2015-2016 Minor League Offseason Transaction Thread

[Mass Haas]

Updates will be posted as they come in.

 

Here is the link to the 2015 regular season transaction thread.

 

Also, latest on

 

2015 Brewers Minor League Free Agent Eligible List

 

Rule 5 and 40-man roster eligibles

[Mass Haas]

All reinstated from DL:

 

RHP Victor Diaz (arm issues while with Wisconsin, never learned the specifics, 6-day DL May 7th)

 

***

 

RHP Yosmer Leal

 

Posted on May 28th:

 

The Brewers have placed 19-year-old Venezuelan RHP Yosmer Leal on the Arizona roster for the purpose of medical rehab. Leal has had elbow surgery (Tommy John, we presume, but not confirmed), and will miss the 2015 season. The tall (6'4", 170 lb.) Leal has two Dominican Summer League seasons under his belt. Leal has the distinction of being the only "Yosmer" to ever play professional baseball.

 

***

 

LHP Joan de la Cruz

 

Posted on May 1st:

 

Joan De La Cruz, the 6'3", 175 lb. LHP still only 20 years old after pitching his age 17, 18 and 19 seasons in the Dominican Summer League, had Tommy John surgery last October, as per the Brewers media guide.

 

Too bad, as you'll see by the linked player page, the native Dominican had made nice strides in his 2014 season.

 

At least with the timing, De La Cruz will be about 20 months from surgery by the time the 2016 Maryvale and Helena seasons begin.

 

***

 

C Johel Atencio

 

Posted June 20th in our Helena / Maryvale thread --

 

Promising 18-year-old Panamanian catcher Johel Atencio is on the 7-day DL as well.

 

As per this twitter reply from Brewers Player Development, looks like a lengthy absence.

 

Hat tip R.C. Giese.

 

We never did see exactly what the injury was.

 

***

 

OF Johnny Davis

 

Torn ACL while with the Manatees, on DL as of April 21st.

 

***

 

We'll place similar posts here once players are officially activated from the full-season team DL's.

 

Another set of DL activations occurred as of September 11th as the full-season squads concluded their season in the prior week -- Baseball America link

 

RHP Taylor Williams and LHP Nathan Kirby -- each with Tommy John surgery

 

LHP Jarret Martin -- surgery for a shoulder debridement

 

LHP Clint Terry -- We never did learn (we tried) to determine what kept the very promising 23-year-old LHP sidelined all the way back to June 11th; not on the instructional league roster, either

 

C Carlos Leal -- On the instructional league roster, nice...

 

1B Alan Sharkey, 21, and UT Francisco Castillo, 22-- Unknown injuries, but the Timber Rattlers are not on the instructional league roster

 

IF Hainley Statia -- Veteran minor leaguer never saw action in 2015 with an undisclosed injury

 

IF Dustin Demuth -- A broken hand; not on the instructional list

 

Player / Coach Edwin Maysonet -- The former big league Brewer only performed in a coaching role at Helena

 

OF Brandon Diaz -- Healthy, and participating at instructional camp

 

OF Ben Guez -- 28-year-old (serious Rickie Weeks-like hamstring injury) scheduled to become a minor league free agent this fall, a re-sign with the Crew would be nice

[Mass Haas]

Posted August 13th --

 

VIDEO via KRTV: Helena Brewers' Player-Coach Edwin Maysonet

 

According to the Pioneer League transactions page, the Brewers have released the "player" Edwin Maysonet; we imagine, until told otherwise, Maysonet remains a member of the Brewers' organizational coaching staff.

[Mass Haas]

Wrapping up the activations from the disabled lists, as also detailed two posts above --

 

Reinstated from DL (9/25): RHP Brooks Hall, RHP Martin Viramontes, LHP Hobbs Johnson, 2B Nathan Orf

 

Not definitive, but it seems only Orf's injury was legit, yet we don't have the specifics on that. The rest appeared to involve making room for Biloxi postseason reinforcements.

[Mass Haas]

Good luck to 24-year-old RF Michael Ratterree, as MiLB.com announced his retirement as of Friday.

