Giants' Bruce Maxwell: Recovering from Tommy John surgery
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Maxwell underwent Tommy John surgery in July and won't return this season, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Maxwell had been out of the lineup for Double-A Richmond since late June, but he only got the surgery about a week and a half ago. He ends 2021 with a .211/.319/.351 slash line, two home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs scored in just 18 games between Richmond and Triple-A Syracuse when he was in the Mets' organization. The catcher hopes to continue his playing career, but at 30 years old, a return to the majors isn't that likely.
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Giants' Bruce Maxwell: Shipped to Giants
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Maxwell was traded to the Giants in exchange for cash considerations Sunday, Mark W. Sanchez of KNBR 680 San Franciscoz reports.
Maxwell has hit an abysmal .174/.355/.348 across 31 plate appearances at Triple-A Syracuse. He'll now report to Double-A Richmond following his trade to the Giants, per John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. Maxwell does have ample experience as a major-league backstop, totalling 88 hits in 412 plate appearances with Oakland from 2016 to 2018.
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Mets' Bruce Maxwell: Heads to minors camp
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The Mets reassigned Maxwell to their minor-league camp Wednesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
New York was always expected to carry James McCann and Tomas Nido as its two catchers on the Opening Day roster, so Maxwell's demotion doesn't come as much of a surprise. The 30-year-old previously appeared in the majors with the Athletics from 2016 through 2018, but he spent the past two seasons in the Mexican League before landing a minor-league deal from the Mets in November. He'll likely be headed to Triple-A Syracuse to begin the current campaign.
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Mets' Bruce Maxwell: Sticking with Mets
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Maxwell signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Wednesday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
The 29-year-old returned to affiliated baseball on a minors deal with the Mets over the summer, and he'll re-sign with the club after working at the alternate training site in 2020. New York's catching situation is currently unsettled after declining the 2021 options of Wilson Ramos and Robinson Chirinos, so Maxwell could have an outside chance at a roster spot in spring training. He last appeared in the majors with the A's in 2018 and had a .516 OPS in 18 games after posting similar numbers at Triple-A that year.
Maxwell returned to affiliated ball Tuesday, signing a minor-league deal with the Mets, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Maxwell spent parts of three seasons with Oakland, posting a .240/.314/.347 slash line, passable numbers for a backup catcher. The German-born backstop spent the 2019 campaign with Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League, hitting .325/.407/.559 with 24 homers and 112 RBI. He'll join the Mets' player pool in an organizational depth role for now.
Maxwell agreed Tuesday to a contract with a Mexican League club, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Maxwell's on-field production took a significant downturn in 2018, with the catcher slashing .219/.300/.281 in 200 plate appearances at Triple-A Nashville and faring even worse in a smaller sample at the big-league level. He was also sentenced to two years' probation last July stemming from an offseason arrest on a gun charge, an incident that may have contributed to the lack of interest he received from MLB teams this winter. The 28-year-old will now look to jumpstart his career south of the border.
Maxwell was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Maxwell will report to the Sounds after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 27-year-old backstop has spent the majority of the season in the minors, slashing .219/.300/.281 across 51 games with Triple-A Nashville. He owns a career .240/.314/.347 line across 127 major-league games.
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Athletics' Bruce Maxwell: DFA'd by Oakland
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Maxwell was designated for assignment by the Athletics on Saturday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Maxwell, who has been in the minors since early June, had a season to forget with a .182/.207/.309 slash line in 18 games with Oakland. The 27-year-old didn't look much better at Triple-A Nashville, slashing .219/.300/.281 in 178 at-bats.
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Athletics' Bruce Maxwell: Optioned to Triple-A
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Maxwell was sent down to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Maxwell was moved in order to make room for Paul Blackburn (forearm) on the active roster prior to his scheduled start against Kansas City on Thursday. Through 18 games with the Athletics this year, Maxwell has hit just .182/.207/.309 with one home run and six RBI. Look for him to spend the foreseeable future with the Sounds while he attempts to figure things out.
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Athletics' Bruce Maxwell: Hits first home run
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Maxwell went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Royals.
Maxwell hit his first home run of the season in the top of the seventh inning to chase starter Jason Hammel, and he had his first multi-hit game of the season as well. The 27-year-old has a .182/.207/.309 line in only 55 at-bats overall.
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Athletics' Bruce Maxwell: Reinstated from restricted list
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Maxwell was reinstated from the restricted list Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Maxwell is back with the A's after his pending legal issues prevented him from traveling with the team to Toronto over the weekend. Maxwell, who is hitting a lackluster .211/.244/.316 through 13 games (41 plate appearances) this season, will resume his role as Oakland's backup catcher, while Josh Phegley was sent back to Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move.
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Athletics' Bruce Maxwell: Will land on restricted list Thursday
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Manager Bob Melvin said Maxwell will be placed on the restricted list when the A's travel to Toronto for a four-game series Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Maxwell is unable to travel with the team due to his pending legal issues, but he'll be able to avoid a demotion to the minors -- which would require him to stay with Triple-A Nashville for a minimum of 10 days -- while temporary landing on the restricted list. Josh Phegley will be recalled from Nashville on Thursday to serve as the team's backup catcher against the Blue Jays. Maxwell should be back with the A's on Tuesday when the team returns home to begin a series against the Mariners.
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Athletics' Bruce Maxwell: Might avoid temporary demotion to Triple-A
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Maxwell, who won't travel to Toronto for the Athletics' upcoming four-game series against the Blue Jays due to his pending legal issues, might avoid getting sent down to Triple-A Nashville when the team adds another catcher, Susan Slusser of SFGate.com reports.
The most likely course of action remains a demotion to the Sounds, but as per MLB rules, Maxwell would have to remain there a minimum of 10 days. The team would prefer to avoid that scenario, so Slusser reports they are investigating the possibility of placing him on the restricted list instead. In the past, players with visa issues have occasionally been allowed to carry that designation, but it remains to be seen if the fact Maxwell's travel ban stems from a pending legal matter will nullify that option.
Athletics' Bruce Maxwell: No entry into Canada due to legal status
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Maxwell is not expected to travel to Toronto with the team for their four-game series against the Blue Jays that begins Thursday due to his pending legal issue, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Maxwell reached a plea agreement on April 13 on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct in connection with an Oct. 28, 2017 incident in Scottsdale, Arizona. However, he's yet to be sentenced, and because the original charges involve the use of a gun, he's ineligible for entry into Canada based on the country's immigration policy. Moreover, Maxwell will have to miss much more than just the Blue Jays series if the Athletics add another catcher in his stead, as that would require Maxwell be sent down to Triple-A Nashville for a minimum of 10 days. Both veteran Josh Phegley and promising prospect Beau Taylor are considered candidates for a callup.
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Athletics' Bruce Maxwell: Reaches plea agreement
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Maxwell reached a plea agreement with the State of Arizona following his arrest in October, pleading guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct, and he'll be placed on probation with a requirement of community service, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.
It remains a possibility that the league office could hand Maxwell a suspension stemming from this incident, as MLB typically waits until all criminal proceedings have been completed before ruling. The catcher previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated assault after he reportedly waved a gun at a food delivery person. Even if levied with a suspension, it isn't expected to be a lengthy one. Expect Maxwell to continue serving as the reserve catcher behind Jonathan Lucroy.
