Six Year Minor League Free Agents
Bill Pecota’s #1 Fan posted this list in the Dugout, and I’m stealing it for discussion here.
Arizona Diamondbacks (13).
Pitchers: Jonathan Cannon, Kerry Ligtenberg, Javier Lopez, Chris Michalak, Elvin Nina, Phillip Stockman.
Catchers: Juan Brito, Corey Myers.
Infielders: Keoni De Renne, Dave Doster, Alan Zinter.
Outfielders: Juan Camilo, Colin Porter.
Atlanta Braves (17)
Pitchers: Jason Childers, Daniel Curtis, James Dehart, Steven Kent, Sam McConnell, Chad Paronto, Jorge Vasquez, Jeremy Ward.
Catchers: Miguel Bernard, Jean Boscan, Carlos Mendez, Raymond Serrano.
Infielders: Scott Pratt, Juan Velazquez.
Outfielders: John Barnes, Michael Rosamond, Esix Snead.
Baltimore Orioles (31)
Pitchers: Matt Bailie, Rick Bauer, Dave Borkowski, Tony Fiore, Brian McNichol, Rodney Ormond, Eddie Oropesa, Scott Rice, Tony Saunders, Shawn Sedlacek, Chuck Smith, Melqui Torres.
Catchers: Sal Fasano, Brandon Marsters, Octavio Martinez, Yorman Sosa.
Infielders: Napoleon Calzado, Gary Cates, Miguel Delacruz, Alejandro Freire, Joey Hammond, Mike Moriarty, Omar Rogers, Pat Scalabrini, Pete Shier, Chris Stynes.
Outfielders: Peter Bergeron, Bobby Darula, Branden Florence, Ramon Nivar, Simon Pond.
Boston Red Sox (18)
Pitchers: Conor Brooks, Jack Cressend, Tim Kester, James Mann, Anastacio Martinez, Juan Perez, Felix Romero.
Infielders: Dave Berg, Luis Figueroa, Jared Sandberg, Tony Schrager, Brant Ust, Scott Youngbauer.
Outfielders: Sheldon Fulse, Mike Lockwood, George Lombard, Billy McMillon, Cesar Minaya.
Chicago Cubs (6)
Pitchers: Talley Haines, Jonathan Searles.
Catchers: Mark Johnson.
Infielders: David Kelton, Bryan Ransom.
Outfielders: Calvin Murray.
Chicago White Sox (23)
Pitchers: Jim Bullinger, Bobby Jones, Leonardo Mayi, Juan Ovalles, Luis Pena, Matthew Smith, Jason Stumm, Dennis Ulacia.
Catchers: Jonathan Aceves, Cipriano Garcia.
Infielders: Trace Coquillette, Leo Daigle, Brad Fullmer, Felix Martinez, Greg Norton, Guillermo Reyes, Jorge Toca.
Outfielders: Tony Alvarez, Scott Bikowski, Roosevelt Brown, Bernard Gonzalez, Noah Hall, Luis Zaranise.
Cincinnati Reds (27)
Pitchers: Jason Andrew, Joel Barreto, Lance Caraccioli, Eric Eckenstahler, Juan Frias, David Mattox Jr, Tony Mounce, Travis Phelps, Jeriome Robertson, Brian Rose, James Serrano, Thomas Shearn, Andy Van Hekken.
Catchers: Steven Lomasney, Brian Peterson, Orlando Sulbaran.
Infielders: Rick Bell, Travis Chapman, Eric Crozier, Jose Leon, Jorge Mejia, Alejandro Pelaez, A.J. Zapp.
Outfielders: Alexander Fernandez, Norris Hopper, Robert Stratton, Pedro Swann.
Cleveland Indians (16)
Pitchers: Kyle Denney, Mariano Gomez, Jake Robbins, Billy Traber, Steve Watkins.
Catchers: Javier Cardona, Dusty Wathan.
Infielders: Mike Bell, Mike Kinkade, Jose Morban, Jake Thrower.
Outfielders: Andy Abad, Ryan Ludwick, Dennis Malave, J.J. Sherrill, Ernie Young.
Colorado Rockies (16)
Pitchers: P.J. Bevis, Wilton Chavez, Tim Drew, Gabe Molina, Christian Parker, Dennis Stark, Aaron Taylor.
Catchers: Pascual Matos, Tino Sanchez, Thomas Wilson.
Infielders: Tomas Delarosa, Eddy Garabito, Anderson Machado, Elvis Pena, Jeff Pickler.
Outfielders: J.J. Davis.
