June Transactions Thread

[Mass Haas]

Already discussed on the Major League Forum, but I'd be remiss in not congratulating Chris Barnwell on his promotion to Milwaukee. We've linked to and read several stories over the years about Chris' professionalism and work ethic. Nice work, kid (27 is a kid to me). Chris went 0-for-2 in his big league debut tonight.

 

Nashville Press Release:

Link, text follows:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2011

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/images/news/barnwell.jpg

 

Nashville Sounds shortstop Chris Barnwell had his contract purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon and will be in uniform for the club tonight at Miller Park for an interleague game against the Detroit Tigers.

 

The 27-year-old, who is playing his sixth professional season after being drafted by Milwaukee in the 25th round in 2001, will make his Major League debut with his first appearance with the Brewers. Barnwell has appeared in 616 minor-league games over his six-year professional career.

 

To make room on the 25-man roster, the Brewers outrighted former Sounds reliever Joe Winkelsas back to Nashville. The right-hander went 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA (6 ER / 7.0 IP) in seven relief outings for Milwaukee but had not appeared since June 9, when he took his loss after allowing three runs in one inning of work against St. Louis. Winkelsas is expected to join the Sounds on their current road trip in Round Rock, Texas.

 

Barnwell currently leads Nashville and ranks 8th among Pacific Coast League batters with his .326 average (75-for-230) in 66 games for the Sounds this season. He ranks second among Sounds hitters with 19 multiple-hit games on the year and has accumulated 16 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 26 RBIs, and nine stolen bases in 12 attempts.

 

All of Barnwell?s appearances have been starts at shortstop, where he holds a .974 fielding percentage (eight errors in a PCL-leading 312 total chances). He has participated in 47 double plays to lead all circuit shortstops.

 

Barnwell has logged three double-digit hit streaks this season (12 games, 11 games, 10 games) and reached base safely in 29 straight games from April 12 to May 14, the longest on-base streak by a PCL player this season (.421 on-base pct. over that stretch).

 

With his promotion, he becomes the ninth non-rehab player to join Milwaukee from Nashville?s roster this season but only the second position player (Corey Hart).

 

In another transaction announced earlier Tuesday, the Brewers activated right-hander Rick Helling from the 60-day disabled list and designated former Sound Allan Simpson for assignment. Simpson, who co-leads Nashville with five saves this season, made two appearances for Milwaukee and posted no decisions and a 3.38 ERA (1ER / 2.2 IP). The Brewers have 10 days to trade, release, or outright assign Simpson to the minor leagues.

[deeswan]

Outfielder Chuckie Caufield, the soon-to-be 23-year-old 39th round draft pick out of the University of Oklahoma, has signed with the Brewers. He's currently in Maryvale.

 

But does this Chuckie hack on 2-0?

[And That]

But does this Chuckie hack on 2-0?

 

No, he's Holden'.

[DHonks]

I still remember it at 3-0. The point though, is that Chuckie just hacks

[bork]

McCalvy notes that Braun will be promoted to AA. Hopefully that's not the only move.

 

Quote:

---

In the Minors: The Brewers announced that 2005 first-round draft pick Ryan Braun would be promoted from Class A Brevard County to Double-A Huntsville. Braun hit .269 at Brevard County with seven home runs and 36 RBIs and was a member of the Florida State League All-Star team last weekend.

 

Also on Wednesday, Braun was named to the U.S. squad for the 2006 All-Star Futures Game in Pittsburgh. Fast-rising teammate Yovani Gallardo will pitch for the World squad.

---

[PeaveyFury]

Wow. Sure looks like Braun is on the fast-track.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes:

 

CHAVEZ, WINKELSAS ADDED TO ROSTER; KERSHNER RELEASED

 

Shortstop Ozzie Chavez joins the Sounds today to replace Chris Barnwell, whose contract was purchased by Milwaukee yesterday. The 22-year-old has spent the entire season with Double-A Huntsville, where he batted .254 (59-for-232) with nine doubles, three triples, one home run, and 21 RBIs in 68 games.

 

Another addition is right-hander Joe Winkelsas, who joins Nashville for the second time this season. The 32-year-old, who earned a victory in his lone Sounds appearance on May 6 vs. New Orleans, was outrighted by Milwaukee yesterday after posting an 0-1 record and 7.71 ERA (6 ER / 7.0 IP) in seven relief outings for the Brew Crew.

 

To make room for Winkelsas on the Nashville roster, left-hander Jason Kershner was released today by the Brewers. The southpaw had posted a 3-2 record, two saves, and a 3.48 ERA (13 ER / 33.2 IP) in 23 relief appearances for the Sounds.

[craigharmann]

Apparently Winky made some impression on the Brewers' brass! Kershner had decent numbers, why release him? Oh well.

[And That]

Kershner could have had a clause in his contract that he had the option to be released come a point in the season if he hadn't seen time in the bigs.

[Mass Haas]

Down in Brevard County, C / 1B Carlos Corporan has been activated from the Manatee disabled list. We never did learn the nature of his injury, but he was only out briefly.

 

To make room, LHP Steve Hammond was placed on the Temporary Inactive List.

 

Definition from MiLB.com:

 

Temporarily Inactive List:

A player with an excused absence to perform personal obligations is placed on this list. The player must be on the Temporarily Inactive List for a minimum of three days before the player can be reinstated to the Active List. A player on the Temporarily Inactive List does not count against a Club's Active List limits, but does count against its Reserve List limits.

