Offseason / Spring Training Transaction Thread -- Latest: Summary of DL Placements

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm very unimpressed with Thorman. His "big season" at AAA wasn't all that big for a 1st baseman and his overall minor league stats: .273/.332/.454 are uninspiring to say the least. His OF experience is very limited and again, he's never hit like you'd expect a corner OF to hit.\

 

I don't expect him to ever have any impact on the Brewers.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers have signed former big league RHP Brian Reith, who last pitched in affiliated ball in 2005, to a minor league contract. Reith has pitched in Taiwan and with Somerset (N.J.) of the independent Atlantic League since '05. Reith has been pitching in Mexico in winter league ball. He'll be 31 when the '09 season opens.

 

Career Statistics

 

A Whatever Happened to Brian Reith Posting

 

Maybe the Reith's will expand on the blog they started

[Mass Haas]

Atlantic League press release on the Brian Reith signing -- flourishing as closer

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Thorman signs with Brewers

Josh Brown

TheRecord.com (Ontarion, Canada)

Representing Canada at the World Baseball Classic in Toronto sounds mighty tempting.

But Cambridge slugger Scott Thorman will politely decline if national team manager Ernie Whitt comes calling for his services in the March showdown.

Not because he isn't proud of wearing the Maple Leaf: the first baseman did represent Canada at the Beijing Olympics this past summer. But after inking a new one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month, Thorman is focused on resurrecting his major league career.

"The biggest thing for me is to find a way to get back to the big leagues and find a way to stay," he said from his Cambridge home. "At this point, it's more important to be with the Brewers in spring training and make a good impression."

So Thorman, wife Kelly and son Robbie will head to Arizona for the full six weeks of spring training early next year and watch the World Baseball Classic on television.

"It's obviously cool that it's in Toronto and it would be great to be a part of it but at the same time playing baseball is how I feed my family and that's what's important."

Half a dozen teams contacted Thorman's agent during the off-season after the first baseman hit the market. The 26-year-old spent nine years with the Atlanta Braves after the franchise selected him in the first round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. He peaked with the club two summers back when he hit 11 homers and collected 36 RBI over 287 at-bats. Last year, he spent the season with the Braves' triple-A affiliate in Richmond, Va.

"Not many people can say they made it to the big leagues with the team that drafted them and that's something I accomplished and I'm very proud of that," he said. "But it's time to move on. It's a business. It's a fresh start. It's a great city and a great opportunity for me."

The change of scenery has Thorman pumped. He's running and lifting weights daily and hitting the batting cage sooner and harder than usual. He has played both hot corners and patrolled the outfield in his career with the Braves. But he realizes he won't be displacing all-star first baseman Prince Fielder with the Brew Crew.

"For me I would be looking to make the team as a pinch hitter or backup first base, third base or left field," the former Preston High School student said. "Hopefully it's somewhere I can make the big league club if not out of spring training, then some point through the year."

Milwaukee is full of Canadian connections. General manager Doug Melvin is a Chatham native and his assistant Gord Ash hails from Toronto. Ironically, Ash was interested in drafting Thorman nine years ago when he was GM of the Toronto Blue Jays.

"I met Gord a few times when I was young," he said. "It's funny how things come full circle."

[Mass Haas]

Nashville's Doug Scopel and staff provide the following updates:

 

RHP Ryan Houston - The 29-year-old Houston has spent the majority of the past three seasons at the Class AAA level within the Blue Jays and Astros organizations. He went 1-3 with a 7.54 ERA (38 ER / 45.1 IP) and one save in 39 relief outings for Round Rock (AAA-Astros) in 2008. Prior to joining the Houston chain via a waiver claim, he spent his first nine pro seasons in the Toronto farm system after being selected by the Blue Jays in the 31st round of the 1998 draft. Houston carries a career 4.12 ERA in 318 minor league contests (64 starts).

 

Ryan Houston's Career Statistics

RHP Chris Smith - Smith, 27, joins the Brewers organization in 2009 after spending his first seven seasons in the Boston Red Sox chain, including making his Major League debut with the BoSox last season. The right-hander split the 2008 campaign between Triple-A Pawtucket and Boston. He went 1-5 with 15 saves and a 3.19 ERA (21 ER / 59.1 IP) with 52 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings in 37 games (four starts) for Pawtucket and was 1-0 with a 7.85 ERA (16 ER / 18.1 IP) in 12 relief appearances for Boston. The UC-Riverside product was selected by Boston in the 4th round of the 2002 draft.