Detroit Tigers (23)
Pitchers: Edwin Almonte, Michael Bumatay, Michael Bynum, Nate Cornejo, John Ennis, Andrew Good, Steve Green, Mark Johnson, Joey Watts, John Weis.
Catchers: Russell Cleveland, Brandon Harper, Sandy Martinez, Maxim St. Pierre.
Infielders: Gookie Dawkins, Juan Gonzalez, Mike Hessman, Juan Tejeda.
Outfielders: Kurt Airoso, Byron Gettis, Alexis Gomez, Victor Mendez, Derek Nicholson.
Florida Marlins (29)
Pitchers: Ray Aguilar, Chad Bentz, Brad Clontz, Bryan Corey, Bryce Florie, Jerrod Fuell, Franklyn Gracesqui, Benjamin Howard, Luke Lockwood, Donovan Osborne, Ariel Prieto, Jose Rodriguez, Clint Sodowsky.
Catchers: Dennis Anderson, Jason Hill, John Pachot.
Infielders: Larry Barnes, Marcos Cabral, Wilson Delgado, Mathew Demarco, Matt Erickson, John Lindsey, Drew Niles, Todd Sears, Jason Wood.
Outfielders: Christopher Ashby, Michael Colangelo, Mark Little, Matt Padgett.
Houston Astros (27)
Pitchers: Jimmy Anderson, Peter Bauer, Heath Bost, Will Cunnane, Roberto Giron, Carlos Hernandez, Brooks Kieschnick, Scott MacRae, T.J. Mathews, Tim McClaskey, Denton McDaniel, German Melendez, Joshua Miller, Fernando Rijo, Brian Tollberg.
Catchers: Dax Norris, Chris Tremie.
Infielders: Jason Clements, Mike Coolbaugh, Alex Eckelman, Royce Huffman, J.R. Phillips, Eric Riggs, Carlos Rivera.
Outfielders: Wilton Reynolds, Carlos Rodriguez, Barry Wesson.
Kansas City Royals (21)
Pitchers: Ryan Baerlocher, Dustin Dossett, Derrin Ebert, David Elder, Chris George, Cesar Herrera, Shane Nance, Santiago Ramirez, Dennis Tankersley.
Catchers: Tomas Duenas, Jorge Maduro.
Infielders: Rudy Gomez, Brennan King, Peter Maestrales, Josh Pressley, Alejandro Prieto, Chad Santos.
Outfielders: Cory Aldridge, Adrian Brown, Jaime Jones, Wilkin Ruan.
Los Angeles Angels (15)
Pitchers: Clayton Andrews, Eric Cyr, Justin Dowdy, Delvin James, Jason Olson, Alex Serrano, Evan Thomas, Francisco Villegas, Mark Watson.
Catchers: Emmanuel Santana.
Infielders: Ivan Reyes.
Outfielders: Luke Allen, Brian Gordon, Curtis Pride, Chris Prieto.
Los Angeles Dodgers (12)
Pitchers: Alfredo Gonzalez, Thomas Nall, Mike Neu, Beltran Perez, Victor Perez, Dimas Reina, Ryan Rupe, Mike Venafro.
Catchers: Edwin Bellorin.
Infielders: Jose Flores.
Outfielders: Todd Donovan, Nick Theodorou.
Milwaukee Brewers (14)
Pitchers: Matt Dewitt, Brett Evert, Michael Meyers, Christopher Saenz, Keith Stamler, Clint Weibl, Alec Zumwalt.
Catchers: Jeff Winchester.
Infielders: Wandel Campana, Nelson Castro, Warren Morris, Stephen Scarborough, Tony Zuniga.
Outfielders: Ryan Knox.
Minnesota Twins (7)
Pitchers: Brent Schoening.
Catchers: Corky Miller, Gabby Torres.
Infielders: Luis Antonio Jimenez.
Outfielders: Brian Buchanan, Todd Dunwoody, Michael Ryan.
New York Mets (23)
Pitchers: Gregory Belson, Kenneth Chenard, Steve Colyer, Rafael Cova, Ryan Cullen, Bryan Edwards, Jeremy Hill, Jake Joseph, Eric Junge, Rafael Lopez, Robert McIntyre, Orber Moreno, Neal Musser, Jose Rodriguez, Orlando Roman, Jose Rosado, Jossher Suarez.
Catchers: Yunir Garcia.
Infielders: Craig Brazell, Rodney Nye.
Outfielders: Ron Calloway, Jonel Pacheco, Prentice Redman.
