2021 Minor League Transaction Thread

[damuelle]

Player moves:

OF Cooper Hummel added to the roster for @nashvillesounds

 

RHP Evan Reifert promoted to @TimberRattlers

 

RHP Kent Hasler promoted to @CarolinaMudcats

 

INF Jake Hager claimed from the Mets and optioned to @nashvillesounds

 

OF Tyrone Taylor optioned to @nashvillesounds

 

RHP Eric Yardley reinstated to @Brewers MLB roster from the 10-day injured list

 

 

 

[damuelle]

Two more transactions noted from MILB roster pages:

 

C Zavier Warren (2020 3rd round pick) placed on 60-Day Injured List by Carolina. This sounds terrible, though I've no idea when/where the injury occurred.

 

RHP Harold Chirino (I think he's Stearns' first signed player who's still in the system) moved to Temporary Inactive List by Wisconsin.

[clancyphile]

Interesting to see that the Brewers will only operate one team in the AZL. Seems as though they have a significant number of players to fit on two DSL clubs (one being a co-op) and only one AZL team.

 

Probably due to the minor-league realignment.

 

Would have liked to see a second AZL team, and I liked the idea of the R+ leagues.

[clancyphile]

With the AAA Sounds losing Keston Hiura (recall to MLB), Dee Strange-Gordon (release) and Jace Peterson (DFA) over the past few days, I want to believe that Jamie Westbrook will re-join the team from the AA Shuckers.

 

Of course, Cooper Hummel could re-appear out of thin air (from injury) or they could promote another player (e.g. Erceg, Palma). Let's see...

 

Oh, and as reported elsewhere, Logan Forsythe and Clayton Andrews were named to the US Olympic Qualifying Roster.

Congrats to them! The Sounds now list them on the Temporary Inactive List, so this could cause a further ripple effect in the system.

 

Hummel was injured? What sort of injury?

[damuelle]

I think the only reference that we have to Hummel's injury is from this article, which I can't see (paywall):

 

https://theathletic.com/2567421/2021/05/04/brewers-put-christian-yelich-right-back-on-the-injured-list-we-need-to-get-some-better-answers/

 

Let's hope he plays well now that he's active again and gets his first taste of AAA-level ball.

[dtet]

Not a serious injury to Zavier Warren. Don't fret about him.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Not a serious injury to Zavier Warren. Don't fret about him.

 

Would be nice to hopefully get a little more context soon. Glad it isn't serious, but a 60-day IL stint isn't good for the development of a player drafted out of college and getting his first taste of pro ball.

[damuelle]

Moves from the MILB team roster pages:

- RHP Caden Lemons to Carolina's 7-day injured list

- IF Luis Castro to Biloxi's Temporary Inactive List

- OF Alexander Palma to Biloxi's Temporary Inactive List

 

I'm probably wrong, but could Luis Castro, Alexander Palma (and Harold Chirino, though that's even more of a stretch) be trying to make the Venezuelan Olympic Qualifying Roster?

 

And in MLB moves impacting the minors:

- LHP Eric Lauer called up from AAA Nashville to MLB

- IF/OF Jace Peterson outrighted to AAA Nashville

 

[damuelle]

We've basically got daily transaction updates by this point. Here's from today:

 

LHP Wade LeBlanc (Nashville Sounds) has exercised his release clause and is now a free agent.

 

LHP Leo Crawford has been reinstated from the Development List with @BiloxiShuckers

 

RHP Nathan Patterson (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) has retired.

 

[MadThinker88]

Interesting to see that the Brewers will only operate one team in the AZL. Seems as though they have a significant number of players to fit on two DSL clubs (one being a co-op) and only one AZL team.

 

I've gone back & forth with another board member about the summer league teams

I heard that all 30 clubs are limited to a single complex level team (in Arizona or Florida). He doesn't believe that rule is there now.

 

I also know (& posted on this board) that Cleveland is NOT sharing a DSL team with MKE anymore as they are fielding 2 teams in the DSL.

 

I do not know if MKE is fielding a 2nd team on its own or sharing a team with someone else.

Edited May 28, 2021 by MadThinker88

[MadThinker88]

We've basically got daily transaction updates by this point. Here's from today:

 

LHP Wade LeBlanc (Nashville Sounds) has exercised his release clause and is now a free agent.