 

Chris Smith's Career Statistics

 

Neither signing is that exciting based on secondary stats; competition for pitchers like Steve Bray and David Johnson, who would hope to make up a portion of the 2009 AAA relief corps.

[Mass Haas]

Chris Smith Scouting Report from SoxProspects.com:

 

Average 89-93 mph fastball with a power 82 mph breaking curve and a pretty good change-up. Good knowledge of pitching. Missed most of 2002 season after an ATV accident, from which he took a couple years to recover fully. Great preparation skills. Throws off-speed pitches for strikes, often at unexpected counts. Pounds the strike zone with great command, doesn't walk many batters. Works quickly on the mound. Similar style to Mike Mussina. Converted to a reliever in 2007 where he demonstrated some very good success.

[Mass Haas]

Ginter returns to the Brewers organization -- that'd be Matt, not Keith, folks...

 

From the Nashville site:

 

RHP Matt Ginter - Ginter, who was a late-season Brewers signee in 2007 and pitched for the Sounds in the PCL playoffs that year, returns to the organization after splitting the 2008 campaign between the Cleveland Indians and their Triple-A affiliate, Buffalo. The 31-year-old went 6-6 with a 4.14 ERA (46 ER / 100.0 IP) in 18 games (17 starts) for Buffalo and added a 1-3 record and 5.14 ERA (12 ER / 21.0 IP) in four starts for the Tribe. Ginter, who enters his 11th professional season, carries a career 3.46 ERA in 225 minor league appearances (114 starts) between the White Sox, Mets, Tigers, Red Sox, Pirates, Cardinals, Brewers, and Indians organizations.

 

Trivia -- Matt can play the banjo, so Nashville should be user-friendly for him -- Jim

[Mass Haas]

More from the same Nashville link:

 

P Mike Burns - The 30-year-old right-hander joins his fifth career organization with the Brewers in 2009. He has spent the majority of the last four years at the Class AAA level, including an 8-12 record, two saves, and a 4.67 ERA (69 ER / 133.0 IP) in 37 games (14 starts) for Iowa (AAA-Cubs) in the PCL last season. Originally a 30th round pick of the Astros in 2000, Burns logged 45 games in the majors from 2005-06 while pitching for Houston, Cincinnati, and Boston. He carries a career 3.74 ERA and a 4.1:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (735 K / 179 BB) in 300 minor league appearances (106 starts).

 

Mike Burns 2008 Statistics, including winter ball (22 relief appearances in Mexico)

 

OF Adam Stern - Stern, 28, joins the Brewers organization after spending each of the past two years with Triple-A Norfolk in the Orioles system. Originally a 3rd-round pick of the Braves in 2001, the London, Ontario, Canada native spent 46 games in the majors with Boston in 2005-06 as well as two contests with Baltimore in 2008 and carries a .272 career average in 506 minor league games over his eight pro seasons. In 2008, Stern batted .221 (27-for-122) with eight RBIs in 38 games at Norfolk before being released on June 10 and did not play the remainder of the year.

 

In this case, Wikipedia provides a good summary -- I remember here in Massachusetts when he was considerd a "hot" Rule 5 pick

 

He's got a fan site...

 

Why we started this site...

One evening, we decided to go and hangout at a PawSox game. Little did we know what that night would bring... Knowing Adam, we decided to cheer vigorously for him (among others.) He was extremely receptive to our enthusiasm, waving and throwing us a ball. After the game, we met Adam and chatted for a few minutes. After future attendance, we also had some conversations with Adam while we showed him our handiwork (signs, t-shirts, etc.) Simply put, we feel thankful to have had the opportunity to meet such a humble and caring professional baseball player -- we hope our fandom will help spread the atmosphere of respect that Adam brings to the game, while also encouraging Adam to continue his great behavior as he makes his living.

[Mass Haas]

Probably an interesting backstory here, thanks again, Nashville --

 

RHP Sandy Nin - The 28-year-old Dominican-born right-hander has not appeared in affiliated ball since a 2006 stint in the Rockies organization but posted a 1-1 record and 3.52 ERA (6 ER / 15.1 IP) in 16 games this off-season for Azucareros del Este in the Dominican Winter League. Nin went 1-3 with a 4.55 ERA in six starts for Colorado Springs (AAA-Rockies) in 2006, his only career experience above the Double-A level. Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by Toronto in 2000, he has logged a 2.72 career ERA in 94 games (87 starts), including 433 strikeouts against only 84 walks in 539 1/3 innings.

 

Career Statistics

 

Nin had a fractured elbow that cost him the entire 2004 season.

 

Baseball America on his '05 season (don't you miss the Oakland A's colors on their old site format?)