New York Yankees (17)
Pitchers: Carlos Artiles, Daniel Borrell, Michael Brunet, Calvin Maduro, Samuel Marsonek, Pete Munro, Hideo Nomo, Brad Voyles, Kris Wilson.
Catchers: Jason Brown, Troy Caradonna, Ryan Hankins, Jon Sprowl.
Infielders: Caonabo Cosme, Joe Thurston.
Outfielders: Octavio Amaya, Michael Coleman.
Oakland Athletics (19)
Pitchers: Keith Dunn, Evan Fahrner, Adam Johnson, Brigmer Leon, Nick Mattioni, Michael Nannini, Britt Reames, Manuel Rodriguez, Michael Saipe, Alex Santos, Andrew Shibilo.
Catchers: Thomas Gregorio.
Infielders: Andrew Beattie, Francis Gomez, Adam Morrissey, Bobby Smith.
Outfielders: Jack Cust, Shawn Garrett, Jose Pineda.
Philadelphia Phillies (31)
Pitchers: Mike Bacsik, Gregory Bauer, Erick Burke, Francisco Butto, Carlos Chantres, Philip Devey, Robert Ellis, Jared Fernandez, Sean Fesh, Martire Franco, Kevin Hodge, Josue Matos, Edwin Moreno, Brady Raggio, Gabe Ribas, Chris Rojas, Michael Smith.
Catchers: John Castellano, Chris Coste.
Infielders: James Deschaine, Nate Grindell, Leonard Hannahan, Samuel Hitchcox, Anthony Medrano, Juan Richardson, Randy Ruiz.
Outfielders: Mark Budzinski, Ryan Fleming, Jorge Padilla, Jim Rushford, Brian Sellier.
Pittsburgh Pirates (38)
Pitchers: Kirk Bullinger, Eddi Candelario, Mark Corey, Chris Enochs, Julio Guerrero, Jeremy Harts, Hansel Izquierdo, James Johnson, Justin Kaye, Brian Mallette, Neal McDade, Vladimir Nunez, Kevin Olsen, Todd Ozias, Justin Reid, Brian Reith, Jason Roach, Benjamin Shaffar, Paul Stewart.
Catchers: Paul Chiaffredo, Jose Hernandez, Carlos Maldonado, Rudy Pena, Chris Snusz.
Infielders: Alfredo Amezaga, Avelino Asprilla, Josh Bonifay, Howie Clark, Cesar Crespo, Tom Evans, Graham Koonce, Pat Magness, Gregg Raymundo, Shaun Skrehot, Jorge Velandia.
Outfielders: Jorge Cortes, Jon Nunnally, Andy Wilson.
St. Louis Cardinals (20)
Pitchers: Oscar Alvarez, Jeremy Cummings, Brian Falkenborg, Christopher Gissell, James Journell, David Lee, Joe Nelson, Mark Nussbeck, Joshua Pearce.
Catchers: Robinson Cancel, Bradley Cresse, Jose Mendez.
Infielders: Aaron Herr.
Outfielders: Chad Allen, Brandon Berger, Cesar Bolivar, Raul Gonzalez, Tyler Minges, Reggie Taylor, Peter Zoccolillo.
San Diego Padres (15)
Pitchers: Andy Ashby, Brad Baker, Brandon Emanuel, Geoffrey Jones, Jason Kershner, Marty McLeary, Ryan Meaux, Danny Patterson, Ryan Snare.
Catchers: Michel Hernandez, Andres Pagan, Nick Trzesniak.
Infielders: Bobby Scales.
Outfielders: Jeff Duncan, Joseph Gerber.
San Francisco Giants (18)
Pitchers: Dustin Bergman, Scott Chiasson, Brian Cooper, Jeremy Fikac, Matt Kinney, Brian Mazone, Stephen Randolph, Seung Jun Song, Brandon Villafuerte.
Catchers: Christopher Curry.
Infielders: Jed Hansen, Mickey Lopez.
Outfielders: Douglas Clark, Nathan Haynes, Julio Ramirez, Alex Sanchez, Tony Torcato, Carlos Valderrama.
Seattle Mariners (12)
Pitchers: Nicholas Bourgeois, Andrew Lorraine, Damian Moss.
Catchers: Ryan Christianson, Wiki Gonzalez, Brian Moon, Franklin Tua.
Infielders: Nathan Espy, Jesse Hoorelbeke, Bucky Jacobsen, Justin Leone.
Outfielders: Abraham Nunez.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (23)
Pitchers: Thomas Carnes, David Coggin, Jason Cromer, Nathan Cromer, Neal Frendling, Gerardo Garcia, Ruddy Lugo, Jason Phillips, Cameron Smith, Scott Vandermeer.
