2017-2018 Offseason Minor League Transaction Thread

[Eye Black]

The @BrewersPD Twitter account announced:

 

Transactions: RHP Bean and SS Thomas have been released. SS Cortes has retired.

 

It appears the players they are referring to are Parker Bean, Francisco Thomas, and Jomar Cortes.

 

Still just 19 years old, Francisco Thomas was an 8th round selection in 2016.

[Mass Haas]

The @BrewersPD Twitter account announced:

 

Transactions: RHP Bean and SS Thomas have been released. SS Cortes has retired.

 

It appears the players they are referring to are Parker Bean, Francisco Thomas, and Jomar Cortes.

 

Still just 19 years old, Francisco Thomas was an 8th round selection in 2016.

 

From the injury thread this week --

 

19-year-old SS Jomar Cortes (37th round of a Puerto Rico high school in 2016) missed all of 2017 after undergoing right shoulder surgery on May 25th.

 

Side note -- Bean is married to Erin Kelly, daughter of Hall of Fame Bills QB Jim Kelly, who recently had his oral cancer return, just awful news.

 

You get to learn about these young men a bit via social media, and it's so tough when recent posts (just three days ago) indicate that releases just aren't always foreseen.

 

And two weeks ago, Thomas sub-tweeted a Bean inspirational post.

 

Earlier this offseason we discussed RHP Karsen Lindell as a rare top ten-round Brewers pick who did not make it to full season ball. Thomas now adds to that short list.

 

Wishing each the best moving forward.

[clancyphile]

Thomas had very good OBP skills - really would have liked to see him get more of a chance.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers announced three releases on Wednesday --

 

First baseman Dustin DeMuth, 26 (27 in July), was drafted in the 5th round out of Indiana University in 2014. The left-handed bat saw time around the diamond, in particular third base, early in his career, but had settled in at first base the past couple of seasons. Saw action in 119 Biloxi games last summer, .244/.339/.379 (.719 OPS). Despite a 6'3" frame, the power bat didn't fully materialize.

 

***

 

RHP Michael Gonzalez, 19 (20 in July), was the slightly rare late round high school signing (24th round, 2016). Gonzalez walked 32 and struck out 37 in 52 pro innings, all at Maryvale. Tough when your pro journey doesn't get you to a real crowd, i.e. Helena. Gonzalez should have some college money waiting for him if he chooses via his Brewers contract.

 

***

 

Infielder Julian Jarrard signed as an undrafted free agent out of Menlo (CA) College after last June's draft, despite being 24 years old (turned 25 last August). Younger brother Jonah, 23, is at the lower levels of the Dodgers' system. Jarrard's Maryvale numbers were fine enough (.767 OPS), but his quest for advancement seemed tough given the age differential.

 

Good luck to each in their baseball and other journeys.

[Mass Haas]

@BrewersPD announced the signing of RHP Alec Crawford today, and conserving energy for West Coast Brewer viewing, the easiest way to inform may be referring to my earlier tweet --

 

Newest Brewers farmhand RHP Alec Crawford (@acrawford09), 26, was Rockies' 25th round pick in 2014 out of U. of Minnesota. Released after two seasons, pitched indy ball in '16, and not at all last season, coaching instead. Seems @CarolinaMudcats likely?

[Mass Haas]

Just 24 years old but entering his 7th pro season (minor league free agent at the end of 2018), slick-fielding SS Angel Ortega has been placed on the restricted list by the Brewers. Ortega, Milwaukee's 6th round pick in 2012 out of Puerto Rico, started 78 games at shortstop, 37 at third base, and three in left field for Biloxi last season.

 

When the overall minor league camp numerical roster list was released by the Brewers, Ortega was the primary "missing person".

 

RESTRICTED LIST - The Restricted List is used for many reasons. A team can request that a player be placed on the restricted list if that player has left the team without a valid reason, or has announced his intention to retire but is still of an age or level of skill that could allow him to return to professional baseball in the future. In effect, the team states that it retains rights to the player if and when he becomes active again.

 

A player on the restricted list cannot be signed by another team unless compensation is paid to the team who placed him on the list. The list is honored throughout organized baseball and in leagues that have working agreements to respect the contracts of organized baseball, such as Nippon Pro Baseball. The list is most often used today when a player retires at a young age without receiving his unconditional release. If he decides to return to playing, he must do so with his last team, unless a trade or other deal can be worked out.

[Mass Haas]

On Friday, Brewers Player Development announced the release of 24-year-old RHP Jordan Desguin (36th round, 2015 out of Florida Gulf Coast, Jacob Barnes' school).

 

Desguin spent all of 2017 with the Timber Rattlers, but he surrendered 17 Midwest League home runs in 87.2 innings (30 appearances, ten of them starts).

 

Good luck to Desguin moving forward, whether in baseball or beyond.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers announced the signing of infielder Dylan Moore, 25 and a RH bat, literally one day after his release by Atlanta. Moore was a 7th round pick in 2015 out of Central Florida (UCF). He is set to join Biloxi, and will be a jack of all trades off the Shuckers bench.

 

***

 

Also, the Brewers signed 24-year-old infielder Fernando Perez, released on March 28th by San Diego. Perez tweeted out his signing. The LH bat is on the Helena roster for now, awaiting further assignment.

 

Career numbers for each player at the links above.

 

This post closes the offseason transaction thread.