 

Righthander Sandy Nin has made a strong return from a fractured elbow that sidelined him in 2004. The Rockies farmhand has been the best pitcher in the Texas League since June and is 8-5, 2.90 overall in 16 starts for Double-A Tulsa. Nin, acquired from the Blue Jays prior to last season in a three-team deal that also brought Joe Kennedy to Colorado from Tampa Bay, had a 2.18 ERA over his last 13 starts through early August with a sterling 52-10 strikeout-walk ratio. Overall (including an opening stint in the Cal League), Nin had walked just 20 and struck out 97 in 141 innings. "He has a low-90s fastball, a very good changeup and a slider that's inconsistent but at times is a good pitch," Rockies assistant general manager Bill Geivett said. "He's king of the hill when he's out there. He maintains his mechanics and his command when he's under pressure; he's tough mentally and very aggressive."

[Mass Haas]

From Baseball America via Northeastern's site:

 

Northeastern University senior RHP Kris Dabrowiecki

 

Former Huskies ace Kris Dabrowiecki (2005-08, undrafted as a senior) signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday. This week was an important one for Dabrowiecki, as he flew to Milwaukee on Monday and conducted his tryout on Tuesday. The Brewers liked what they saw and Dabrowiecki was presented a contract on Wednesday.

 

Dabrowiecki will report to spring training on March 13. The Brewers train at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix, AZ.

 

As a Husky, the 6'4 righty Dabrowiecki marked his career with constant durability, and leads NU as its all-time leader in innings pitched with 286 and 1,269 batters faced. He finished third in school history with 21 wins and 236 strikeouts and was named one of the team's captains by head coach Neil McPhee for his senior season.

 

Dabrowiecki, a native of Toronto, was originally drafted by the Brewers in the 34th round of the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft before coming to Northeastern.

 

Bio and stats via Northeastern's site

 

I'm just such a fan of these underdog signings. And we just can't get enough Canadian connections. But what's up with the names of some of these Canadian kids -- Dabrowiecki, Wawrzasek, Nevakshonoff...

 

Dabrowiecki part of national squad at World University Baseball Championships (July 2008article)

[Mass Haas]

OF Ryan Jensen, the Brewers' 33rd round pick in 2007 out of a British Columbia high school, has been released, as per Baseball America.

 

After appearing in 19 games for the rookie Maryvale Brewers in 2007, our own colbyjack wrote the following in his 2007 season drfat recap:

 

33. Ryan Jensen, CF

.193/.370/.246, 1 2B, 1 3B in 57 at-bats with Arizona

Despite his smallish stature (5'10", 180 pounds), Jensen has some pop in his bat from the left-hand side of the plate. He played for the Langley Blaze with Travis Nevakshonoff, hitting .350/.442/.463 in the competitive British Columbia Premier Baseball League. His 13 walks in 57 at-bats during his pro debut are worth mentioning as it does give a hint for his disciplined eye, and while he didn't hit that well in limited duty this spring, he could turn things around next summer as he'll return to rookie ball.

 

Jensen spent the entire 2008 season on the "restricted list". He likely failed to report, although that's not confirmed. The Brewers have finally relinquished his rights, meaning he's probably signed the necessary paperwork to leave pro ball.

[Mass Haas]

According to Baseball America transactions page, the Brewers are offering a "second chance" to a talented athlete, former two-sport baseball/football recruit Derrick McPhearson, an outfielder who ran afoul of the law while at the University of Illinois.

 

August 2007 Pre-Trial Article from the Washington, DC area where McPhearson grew up

 

From February 2008 -- a change in plea:

 

URBANA, Ill. (AP) - Former University of Illinois football player Derrick McPhearson pleaded guilty Friday to stealing a laptop computer from another student's apartment.

McPhearson pleaded guilty to felony theft, and a Champaign County judge sentenced him to 180 days in jail and 30 months of probation. Four counts of residential burglary and another theft charge were dismissed.

 

McPhearson will be 23 in May, and it appears he hasn't played organized baseball since high school, so he has some catching up to do.

 

It'd be interesting to find out how the Brewers came about to learn of his current talents, perhaps an open tryout signee.

 

Here's wishing the young man well with the Crew.

Of course, it there's another outfielder Derrick McPhearson out there, then disregard the history above.

[yoshii8]

According to jsonline they have signed former Yankee 36 year old Ramiro Mendoza to a minor league deal w/ an invite to camp. He last played w/ the Rockies AAA affiliate in 06'. Here are links to his stats and story from jsonline. Also, according to his wikipedia page he will pitch for Panama in the WBC.