Catchers: Sandy Aracena, Paul Hoover.
Infielders: Brooks Badeaux, John-Paul Davis, Luis Ordaz, Nestor Perez, Earl Snyder, Rico Washington.
Outfielders: Jeff Deardorff, Trenidad Hubbard, Luis Mateo, Darnell McDonald, Scott Neuberger.
Texas Rangers (18)
Pitchers: Shane Bazzell, Jason Boyd, Tim Crabtree, Rosman Garcia, Willy Lebron, Christopher Marini, Hector Mercado, Agustin Montero, Wilfredo Rodriguez, Matthew Roney, Enger Veras, Jeff Zimmerman.
Catchers: Brian Esposito, Chris Jaile.
Infielders: Jason Hart, Chris Richard, Seth Taylor.
Outfielders: Jason Conti.
Toronto Blue Jays (19)
Pitchers: Chris Baker, Jesse Carlson, Matt Duff, D.J. Hanson, Spike Lundberg, Cameron Reimers, Kevin Tolar.
Catchers: Joseph Depastino, Jose Umbria.
Infielders: Jason Alfaro, Clint Johnston, Julius Matos, Bryant Nelson, Desi Relaford, Michael Snyder.
Outfielders: Ronald Acuna, Anton French, Rodney Medina, Anthony Sanders.
Washington Nationals (24)
Pitchers: Micah Bowie, Donald Bridges, Chad Durbin, Justin Echols, David Gil, Joe Horgan, Brian Powell, Saul Rivera, Richard Rundles, Dan Smith, Billy Sylvester, Harvey Yarnall.
Catchers: Luis Apodaca, Craig Kuzmic, Drew McMillan.
Infielders: Jason Bowers, Ramon Castro, Melvin Dorta, Billy Martin, Henry Mateo, Juan Melo, Vince Rooi.
Outfielders: Dee Brown, Jesus Feliciano.
Mike Emeigh
Posted: October 25, 2005 at 04:00 PM |
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Alfredo Gonzalez used to be a major league prospect as a reliever - but shoulder injuries hit him, and he's never really bounced back to effectiveness.
Venafro wouldn't be a bad NRI for a team looking for a loogie - not a great option, but if healthy he wouldn't be the worst lefty specialist out there.
Todd Donovan is very fast - but was succeeding in AA after college and 6 pro years, so he's not much of a prospect. He has said that he'd like to have a career like Dave Roberts, who also came up in his late 20s and who also has speed as his primary tool. The fact that he couldn't get brought up to the Dodgers last season with all the outfield injuries doesn't say a whole lot for him, though.
There's really not a lot of gold here. I still think J.J. Davis could play, given a chance, but he's been through three organizations in six months now and probably has run out of chances.
Chris Saenz, on Milwaukee's list, is one of two pitchers to win his only major league appearance. Unfortunately, he blew out his elbow after that, and hasn't completely recovered.
Is someone else going to take a flyer on Jack Cust?
-- MWE
Given all the talent that passed through Jacksonville this year, I'm sure he was seen a lot, and he'll probably land somewhere. There have been a couple of quotes that suggest he was a pretty good mentor to some of the younger guys like Delwyn Young and Joel Guzman.
-- MWE
Javier Lopez
Tony Fiore
Eddie Oropesa
Chuck Smith
Jeriome Robertson
Andy Van Hekken
Billy Traber
Donovan Osborne
Jimmy Anderson
Mike Venafro
Ryan Meaux
Stephen Randolph
Damian Moss
Rich Rundles
Adam Morrissey
Brad Baker
Michael Ryan
Tony Schrager
Billy Traber
Wikki Gonzalez
After that there is the list of usual suspects who every year I say is an intresting player and never amounts to anything:
Justin Kayne
Chris Coste
AJ Zapp
Billy McMil
Bri Faulkenberg
ect...
some team will definitely take a flier on david kelton.
corey myers = what matt bush will be in five years.
And someone please take Calvin Murray. I'm always afraid he's next in line to be the "solution" to a Cub problem.
I'll always remember the game when Rushford went 4-4 with a walk, 6 RBIs and a walk-off 3-run homer. He should have just retired right there.
Aside from that...there's a lot of low cards in that hand. Jared Fernandez is available again, for you cultists out there.
Buzz Hannahan's real name was "Leonard"?
He was lighting up the minors before getting an injury in his major league debut in 1999. He hasn't done well in his two cups of coffee since then, but his career OBP in the minors is close to .380. He's played in some hitters' parks, but I've been rooting for the guy to break through.