 

Ratterree, the Brewers 10th round pick out of Rice University in 2013, had a sad-to-say miserable 2015 at Brevard County. He played in only 75 games as he didn't debut until June 6th, recovering from a broken bone in his hand suffered in spring training. But what a debut it was --

 

AUDIO: In his first game with Brevard County, Michael Ratterree launches a walk-off homer to defeat Dunedin

 

By the way, that was a heck of a Link Report -- Biloxi finally opened up MGM Park with a 14-inning victory.

 

In 240 AB's with the Manatees, Ratterree posted a .150/.260/.221 line (sadly, none of which is a misprint).

 

From 9/29/14 --

 

Via the Brewers --

 

Congrats to Brewers prospect Michael Ratterree on being named a Minor League Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner. Ratterree won the award in RF.

 

MiLB.com: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers right fielder Michael Ratterree put up a .992 fielding percentage with 252 putouts and 10 assists over 126 games. Ratterree completed two double plays and committed only two errors on the season.

 

Ratterree dominated (as he should have) at Helena as a 2013 rookie (.976 OPS). He posted an .802 OPS as a 2014 Timber Rattler. One wonders if his hand was ever healthy this year and what impact it had on his retirement decision.

 

Ratterree's signing bonus was only $25,000 as a senior sign.

 

Brewers were not swimming in corner OF prospects at the A and A+ level to begin with.

 

We wish Michael the very best in all future endeavors.

[DHonks]

sad, but he joins the other mid-round college picks to get excited about only in Helena...Tony Festa and Grant Richardson were two of the first for me. I've really lost enthusiasm with our failures on mid-round positional prospects

[clancyphile]

sad, but he joins the other mid-round college picks to get excited about only in Helena...Tony Festa and Grant Richardson were two of the first for me. I've really lost enthusiasm with our failures on mid-round positional prospects

 

I tend to agree. The 2nd through 10th rounds are where the Brewers really need to hit paydirt three or four times a year, given their small market status.

 

That isn't to say there isn't some hope over the last five years, and I think there are some guys who have done well, but the success of the Brewers isn't so much depending on hitting on the first-round picks as much as it relies on hitting on the 2nd through 10th rounds. The late-round steals like Brent Suter - a 31st-round pick who blossoms - aren't something a team should count on.

[Mass Haas]

Good luck to catcher Nevin Ashley, who elected minor league free agency after his outright removal from the Brewers 40-man, as per the Brewers' announcement today. It was fun following you this season, both at AAA and your big league debut.

 

Wouldn't surprise me if he re-signs a minor league deal with the Crew, but rightly is checking out other options.

 

HINT: Re-sign with a Pacific Coast League high-altitude team.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers 2015 19th round pick Steven Karkenny, who was a mainstay in the middle of the Helena Brewers lineup this past summer (61 games at 1B, nine at 3B, two in RF), has voluntarily retired, as per MiLB.com.

 

The 22-year-old RH bat (23 next March) posted a .751 OPS with eight home runs in his debut pro season, along with eight stolen bases in nine attempts.

 

These articles -- draft day via The Masters College in California and early in the season via the Helena Independent Record -- will let you know more about Karkenny.

 

So who will man first base for the Rattlers in 2016? The link shows options -- David Denson (Helena), Juan Ortiz and Tyrone Perry (Maryvale)...

[Mass Haas]

Tweet (and another) indicating OF Ben Guez is the first of the minor league free agents to re-sign.

 

29 this coming January, Guez looked primed to make his big league debut at some point in 2015 before suffering the serious hamstring/bone injury.

 

Welcome back, Benny!

[Mass Haas]

Sure looks like RHP Jaye Chapman will be back, and with a big league camp invite.

 

Agent Josh Kusnick --

 

Will have free agent update today. Contract signed. 6 year guy w invite to early camp. One down

 

I bet if you check who liked this tweet it would be funny. (Chapman did...)

 

Although Josh tosses in a "maybe" in this Twitter conversation,

 

Nothing as promised, perhaps waiting for a Brewers announcement...

