Minor League Transactions - 2014-2015 Offseason

[fondybrewfan]

Would they even consider just sending Taylor to AAA right away given the lack of bodies there?

[TheCrew07]

They essentially skipped Hardy over AAA when he injured his shoulder, it's not entirely unprecedented. However, with Gomez playing for the big league club there's no reason to push Taylor, from a development standpoint it would make sense to move him 1 level per season. He could play his way out of AA by the all-star break if he plays that well and end up in AAA anyway.

 

I'd rather they just sign some AAA organizational soldier types for next year and see how the OF situation shakes out.

[JohnBriggs12]

All Halton did against lefties last year was hit .342/.387/.509 in 173 plate appearances at Nashville. You would think with the Brewers needing RH platoon mate at 1B for Lind that he'd have more value than say Hunter Morris who is behind both Lind and Matt Clark. But then Brewers never valued Halton or he would have been given a 1B shot last year after posting reasonably decent numbers in his rookie trial of 2013.

[Mass Haas]

Jeremy Hermida signed for $500,000 in Japan.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers have begun the process of stocking their AAA Colorado Springs outfield with the minor league free agent signing of 27-year-old (28 this January) RH-hitting Ben Guez (pronounced "Gez"), who has spent his entire seven-year pro career in the Tigers' organization.

 

It is unclear at this time if Guez will receive a big league camp invite. He has never been on the Tigers' 40-man roster.

 

Guez is noted as capable of playing all three OF spots, although his arm plays best in right field. Although listed at just 5'11, 180, Guez has hit a combined 34 home runs over the past two seasons with AAA Toledo.

 

Ben Guez - Career Statistics via Baseball Reference

 

Ben Guez - Career Statistics and Splits via MiLB.com - There was a severe split vs. RH/LH in 2014, that has not always been the case

 

Most recent feature article (May, 2014) - Ben Guez has ‘weathered’ with Hens

 

Scouting Report (pre-2012)

 

Guez is of the Jewish faith (2010 feature article), and represented Team Israel, playing under Brad Ausmus in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

 

You can watch 50 MiLB.com highlights featuring Guez from 2011-2014 here.

 

Guez had a spring training game to remember last March.

 

You can follow and welcome @BennyGuez on Twitter, where he's already updated his page.

 

Tweet - He's excited to join the Brewers, he's a family man as well.

 

Welcome, Ben! Good luck with the Crew!

[brewmann04]

welcome aboard get the roster stocked I wonder if the two year deal will be a one an done

[Mass Haas]

McCalvy article -- Brewers sign OF Petersen to Minors deal with invite

[Outlander]

Petersen appears to be another Logan Schafer. Definitely doesn't hurt to have another guy that can play CF if there is an emergency situation at the big league level.

[Mass Haas]

We wish RHP's Kyle Heckathorn and Andy Moye well after their releases today by the Brewers.

 

As mentioned previously on this forum and in these

 

two

 

tweets

 

each had an adventurous winter ball stint.

[DHonks]

surprised Heckathorn made it to AAA. For a guy that peaked in A-ball, he got a bit farther and likely made some extra money. So disappointing that he was a guy with a power fastball that some had ranked as a top 10 pick, but he never did much as a pro.

[Mass Haas]

Just announced by the Brewers -- links lead to Baseball Reference pages, we'll fill in background detail later this evening (you're invited to contribute here as well within this thread if you can, thanks):

 

The Brewers have acquired OF Matt Long and LHP Jarret Martin from the Dodgers in exchange for C Shawn Zarraga.

[Mass Haas]

Just announced by the Brewers -- links lead to Baseball Reference pages, we'll fill in background detail later this evening (you're invited to contribute here as well within this thread if you can, thanks):

 

The Brewers have acquired OF Matt Long and LHP Jarret Martin from the Dodgers in exchange for C Shawn Zarraga.

 

MLB Trade Rumors with some details/insights

 

MiLB.com article

 

Jarrett Martin MiLB.com videos

 

Matt Long MiLB.com videos

 

Jarret Martin recent quotes from True Blue LA (SB Nation blog)

 

Each is on Twitter and has been added to @BrewerNation's compiled list of all Brewer farmhands on Twitter

 

Martin #20 on the Brewers' MLB Pipeline list now

 

I get a kick that Martin was acquired by the Dodgers in Dec. '11 from Orioles for former Crew LHP Dana Eveland.

 

Jarrett Martin Rotoworld history

 

Matt Long Rotoworld history

 

True Blue LA - 2014 Dodgers review: Jarret Martin

 

True Blue LA 12/06/13 - Jarret Martin is living the dream

[djoctagone]

jarret martin had his contract purchased by the dodgers on 20 november 2013, and was optioned to the minors on 14 march 2014. he was designated for assignment by the dodgers on 22 november 2014.

 

if the brewers add martin to the 40-man roster, he would have two minor league options remaining.

[Mass Haas]

We've updated the post two posts above on Long/Martin with multiple links, and Adam McCalvy provides a good write-up here with various quotes of interest.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers invite catcher Nevin Ashley (career stats) to 2015 spring training.

 

I like the way this Pirates' fan site chronicles his career year-by-year.

 

You'll see via that link that Ashley has spent one season on a 40-man roster (one option used).

 

Here's MiLB.com's collection of Ashley highlight videos.