I mean, there's no way he's worse than Steve Finley.
Fixed.
WE MUST PROTECT THIS FIVE TOOL PROSPECT!
Ex-pitcher Tony Saunders now running the show
WE MUST PROTECT THIS FIVE TOOL PROSPECT!
Awesome. Living through the Bowden years in Cincy, here's my list of failed 5 Stoolers---would like to hear from the rest of you to add to the list:
Ozzie Timmons
Melvin Nieves
Tony Tarasco
Ruben Rivera
Chad Mottola
Tarasco's hitting the bong with Grant.
Melvin Nieves
Tony Tarasco
Ruben Rivera
Chad Mottola
Ruben Mateo. How many tools did Reggie Taylor have?
He was the poster boy for Bowden's Toolsy Outfielder lust. To the best of my ability to discern, Taylor doesn't really have that many tools, outside of being fairly fleet of foot.
I have a bone to pick with you re: Covington.
I wasn't addressing the actual quality of the town (I've never been there), but the public perception of the place, which isn't exactly sterling in my experience.
Or perhaps I'm just stupid.
Pittsburgh's group:
If Jorge Cortes were a basestealer, he'd be Scott Podsednik. Because he's not, he's on this list. Someone ought to give him a shot; he can play the field and is a decent enough hitter and OBP guy. He wouldn't be any worse off the bench than Tike Redman.
Jeremy Harts was originally a toolsy outfielder who couldn't hit, but because he can throw mid-to-upper 90s, so the Bucs gave him a shot at being a pitcher. The problem there is that he has no idea where it's going; he's averaged 11 walks per nine innings in his minor league pitching career.
Koonce was a stathead poster boy, but his walk rate has been in decline the past couple of years, and he's about to turn 31. The time for him was two-three years ago.
Justin Reid has now had two bad seasons in three, after years of getting people out with pedestrian (at best) stuff; his walk rate jumped a bunch this year. He's probably reached his limit.
-- MWE
No, perhaps I am. I'm still learning how to use all of the capabilities of the system, and I'm probably not putting the text in the right places.
-- MWE
I hope Sam M. can get acquired and make a good career for himself.
Corky (Corky) Miller is a decent-field, no-hit catcher. He's basically Tom Prince and just needs to sign with the right team and manage to actually get a couple of hits in April to ensure himself of backup catcher status for the next five years.
Gabby Torres was never regarded as a prospect but served as an organizational soldier providing a pitching-staff with a Spanish-speaking catcher for the Twins.
Luis Jimenez joined the Twins organization from the Dodgers this season and missed the opening of the year because of a steroid suspension. He is a huge, left-handed hitter with immense power and poor strikezone judgment. Defensively, he has poor footwork around the base. He has a job solely because of his bat.
Brian Buchanan returned to the Twins is a minor league free agent in August but the team somehow decided that he wasn't even valuable enough to add to the 40-man roster for a September call-up (the Twins had an open spot). He can crush soft-tossing lefties, but is overmatched by right-handed pitching. He's suprisingly quick for somebody his size, but I think he's about out of chances.
Mike Ryan had what might be the flukeist month of the decade in September 2003 and managed to parlay it into way too many at bats the following two seasons. He has no plate discipline, isn't particularly fast and doesn't hit for power.
Todd Dunwoody has been a AAA player for a few seasons after fizzling out as a Marlins prospect. He was a toolsy guy with power but no control of the plate, but has gained some weight and lost a significant amount of quickness the past few years.
Brent Schoening repeated the year at Rochester and had his worst year as a pro. He's just filler at this point.
Rosie came back with the Braves in spring training (NRI) and did not stick. He went .306/.375/.488 in about 400 ABs and is now 30. I regret that he was never able to make it in the show, because he could just flat rake.
There's a bunch of could-be LOOGY types out there - two of the best not mentioned in post 4 are Jesse Carlson (decent stuff and stints of minor league excellent, but probably not ready for the show yet) and Dusty Bergman (really more of a standard middle/long reliever that happens to be left handed than a LOOGY - has adequate stuff with some sink (gets groundouts), but catches too much of the plate - probably ready to compete for a back of the pen role). Bumatay was a recent Rule 5 pick, Shane Nance has gotten chances as a LOOGY before, blah blah blah.
Is Mariano Gomez healthy? He's still pretty young and had a low 90s fastball with decent control.
He's currently a starter, but Ray Aguilar has generally been successful as a minor leaguer, both as a conventional pitcher and as a rare lefty knuckleballer. He's definitely worth picking up as a AAA swingman.