 

This all appears to be a done deal now -- nice move among all involved: agent, player, team.

[Mass Haas]

Chapman invited to early camp

 

"Early camp" is a step up from the other standard camp invites, but it's not a full-blown big league spring training invite -- just a clarification.

[Mass Haas]

Welcome back, RHP Hiram Burgos -- bypassed minor league free agency to re-sign with the Crew.

 

Along with RHP Jaye Chapman and OF Ben Guez, Burgos has been added to the list of players eligible to be snagged in the Rule 5 draft (which is still pending more 40-man adds, such as Orlando Arcia's.)

[Mass Haas]

From the Josh Kusnick DDSM thread on Sunday AM --

 

Using some deductive reasoning on this one -- apologies if it proves incorrect:

 

We all know our own "agent 39", Joshua Kusnick, who has had a long-standing relationship with the Brewers, that now seemingly extends beyond the Doug Melvin era.

 

His early Sunday AM tweets:

 

TWEET: Brewers fans owe me a party or something for the amount of guys I send there. I swear I crossed them off months ago and it still happened

 

TWEET: Cant wait til news breaks by @Hau or @AdamMcCalvy And yet another Priority 6 year fa sent to MIL by Joshua Kusnick

 

*mis-type of @Haudricourt above

 

TWEET: Leaving LA after mlbpa meeting. Saw family, @TherealAsuaje20 got traded and headed to mlb camp and 3 am est finished another fa deal. #Mil

 

In that last tweet, the conversation includes this from Josh:

 

TWEET: Guy w more than year mlb time. 6 year fa. Ive now sent the jeffress chapman herndon t green player x im sure more

 

So if we sort MLB Trade Rumors Agent Data Base by agency, then search on Josh's Double Diamond Sports Management (that's not all Josh's clients, but ones with big league connections), then cross-reference against Baseball America's List of MiLB Free Agents, we do get a match.

 

33-year-old RHP Jim Miller (Baseball Cube page, which shows major and minor league stats on same page), nice 2012 big league season with Oakland, very strong 2015 AAA numbers with AAA Durham (Rays)

 

Add another reason for Josh to be excited?

 

Josh penned this last March, learn how the cool agent-player relationship came about. It was picked up by Fox Sports and posted here:

 

Jim Miller has a dream -- and now has a deal

Joshua Kusnick

 

Be sure to click on that link -- it's a fine read. The Tampa Bay Times followed up with their own version of events.

 

I've sent a message to Josh asking for a confirmation, he may not be able to, waiting instead for the Brewers to announce the signing.

 

Also not sure if the signing includes a big league camp invite, or what the Brewers consider an "early minor league camp invite", as RHP Jaye Chapman just received (another Kusnick client, as noted in Adam McCalvy's November 2014 article here).

 

Miller would make sense for the Brewers, in that he, like Chapman, would be a fine choice to stabilize a Colorado Springs bullpen while other young arms develop. And if he shines, a big league shot (again, to bide time for younger arms - Magnifico, Barnes, etc.) isn't out of the question.

 

***

 

Disclaimer -- I'm not a professional journalist (despite the hefty Brewerfan salary ), so unlike Adam or Tom, I'm not left to uphold all the formal confirmations and bells and whistles. If the situation here has been completely mis-read, again, my apologies. But this is all part of the fun of "Fan Forum" and Hot Stove season, right?

 

And if it's all correct -- Welcome Aboard, Jim!

 

Adam McCalvy with the confirmation article.

[pogokat]

Looks like Hernan Perez is back. Everyone can breathe now.

[Mass Haas]

Link to Major League Forum for the full K-Rod / Javier Betancourt trade thread

 

***

 

From that thread and elsewhere, tips and nuggets:

 

Baseball Reference Page

 

MLB Pipeline

 

Baseball Prospectus

 

From Last May -- Tigers prospect scouting report: Javier Betancourt (detailed write-up)

[Mass Haas]

Sure looks like RHP Jaye Chapman will be back, and with a big league camp invite.

