2016-2017 Offseason Minor League Transaction Thread

[Mass Haas]

First a link to the 2016 regular season thread.

 

Kyle at BrewCrewBall with the details in his write-up:

 

3 Brewers Elect Free Agency

Will Middlebrooks, Sam Freeman, and Michael Kirkman will be looking for new organizations this winter

[Mass Haas]

Chad Nading was born in Alaska, so that's cool right there. His only other affiliated professional experience was six games in the Arizona Rookie League with the Padres in 2010.

 

He pitched a combined 11 games over the following two seasons in independent ball in 2011 and 2012, and doesn't appear to have pitched professionally since then, so this has the makings of a unique and interesting signing.

 

Baseball Reference Page

 

If anybody learns more about Chad's backstory, please post it here, thanks. Surely we'll learn more before spring training.

 

Nading was a teammate in Wichita of former Brewer farmhand T.J. Mittelstaedt.

 

NADING HAS CONTRACT PURCHASED BY BREWERS

 

http://wichitawingnuts.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Chad-Nading-768x403.jpg

 

WICHITA, Kans. (October 28, 2016) – The Wichita Wingnuts lost a member of their 2016 bullpen Friday, as right-hander Chad Nading had his contract purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers, making him the third Wingnut to have his contract picked up by a major league organization in 2016.

 

Nading was a big part of a Wichita bullpen that posted a 3.44 ERA during the 2016 regular season, serving as a setup man for All-Star closer Frankie Reed. After signing with the Wingnuts on June 7, the righty made his debut the next day, striking out the side in a scoreless ninth inning to preserve a 9-0 shutout win over the Kansas City T-Bones.

 

The former UNLV Rebel began his tenure with the Wingnuts with 12 straight scoreless appearances, and did not yield a run over his final 14 outings during the regular season. Overall, Nading posted a 1.83 ERA with a pair of saves in 39.1 innings across his 40 regular season appearances. Nading then pitched five times in the playoffs for Wichita, putting up a 1.92 earned run average over his five postseason outings.

 

The 29-year old’s stint with the Brewers will be his second foray into affiliated baseball, as he pitched for the AZL Padres in 2010 after signing with San Diego as an undrafted free agent following his final season at UNLV.

 

Nading is the 39th Wingnut to be signed by a Major League organization and the third of 2016.

[Mass Haas]

From Baseball America's Top 15 Indy Ball Prospects, posted recently:

 

 

4. Chad Nading, rhp, Wichita (American Association)

 

Age: 29. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-6. Wt.: 235.

 

In the more than 50 years of the draft, only 20 players have been drafted from Alaska high schools. In 2006, Nading became one of those 20.

 

At stops both college (Oregon State, Nevada-Las Vegas) and minor league (Red Sox, Padres), Nading tried everything possible to find control. He toyed with different arm angles and different deliveries but nothing seemed to work. In 2015, Nading junked his submarine delivery and started taking advantage of his 6-foot-6 frame again by throwing over-the-top, but couldn’t get any team to sign him so he spent the year coaching high school and pitching in local men’s leagues.

 

Wichita gave him a chance this year and found he was 94-97 mph and around the zone for the first time. Nading went 0-1, 1.83 in the Wingnuts bullpen with 30 strikeouts and 17 walks in 39 innings.

 

Nading has no track record of success—this was the first time Nading posted an ERA under 8.90 in the U.S. since at least 2007. But he has a blazing fastball and for the first time threw enough strikes to make it work.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers love to lock in soon-to-be minor league free agents when the player has position flexibility.

 

3B/SS/2B Gabriel Noriega (stats), the 26-year-old who the Brewers picked up for Biloxi on June 11th, will be back in camp this April.

 

As you'll see at that link, Noriega already has 21 Venezuelan Winter League games under his belt.

 

***

 

On another note, catcher Rafael Neda, who did not see game action in 2016 and was slated to be a minor league free agent this week, was formally released by the organization, but will stay on in a coaching role, most likely with the Maryvale squad, in 2017. Neda had spent time in Appleton this past season, I believe, in a bullpen catcher role prepping for this new opportunity.

 

The updated link of Brewer minor league free agents to be can be found here.

 

***

 

Hat tip on each transaction to @MiLB_Tracker.

[AKCheesehead]

From Baseball America's Top 15 Indy Ball Prospects, posted recently:

 

 

4. Chad Nading, rhp, Wichita (American Association)

 

Neat to see we picked him up. Longshot, but neat to see an Alaska guy in the system.

[Mass Haas]

Good luck to 2014 9th round catcher Greg McCall, 25 years old this coming Christmas, on his retirement (as he detailed in his tweet here).