Catcher: Nobody jumps out at me - Ryan Christianson was a top pick for the M's who hits semi-adequately and is still young (25 or so). Brian Peterson and Maxim St. Pierre have earned praise for their glove work and wouldn't embarrass themselves at the plate. Brad Cresse is a cripple pitch hitter. Sandy Martinez is a decent hitter on paper - I haven't watched him play. Michel Hernandez has some on base ability. Carlos Maldonado has average pop (though he didn't show it w/ Altoona). Javier Cardona was traded straight up for John Rodriguez at mid-season ... oops.
Does Bonifay play first now? I think so. He's struggled to find a position but can hit (.282/.339/.556 with Altoona) - he normally has less power but a little more walks. It's his third straight year in AA - his career has been unfairly on hold, much like his father put the team's future.
Juan Tejeda is a good hit/no field first sacker who lacks the monster walk or homer totals for saber types to droll over him, but he could turn into a decent off the bench threat. Eric Crozier came down hard from an excellent '04, but has solid pop and took walks before this year. You know Bucky Jacobsen, you love Bucky Jacobsen, but is he healthy? Craig Brazell hits the ball hard, but lousy plate discipline makes him not worth pursuing.
1) Reid picked up a bunch of velocity in '04, which just as suddenly vanished this year. Hence the disparity in the two seasons' #s.
2) Cortes may have a positive substance test on his background. A player by that name was bounced during international competition a few years ago, though I can't absolutely swear it's the same guy.
Also of note: Cubs reliever Roberto Novoa, and ex-ML OF Roberto Kelly.
Thats LSU College World series hero and clutch hitter Brad Cresse to you.
I wonder what George Lombard would have done as a UGA RB....pity he hasn't had a better career
I can't find any info - he's not on LA's 40-man, and he's definitely got six years in the minors, so he should be one.
-- MWE
Juan Perez is a reliever who throws pretty hard IIRC. He's 24 and just had a decent year in AAA.
Anasatacio Martinez is your generic pitcher who throws hard and has no control.
Sheldon Fulse gets injured every single year but he has good tools and has looked like a prospect at times. Wouldn't shock me if he had a career.
Rest is filler
Judging by the numbers, he's darn near perfect for that AAA spare tire you need for a pitching staff. Unfortunately in 2005 he chose the organization whose starting five started 160 games.
Yes. You might hit on one and have an extra trade chit. These guys make peanuts and you'll be paying someone something similar to fill the minor league roster spot anyway.
The bosox seem to make heavy use of the minor league rule 5 draft as well, though that hasn't produced anything of note yet.
I think DiNardo will legitimately be a decent long man, at least.
Jesse Carlson's numbers in AA this year: 1.83 ERA in 39.1 IP, 42 K, 5 BB
In AAA, he had 17 K to 7 BB in 18.2 IP.
...and was once traded for Mike Gonzalez.
Eric Cyr was acquired to be a LOOGY ...
but I don't think he is ever going back to the majors, now.
Juan Perez will be a nice LOOGY somewhere, I think. He can get the fastball in the low-90s and he has a curveball that needs to suck less, but he can probably get some lefties with it. I'd like the Sox to keep him around, if they can.
I guess, but I'd rather have a system that's strong enough internally that I don't need but the best of these guys. Minor league FAs should cost more than internal options in many cases (less restricted market for their services) and they've often had at least 6-7 seasons to prove they aren't major league ready. I'm also unsure of the effect of that kind of practice on morale.
BTW, I Was a big Cresse fan while he was with LSU and early in his minor league career ... you know, back when he could hit.
Middle Infield: A pretty weak bunch. 2B Joey "Ballgame" Thurston can hit for average, but lacks secondary skills. SS Anderson Machado has nice range and is willing to draw walks, but is short with the stick and totally imploded in '05. He used to be a considered a prospect and would be a nice flyer for some team with an opening for a SS in AA to take to see if he can regroup. IF Eddy Garabito has a rep for being a hard worker and great guy, but probably lacks the skills to stick in the bigs. He has an okay bat, but lacks a standut skill to make him useful off the bench. Conversely, Alfredo Amezaga has tactical value - he's fast and has range - but hasn't hit in major league trials and lacks pop.
