrendered six runs (five earned) over 3.1 innings during his last start Sunday, and he'll now miss at least a couple turns through the rotation due to the injury. The 26-year-old will be eligible to be reinstated Aug. 23, though it's unclear if he's expected to be fully recovered by that point. John King was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Hit hard in loss
Rotowire
Howard (2-4) took the loss Sunday against the White Sox, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking three in 3.1 innings.
Chicago scored a run in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth. Andrew Vaughn hit a two-run blast in the third and, after AJ Pollock and Luis Robert hit consecutive doubles with one out in the fourth, Howard was removed. Howard stepped into Texas' rotation at the beginning of July and has allowed four runs or more in four of his seven starts since then. As a starter, he has a 7.41 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 10 homers allowed in 34 innings. His next start will likely be next weekend against Seattle.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Solid in Monday's win
Rotowire
Howard (1-1) earned the win Monday over the Athletics. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out one over five innings.
Howard got through three innings without trouble, then allowed an RBI single to Seth Brown in the fourth and a solo home run to Sheldon Neuse in the fifth. The Athletics rallied late against the Rangers' bullpen, but Brett Martin closed it out to earn Howard his first win in five appearances this year. Howard allowed four runs in four innings in his previous start, so this was a marked improvement for the right-hander. He still has an 8.04 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB through 15.2 innings, but with Dane Dunning (ankle) landing on the injured list, Howard should get an extended look in the rotation. He's lined up for a weekend home start versus the Mariners.
