Brewer Minor League Free Agency Eligibles After the 2010 Season -- Latest: MLB Master List Available

[Mass Haas]

Following is a list of players who are free to leave the organization in mid-October when minor league free agency begins. These players and the Brewers could agree to sign an additional one-year minor league deal to extend the relationship. Or the Brewers could add the player to the 40-man roster, thus extending the "ownership" of the player.

A player who has exhausted all seven years of his original minor league affiliation to the organization that signed him is eligible. Here are the Brewers farmhands who have been with the organization for their full commitment (or even longer in the case of Tim Dillard, who has been a Brewer for eight seasons). We've been following these five guys their whole careers.

C Anderson De La Rosa (re-signed)
RHP Tim Dillard (re-signed)
RHP Robert Hinton (re-signed)
RHP David Johnson
DH Angel Salome

Other potential (and likely) free agents:

IF Erick Almonte (re-signed)
C Patrick Arlis (re-signed)
OF Drew Anderson
RHP Jeff Bennett
C Dayton Buller
RHP Mark DiFelice (re-signed)
RHP Buddy Flores
RHP Nick Green
RHP Jim Henderson
OF Norris Hopper
C Ben Johnson
1B Joe Koshansky
LHP Chuck Lofgren
INF Anderson Machado (re-signed)
C Martin Maldonado (added to 40-man roster)
RHP Marty McLeary
RHP Eddie Morlan
LHP Sam Narron
1B Chris Nowak (re-signed)
IF Ray Olmedo
UT Johnny Raburn
RHP Chris Smith (free agency formally granted)
OF Adam Stern (free agency formally granted)

LHP Chris Waters
LHP Chase Wright (re-signed)

If you believe a player is listed in error or have an addition, let us know. We believe we're close, but don't claim to be 100% accurate.

[Mass Haas]

Once a player's original affiliated contract is terminated, should a player then subsequently be signed by the Brewers, the deal is normally (but not always) signed to cover the remaining years left until minor league free agency is earned. So if a player spent four seasons with another organziation and was then released, the Brewers would sign that player to a contract worded in such a way that the Brewers would retain rights to the player over the next three seasons.

 

For instance, catcher Sean McCraw has six seasons in thus far. Thie first four were with the Mets' organization. The Brewers signed him in 2009 to a deal that would cover his final three "obligated" years (2009, 2010, 2011).

 

It saves an organization the hassle of having to renegotiate more contracts each season and doesn't delay the player's minor league free agency (if the player makes it that far). Plus the player is often more than willing to sign for multiple years, given they don't normally have any other options as a released player.

[Mass Haas]

Amazingly, Angel Salome (a Brewer since 2004) is soon to be a free agent. Makes his decisions of 2010 all the more maddening.

 

Robert Hinton's plus slider never translated to a 40-man roster spot, so he can now abdicate his Mayor of Huntsville honor, like Derek Lee before him.

 

David Johnson has been almost as anonymous as his common name, but should be able to find affiliated work in 2011.

 

I think it's important we say thanks separately to those gentleman (plus Tim Dillard and Anderson de La Rosa).

 

De La Rosa could continue either his playing or coaching career with the Brewers, or both. He just turned 26 years old last month.

[Mass Haas]

As for the other potential free agents, you'd have to think that catcher Martin Maldonado will be offered a deal to come back, but probably not a 40-man roster spot, so it will be Maldonado's call, and he could be in some demand in the open market. He only turned 24 last month.

 

The Brewers did really well, as we've noted often in the Link Reports, with their veteran 2010 AAA signings / acquisitions. Kudos to guys like Adam Stern, Erick Almonte, Norris Hopper, Ray Olmedo, Sam Narron and others. Don't forget the Trent Oeltjen's of the world, either. Yes, Kameron Loe, too, lest we forget.

 

It was from this type of free agent group that Adam Heether netted his 40-man roster spot last fall.

 

While we may see players (like Maldonado) offered minor league deals to stay on, there probably won't be a Heether-like addition fom the above list this fall.

 

A return of Tim Dillard to the 40-man, I imagine, remains a possibility though, doesn't it? But likely not...debate away.

[Mass Haas]

Please be patient on discussing Rule 5 protection possibilities.

 

That will involve a list of players still under Brewer control for 2011, so it will be a separate thread from this one, and the players listed above won't cross over to that list.

 

We'll have that thread out for you early next week, perhaps even several days earlier, if all goes as we plan.

[monty57]

Thanks for the list Mass. It sure doesn't seem like Salome's been with the organization for seven years. It will be interesting to see what his future holds.

 

I'd like to see Drew Anderson back in AAA next season. He's had a good year, and would be good insurance to have in the minors. Chris Smith will be another interesting one, possibly signing to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite.

 

I don't follow the minors nearly as closely as many here, but it seems to me that many of these pitchers will be allowed to walk, clearing room for our wave of good young pitchers to move up to the next levels.

[dadofandrew]

DeFelice, Smith, Morlan, Lofgren, and Dillard would all be nice AAA depth, and I'd prefer to keep Salome around to see if his demons are able to be controlled with meds, time, and maturity.

 

Maldonado, Hopper, Wright, and D. Johnson probably complete my top ten, but they are more filler.