I like Cesar Crespo. < /loses any shred of credibility with Red Sox fans > Like Amezaga, he can run and plays multiple positions (not as well as Amezaga, but he's more cross trained). As a hitter, he's a little like fellow mlfa Desi Relaford, in that he tries to do things (like hit for power) than his body and tools suggest shouldn't be his forte and, like Relaford, it has worked some seasons and others it hasn't. Doesn't hit for much average, but draws walks outside of Beantown. 2B Caonabo Cosme is a solid AAA player and has the tools to develop into something more than that. 2B Aaron Herr had a weird season in Springfield, hitting around .300 with 20 homers, but not walking at all and topping 100 Ks. That's inconsistent with the player he was in the Braves' system, where he walked more but didn't show that kind of power. Not a great runner or fielder. Oh and, yeah, he's Tommie's kid - and was going to play for his dad in indy ball before the Cardinals came calling. IF Jason Alfaro looked like a possible utility guy before a lousy season with Syracuse. Strong arm, okay pop, doesn't walk or k much, lacks speed and range. 2B/3B Adam Morrissey is still young and showed promise with the bat a few years ago, but hasn't found a spot where he can field yet and struggled in AA. (It's weird - he's been better at Sac than Midland.). If you want a designated fielder, SS Jorge Velandia is still pretty good, as is IF Gookie Dawkins. Like fellow former Michigan Wolverine Brian Myrow, 2B/UT Bobby Scales is all kinds of unheralded, but hit pretty well with Portland last year (OPS > 800) without gathering much attention. Like Myrow, he doesn't have the glove to stick on the left side of the defensive spectrum. Former Rule 5er Jose Morban could be a nice pickup as a AAA utility guy - he's athletic and does a number of things *okay*, he may well eventually do some of those things well.
http://www.soxprospects.com/ex-players/baker-brad.htm
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=sd
I received an E-mail off-line from Keith Law, who corrected me on this. A minor league free agent has no contract for the following season and his prior org's reserve rights have expired.
I know, however, that the Marlins and Pirates have verbal understandings with some of their six-year guys that they will resign them if they can't find anything else suitable, and I'd guess that other teams do something similar. You still have to fill out (in most cases) five full-season rosters, and few teams have enough home-grown prospects to do that.
-- MWE
Is Law still working for the Jays?
I know, however, that the Marlins and Pirates have verbal understandings with some of their six-year guys that they will resign them if they can't find anything else suitable, and I'd guess that other teams do something similar.
I've never tracked it, but (top of my head) I'd think that over half of these guys will either re-up with their former org or retire/be unable to find a spot in the NA.
Apparently he's going though, according to this story:
One big name player who is not expected to return is Brad Baker, the former closer in Portland. Word is the Padres were not enamored with how he handled his demotion from the closer's role.
-- MWE
I went through last season's 6-year MILB FA list just now, and there were probably only four players on the entire list who helped a major league club. Brian Moehler, Emil Brown, and Seth Etherton all helped their clubs in '05 and were worthy claims. Chip Ambres helped the big club by helping them to acquire Tony Graffanino. Outside of that, there isn't much there. Maybe the '04 off-season was a down year for MILB FAs, does anyone have the '03 or '02 lists?
No, there isn't. Most of these guys are six-year minor league FAs for a reason.
I think it's a stretch to say that Seth Etherton helped the A's. A 6.62 ERA in three starts isn't exactly helping much.
-- MWE
According to this site, Perez is 27, which was discovered after some visa issues. He does throw the ball with his left hand, though, so, who knows?
I think Ligtenberg is definitely worth a flyer. He'll be 34 next year, but put up some good numbers at AAA lat year (50K in 50 innings, only 7 BB & 4 HR), along with some terrible numbers with Arizona. Anyone know how he manged to give up 73 hits in 55 innings in 2004? Could that have just been monumentally bad luck, or has he really lost something?
Johnny Rodriguez? (albeit after a midseason trade)
I'd argue that the quality of mlfa's has dropped in recent years, as teams do a better job of managing their more marginal resources. However, while most of these guys will never produce at the major league level, many can (whether or not they get an opportunity). Plus, a one-year window might be a bit short for evaluative purposes ... sure, not for most of these guys (who will be free agents again the next year), but some of these players will make forty man rosters and have value later on - like Chip Ambres. Still - this is mostly about minor league roster filler.
BTW, shouldn't D'Angelo Jimenez and Kevin Booker be on this list?
Only in the rare case (like Etherton last winter) where they sign a major-league contract do they have to go on the 40-man. Most of these guys will sign one-year minor league contracts -- with a spring training invite for the best of 'em -- and have to earn their way up to the major league roster. Otherwise, they go back in the hopper next off-season. They tend to be a nomadic bunch.