 

http://minors.baseball-re...com/players.cgi?pid=24625

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/39058352.html

 

Here is an intersting link I found on a Yankee fan site that talks about his Venezuelan winter league performance. From the sound of it, he did very well.

 

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.a...&f=1637&t=3365128

[Mass Haas]

There are many mentions of Eric Fryer on our Minor League Forum from 2008, most tucked away in Link Reports and such (no one speific thread).

 

This article from last May will provide some insight.

 

As you likely know by now, Fryer was dealt to the Yankees today for RHP Chase Wright. You can discuss the deal in this thread on the Major League Forum.

 

Here's wishing Eric well; we'll be able to get some insights from Brevard County coverage this season if Fryer plays for Tampa as expected.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Boys of summer find winter wonderland

Centrefield Sports, the brainchild of Adam Stern, offers London and area pros and minor and high school players an indoor facility

By Steve Green

The London (Ontario, CN) Free-Press

 

In the middle of a cold Canadian winter, step inside a nondescript warehouse in east London and you'll hear an unmistakable sound of summer -- the crack of a bat hitting a baseball.

 

You're at Centrefield Sports, an indoor training centre on King Street, just east of the Kellogg's plant, set up by Londoner Adam Stern, an Aquinas grad who has played in the majors with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles.

 

Born out of a necessity for an indoor training centre, the facility opened in November and is already drawing a number of London-area pros to train and instruct local minor and high school players.

 

"It serves two purposes," Stern said. "Guys who played pro ball from this area didn't have a place to work out. We'd have to throw at one place, then go somewhere else to hit. We'd be driving to Toronto and back.

 

"Second, there was a need for the kids in the area to have a place to train in the offseason. They can get the basics of the game; when they come here they don't know that much about baseball and they get to hear from some pro guys who came up the ranks, letting them know how it's done so hopefully the kids can get better."

 

The centre has batting cages and pitching machines (including one for fastball), pitching mounds, artificial turf bought from Delaware State -- basically, you can do anything baseball-related there except shag fly balls.

 

On this particular day, two other area pros are at the centre -- catcher Chris Robinson of Dorchester, who's in the Chicago Cubs organization, and Pittsburgh Pirates minor-league infielder Jamie Romak of London.

 

"We've got no excuses now," Romak said. "We can run a full program here, do whatever we need, take as many swings as we need."

 

Originally drafted by Atlanta, Romak, 23, expects to start the season at Class AA Altoona, Pa., but hopes to move up quickly.

 

"The plan is to hit, hit, hit," he said. "In AA, you pave your own way to the majors. If you do well, you'll get your shot; if you don't, you won't. I got my opportunities with Atlanta and I'll get them with Pittsburgh."

 

The fact the Pirates are struggling doesn't necessarily mean an easier route to the majors, Romak said.

 

"The thing about a team like that is they need to bring up impact players who can produce right away, whereas a successful team like Boston can still afford to bring a guy up who might struggle at first. So I need to get myself ready to go right away."

 

Robinson, 24, hopes to begin the 2009 season with the Cubs' AAA affiliate in Iowa.

 

"If it is, great; if it's (Class AA) Knoxville, I'll just go and work had and try to improve," said Robinson, like Stern a Olympic team member last summer. "It's just a matter of performing. Whether I get to play every day is going to be a matter of what I do on the field, so this spring training will be huge."

 

Robinson said the work of previous and current Canadian major leaguers are helping the next generation.

 

"Guys like Justin Morneau and Jason Bay are paving the way. Is there still a bit of a label? Yeah, but people quickly develop the idea that Canadians play the game the right way."

 

Stern, less than two weeks away from his 29th birthday, signed a minor-league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers last month.

 

"I'm looking forward to getting back out there and getting another crack at the bigs," he said. "They just came off a playoff spot and it would be something I'd be excited to be a part of. Once you've been there and get sent back down, it's a little tough to take.

 

"You want to get back there that much more, so you put added pressure on yourself."

 

And while he still has time left in his playing days, Stern may have already started the post-playing part of his baseball career with the centre, which also has Mike Lumley, Jess Bechard, Brewer farmhand Brock Kjeldgaard, Will Stewardson, Geoff McCallum and Brad McElroy as instructors.

 

"The question was would I like it enough, but with this you stay in the game and keep your finger on the pulse of baseball in this area," Stern said. "It's a good chance to hopefully affect it in a positive manner and to be able to give back to baseball here would be great."

[And That]

Scott Moore was DFA'd by the Orioles today to make room for Ty Wigginton - might be a worthwhile pickup on a minor league deal if he clears waivers.

[pogokat]

I'd drop Prince Fielder for him...