[JDBrewCrew]

MiLB Roster Tracker ‏@MiLB_Tracker 6m6 minutes ago

Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) have signed RHP Paolo Espino (@PaoloEspino10) to a minor league contract. Played for @SyracuseChiefs in 2016.

 

 

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=502179#/career/R/pitching/2016/ALL

[Mass Haas]

MiLB Roster Tracker ‏@MiLB_Tracker 6m6 minutes ago

Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) have signed RHP Paolo Espino (@PaoloEspino10) to a minor league contract. Played for @SyracuseChiefs in 2016.

 

 

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=502179#/career/R/pitching/2016/ALL

 

Very analytic-friendly signing. In 426.2 AAA IP (85 G, 66 starts), 1.188 WHIP, 7.8-to-1.9 K/BB per nine IP

 

***

 

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS via MiLB.com

 

***

 

Wouldn't be surprised to see Espino pitch for Panama in the spring's WBC.

[And That]

There is a fascinating dearth of scouting information available on Espino. Only mentioned once in BA prospect handbooks, back in 2007 to note he had an intriguing background because he pitched in the 2006 WBC. Not mentioned after that as far as I can find, 2007 or any year since. Not even in the organizational depth charts.

 

So based on that... guessing he doesn't throw 95.

 

Edit: He threw in the upper 80s as of four years ago.

[MadThinker88]

Hey, I recognize that name! Espino is a former Tribe farmhand.

 

Let me dig out some old items/ scouting reports/ books on Tribe prospects and I will share what I can..

 

Edit: I really need to start reading each link before I respond. I see you have the IBI write up from post 2012. I doubt I have anything after that (but I will check, in the middle of moving so I need to locate that box of items).

[brewmann04]

after what they got signing Guerra anything is possible very intresting

[Mass Haas]

Brewers announce Espino's deal includes an invite to big league camp.

[MadThinker88]

Well, I was able to locate the 2013 IBI (Indians Baseball Insider) Top 100 (Tribe) Prospect Book. His info was spelled out over 2 pages (143 & 144). He ranked #76 before the 2013 season after being #62 going into 2012.

 

REMEMBER: This is what was written going into the 2013 season. Written by a fan that put 75 others in this 1 organization ahead of Paolo. Its the quality of this work why I enjoy the IBI site so much.

 

Here is what was attributed to Paolo. In terms of grades (letter) for his pitching, he received:

Fastball: C

Movement: C-

Curveball: B

Changeup: B

Upside: Low

ML Future: Low

 

Among the listed Strengths:

- Very Versatile, can fill an unlimited number of roles

- Pitches strong and tough by going right after hitters with a no fear approach

- strike thrower whose success derives from his consistency in putting the ball over the plate & ability to throw his fastball or curveball in any count to keep hitters off balance.

- just knows how to pitch & maximizes all his abilities

 

Among the listed Opportunities:

- Not getting any younger, turning 26 in January & has yet to even sniff an opportunity at the major league level.

- has little upside if any remaining

- lack of athleticism & inconsistent effort level results in some issues with him repeating his delivery (as he gets rotational in his windup), this in turn has effect on his command & his stuff flattening out & elevating itself up in the zone.

- With his good curveball, he does not get as much swing and miss as would be expected because it lacks sharp break through the zone

 

Outlook:

- one of the more undervalued pitchers in the Indians organization, often considered the Rodney Dangerfield of the system because he gets no respect.

- every year he goes out & performs & fills many roles on a pitching staff, but is overlooked because other pitchers that have a higher priority in the organization and is just not valued very highly in the industry.

- should continue to fill a utility pitcher role this season, filling starting pitching and long relief roles at AA Akron & AAA Columbus. Could open at either destination.

[Mass Haas]

Good luck to six-year Brewer utility infielder Brandon Macias; he approved a trade to the Mexican League, as per this @BrewersPD tweet. Macias should have a chance to make more than he would have in 2017.

[Mass Haas]

I've been asking for the Brewers to get re-involved in the independent league scene, and it's always especially interesting when they give a young man his first chance at affiliated ball.

 

Milwaukee has purchased 24-year-old 6'4, 225 lb. RHP Luke Barker from the Traverse City (Michigan) Beach Bums of the Frontier League. Barker will be 25 on March 11th.

 

The Traverse City roster page provides some of the background, from his signing by them last January, so please check that out now.