That's what I thought. It wouldn't make a lot of sense the other way - teams probably let these guys go largely because they *don't* have room on their 40-man rosters, so it's unlikely they'd dump one and then sign another and be faced with the same problem.
That's gotta be a tough life, going from org to org and hoping to get hot enough one spring to get a real chance.
I agree, and I feel for these guys more than for anyone in the game. So close to making it, but not.
I sometimes see one of these guys in an organization that seems like a poor choice - severely blocked by quantity and/or qualility of his competition. However, then the occasional Aaron Small strikes paydirt, and the choice looks smart.
Abraham Nunez has long tantalized with plus tools - this year he hit respectably well for Tacoma and is worth taking a chance on in the event that real gains were made.
Ramon Nivar was once considered a top prospect, until he "aged", moved to the outfield, and stopped hitting. Still young, still fast - it might be worth seeing what you can do with him.
Otherwise, it's a lot of the same old guys. John Barnes and Pete Zoccolillo can hit for average. Calvin Murray, Julio Ramirez, and Reggie Taylor have good range, but don't hit well enough. Shawn Garrett, George Lombard and Mike Colangelo do a little bit of everything, but nothing that well. Jorge Cortes is a poor man's Colangelo (but younger). Rosie Brown never learned to field. Tony Alvarez and Ryan Ludwick have talent and injury questions. Brian Buchanan could reemerge as a platoon guy. Ernie Young is awesome, but 112. J.J. Davis has power and a strong arm, but takes lousy routes in the outfield and is too streaky at the plate.
* 1 day - medical benefits
* 43 days - pension
* 10 years - fully vested in pension
Again, the above may be wrong.
Whoops, I thought Etherton pitched better than that, guess I should have looked. Replace him with John Rodriguez, as mentioned above.
I found the '02 off-season list here.
The results:
Loaiza got a minor league deal, although he wasn't a minor league free agent (I'm guessing without looking). Brian Daubach had a 180 pretty poor at-bats for the Pale Hose. Ditto for James Baldwin on the pitching side. Rafael Betancourt got a minor league deal, but he was coming back from Japan. Ruben Sierra got a minor league deal for some reason after putting up a good year in Texas. Darren Oliver had that weird year with the Rockies. Wilson Alvarez stayed healthy for a little while. Brooks Kieschnick was fun.
Luis Ayala, Ron Villone, Matt Miller, Ronnie Belliard, and Rudy Seanez have been great, but all were given up on after signing and released or selected in a Rule five draft. Rod Beck was good for 30 innings for the Padres. The Run Fairy, Dan Micelli, and Kent Mercker worked out too.
From the more traditional sector, Adam Melhuse has been a quality backup for the A's. Jeremi Gonzalez turned it around and had one pretty good year for the Devil Rays. Ron Mahay and Brian Shouse have helped Texas a bit. Josh Towers is a very solid innings eater for Toronto. Dan Wheeler has pitched pretty well, but the Mets gave him away for nothing. Kiko Calero was good when healthy then used to get Mark Mulder.
The three best signs:
Ryan Freel
Casey Blake
Aaron Miles -- for getting traded straight up for Juan Uribe thereafter.
I know we've had a few extra years here, but even without the major league veterans this seems like a much better class.
Best Regards
John
I'd tend to stick Colangelo in that category as well, possibly even in place of Alvarez.
Agreed. Does anyone know Alvarez's projected health for '06?
Oh, Cody Ransom might make a fungible middle infielder - he can run, field a little, and isn't too awful at the plate.
More pitchers later, when I've time... < /post count building >
BTW, Roney had a rep for uncoachablity and general bad makeup at one point FWIW...still a heck of an arm by mlfa standards
Ligtenberg is a good pickup, so is Javy Lopez (groundball machine). I don't know what to make of Jason Childers - he has blah stuff (unlike his brother Jason) but gets outs everywhere he goes. Extreme groundballer with blah peripherals, but he merits a shot at a look. Jorge Vasquez imploded in '05, but has a good slider and 90 mph fastball.
That sounds familiar, thanks!
Correction on Vasquez:
I remembered his Richmond stint. (14 ip, 10.93 ERA) However, it wasn't as bad as all that as hitters hit .286/.388/.411 off him with 20 K - not great, sure - but hardly the stuff of 10.93 ERAs. Also, this doesn't include his stellar AA work (40.1 IP, 1.12 ERA, .163/.238/.222, 45 K) or Atlanta time (9 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 9 SO). Mea culpa, Jorge.
That must have been confusing when they were kids.
That should be brother Matt.
-- MWE
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