Alumni Thread

[Mass Haas]

The offseason independent league transactions involving former Brewer farmhands are too numerous to mention, but it's worth noting when a player works his way back to affiliated ball from the indy leagues, as SS Ryan Barba did with the Braves.

[mls4]

The Phillies signed Justin Lehr and Ozzie Chavez to minor-league contracts, per mlb.com.

[Mass Haas]

Courtesy Baseball America (minor league deals all) --

Washington signed RHP Jorge Sosa.

Pittsburgh inked LHP Edwin Walker; wow, Walker was a promising but raw San Antonio high schooler who was the Brewers' 2002 9th round pick. Arm injuries, including Tommy John surgery, saw Walker released after the 2004 season. He's toiled some in independent ball since, and it would be great to see him bounce back. He turned 25 last October.

 

LHP Brian Mazone (High Desert, 2003) has had some AAA success in recent years but no big league call-up. He signed with the Dodgers.

 

Baltimore signed C Chad Moeller, OF Dave Krynzel

The Brewers' first-round pick (11th overall) in 2000, Krynzel lasted exactly one homestand with the Diamondbacks last season, appearing in four games for Triple-A Tucson, three times as a pinch-hitter, before drawing his release in early April. He played in just 23 games in 2007, his first season with Arizona after an offseason trade, so the 26-year-old needs to make up for lost time.

-- BA

[TracyThom]

Say what you will about Krynzel, but he made one of the best catches I have ever seen.

 

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/images/2004/09/21/D7WGa63O.jpg

 

 

I've searched, but I cannot find the video anywhere. It was on 09-21-2004 against St. Louis. Any help?

[sveumrules]

http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=425858 thats the url for dave's mlb.com page. there is a video link on the page for dave's career highlight.

[Rob]

I think it is the best catch I have ever seen. By the way, I'm listening to Ryan Braun's season finale homer. Can that ever get old? I don't want it to...ever.

[Mass Haas]

Infielder Chris Barnwell, who posted a .276 / .364 / .397 line for AAA Albuquerque in the Marlins' offensivcely friendly AAA environment in '08, has signed on with Houston for '09. Chris will turn 30 in March.

[TracyThom]

http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=425858 thats the url for dave's mlb.com page. there is a video link on the page for dave's career highlight.

I can't get the video to load. I've tried on numerous computers. Did anyone save it while it was up?

[Mass Haas]

Torontonian RHP Mark James was still only 17 years old when he was drafted by the Brewers in the 14th round in 2005. The Brewers cut him after two Maryvale seasons.

 

But he's on the alumni list as the youngest (since we've been tracking) to pitch in independent ball and make it back to the affiliated ranks, as he's been signed by the Reds.

[Mass Haas]

If you can commit some time to this detailed feature article, you'll understand why Twins lefty reliever Craig Breslow is featured every so often here in our Alumni reports. Fantastic story, fascinating young man.

 

This write-up focuses on him from the baseball-only side of things.

[Mass Haas]

Ben Hendrickson is 28 now -- we're all getting old.

Anyway, he's one of six former Brewers (majors or minors) listed in this week's Baseball America transaction list (not including Vinny Rottino's mention, naturally).

In Tampa's system last year, but he signed with his hometown Twins for 2009 -- their AAA squad is in Rochester, NY.

[mls4]

Alumni on WBC rosters:

 

Vince Perkins - Canada

Corey Koskie - Canada

Chris Barnwell - Canada

Matt Stairs - Canada

Jonathan Phillips - South Africa

Chris Oxspring - Australia

Carlos Lee - Panama

Henry Blanco - Venezuela

Marco Scutaro - Venezuela

Dan Serafini - Italy

Elmer Dessens - Mexico

Francisco Campos - Mexico

Nelson Cruz - Dominican Republic

Saul Rivera - Puerto Rico

Nelson Figueroa - Puerto Rico

[Mass Haas]

Luis Pena was optioned to AAA by Jack Z. and the Mariners today.

 

He had a rough spring -- 5 games, 4 IP, 3 H, 7 BB, 4 K, 2 HR, 7 ER for a 15.75 ERA.

[TheCrew07]

I've been quietly following him, I was hoping for better.

[Never Outhustled]

Time and again we find out the Brewers really know there minor leaguers. I think the only mistake they've made giving up or trading one since Melvin took over was Craig Breslow.

[yoshii8]

Dana Eveland and Nelson Cruz also have a good chance at being solid major leaguers that we've traded.

[TheCrew07]

So do LaPorta and Brantley, I think X was talking more guys that were just given away like Sarfate or part of trades that weren't all that highly thought of like the Linebrink deal. The others were trades where we got pretty good value out of the MLB players, though that deal with AZ looks like a stinker now as none of the good MLB parts are with the team anymore, as does the Gross deal from last year. At any rate, none of those were as bad as Melvin getting Villy for Franklin and Estrada.

