Offseason / Spring Training Minor League Transactions

[battlekow]

Cody Scarpetta was optioned to Brevard County. The Brewerfan 40-man roster page shows Cody with two options remaining now, as the Brewers believe a 4th option year is included for Scarpetta given the unique circumstances of his addition to the 40-man (initial contract redone after finger injury). So Scarpetta could be carried in 2011 and 2012 as well with availability in the minor leagues.

 

[Mass Haas]

Mark Rogers and Amaury Rivas optioned to AA Huntsville.

Rogers now has one option remaining, so he can be optioned in 2011 as well, must be in Milwaukee to stay by 2012 if so.

 

Rivas now has two options remaining, so he can be optioned in 2011 and 2012, must be in Milwaukee to stay by 2013 if so.

 

Option info is reflected on our 40-man roster page (currently at 39).

[battlekow]

McCalvy reports that A.J. Murray and Martin Maldonado were also reassigned to minor league camp.

 

Discussion on the Major League forum here on today's moves.

[Mass Haas]

Another one of Josh's (agent39) guys joins the Indians' organization as RH reliever and former 40-man roster player Omar Aguilar (career stats) is traded to Cleveland so the Brewers can retain Rule 5 LHP Chuck Lofgren in their system.

 

Lofgren is no longer on the Brewers' 40-man roster (which is now at 38), and has been re-assigned to minor league camp. He's likely looking at a Nashville AAA assignment to begin the minor league season.

 

Discussion can take place in the major league thread, thanks.

[trwi7]

John Halama released.

 

EDIT: Discussion here, if there's anything to possibly say about it.

[craigharmann]

if there's anything to possibly say about it.

Change Halama to Suppan, and there will be plenty of discussion!

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America:

 

Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Wes Etheridge, SS Matt Cline (career stats at links)

Both ’07 draft picks, Etheridge (12th round) and Cline (22nd round) missed the ’09 season while on the restricted list.

 

***

 

So maybe two are rejoining the fold. Sometimes (actually, usually), reinstating a player is a precursor to granting them their release. We'll try and find out for you.

[Mass Haas]

So maybe two are rejoining the fold. Sometimes (actually, usually), reinstating a player is a precursor to granting them their release. We'll try and find out for you.

We've learned that both Wes Etheridge and Matt Cline are in camp and competing for jobs with everyone else this spring. Good luck to them.

 

 

[And That]

I like Matt Cline - he's a gamer and has some decent on-base skill and middle infield versatility. Hopefully he's back on the field for good.

[battlekow]

McCalvy: Lorenzo Cain, Angel Salome, and Marco Estrada were optioned to AAA, and Zach Braddock and Kameron Loe were returned to minor league camp.

 

Telling for the future assignments of Schafer and Lucroy?

[Mass Haas]

The Brewerfan 40-man roster page now reflects that Lorenzo Cain has two options left (2011 and 2012 if used in consecutive years), while Angel Salome and Marco Estrada each have one, meaning they would have to be up to the big leagues to stay in 2012.

[Mass Haas]

Not quite officially a transaction, but McCalvy notes:

 

The team made one more move. First baseman Steffan Wilson, a late addition to big league camp to help ease Prince Fielder's spring workload, was returned to Minor League camp and replaced with another first baseman, Joe Koshansky. The 27-year-old Koshansky, who has Major League experience with the Rockies, spent last season in Nashville and batted .218 with 24 home runs and 80 RBIs.

[Mass Haas]

McCalvy with a brief blog entry on Joe Koshansky, with quotes

[Mass Haas]

INF Taylor Green added to big league camp as a non-roster invitee.

[Mass Haas]

Witrado at the J-S:

The Brewers optioned RHP Josh Butler and INF Adam Heether to Nashville and OF Trent Oeltjen was returned to minor league camp.

***

 

Both Butler and Heether have two options remaining, meaning they can be sent down as often as necessary in 2011 and 2012 as well.

[Mass Haas]

Anthony Witrado blogs that RHP Tim Dillard has been reassigned to minor league camp and he discussed Dillard with Ken Macha.

 

He also snuck in news that Chris Capuano and David Riske would likely begin with Brevard County when ready to go, which makes sense from a rehab standpoint.