 

Ashley came close to being on a big league roster this past May as a 26th man (doubleheader), but the Pirates didn't need him despite having him on-site "in case".

 

Welcome to the Crew (and big league spring training), Nevin!

 

I also snuck in this trivia tidbit on Twitter.

[Mass Haas]

As indicated in Matt Eddy's transaction update at Baseball America --

 

The Brewers have released 2013 13th round pick Tanner Norton (Baseball Reference page).

 

Norton won't turn 20 until July.

 

He spent his age 17/18 season as a catcher in Maryvale, the last year was at first base, again in Maryvale, as an 18/19 year old.

 

Only five of the LH bat's 54 base hits had gone for extra bases (all doubles).

 

Article written about Norton upon signing

 

Via MLB.com, a brief scouting video

 

PrepBaseballReport Scouting at time of signing --

 

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound prospect registered a 7.25 60-yard dash. Norton, who passes the look test, is a solid, muscular prospect. He showed the ability to both catch and play first base. Behind the plate, he registered a consistent 1.85 pop time and wasn’t afraid to get dirty. At the plate, Norton uses a smooth left-handed swing with an easy load to generate gap-to-gap power.

 

Good luck to Norton, make use of any negotiated money for college.

[Mass Haas]

Good job by all the contributors in the Gallardo trade thread that made its way from the Transaction Rumor Forum to the Major League Forum yesterday.

 

Here's a post with multiple helpful links on the new Brewers, including multiple videos.

[Mass Haas]

Handy list of big league camp non-roster invites via The Brewer Nation.

[brewmann04]

Brewers Player Dev ‏@BrewersPD · 1h1 hour ago

The Brewers have signed RHP Chris Leroux to a minor league contract

[djoctagone]

hiram burgos back to the organization on a minor league contract. no big league camp invite, although i wouldn't be surprised to see him pitch in big league exhibition games as they bring around the likes of hellweg, henderson and thornburg.

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America --

 

Brewers LHP Tyler Alexander

Suspension Length: 50 games

Violating Substances: Drug of abuse (second positive test)

 

Alexander, 23, a lefthander out of Florida International, was a 27th-round pick in 2013. He’s gone 7-6, 4.28 in two minor league seasons, walking 4.10/9 but striking out 11.27/9.

 

***

 

Sigh...

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America --

 

Brewers LHP Tyler Alexander

Suspension Length: 50 games

Violating Substances: Drug of abuse (second positive test)

 

Alexander, 23, a lefthander out of Florida International, was a 27th-round pick in 2013. He’s gone 7-6, 4.28 in two minor league seasons, walking 4.10/9 but striking out 11.27/9.

 

***

 

Sigh...

 

Also, even though Alexander spent most of 2014 with the Timber Rattlers, because he was on the Maryvale roster to end the season (perhaps we can assume more about that demotion now), his suspension won't begin until June when the rookie league season begins. So at minimum, he's out until late July.

[pete]

I thought Burgos was a fun pitcher to watch.

 

His first career win came against the Cubs and he picked off Chris Denorfia, now of the Cubs, in the WBC.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v25721977/itapur-burgos-gets-the-pickoff-in-the-seventh/?c_id=mlb

 

I declare it a good omen!

[JohnBriggs12]

Burgos was lights out in the WBC. Hope he can put together a healthy season in AAA and be a starter option if needed.

[Mass Haas]

Posted on January 17th --

 

As indicated in Matt Eddy's transaction update at Baseball America --

 

The Brewers have released 2013 13th round pick Tanner Norton (Baseball Reference page).

 

Norton won't turn 20 until July.

 

He spent his age 17/18 season as a catcher in Maryvale, the last year was at first base, again in Maryvale, as an 18/19 year old.

 

Only five of the LH bat's 54 base hits had gone for extra bases (all doubles).

 

Article written about Norton upon signing

 

Via MLB.com, a brief scouting video

 

PrepBaseballReport Scouting at time of signing --

 

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound prospect registered a 7.25 60-yard dash. Norton, who passes the look test, is a solid, muscular prospect. He showed the ability to both catch and play first base. Behind the plate, he registered a consistent 1.85 pop time and wasn’t afraid to get dirty. At the plate, Norton uses a smooth left-handed swing with an easy load to generate gap-to-gap power.

 

Good luck to Norton, make use of any negotiated money for college.

 

And now MiLB.com with some background --

 

Former Brewers first baseman Tanner Norton was handed a 50-game suspension without pay following a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

 

Norton will begin serving his ban once he signs with a Major League organization.

 

Norton, 19, was Milwaukee's 13th-round pick in 2013 out of Bishop Brossart High School in Kentucky. The lefty-swinging first baseman was released on Jan. 12 after hitting .250 with no home runs, 15 RBIs, three doubles and a .349 on-base percentage in 40 games for the Rookie-level Arizona League Brewers last year. He hit .191 in 30 contests in 2013.

 

Players are typically issued a warning following a first positive test for a drug of abuse and a suspension for a second offense. Substances considered "drugs of abuse" by Major League Baseball include cocaine, marijuana, heroin, LSD, ecstasy and other opiates.

 

The Office of the Commissioner has suspended 30 players in 2015 following their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

 

***

 

LHP Tyler Alexander (see above) also was suspended recently for a similar violation, but was not released by the Brewers.