 

If only he'd realize we didn't care that they were traded, only who they were traded for... trading for draft picks is the DEVIL!

[Invader3K]

I thought it was worth noting that Matt LaPorta has had a pretty good spring, batting .394/.474/.667 in Indians spring training. Still, he is not expected to make the Indians' MLB club out of spring training.

[mls4]

Providing roster updates on all most who were in a major-league camp this spring (though I likely missed some):

Notable to me: Laynce Nix making the Reds outfield, Zach Jackson in the Indians bullpen, Chad Moeller found another backup catcher job, the Rays have both of our former Gabes to form a possible outfield platoon, names like Ray Durham, Richie Sexson, Kevin Mench and Matt Wise oddly missing.

Made 25-man roster:
Carlos Lee - Astros
Dana Eveland - A's
Marco Scutaro - Blue Jays
Lyle Overbay - Blue Jays
Jeff Bennett - Braves
Luis Vizcaino - Cubs
Doug Davis - Diamondbacks
Scott Linebrink - White Sox
Nelson Cruz - Rangers
Chris Coste - Phillies
Matt Stairs - Phillies
Mark Loretta - Dodgers
Guillermo Mota - Dodgers
Claudio Vargas - Dodgers
Jorge delaRosa - Rockies
Glendon Rusch - Rockies
Gary Sheffield - Mets (after release by Tigers)
Wes Helms - Marlins
Jamey Wright - Royals
RA Dickey - Twins
Craig Breslow - Twins
Brian Shouse - Rays
Grant Balfour - Rays
Gabe Kapler - Rays
Gabe Gross - Rays
Henry Blanco - Padres
Chad Moeller - Orioles
Zach Jackson - Indians
David Weathers - Reds
Francisco Cordero - Reds
Laynce Nix - Reds
Russell Branyan - Mariners
Ronnie Belliard - Nationals
Julian Tavarez - Nationals
Saul Rivera - Nationals
Dennis Sarfate - Orioles
CC Sabathia - Yankees

DL:
Mike Adams - Padres

Optioned:
Brian Wolfe - Blue Jays
Joe Thatcher - Padres
Robinson Cancel - Mets
Luis Pena - Mariners

Assigned to minor league camp:
Sal Fasano - Rockies
Scott Podsednik - Rockies
Justin Lehr - Phillies
Ozzie Chavez - Phillies
Brian Mazone - Dodgers
Derrick Turnbow - Rangers
JC Boscan - Braves
Alejandro Machado - Twins
Mark Johnson - Cubs
Chad Fox - Cubs
Jose Capellan - Astros
Chad Paronto - Astros
Lou Palmisano - Astros
Javier Valentin - Nationals
Jorge Sosa - Nationals
Nelson Figueroa - Mets
Elmer Dessens - Mets
Jose Valentin - Mets
Max St. Pierre - Tigers
Matt LaPorta - Indians
Tomo Ohka - Indians
Greg Aquino - Indians
Tony Graffanino - Indians
Michael Brantley - Indians
Adam Pettyjohn - Reds
Kevin Barker - Reds
Joe Dillon - A's
Kyle Phillips - Blue Jays
Jason Childers - Rays
Randy Choate - Rays
Callix Crabbe - Mariners
Chris Woodward - Mariners
Will Inman - Padres
Eliezer Alfonzo - Padres

Released:
Edward Campusano - Cubs
Paul Bako - Cubs
Ron Villone - Mets
Valerio De Los Santos - Mets
Jay Gibbons - Marlins
Geoff Jenkins - Phillies

Retired:
Corey Koskie - Cubs

[Mass Haas]

Thanks, mls. We'll be tidying up and shortening up the alumni thread for 2009 in a couple of weeks, and your research there will be very important.

 

Matt Wise also retired, by the way. Kevin Mench is overseas. Richie Sexson and Ray Durham never found suitors.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Kevin Roberts, who was dealt to the Pirates with RHP Marino Salas for Salomon Torres, was released by Pittsburgh.

[Mass Haas]

Just-released reliever Steve Bray found an independent Atlantic League job in Bridgeport, CT (his home state). RHP Dan Reichert, also mentioned in the press release, was once a AAA veteran signee of the Crew.

[Mass Haas]

Just-released RHP Reed Dickert signs with the independent St. Paul Saints of the American Association.

[Mass Haas]

Just-released LHP Curtis Pasma has landed with the independent Sioux City (Iowa) Explorers of the American Association.

[Mass Haas]

Transactions from the independent American Association as two recent releases sign:

 

Fort Worth: Signed OF Steve Chapman.

St. Paul: Signed OF Brent Krause.

 

Almost every day, former Brewer farmhands make the indy transaction wire -- for now, we only notify you of the most recently released Brewers.