[Mass Haas]

From Adam McCalvy:

 

The following players were released from the Brewers' Minor League system on Tuesday:

LHP Donald Brandt

INF John Delaney

INF Jose Duran

RHP Joel Morales

INF Yohannis Perez

RHP Ryan Platt

LHP David Welch

 

We'll have more on each player in a bit.

[Mass Haas]

Stats at links

 

26-year-old LHP David Welch was a 20th round pick in 2005 out of a Texas community college via Australia. It didn't look good this past fall when he was left exposed for any team to grab in the minor league phase of Rule 5. He's pitched internationally (and quite well) for his homeland. After 116 appearances and 86 starts, his career with the Brewers maxed out with two full seasons at AA Huntsville. Good luck to David.

 

INF Yohannis Perez is 27 years old, wow, when did that happen? He was a fairly prominent $450,000 signing in October of 2006, and debuted with Brevard County in 2007 with a fair .678 OPS. But he never did anything after that, and it became apparent pretty quickly that he didn't have speed, plate discipline, or really anything that warranted excitement on our parts.

 

A 6th round pick in 2008, 2B/3B Jose Duran, 23, never got going after his days at Texas A&M. He seemed to always be battling a nagging injury, and hit .221 in both his Helena debut and at Wisconsin last season. As 6th round college picks go, not one for the history books. Just as we wish all the players here, hopefully Jose gets the chance to continue his career if he so chooses.

 

Farmhands for whom we've linked recent hometown articles haven't had much luck maintaining their roster spot lately. INF John Delaney's story is chronicled at the prior link. There were some very tough-to-look-at offensive numbers on that Timber Rattler squad last season, and it's clear not everyone will be sticking around.

 

RHP Ryan Platt struck out 39 and walked 16 in his 26 rookie league innings last year, but the 27th round pick out of UC-Riverside turned 24 last August. Round plus age like that is a tough combo to overcome.

 

RHP Joel Morales has actually been around for some time, even though he just turned 21 eleven days ago. A 16th round pick out of Puerto Rico in 2007, Morales spent two hot summers in Maryvale, and reached Helena for 27 innings last season (7.67 ERA).

 

LHP Donald Brandt had his contract purchased from independent ball last July and then made his affilaited pro debut, appearing in eight games for Helena. The Santa Clara University alum underwent Tommy John surgery in his freshman year there. He turned 24 years old last December.

[MTBrew]

I've got to give a tip of my hat to John Delaney. In 2008, when Edgar Trejo went down after 3 games, John stepped up and ably manned the hot corner for the season. Played hard, great attitude.

Also, a little trivia on Welch. In 2005 he and fellow Aussie Bresford, along with 2 others were a part of the Helena Brewers only no-hitter.

It will be a tough time of the year for many HBrewers and TRats.

[brewmann04]

Any Info where Mike Jones might start the season? thanks in advance

[Mass Haas]

Adam on John Axford with Melvin, Macha comments

 

Axford's option to AAA leaves him with two remaining options. Many of us hope they'll never be needed, and the next time he's up, it'll be for good.

[Mass Haas]

Here's to you, David Welch --

 

David's participation in the 2005 Helena no-hitter

 

The Link Report from June 2008 -- David's no-hitter all to himself

You can hear the final call of the Huntsville birthday no-hitter via this link

 

Great memories from the no-hitter experience

 

Take care, David.

 

Thanks,

Brewerfan.net

[dadofandrew]

His numbers were not good, but Robert and myself each saw a player that might move up in Delaney. That said, if he can't hit more, good first impressions will mean nothing.

[Mass Haas]

Outfielder Chris Ellington, the 32nd round pick out of TCU last year, voluntarily retired earlier this past winter. He posted a .285 / .320 / .465 (.785 OPS) line in 284 Helena at-bats, including ten home runs. 2010 would have been his "age 24" season.

 

Similar to Wisconsin 1B/C Corey Kemp earlier, Ellington did file all the paperwork indicating his retirement.

 

Sometimes, players don't do that, which forces the organization to place the player on a restricted list to retain their rights.

[battlekow]

Haudricourt reports that 3B Edgar Trejo was traded to Seattle for a PTBNL or cash.