Minor League Transactions - 2015 Regular Season

[Mass Haas]

Release info was originally posted April 2nd:

 

Catcher Jack Cleary was the Brewers' 39th round pick in 2013 out of the University of Maryland. Cleary turns 25 in June, spent all of 2014 in Helena, and apparently wasn't able to be in the mix for a spot at Wisconsin or the more age-appropriate Brevard County.

 

Cleary has signed with the Joliet (IL) Slammers of the independent Frontier League, joining former Brewer farmhand infielders Alfredo Rodriguez and Mike Garza.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers place Timber Rattlers LH starting pitcher Zach Hirsch on the 7-day DL. If you listen to Manager Matt Erickson in Tuesday's postgame interview (Rattler Radio Blog link), you'll learn that the club planned to skip his spot regardless of this placement.

 

Hirsch (25 in July) was the only Wisconsin starter without a tandem partner, perhaps this will be part of the plan of balancing guys' innings. In other words, there's no immediate indication that Hirsch has a serious injury.

 

Taking Hirsch's spot is OF Brandon Diaz, who thankfully avoided a more serious finger injury last week, activated after a week-long DL stint.

[Mass Haas]

Once Logan Schafer officially catches up with the Sky Sox, the team will need to free up a roster spot.

 

It'll likely be a pitcher move (currently 14 -- actually 15 active, one being Jim Henderson, who doesn't count while on rehab).

 

Announced Thursday - RHP Tim Dillard returns to the team's "taxi squad", so to speak, assigned on paper to the Helena roster.

[Mass Haas]

At Brevard, RHP Scott Lieser comes off the 7-day DL, while RHP Tyler Spurlin goes on the DL. Spurlin's last outing was the roughest of his seven relief stints thus far.

[Mass Haas]

We have learned that RHP Chad Thompson, the 6'8" 27th round pick in 2011, was released this week. Earlier this spring, he had been listed in the rehab portion of the extended spring training list by the Brewers.

 

Thompson, 24, has a long history past. He had Tommy John surgery back in 2009, and missed all of 2013 after major shoulder surgery. In 2012, Thompson was the winning pitcher when the Timber Rattlers clinched their Midwest League championship. And you should remember this very memorable combined no-hitter debut, ironically almost three years to the day prior to his release.

 

We wish Chad well for his future pursuits, on the field and off.

[Mass Haas]

OF Monte Harrison to the Timber Rattlers Temp Inactive List (we'll link because he posted it himself, sincere condolences on the loss of his grandmother).

 

Soon-to-be 22-year-old infielder Francisco Castillo, who split 2014 between Wisconsin and Helena (rough .528 OPS with the Timber Rattlers), joins the club to fill the spot.

[TheCrew07]

Wow... when it rains it pours, my sincere condolences to Monte as well.

[Mass Haas]

29-year-old MLB vet of 282 games, IF Chris Nelson (career minor and major league stats) has signed a minor league deal with the Brewers one day after his release by the Phillies (Nelson opted out, forcing the release).

 

The Brewers will need to make room at AAA where surprise Sky Sox callup Brandon Macias, along with veterans Donnie Murphy and Pete Orr, have split time at third base.

 

Rotoworld Nelson history notations

 

The agent for the RH bat probably could not have identified a better landing spot for his client at this time.

 

Milwaukee will be the 7th organization Nelson has suited up for since the start of the 2013 season - COL, ANA, NYY, SD, CIN, PHI.

[Mass Haas]

29-year-old MLB vet of 282 games, IF Chris Nelson (career minor and major league stats) has signed a minor league deal with the Brewers one day after his release by the Phillies (Nelson opted out, forcing the release).

 

The Brewers will need to make room at AAA where surprise Sky Sox callup Brandon Macias, along with veterans Donnie Murphy and Pete Orr, have split time at third base.

 

The Brewers announce the move, and indicate that Macias has been transferred to Biloxi.

 

When Brandon meets up with the AA squad, the Shuckers will need to free up a roster spot. The current makeup of the team in Biloxi is 13 pitchers, 12 position players, including three catchers.

[Mass Haas]

This needed to happen, hoping David can rake in Helena --

 

Via the Brewers -- First baseman Alan Sharkey & RHP Joshua Torres have been transferred to Wisconsin. First baseman David Denson has been transferred to extended spring; RHP Victor Diaz to the DL.

 

***

 

Will be nice to see what 2014's Arizona League ERA champ (Torres) can do in Appleton. Diaz has managed a fine ERA but ugly peripherals in his second Wisconsin go-round, he pitched five innings on Wednesday. This will be Sharkey's Timber Rattlers debut, in his age 21 season. Denson's OPS was down to .569 this spring (.714 last summer while at the same level).