 

Barker was exclusively a reliever in 2016, and as his Baseball Reference page indicates, his numbers were off-the-charts impressive. Yikes. Barker was league runner-up for Rookie of the Year, and he began his pro career in the fledgling California Winter League last winter, from where he caught the attention of the Beach Bums after just a single side session, as you'll read in Barker's alma mater's webpage here. That link includes some quotes of interest, and this link includes more statistical news from what seems to have been an excellent Division II college career.

 

One would think that Barker has a good chance to open minimally at Wisconsin, likely even Carolina depending on his spring performance, given his late start in affiliated ball. Love these little offseason gifts, adding to the organizational depth.

 

The Frontier League is considered behind the more veteran Atlantic League for sure, but isn't that far behind the American Association and Can-Am League in the indy ball pecking order. But it will be a significant jump for Barker regardless of A-Ball placement.

 

VIDEO is from July 2015 --

 

 

Finally, here's the link confirming the signing.

[And That]

I like the signing, but assuming the Brewers keep 12 pitchers on the MLB staff and 13 on each of the four full season minor league squads, the Brewers currently have 72(!) non-restricted pitchers slated begin the season in extended spring training (i.e. on the Helena, AZL, or DSL roster). That's insane.

 

At some point, you have too many guys. The Brewers have too many guys.

[Mass Haas]

Look for the Brewers to announce this signing shortly, especially since it includes an invitation to big league camp for spring training. Since the player himself first made the news public, a physical may be pending, so it may be a bit.

 

First caught by Jeremy Donovan, a Sports Director out of Binghamton, NY -- tweet

 

LHP Andrew Barbosa (Baseball Reference) recently turned 29, but has only been in the pro ranks for the past five seasons. As his stat page shows, he's been primarily a starting pitcher.

 

When Barbosa signed with the Mets organization as a minor league free agent prior to the 2016 season, actually almost a year ago exactly, the site Metsminors.net posted this, which seems like a good stating point, includes a link to a video interview at the tail end, which we've also included at the end of this post.

 

Who Is Andrew Barbosa?

 

So Barbosa's physical frame (6'8", 230) and baseball career path are each unique, as you just read at the link.

 

The author of that post, Michael Mayer, followed up on Twitter after the Brewers news became known.

 

LHP Andrew Barbosa has signed with the Brewers. He had a 1.51 ERA in 71.2 innings over 4 levels in the Mets minor leagues in 2016.

 

In a follow-up post on Metsminors.net here, Mayer continues:

 

Barbosa started the season off with a solid five inning start in Triple-A Las Vegas before making six starts in Double-A Binghamton. A lat injury knocked him out of action for two months.

 

In July and August he made eight appearances between the GCL Mets and the St. Lucie Mets. His final two starts of the season came with St. Lucie and Binghamton, in which he combined to pitch 15 innings of one-hit ball with 16 strikeouts.

 

That one AAA start to begin 2016 is the only career appearance by Barbosa, a Puerto Rico native, above AA.

 

VIDEO from his most recent appearance, a sweet strikeout -

 

 

Now, the start prior to that one was this one, seven no-hit innings, so be sure to read this for quotes and more:

 

Barbosa nearly spotless in St. Lucie shutout

Mets southpaw strikes out season-high 11 over seven no-hit innings

By Robert Emrich / MiLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/5/8/6/198480586/cuts/barbosa640_k33xccop_e6zd2byn.jpg

 

While the Mets could have added Barbosa to their 40-man roster after 2016, they chose not to do so, and if they tried to entice him back with a new minor league deal, it's unclear.

 

So the Brewers have stepped up with a big league camp invite, nice to see. Along with 40-man roster members Josh Hader and Brent Suter, Barbosa is the only other southpaw announced for camp thus far.

 

Most likely Barbosa will serve as a starter / swingman in Colorado Springs, but heck, the tall gentleman is already used to "elevation".

 

 

NOTE: This was posted here in our minor league transaction thread, but because of the big league camp invite, we'll duplicate this post over on the Major League side, if you wish to comment, please go to that thread and reply there, thanks.

[Mass Haas]

Fantastic job by Kyle Lesniewski in this feature article at BP Milwaukee - learn about the two players picked up in the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 draft, 1B Art Charles and RHP Matt Ramsey, towards latter end of the feature

[Mass Haas]

You know, one of these days we're going to get burned because an issue came up in a physical, or a supposed deal came apart for an unknown reason, but it's been a while, so let's continue to have fun with Brewers transactions before they are formally announced.

 

It appears the Brewers are signing one of the great MiLB names, 27-year-old RHP Forrest Snow.

 

Snow will be well-known to current Biloxi broadcaster Chris Harris, who had an extended run with the AA Jackson Generals, as Snow, a native of the Pacific Northwest, just completed his full seven-year minor league run with his hometown Mariners, the only organization he's ever known.