 

Agent Josh Kusnick --

 

Will have free agent update today. Contract signed. 6 year guy w invite to early camp. One down

 

I bet if you check who liked this tweet it would be funny. (Chapman did...)

 

Although Josh tosses in a "maybe" in this Twitter conversation,

 

Nothing as promised, perhaps waiting for a Brewers announcement...

 

This all appears to be a done deal now -- nice move among all involved: agent, player, team.

 

VIDEO: Chapman on why he heads home to Panama City, FL for his offseason work in this news clip

[JohnBriggs12]

Jim Miller is not to be confused with one time Brewer farmhand (late 90's) of the same name drafted out of Carthage who's now media guy for Hawthorne Race Course outside of Chicago and who is seen giving info from time to time on TVG.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers confirmed that RHP Hiram Burgos and INF Hernan Perez received formal big league training camp invites today.

 

They also announced a big league camp invite for a new Brewer, 25-year-old (26 in March) RH-hitting catcher Rene Garcia (career stats).

 

David Stearns would know him well, as Garcia (35th round, 2008, out of a Puerto Rico high school) spent the first seven of his eight pro seasons (all in the minors) with the Astros organization. Garcia signed with the Phillies organization for the 2015 season, which he split between AAA and AA. Of his 532 pro games, only 32 have been at AAA.

 

Here are nine video clips from MiLB.TV, dating from 2013-15.

 

Add Garcia to an ever-growing winter ball participants roster -- Garcia is playing in his 11th game of the Puerto Rico Winter League season tonight (winter stats included here via MiLB.com), and he homered tonight to celebrate his signing!

 

In this 2014 Baseball America feature, Garcia earned a token nod in the AA rankings --

 

Getting Defensive: Catcher Prospects Worth Loving For Their Gloves

 

In other articles on the web (like this one), Garcia is described as a premium defender (37% career caught stealing), but there aren't a lot of specifics written outside of raw numerical stats via Baseball Reference.

 

Garcia has earned big league camp invites for several years, but it appears he has never been placed on a 40-man roster.

 

Garcia is a year and a half younger than Adam Weisenburger, the possible Colorado Springs tandem.

 

Welcome Rene, folks will get to meet you at big league camp in Maryvale!

[JohnBriggs12]

Garcia has been really tough to strike out. Kind of the opposite of Maldanado who'll pop the occasional HR but has trouble making contact.

 

Melvin liked Maldonado a lot. Remains to be seen what Stearns view is.

[Mass Haas]

As per the Brewers transaction page--

 

We won't learn much more about these international signings until the March media guide comes out, and even then it will be minimal. If these turn out to be higher profile signings, we'll see blurbs this winter from Baseball America and the like, perhaps with some bonus info. Hopefully one of these turns out value like the Orlando Arcia $90,000 signing, or the 2003 signing of Alcides Escobar ($33,000).

 

Edwin Sano, a switch-hitting 5'9" 160 lb. shortstop out of La Romana, Dominican Republic, turns 17 on December 12th

 

Henry Medina, 18 years old (9/5/1997), 6'0", 175 RHP from Barcelona, Venezuela

 

Harold Chirino, 17 years old (1/12/1998) from Pueblo Nuevo, Venezuela; no details on height, weight, or even which arm he throws with (maybe both!), he is listed as a "pitcher"

 

Good luck on the Google searches, but we can assuredly believe each will debut for the Dominican Summer League Brewers next spring.

 

And when one (or all) makes their big league debut, we'll point to this post to mark the remembrance.

[CheezWizHed]

As per the Brewers transaction page--

 

Harold Chirino, 17 years old (1/12/1998) from Pueblo Nuevo, Venezuela; no details on height, weight, or even which arm he throws with (maybe both!), he is listed as a "pitcher"

 

A loogy and roogy rolled into one! We should try to develop that!