[Mass Haas]

One day after a disastrous blowup outing in Iowa, the Brewers announce RHP Chris Leroux has been placed on the Sky Sox disabled list, with RHP Tim Dillard brought back from Helena paper roster exodus to take his spot.

[Mass Haas]

When Brandon Macias meets up with the AA squad, the Shuckers will need to free up a roster spot. The current makeup of the team in Biloxi is 13 pitchers, 12 position players, including three catchers.

 

Shuckers press release with the details -- Brewers place catcher Tyler LaTorre on Helena's squad as an extra body / taxi squad guy.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Devin Williams announces his Wednesday plans.

 

The Timber Rattlers will need to make a corresponding move.

[torts]

thats awesome! glad to see he's getting back on the field!

[Mass Haas]

Sky Sox SS Luis Sardinas joins the Brewers as they announce Jean Segura has a pinkie finger fracture.

 

Here's the Sky Sox roster --

 

Now actually, the Brewers needed to make a move at Colorado Springs today anyway to make room for RHP Jim Henderson.

 

But now the makeup of the Sky Sox is 14 pitchers, 11 position players.

 

The fact Matt Long can play second base in addition to outfield helps, but it's unlikely the roster balance will be kept this way.

 

Begging the question, is Orlando Arcia an option for even a temporary AAA assignment? Certainly Yadiel Rivera can handle short at Biloxi, or the Brewers could choose to bump Rivera up and leave Arcia with the Shuckers. Right now, veterans Donnie Murphy and Pete Orr would split your AAA shortstop spot.

[BrewersAA]

arcia or rivera, that is the debate.... My heart wants arcia, my gut tells me they will bump rivera and leave arcia right where he is.

[reillymcshane]

arcia or rivera, that is the debate.... My heart wants arcia, my gut tells me they will bump rivera and leave arcia right where he is.

That's probably what's in the cards. Leave Arcia where he is. Rivera played 1/2 of last season at AA, so it's his 'turn' - that's the Brewer way.

[Jenkins5]

Rivera got the promotion as he should, he proved himself last year and this year. No rush with Arcia. Left him keep hitting and developing. If he is hitting .390+ at all-star break then okay.

 

With how outstanding Rivera and Arcia have been, having Segura, starting to no really like the Gallardo trade for Sardinas. What his his future role? Throw in Hector as well, he are looking good up middle

[Mass Haas]

Here's the Shuckers formal press release on the Yadiel Rivera AAA promotion (kudos Yadiel, by the way, well-earned), and also indicating that catcher Tyler LaTorre is back on the 25-man roster from the paper Helena list.

[Mass Haas]

Via @BrewersPD --

 

RHP Mark Williams has been transferred to Brevard County. SS Jacob Gatewood activated from DL with Wisconsin.

 

No word yet on a corresponding move for the Manatees. Williams' arrival makes 26 players (14 pitchers), so an arm is likely to be moved or placed on a non-active list.

 

Gatewood was only sidelined for two weeks with the bone bruise on his knee, what a great break (or actually, great non-break).

[Mass Haas]

RHP Tim Dillard back on the Helena paper roster to make room for RHP Jim Henderson's formal optioned assignment at Colorado Springs.

 

***

 

Via the Manatees --

 

RHP Casey Medlen has been placed on the Brevard County DL, retroactive to 5/12.

 

RHP Kaleb Earls has been placed on the Brevard County DL, retroactive to 5/14.

 

RHP Mark Williams has reported to Brevard County from Wisconsin and RHP Tyler Spurlin has been reinstated from the Brevard County DL.

 

No details on the nature or severity of the injuries.

[bork]

Looks like Harrison is activated and Aviles goes to "Helena".

[Mass Haas]

Looks like Monte Harrison is activated (from the bereavement list) and Luis Aviles goes to "Helena".

 

Except in this case, Aviles, the 20-year-old SS with the .416 OPS actually likely will end up back in Helena this June.

 

Tim Dillard will not be there to meet him.

 

The Rattlers need to make another move to activate RHP Devin Williams Saturday.

[WV Brew]

Mentioned in the Manatees' broadcast that Kaleb Earls has shoulder "soreness". Hopefully, it's not something serious.

[WV Brew]

From FSL Transactions:

 

It looks like Hiram Burgos has been transferred to Biloxi. Eric Marzec moves from Biloxi to Brevard County.

 

I assume Clint Terry will take Burgos' spot in the rotation.