 

LHP Leo Crawford has been reinstated from the Development List with @BiloxiShuckers

 

RHP Nathan Patterson (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) has retired.

 

 

With the number of pitchers getting hurt & put on the IL around the league, Wade must be confident he can find another job or easier path to the majors then staying with MKE..

[damuelle]

 

I do not know if MKE is fielding a 2nd team on its own or sharing a team with someone else.

 

A few days ago, Mass Haas mentioned that we're sharing a DSL team with Toronto this year, as newly signed Fraudy Maldonado was assigned there.

 

https://www.milb.com/player/fraudy-maldonado-691699

 

Also, I'm hoping that those saying that we'll only have 1 AZL team turn out to be wrong, but I guess we'll just have to see. We cut deep enough last year that we've actually been adding a number of players recently, which is a heckuva lot more enjoyable than letting guys go.

[CheeseheadInQC]

I do not know if MKE is fielding a 2nd team on its own or sharing a team with someone else.

 

A few days ago, Mass Haas mentioned that we're sharing a DSL team with Toronto this year, as newly signed Fraudy Maldonado was assigned there.

 

https://www.milb.com/player/fraudy-maldonado-691699

 

Also, I'm hoping that those saying that we'll only have 1 AZL team turn out to be wrong, but I guess we'll just have to see. We cut deep enough last year that we've actually been adding a number of players recently, which is a heckuva lot more enjoyable than letting guys go.

 

If the plan is still to have the 2021 draft class not debut until instructs, it shouldn't be that big of a stretch if the spring training rosters are any indication of how conservative they are being with bringing DSL guys over.

 

You've probably got about your standard-size rookie league group of hitters right now for one team and might have to add a couple of pitchers to make even one team work.

[MadThinker88]

 

I do not know if MKE is fielding a 2nd team on its own or sharing a team with someone else.

 

A few days ago, Mass Haas mentioned that we're sharing a DSL team with Toronto this year, as newly signed Fraudy Maldonado was assigned there.

 

https://www.milb.com/player/fraudy-maldonado-691699

 

Also, I'm hoping that those saying that we'll only have 1 AZL team turn out to be wrong, but I guess we'll just have to see. We cut deep enough last year that we've actually been adding a number of players recently, which is a heckuva lot more enjoyable than letting guys go.

 

I completely missed the post from Mass Haas so thanks for pointing it out.

-----------------------------

As for why only 1 Summer Complex league team, I believe that is tied to the now "Cap" on players an organization can have state-side as part of its minor league system. This cap is a new aspect from the minor league reorg & applies only to the minor league teams in the USA/ Canada. Baseball academies in the DR and other places are not part of the calculation.

 

The last cap number I heard was in the neighborhood of 180 players and the roster sizes were increased to 30 per level (summer complex up to AAA). This allows for 150 players on different teams/ at different levels & have a bit of floating taxi group to fill at spots for season ending injuries etc. Additionally, an injury does not mean a player gets "cut" so a full team can be fielded at another level.

 

One more thing you have to remember: by limiting the number of players for each organization, it creates the player pool for those showcase/ dreamer teams that have been created in different places.

[damuelle]

Three announced moves today, plus two injury updates (from roster pages) and a possible injury note:

 

RHP Jake Cousins moves up to @nashvillesounds

 

RHP Luis Contreras placed on the 7-day IL with @BiloxiShuckers

 

RHP Josh Lindblom has been outrighted to Triple-A Nashville

 

RHP Bryce Milligan moved to 60-day injured list

 

OF Alejandro Marte moved to 60-day injured list

 

Team USA's pitching staff is still a bit in flux... Scioscia says Clayton Andrews' elbow is "not where it needs to be."

 

 

 

[damuelle]

If the plan is still to have the 2021 draft class not debut until instructs, it shouldn't be that big of a stretch if the spring training rosters are any indication of how conservative they are being with bringing DSL guys over.

 

You've probably got about your standard-size rookie league group of hitters right now for one team and might have to add a couple of pitchers to make even one team work.