 

Snow, who turns 28 on December 30th, has done well to maintain a pro career as a 36th round pick by the M's out of (yes, the University of Washington).

 

He's listed at 6'6", 220, and as his Baseball Reference page shows, Snow has pretty extensive AAA and AA experience, he only made three starts in 2016, but made 20 starts as recently as 2015. It's been a career of solid, but not spectacular numbers thus far.

 

Maybe it's been Snow's Dominican Winter League work that's caught the Brewers' eye, as he's made seven starts, and has a pretty spiffy line, as you'll find on his MiLB.com player page.

 

Most of the video available online of Snow is from five or so years ago, Arizona Fall League action

and even

, but the best and most recent video sequence would be this one via MiLB.TV:

 

Tacoma starter Forrest Snow strikes out Alex Castellanos swinging to end the first inning against Las Vegas

 

Unfortunately, coming on the heels of the Phil Bickford suspension news Friday, one sidenote on Snow was that he, too, was suspended 50 games to begin the 2014 seasonbased on a second failed test for a drug of abuse. Hopefully that won't be a noteworthy discussion item, but since another suspension would cause a year-long layoff, it needs mentioning. It's been two-plus years, so that's good news.

 

A valuable aspect of Snow is he has Pacific Coast League success and confidence, as he discusses in this recommended read from July 2015, where he also reflects on his drug suspension:

 

Rainiers’ Forrest Snow is rewarded for his versatility on the mound

By Jeffrey Giuliani, Tacoma News-Tribune Staff Writer

 

Also, this is a must read -- a very, very informative September 2014 Q&A with Snow via USSMariner.com, more candid suspension talk, but basically a soup-to-nuts everything-you-need-to-know piece.

 

Forrest Snow – Once and Future Prospect?

 

I did reach out to Snow via Twitter, where he calls himself "a right-handed pitcher/belly itcher", to try and learn if he has a big league camp invite. Even if not, expect him to be in the AAA mix at Colorado Springs, awaiting reply.

 

***

 

Source was a quick tweet from Michael Hering, a Mariners blogger, who notified Tacoma Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto of the signing.

 

Here in our little fan forum world, we can run with stuff like this. It's understandable that for the most part the Brewers beat guys have to wait until the Brewers officially release the news. The organization is likely frustrated with the process, but it simply comes as business as usual in this social media age.

[Mass Haas]

UPDATE: Forrest Snow also has a big league camp invite, or so he posted on his Facebook page, as per Mariners blogger Michael Hering

[Crash2303]

Brewers signed right hand reliever, Ryan Webb:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/milwaukee-brewers

[FVBrewerFan]

Welcome back Hiram Burgos. Signed to minor league contract with ST invite.

[And That]

In these tweets, Brewers Player Development confirms the release of the following ten players (Mass Haas may cover these guys in more detail later):

 

RHP Jeremy Newton (NDFA - 2016)

1B Alan Sharkey (13th round - 2012)

LHP Joan De La Cruz (IFA - 2012)

OF Omar Garcia (7th round - 2013)

IF Josue Herrera (IFA - 2015)

LHP Shawn Clowers (NDFA - 2015)

OF Marcos Pinero (IFA - 2014)

C Zach Taylor (15th round - 2015)

RHP Axel Cruz (IFA - 2016)

LHP Boanerges Nova (IFA - 2013)

[Jenkins5]

In these tweets, Brewers Player Development confirms the release of the following ten players (Mass Haas may cover these guys in more detail later):

 

RHP Jeremy Newton (NDFA - 2016)

1B Alan Sharkey (13th round - 2012)

LHP Joan De La Cruz (IFA - 2012)

OF Omar Garcia (7th round - 2013)

IF Josue Herrera (IFA - 2015)

LHP Shawn Clowers (NDFA - 2015)

OF Marcos Pinero (IFA - 2014)

C Zach Taylor (15th round - 2015)

RHP Axel Cruz (IFA - 2016)

LHP Boanerges Nova (IFA - 2013)

 

Omar Garcia is a little surprising. Alan Sharkey's defense and walks will be missed, always like his advance metrics but bat just didn't hit enough. Zach Taylor was a pretty young kid, think only 20 or 21 but guess things weren't working out. Outside of them, non are really too surprising.

[JDBrewCrew]

Milwaukee Brewers ‏@Brewers 16m16 minutes ago

RHP Hiram Burgos, LHP Andy Oliver and INF Eric Sogard have signed minor-league contracts with invitations to Major League camp.

 

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=501989#/career/R/pitching/2016/ALL

 

http://m.mlb.com/player/519299/eric-sogard