The Cleveland Indians announced this afternoon that they had acquired outfielder J.B. Shuck from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for cash considerations. This trade constitutes as a waiver-trade and Shuck will not be eligible for the Indians' postseason roster, if the club were to make it. Shuck will immediately be added to the Indians' 40-man roster. Also, Shuck will join the Indians' major league team after he was designated for assignment by the Angels a couple days ago.
J.B. Shuck, a 27-year-old outfielder from Westerville, Ohio, will give the Indians much needed outfield depth for the season's final month, as utility player Mike Aviles suffered a concussion. Shuck will be joining Ryan Raburn, Chris Dickerson and Tyler Holt as backup outfielders behind Michael Brantley, Michael Bourn, and David Murphy, who just was activated from the disabled list today. He can play all three outfield positions, as he has showed throughout his professional career. Shuck is also under team control through the 2018 season.
Shuck has hit only .167/.195/.250 in only 22 games in the major leagues this season with the Angels. He has spent the majority of this season with Triple-A Salt Lake City, hitting .320/.382/.446 with five homers and 57 runs batted in, while playing in 102 games.
Shuck is a career .272/.316/.344 hitter in the major leagues, as he has played 188 games over parts of three major league seasons with the Houston Astros and Angels, most notably finishing fifth in voting for the American League a Rookie of the Year in 2013. That season, he hit .293/.331/.366 with two home runs and 39 runs batted in, while playing in 129 games.