[Mass Haas]

Top portion here originally posted November 26th --

 

As per the Brewers transaction page--

 

We won't learn much more about these international signings until the March media guide comes out, and even then it will be minimal. If these turn out to be higher profile signings, we'll see blurbs this winter from Baseball America and the like, perhaps with some bonus info. Hopefully one of these turns out value like the Orlando Arcia $90,000 signing, or the 2003 signing of Alcides Escobar ($33,000).

 

Edwin Sano, a switch-hitting 5'9" 160 lb. shortstop out of La Romana, Dominican Republic, turns 17 on December 12th

 

Henry Medina, 18 years old (9/5/1997), 6'0", 175 RHP from Barcelona, Venezuela

 

Harold Chirino, 17 years old (1/12/1998) from Pueblo Nuevo, Venezuela; no details on height, weight, listed as a RHP

 

Good luck on the Google searches, but we can assuredly believe each will debut for the Dominican Summer League Brewers next spring.

 

And when one (or all) makes their big league debut, we'll point to this post to mark the remembrance.

 

From the overnight twitterverse December 1st --

 

Luis Cordero already w/Brewers. Infinite thanks to God for another chance one of our players and scouts Alcides Melendez, Fernando Veracierto and Manny Batista to believe in our players.

 

The Brewers don't have a Venezuelan academy nor field a Venezuelan Summer League team (all the kids go to the Dominican complex), but they have a strong scouting presence there, and in recent seasons, several of the higher-end Latin talents in the system hail from Venezuela, so signings like this are always welcome news. Similar to the other signings listed above, we'll wait on the media guide and/or prospect blurbs from Baseball America if warranted.

 

As for the Brewers' search beyond the Dominican, let's remember that RHP Carlos Luna, who earned Dominican Summer League All-Star MVP (and season-long All-Star honors) was signed out of Panama in July 2013 and broke out in his second pro season.

 

Signs with his left hand, and yes, he is a pitcher --

 

Brief bullpen video

 

 

 

[Mass Haas]

We'll link to all the pertinent information on the three teenage RHP's acquired from the Mariners later today, both from the thread on our Major League Forum, and elsewhere on the web.

 

Then 17-year-old Daniel Missaki faced the Crew in his 6th game as a pro on this date:

 

August 16, 2013 Arizona League Box / Game Log

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 8th

 

Pitching Change: Daniel Missaki replaces Troy Scott.

Tucker Neuhaus singles on a ground ball to right fielder Estarlyn Morales.

David Denson flies out to center fielder Cavan Cohoes.

Eric Williams flies out to center fielder Cavan Cohoes.

Tanner Norton walks. Tucker Neuhaus to 2nd.

Jack Cleary grounds out, pitcher Daniel Missaki to first baseman Miguel Brito.

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 9th

 

Steven Halcomb doubles (2) on a ground ball to left fielder Alexy Palma, deflected by third baseman Yordi Calderon.

Francisco Castillo singles on a ground ball to center fielder Cavan Cohoes. Steven Halcomb to 3rd.

Johnny Davis strikes out swinging.

Brandon Diaz singles on a ground ball to second baseman Noe Berroa, deflected by pitcher Daniel Missaki. Steven Halcomb scores. Francisco Castillo to 2nd.

Tucker Neuhaus grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Yordi Calderon. Francisco Castillo out at home. Tucker Neuhaus advances to 1st, on a throwing error by second baseman Noe Berroa.

Tucker Neuhaus out at 3rd, third baseman Yordi Calderon.

 

***

 

Noteworthy about this game? It was RHP Devin Williams' first professional win.

 

From the archives --

 

Final: AZL Brewers 7, @AZL Mariners 5

 

AZL Brewers Box Score

 

Four-run Brewer 5th broke a 2-2 tie. Six Mariner errors in the game, yet the A-Crew earned their pay, with only one of their runs technically a gift.

 

Top of the order with a nice job, please check out the box score for the specific mentions this AM.

 

SS/3B Tucker Neuhaus has played in 44 of Maryvale's 46 games. The next highest number is 2B Francisco Castillo at 39.