[colbyjack]

Gah, he's no Kotchman...

 

In the most recent print issue of BA (the college and draft preview issue) there is a blurb towards the beginning of the paper that notes the Brewers signing of OF Derrick McPhearson. As Mass linked to above, he had some legal issues in college that led to his dismissal from Ron Zook from the football team, and he eventually spent half a year in prison. I think Mass makes a good guess that he likely was signed from one of the team's tryout camps last month.

 

He went to Illinois as a talented two-way recruit. He was a multi-threat WR, so you know he's fast. He never stepped onto the baseball field for the Illini, and ended up transferring to Hampton which doesn't have a baseball team. His father and brother (both named Gerrick) played in the NFL.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers say hello to an old friend in former farmhand Johnny Raburn. Today is Raburn's 30th birthday. Acquired along with Jorge Fabregas and Pedro Liriano in the Alex Ochoa / Sal Fasano deal (and we all remember that 2002 deadline deal, don't we?), Raburn, a super-utility type, once played all nine positions in a game for the Crew while at High Desert late in 2003. He was claimed by Tampa Bay in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft prior to the 2005 season, and has managed to stick around affiliated ball despite only 45 games at AAA. He's the older brother of Detroit Tiger Ryan Raburn.

 

If Johnny makes it through spring camp with the Crew, he'll be the final man on either the Nashville or Huntsville roster, where his flexibility will assist. Southern League fans will know him well, as he's been part of three organizations there, including the full 2004 season in Huntsville.

 

Johnny Raburn Career Statistics

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America's Transaction Update for 3/2

 

Voluntarily retired: 2B Kenny Holmberg

A career in coaching may await Holmberg, whose father Dennis has coached and managed in the Blue Jays system since 1979, spending the past seven years with short-season Auburn. As for Kenny, he was a Brewers' 22nd-round pick from Embry-Riddle (Fla.) in 2005, who despite a loud debut in the Pioneer League (.372/.450/.623 in 207 at-bats for Helena) struggled to establish himself in three years in A-ball, culminating in a .218/.356/.254 season for high Class A Brevard County in '08. For more on the 25-year-old Holmberg, check out Matt Meyers' in-depth feature from the 2006 season (BA subscribers only).

 

 

[pogokat]

He and his father are very good friends with one of the most successful high school coaches in Georgia, Bobby Howard---who asked me if i was still following the brewers closely the other ay, so i'll ask him if he knows where holmboy is headed...kenny was a talented ballplayer, but he's probably picking the right moment to call it a day

[IheartRYount]

Did someone comment on this article (subscriber only) in another area and I missed it? Three midlevel latin america signings for the Brewers?

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/international-affairs/2009/267720.html

[Mass Haas]

In this thread, we made note of the following six signings, thanks --

 

Here's a summary of the players the Brewers did sign:

 

Luis Chirinos - Venezuelan corner OF signed for $90,000. Turned 16 in late August.

Jaime King - 6'4", 210 pound 19-year old Dominican RHP. Touches low-90s with CB and CH.

Jose Ramos - another 19-year old Dominican RHP. Also touches the low-90s.

 

Baseball America reports that the Brewers have signed an outfielder named Juan Barrini.

 

LHP Manuel Ruiz is the latest Latin American youngster to be signed, according to Baseball America.

 

Baseball America reports the Brewers have signed RHP Heri Olivo.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers, as indicated in our Minor League Spring Training Game thread, have picked up middle infielder Sergio Miranda from the White Sox. We will let you know when we learn if a Brewer player was involved, or if this was a cash or "future or past considerations" deal.

 

Our friends in Chicago first spoke of this in this thread on the Trade Rumor Forum. You can learn more about Miranda there.

[Mass Haas]

In a bit of a surprise, Brewerfan has learned that the Brewers have released soon-to-be 24-year-old second baseman Mike Bell. Bell has been a regular on the Power 50 since '06, and here is his P50 history along with the associated comments. The 15th round 2005 selection out of a community college saw action in 124 games in Huntsville last season. 41 of his 109 hits were for extra bases, but he posted a .289 OBP for a .679 OPS. Here are his four-year pro numbers, as he had methodically moved up the affiliate chain.

 

Bell's release helps explain the acquisition of Sergio Miranda, as indicated above. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Bell find work with another affiliated team soon.

 

In another move, OF Brandon Drespling, who singled six times in 34 Arizona League at-bats as an undrafted 23-year-old rookie in '08, voluntarily retired. This story from his local paper reported on his signing at the time. At that age, one has to make a quick impression. Good luck to Brandon.