2014 Arizona Fall League / Caribbean Winter League Thread

[Mass Haas]

The only formal word now is this note via Adam McCalvy:

 

#Brewers farmhands will play for Glendale Desert Dogs in this year's @MLBazFallLeague. (Huntsville pitching coach) Chris Hook will be one of the pitching coaches.

 

***

 

Might as well make this a speculation thread. Normally I don't like suggesting repeaters to the league, but depending on the status of his oblique rehab, RHP Tyler Cravy makes sense.

 

You have to be concerned with overall innings, but Brevard RHP Tyler Wagner deserves the nod.

 

Seems like it should be Tyrone Taylor's AFL year, SS Yadiel Rivera makes sense, to make it three pitchers and three position players, add RHP Damien Magnifico and why not reward 2B/UT Nathan Orf with a stint as well in a hope to develop a Skip Schumaker type.

 

Chime in, please -- select six as you see fit.

[torts]

is this something Lara could participate in, or is he still too young?

[Mass Haas]

is this something Lara could participate in, or is he still too young?

 

Sorry, but no chance that's happening.

 

As Andrew Gruman points out today in this article, Lara will take part in instructional league this fall. There are no formal box scores or reports on that, but game action against other clubs does take place.

[Outlander]

With the limited playing time Delmonico saw this year could he be added or is he banned from this?

[CheezWizHed]

I can't see Delmonico being a deserving candidate, suspension or not.

[WV Brew]

1 of Zarraga or Garfield. I'm sure they always need catchers.

[Mass Haas]

With the limited playing time Delmonico saw this year could he be added or is he banned from this?

 

His suspension will extend into 2014 in order to serve all 50 games, so very unlikely they would make an exception for the AFL.

[nate82]

This is going to be a very tough year to select 6 people from a rather large list. I wouldn't be surprised if the Brewers want to get D'Vo some more playing time this year and he goes instead of Taylor. I normally don't like to send catchers for more playing time but you have to reward Coulter for what he has done this year with something like this. If not Coulter I would put Denson in his place or McFarland. Victor Roache is another player I could see the Brewers wanting to see more out of this year though they may just send him to instructional instead or to one of the winter leagues. Arcia like Coulter needs to be rewarded for the year that he is having. Tough decisions and the pitching side is even tougher especially with innings limits.

 

I would go with sending these 6 to the AFL.

 

OF Tyrone Taylor

C Clint Coulter

SS Orlando Arcia

 

RP Damien Magnifico

SP Tyler Cravy

SP Jorge Lopez

[monkeyman343434]

What are the criteria for sending someon to the AFL? I thought they had to have spent some time in AA before being sent, unless I'm remembering incorrectly, but a team could send 1 or 2 players that have topped out at A?

 

I know it usually isn't good to look too far ahead when it comes to prospects, but I would really like to see Arcia and Taylor in the AFL in 2015, so I would say to leave them off this year.

 

Like the idea of Yadiel Rivera, D'Vo, Garfield, Zarraga, Orf, Magnifico, Cravy as mentioned before. I would like to see them send some guys that might be useful and cheap role players in the next year or two. Some other names: Jason Rogers, Nick Shaw, Greg Holle, Drew Gagnon, or David Goforth.

[LouisEly]

With the amount of time he's missed, I think Haniger is a shoe-in. Right on the mark with a catcher, but I think it's Zarraga or Weisenburger. Good call on Cravy and Rogers. I believe you can only send a max of two who have not played in AA yet.

 

Haniger, Zarraga (if he's not called up; Weisenburger if Zarraga is called up), J. Rogers

Cravy, Bradley, Tanner Poppe

 

From below AA: Michael Reed, Nathan Orf

 

Darkhorse: Casey Medlen

 

Darkhorses from below AA: Michael Strong, Mark Williams

[guylanderfridancies]

Via the AFL website:

 

The Brewers have been assigned to the Glendale Desert Dogs with farmhands from the Orioles, White Sox, Tigers and Dodgers. Double-A Huntsville pitching coach Chris Hook will serve on the Desert Dogs' staff.

 

So I think we should try to guess at who we think will be the other organizations priority guys? And then decipher ours a little bit more..

 

As far as the two single-A guys, I wouldn't send either Wagner or Lopez. Both have had solid seasons but Wagner has dominated to a special degree, he might even get moved up still this year but he's done more than enough this year. Let him carry that high note through the off season and in to next year. Lopez could really use the off-time to be with his son, and Arizona would just distance him.

 

Arcia on the other hand, while he has had a solid season, more at-bats against tougher pitching couldn't hurt. I'd even go as far to say make him a priority player. Oakland sent Addison Russell last year at the young age of 19. The other BC player I'd send is Bad to the bone Tyrone Taylor. He's been turning it on in the pitcher-friendly FSL, let him get a taste of what's to come.

 

As for the higher ups, the elders..

 

Haniger and Cravy for sure. Not many guys go to the AFL twice, and had both these guys had healthy seasons I probably wouldn't be typing this, but, here we are, neither of them logging innings. Everybody wanting to see more.

 

Nick Ramirez intrigues me. D'vo intrigues me. Zarraga confuses me. Andy Moye is getting kind of old but has been solid when not injured so maybe to make up for lost time like Haniger and Cravy?