[CheezWizHed]

A return of Tim Dillard to the 40-man, I imagine, remains a possibility though, doesn't it? But likely not...debate away.

 

I've been a Dillard supporter in the past, but if the Brewers had plans on adding Dillard to the 40-man, why not now with a Sept call-up? Maybe they didn't have a free spot, but as you said, I think its unlikely.

 

I would imagine DeFelice will come back. He had a spot on the MLB team when he got injured, so I would imagine his best chance at another MLB spot is here...

[madrx]

Dillard has actually pitched better his last few outings than the rest of his season, so this would be the most likely time to add him if they were going to at any time. I wouldn't mind seeing Adam Stern back as well. He lacks pop, but wouldn't be the worst option as a cheap 5th OF candidate if injuries occured.

[twobrewers]

Salome's last ten games: .386 OBP and .561 SLG for a .947 OPS.

 

It's A+ ball. And he is DH.

 

However, before this recent tear, I thought he would just be let go. Perhaps the Brewers will effort to keep him around after all.

[Tedaldtada]

Salome has been pretty good for the entire second half. I hope they do find a wayto keep him, but I think he might want a fresh start.

[battlekow]

The caption of the picture in this article we linked in the Huntsville relationship thread seems to indicate that Drew Anderson will retire.

[Mass Haas]

We will update in blue in the initial post in this thread any potential free agents who the Brewers re-sign.

 

Baseball America indicated that catcher Anderson De La Rosa has signed on for an 8th season in the system. De La Rosa turned 26 yesterday (Thursday).

 

In a bit of a surprise, veteran infielder Anderson Machado, who will turn 30 in January, also was re-signed. He played in Huntsville this past season, appearing in 99 games. Machado also had an ERA of 0.00 in five emergency relief appearances covering four innings, a veteran utility-player must-have ability in the minors.

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America reports that the Brewers have granted free agency to RHP Chris Smith, a bit earlier than when the full list of all minor league free agents is published. Players such as Smith who were on 40-man rosters in 2010 get a head start in open waters.

 

Other former Brewer farmhands who were part of the early release list are RHP Saul Rivera, C's Mike Rivera and Eliezer Alfonzo, and 3B Mike Lamb.

[Mass Haas]

Players such as Smith who were on 40-man rosters in 2010 get a head start in open waters.

MiLB.com reports that OF Adam Stern, who falls in this category, has formally elected free agency. We are adjusting the initial post in this thread with technicolor updates for your reading pleasure.

[Mass Haas]

As for the other potential free agents, you'd have to think that catcher Martin Maldonado will be offered a deal to come back, but probably not a 40-man roster spot, so it will be Maldonado's call, and he could be in some demand in the open market. He only turned 24 last month.

 

It was from this type of free agent group that Adam Heether netted his 40-man roster spot last fall.

 

While we may see players (like Maldonado) offered minor league deals to stay on, there probably won't be a Heether-like addition fom the above list this fall.

 

A return of Tim Dillard to the 40-man, I imagine, remains a possibility though, doesn't it? But likely not...debate away.

So no one chimed in on this thread nor our Rule 5 / 40-man roster thread and predicted Maldonado's addition to the 40-man (major league thread). This would appear to be a fine job by his agent, as you can bet he was approached first about Maldonado signing a minor league deal to re-up first. Knowing a strong defensive 24-year-old would be in demand on the open market, the agent appears to have forced the Brewers hand into a 40-man spot.

 

Also, the timing and lack of additional announcements regarding potential minor league free agents pretty much tells us that Tim Dillard won't be a late re-addition.

[CheezWizHed]

Yeah, I would have thought Rivera's signing would have precluded that. How probable would it be for him to beat out Kotteras to backup Lucroy?

[greeg35]

probably depends on how the powers that be view what Kottaras brings to the table. Aside from boyish good looks, being left-handed, carrying a good OBP (especially considering his batting average), and good slugging, he's not that great defensively and carries a really low batting average. If Melvin/Roenicke focus on those two things a light hitting, strong defense catcher could challenge him for the backup spot.

[CheezWizHed]

Looking closer at Maldonado's history, last year (over .700 OPS at AA and AAA) was the outlier. So he will probably have to do it again at AAA before feeling comfortable that he could do it at the MLB level.

 

Aside from boyish good looks...

 

Do you have a stat to back that up? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[nate82]

Any news on Salome at all?

[Mass Haas]

Similar to the major league free agency period, Sunday morning marks the point when minor league free agents can be signed. Baseball America should have their master list early this week, and the Brewers' own list can be found in the lead post in this thread.

[Minigoon]

Here is the list from Baseball America.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=10522

 

Happy Hunting!

[Mass Haas]

Thanks to our collective research, Minigoon, we pretty much nailed this list from a Brewer perspective (see initial post in thread).

 

The only name that Baseball America did not include is Huntsville catcher Dayton Buller (career stats). Maybe we'll read in the next BA transaction update that Buller was re-signed to a minor league deal.

[craigharmann]

How do you not make a run at bringing in Nick Bierbrodt?

 

Seriously, though, there are some pitchers out there definitely worth taking a flier on.

[Mass Haas]

If you check out the first post in our Alumni Thread, you'll see highlighted in yellow all the former Brewers who are on the just-released minor league free agent list.