 

Thanks. I was looking at the player list today and agree that there aren't nearly enough arms available for two AZL teams. But I also noted about 26 position players who need a home at AZL (assuming top-rated young guys like Quero, Medina, etc. don't get sent to the DSL) or perhaps an exit. I'll be pulling for guys like Eduarqui Fernandez and Reidy Mercado to make an early jump to Carolina.

[CheeseheadInQC]

If the plan is still to have the 2021 draft class not debut until instructs, it shouldn't be that big of a stretch if the spring training rosters are any indication of how conservative they are being with bringing DSL guys over.

 

You've probably got about your standard-size rookie league group of hitters right now for one team and might have to add a couple of pitchers to make even one team work.

 

Thanks. I was looking at the player list today and agree that there aren't nearly enough arms available for two AZL teams. But I also noted about 26 position players who need a home at AZL (assuming top-rated young guys like Quero, Medina, etc. don't get sent to the DSL) or perhaps an exit. I'll be pulling for guys like Eduarqui Fernandez and Reidy Mercado to make an early jump to Carolina.

 

Interesting, I've got 17 on my tally, although I might have missed a couple. I'm assuming 1. Any Latin American signing not on the minor league spring training roster is DSL-bound 2. The trio of the catchers not named Quero who haven't made their debut yet were only in camp as extra catchers and will be on DSL rosters. 3. Any guy who probably would have been on a full season roster and didn't play in any of the spring training games is probably hurt (Pablo Abreu, Drew Smith).

 

I've got

Catchers: Quero, Cabrera

Infielders: Garcia, Parra, Roa, Jaraba, Chirinos, Hardin, Pitre

Outfielders: Perez, Fernandez, Medina, Doston, Ernesto, Mercado, Wilson, Valdez

[damuelle]

I've got

Catchers: Quero, Cabrera

Infielders: Garcia, Parra, Roa, Jaraba, Chirinos, Hardin, Pitre

Outfielders: Perez, Fernandez, Medina, Doston, Ernesto, Mercado, Wilson, Valdez

 

Yeah, along with those 17 and Drew Smith, I've got 8 players who weren't listed at MILB Spring Training but also appear to still be active:

- IF Luis Silva (177 PAs in AZL), Alberis Ferrer (DSL since 2018)

- 1B/OF - YongKang Kou (101 PAs in AZL), Erys Bautista (2019 DSL, $500k sign-on), Juan Frias (DSL since 2018)

- OF Abimael Gonzalez (2019 37th round), Oswel Leones (164 PAs in AZL), Jhonny David (DSL since 2018)

[Mass Haas]

OF Alejandro Marte moved to 60-day injured list

 

Darn, was looking forward to that stateside debut after three DSL seasons.

 

Line of .292/.376/.500, but then you notice an insane .423 BABIP.

[damuelle]

Three moves today:

 

- LHP Nick Bennett promoted from Wisconsin to Biloxi

 

- RHP Bowden Francis promoted from Biloxi to Nashville

 

- RHP Alec Bettinger recalled to MLB Brewers from Nashville for the Brewers’ doubleheader

 

 

 

[damuelle]

Two moves today:

 

- RHP Cam Robinson promoted from Low-A Carolina to AA Biloxi

 

- RHP Nick Belzer assigned to Carolina

 

 

https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/nick-belzer-assigned-to-carolina/n-5698707

[Mass Haas]

- OF Zane Zurbrugg (23) - not listed as camp participant

 

Injury update and feature article link can be found here.

 

***

 

Previously posted in incorrect thread...

[damuelle]

A few AAA moves, as expected based on recent Olympic Qualifying reporting and Lorenzo Cain's MLB injury:

 

- Clayton Andrews placed on 7-day injured list

 

- Hernan Perez moved to Temporary Inactive List

 

- Tyrone Taylor recalled to MLB Brewers

 

https://www.milb.com/nashville/roster

 

[damuelle]

Two more AAA notes:

 

- Injury-watch: Corey Ray left today's game for a pinch-runner in the 4th inning

 

- Jace-watch: Jace Peterson has not played since May 22nd. The Brewers are likely giving him some time after his recent DFA, but you have to wonder whether he's seeking more lucrative opportunities abroad (e.g. NPB, KBO).

[Mass Haas]

Cam Robinson Transferred Back to Carolina (from Biloxi)