 

Rogers has played what has to seem like 34920234 straight days of baseball-(Went AFL, DWL, brief off-season, back to spring straining) give him an extended vacation lol.

 

Of that ramble I'd probably go D'vo/Zarraga, so those two +Haniger,Cravy,Taylor,Arcia.. Seems like a nice contingent of future big league producers.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers to begin choosing Fall League players

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

[DHonks]

Hey all. Some things have probably changed since I worked in the afl, but the requirements used to be only 1 kid from lower than AA and they generally must be from a nation with no winter league. Alcides went at 18 bc no Venezuelan team wanted him at that time.

 

The brewers generally send guys coming off injury and at least one outlier (Bausher and other minor league free agents come to mind). Here's my guess:

Zarraga

Heckathorn/Wooten/Jeffress

Nick Ramirez/Taylor green (in bid for last chance at 40-man)

Richardson/kentrail Davis

Bradley

Blazek

[Mass Haas]

Unless they add Zarraga to the 40-man or entice him with a minor league deal, he'll be a minor league free agent.

[igor67]

I know his playing time has been sporadic, but Zarraga has been pretty cold since hitting AAA. A mediocre AAA finish wouldn't exactly do wonders for his leverage in his upcoming free agency.

[DHonks]

Mass, I forgot they changed things. The deadline to add guys to the 40-man used to be in late November. We used to see guys celebrate when they got the call about being added to the 40-man.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

How about Brooks Hall? Is he ready to pitch again?

[LouisEly]

With the amount of time he's missed, I think Haniger is a shoe-in. Right on the mark with a catcher, but I think it's Zarraga or Weisenburger. Good call on Cravy and Rogers. I believe you can only send a max of two who have not played in AA yet.

 

Haniger, Zarraga (if he's not called up; Weisenburger if Zarraga is called up), J. Rogers

Cravy, Bradley, Tanner Poppe

 

From below AA: Michael Reed, Nathan Orf

 

Darkhorse: Casey Medlen

 

Darkhorses from below AA: Michael Strong, Mark Williams

So... Haniger and Williams... not so much. My guess is Nick Ramirez replaces Haniger. About the only hitter left at AA or above who even resembles a prospect.

 

But quite a spot start today from Strong. This year 58 IP, 40 H, BB down a little from last year at 20, and 59 K. Averaging >2IP/appearance, so he isn't racking up numbers as a LOOGY (numbers very balanced between RH and LH). At 25, almost 26, time to see what he can do against tougher competition.

[BrewersAA]

Morris Rogers roach cravy blazek hall/Bradley/jungmann

[WV Brew]

With Tyler Cravy now about to return, it almost seems mandatory for him to be included. There wouldn't be a lot of point to bring him back just for what's left of the season otherwise. He's only thrown 76 innings although he only had 79 last year and 90 as his high. So he hasn't been a big innings guy up to this point.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville 1B Nick Ramirez tweets that he's been selected.

[djoctagone]

players on the 40-man selected: pitchers brooks hall, ariel pena and wei-chung wang. pena would be out of minor league options come 2015.

 

minor leaguers selected: pitcher tyler wagner, infielders hector gomez and nick ramirez, outfielder tyrone taylor, catcher shawn zarraga (taxi squad)

[Outlander]

Hector Gomez was mentioned in the minor league free agent thread so is the AFL still considered part of this season and can they wait until after the AFL to make a decision on adding him to the 40 man?

[Mass Haas]

Hector Gomez was mentioned in the minor league free agent thread so is the AFL still considered part of this season and can they wait until after the AFL to make a decision on adding him to the 40 man?

 

I'm putting together an important clarification on that, will be up in a few minutes.

[Mass Haas]

BrewCrewBall's Derek Harvey does a nice job there, and he pulled a very quick turnaround on a thorough write-up on the AFL selections.

 

Derek indicated Brooks Hall's injury has been unknown, we have known it was initially described as "elbow irritation", but that's pretty generic considering he went on the DL April 29th.

 

Also, here are two takes related to our recent potential minor league free agent thread.

 

So Shawn Zarraga and Hector Gomez have been named to the AFL squad, but each is a potential free agent at season's end.

 

Players need to be signed into 2015 to participate for their parent club in the AFL. Teams are unable to sign minor league players to successor contracts until after the minor league season ends. So the AFL assignments for each are contingent on them re-signing first (or, as noted above, being placed on the 40-man roster). We know nothing officially, but it is believed that Zarraga will be agreeing to a minor league deal and an 8th year in the Brewers' system. His AFL assignment is a nice bone.

 

Hector Gomez could have walked after his dreadful 2013 season, but signed a minor league deal with the Crew for 2014. And he's had a breakout season just as he's reaching his prime years (27 next spring).

 

If we read after Nashville's season, that Gomez has re-signed on another minor league deal, consider that a major bonus for the Brewers, because he would not take up a 40-man roster spot this winter and could begin 2015 at AAA if need be. Gomez is out of minor league options, so if the only way Milwaukee can keep him on for the AFL is via 40-man roster addition (and they very well should just to protect him from the Rule 5 draft), then Gomez would need to make the big league club next spring (a very real possibility with a good camp showing), otherwise be exposed to waivers at the end of camp.

 

I realize that last sentence is one run-on with lots to digest, but I have faith in all of you .