The Yankees claimed Tonkin off waivers from the Mets on Thursday.
After being DFA'd for the third time this month Monday, Tonkin will now move from Queens to the Bronx and nab a spot on a 40-man roster. The 34-year-old right-hander has allowed six earned runs across nine innings between the Twins and Mets this season and will likely be limited to low-leverage situations with the Yankees. McKinley Moore was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Exits 40-man roster again
Rotowire
The Mets designated Tonkin for assignment Monday.
It's the third time this month that Tonkin has been DFA'd and the second time the move has been made by the Mets. The veteran reliever could clear waivers and would have the option to elect free agency.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Returns to New York
Rotowire
The Mets claimed Tonkin off waivers from the Twins on Wednesday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
Tonkin doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so he'll be added to the Mets' 26-man active roster and will presumably join the big club for the start of its series three-game series in Los Angeles versus the Dodgers this weekend. New York designated lefty Tyler Jay for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster for Tonkin, who has allowed four earned runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings across his four relief appearances this season between the Twins and an earlier stint with the Mets.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Tonkin was designated for assignment Saturday. He gave up two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out five over two innings in Friday's loss to Detroit.
Tonkin was traded to the Twins from the Mets for cash Tuesday as a way to fill in the bottom of the Minnesota bullpen. His reward for throwing two innings was for the Twins to jettison him for another reliever. Tonkin may chose to accept an outright assignment if he's not claimed off waivers as the Twins will likely need him again this season.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Traded to Minnesota
Rotowire
Tonkin was acquired by the Twins from the Mets on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.
The right-hander was designated for assignment by the Mets on Friday and will now make his way to the Twin Cities. Tonkin made three appearances for New York this season and allowed two earned runs with a 3:1 K:BB over four innings.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Tonkin was designated for assignment by the Mets on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 26-man and 40-man rosters for Julio Teheran. Tonkin allowed eight runs (two earned) over four innings covering three relief appearances with the Mets. There would seem to be a good chance the 34-year-old passes through waivers unclaimed.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Makes Opening day bullpen
Rotowire
Tonkin will begin the season on the Mets' 26-man roster, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
With Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder) landing on the injured list, the Mets were able to find room for both Tonkin and Yohan Ramirez in the bullpen. Tonkin saw his first big-league action since 2017 last season with Atlanta, posting a 4.28 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 75:23 K:BB over 80 innings and winning seven games. The 34-year-old righty is expected to fill a long-relief role in New York.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: Included on NLDS roster
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Tonkin will be on Atlanta's roster for the NLDS versus the Phillies, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
The 33-year-old right-hander essentially won out over Kyle Wright for the primary long relief gig. Tonkin struggled down the stretch in the regular season, but he was a bullpen workhorse for the NL East champs over the course of the year while logging 80 innings across 45 appearances.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: Notches first MLB save
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Tonkin picked up the save in Thursday's 8-3 win over the Rockies. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out six over 3.1 scoreless innings.
Tonkin was dominant in relief Thursday to earn his first career save. He now sports a 3.21 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP and a 28:7 K:BB through 33.2 innings this season. While the 33-year-old Tonkin won't see any ninth-inning usage, he could work his way into a higher-leverage role with Atlanta while Jesse Chavez (lower leg) is on the IL.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: Activated from injured list
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Atlanta activated Tonkin (neck) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Tonkin is back to fill a multi-inning bullpen role for the current NL East leaders after needing a couple weeks off due to a neck injury. Roddery Munoz was sent out in a corresponding roster move.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: First MLB win since 2016
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Tonkin (1-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's victory over the Reds, allowing one hit and striking out three over three scoreless innings of relief.
Kyle Wright lasted only three innings in his 2023 debut, but Tonkin took over in the top of the fourth and shut down Cincy's offense, giving Atlanta a chance to come back from a 4-2 deficit. It's the right-hander's first big-league win since 2016, and he's looked great in his return to the majors in a long-relief role, posting a 2.16 ERA and 7:1 K:BB through 8.1 innings for four appearances.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: Joins MLB roster
Rotowire
Tonkin was added to Atlanta's major-league roster Thursday.
The right-hander joined Atlanta on a minor-league contract for 2022 and will now enter the offseason on the big-league roster. Tonkin spent the campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett and had a 3.17 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 73:15 K:BB over 48.1 innings. He hasn't appeared in the majors since 2017 with Minnesota.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: Signs with Atlanta
Rotowire
Tonkin signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Jan. 11.
Tonkin has thrown 146.1 innings at the highest level, posting a 4.43 ERA. The last of those came back in 2017, however. Since then, he's spent time pitching in Japan, Mexico and the independent Atlantic League, where he recorded an 0.53 ERA and a 21:5 K:BB last season in 17 innings as a member of the Long Island Ducks.
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Brewers' Michael Tonkin: Latches on with Brewers
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Tonkin signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Friday.
It didn't take long for Tonkin to find a new home after being released by the Rangers earlier Friday. The right-hander spent last season in Japan, notching a 3.71 ERA in 51 innings for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He'll report to minor-league camp.
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Michael Tonkin: Let go by Rangers
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Tonkin was released by the Rangers on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Tonkin spent last season in Japan and signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers in January. The 29-year-old allowed one run on two hits over 4.2 spring innings, but Texas nonetheless decided to move in a different direction.
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Rangers' Michael Tonkin: Signs minors deal with Texas
Rotowire
Tonkin agreed to a minor-league deal with the Rangers on Tuesday, Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
Tonkin had previously spent parts of five seasons with the Twins, throwing 146.1 innings of relief with a 4.43 ERA. He pitched for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan last season, finishing with a 3.71 ERA in 51 innings.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Contract selected by Twins
Rotowire
Tonkin had his contract selected by the Twins on Tuesday.
Tonkin will rejoin the big club after being designated for assignment by the Twins back in May. He posted an impressive 1.73 ERA and 61:13 K:BB through 41.2 innings with Triple-A Rochester, but his 6.55 ERA across 11 big-league innings this season will likely limit his opportunities to lower-leveraging situations. J.T. Chargois (elbow) was shifted to the 60-day disabled list to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for Tonkin.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Passes through waivers
Rotowire
Tonkin cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
As expected, Tonkin will remain in the Twins organization as a farmhand. Given his 6.52 ERA in the majors this season, he'll likely just act as an organizational depth piece from now on.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Playing small role in pen
Rotowire
Tonkin has given up six runs, three of them earned, over seven innings to kick off the 2017 season.
Tonkin has not pitched in any significant situation yet this season, entering in the middle innings or in mop-up duty. He's struck out nine and walked five while allowing seven hits. In 2016, the 27-year-old surrendered 80 hits over 71.2 innings on his way to a 5.02 ERA.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Makes final roster
Rotowire
Tonkin has made the final roster as a reliever, Phil Miller of The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
The right-hander had plenty of opportunities to prove his worth this spring, compiling a 4.38 ERA over 12.1 innings in Grapefruit League play. Tonkin will look to improve upon a mediocre 2016 campaign in which he finished with a 5.02 ERA over 65 appearances along with an 80:24 K:BB ratio. Look for him to serve regularly as a middle reliever.