 

AZL Brewers Game Log

 

Moundwise, we already mentioned Martin Viramontes earlier; Devin Williams fanned six in three innings (two ER), and LHP Clint Terry proved weeks ago that he should have been placed in Helena, not Maryvale, three scoreless here. Brewer pitchers combined to whiff 17 (five walks, one HBP, one WP).

[Mass Haas]

August 16, 2013 Arizona League Box / Game Log

 

On this date, a rehabbing Wei-Chung Wang, well-regarded prospect Miguel Diaz, and Kodi Medeiros combined on a wonderful three-hitter to defeat the Mariners 1-0.

 

The starting pitcher who dazzled for the Mariners that day? Then 18-year-old RHP Freddy Peralta -- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K

 

AZL Brewers Bottom of the 1st

 

Monte Harrison grounds out to first baseman Ismael Alcantara.

Jake Gatewood grounds out, pitcher Freddy Peralta to first baseman Ismael Alcantara.

Matt Martin grounds out, pitcher Freddy Peralta to first baseman Ismael Alcantara.

 

AZL Brewers Bottom of the 2nd

 

Tanner Norton walks.

Troy Stokes flies out to right fielder Alexy Palma.

Yunior Santana pops out to first baseman Ismael Alcantara in foul territory.

Leudi Otano strikes out swinging.

 

AZL Brewers Bottom of the 3rd

 

Jorge Quiterio reaches on a throwing error by third baseman Kavin Keyes.

With Daniel Leonardo batting, Jorge Quiterio caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Alexander Capriata to second baseman Erick Mejia.

Daniel Leonardo flies out to left fielder Luis Liberato.

Monte Harrison grounds out, third baseman Kavin Keyes to first baseman Ismael Alcantara.

 

AZL Brewers Bottom of the 4th

 

Jake Gatewood singles on a ground ball to left fielder Luis Liberato.

Matt Martin strikes out swinging.

Tanner Norton walks. Jake Gatewood to 2nd.

Troy Stokes singles on a ground ball to left fielder Luis Liberato. Jake Gatewood to 3rd. Tanner Norton to 2nd.

Yunior Santana strikes out swinging.

Leudi Otano strikes out swinging.

 

AZL Brewers Bottom of the 5th

 

Jorge Quiterio singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Kavin Keyes.

Daniel Leonardo lines out to third baseman Kavin Keyes.

With Monte Harrison batting, wild pitch by Freddy Peralta, Jorge Quiterio to 2nd.

Monte Harrison grounds out, second baseman Erick Mejia to first baseman Ismael Alcantara. Jorge Quiterio to 3rd.

Jake Gatewood grounds out, third baseman Kavin Keyes to first baseman Ismael Alcantara.

 

***

 

Noteworthy from this game? It was Medeiros' first professional save.

 

From the Link Report archives --

 

Combined 3 hitter for the baby Brewers with Kodi Medeiros getting the two inning save.

 

Final: @AZL Brewers 1, AZL Mariners 0

 

Maryvale Box Score

 

Three days after pitching 1.1 innings, LHP Wei-Chung Wang got the start and only one baserunner reached (via error) in 2.1 innings. RHP Miguel Diaz and LHP Kodi Medeiros followed up sweetly - Medeiros has 11 walks and 12 K's now in nine pro innings.

 

Just-turned 19-year-old first baseman Tanner Norton (2 singles, 2 BB's) reached all four times up (OBP .381 for the LH bat, but only two XBH's).

 

Maryvale Game Log

 

AZL Brewers Bottom of the 6th

 

Pitching Change: Miguel Sanchez replaces Freddy Peralta.

Matt Martin doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Luis Liberato.

With Tanner Norton batting, Matt Martin advances to 3rd on a balk.

Tanner Norton singles on a ground ball to center fielder Gareth Morgan. Matt Martin scores.

Troy Stokes hits a sacrifice bunt. Fielding error by pitcher Miguel Sanchez. Tanner Norton to 2nd. Troy Stokes to 1st.

Yunior Santana strikes out swinging.

Leudi Otano strikes out swinging.

Jorge Quiterio flies out to center fielder Gareth Morgan.