[Mass Haas]

We really don't know why the web reports out of Brevard indicated that utility infielder Carlos de la Cruz would be transferred to Helena in a coaching capacity, but the Brewers confirm that he is there in a playing role.

 

In other news regarding the H-Crew, catcher Bernie Dennis can't quite join the very-full catching brigade in Helena because he's on the Helena disabled list, as is RHP Omar Aguilar. The nature of each injury is unknown at this time.

 

Dennis, soon to be 23, was signed as an undrafted free agent in February 2005, and hit .296 in 25 Arizona Brewer games last summer.

 

Aguilar's signing after being drafted in the 30th round out of a California junior college was cited as quite the steal by Baseball America, yet we still await his first official pitch with the organization. He turned 21 years old in March.

[Mass Haas]

The re-shaping of the Huntsville and Brevard County rosters begins, now that the Manatees first-half is complete.

 

Ryan Braun and Adam Heether switch places, Braun to AA, Heether to high-A.

 

Infielder Ryan Crew gets bumped to Brevard County, infielder Guilder Rodriguez gets bumped to Huntsville -- these moves are a chain reaction result of the Chris Barnwell and Ozzie Chavez promotions noted earlier.

 

Finally, Brevard RHP Yovani Gallardo joins LHP Steve Hammond on the Temporary Inactive List. Don't read too much into that, it's very likely both will be back within a week, and no, we don't know the circumstances for the Inactive placements, nor will we pursue info at this time.

[clancyphile]

Hmmm... is the "Temporarily Inactive" keeping him ready for the future's game?

[mpepy05]

trade?

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Press Release:

 

CHARLESTON, WV (June 22, 2006) - The West Virginia Power, Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers have made another roster move.

 

Today, utility player Ryan Crew was promoted to High-A Brevard County of the Florida State League and infielder Kenny Holmberg was activated from the disabled list to take his place on the Power roster.

 

Crew, a second year player from the University of Texas-San Antonio was one of West Virginia's most consistent players in the first half of the season. He saw action in left field, second base and shortstop. Crew hit .280 over 62 games with two home runs and 23 RBI.

 

Kenny Holmberg is ready to play after his second stint on the disabled list due to a high left ankle sprain. Holmberg originally went on the disabled list on April 30, and was activated three weeks later, only to be placed back on the DL ten after. Through 25 games this year Holmberg is hitting .289 with four home runs and nine RBI.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...006062212/

 

Power's Crew promoted; Holmberg returns

Jacob Messer

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

Welcome back, Kenny Holmberg.

 

So long, Ryan Crew.

 

In two of the nine roster moves made by the organization today and Wednesday, the Milwaukee Brewers activated Holmberg from the disabled list at West Virginia of the Class A South Atlantic League and promoted Crew to Brevard County of the Class A advanced Florida State League.

 

"It's always exciting when you get moved up because that's what you want," Crew said during a telephone interview Wednesday night as he packed for his flight to Florida.

 

"But it's also sad to leave a team you have been a part of for two years."

 

Coincidentally, Crew and Holmberg are roommates. They rent a Charleston home with three other teammates.

 

"Losing a guy like Crew is tough," Holmberg said. "We're a tight-knit pack."

 

Holmberg sprained his left ankle April 28 and remained on the disabled list from April 30 through May 19. He returned to the disabled list May 29 after inflammation in his Achilles tendon left him unable to play.

 

Holmberg hit .308 with four homers, eight RBI and 15 runs in 20 games before the injury compared to .200 with no homers, no runs and one RBI in four games after it.

 

"I try to make the best of any situation," said Holmberg, who likely will play tonight when the West Virginia Power opens the second half of the season with a four-game homestand against the Kannapolis Intimidators at Appalachian Power Park.

 

For example, whether he was standing in the coach's box behind first base or sitting on the bench in the home dugout, Holmberg made an effort to help his team win during his time on the disabled list.

 

"I think I do a good job of doing whatever I'm doing when I'm in the realm of baseball," Holmberg said. "I'm going to find a way to help myself or my teammates or my team. But I'm looking forward to playing again.

 

"(The injury and time off) made me a little bit stronger," he added. "It gave me a chance to reflect on what I need to do to make up for lost time. Now I get a chance to play. I just need to take that opportunity and go with it."

 

The ankle injury to Holmberg resulted in a position switch for Crew, who moved from shortstop to second base to replace his hobbled teammate.

 

Considering the way he has played since then, that might have been the best thing to happen to Crew this season.

 

Crew was 17-for-67 (.254) with four runs and eight RBI in his 17 games before Holmberg's injury compared to 48-for-165 (.291) with 25 runs and 15 RBI in 45 games.

 

His batting average climbed 26 points during that span, rising from .254 to .280.

 

"I was supposed to be mainly a shortstop," Crew said. "With

Kenny going down, it gave me a chance to play a different spot and I got to show some versatility.

 

"I credit it all back to our hitting coach, Mike Lum," he added. "I had some faults in my swing. There was way too much movement. I was out of control. Like he told me, the main thing is to just be under control. I made a small adjustment and that helped out a lot."

[SoCalBrewfan]

From today's Doug Melvin chat:

 

Melvin: We have monthly conference calls with Reid Nichols and the Minor League department. We also have plans for each individual prospect on whether it makes sense to promote them during their developmental process. In Rogers' case, we feel that he is having success in his most recent four or five starts and it is important for him to continue that at the level he is pitching. Yovani Gallardo had success over a longer period of time, the entire first half of the season, and earned the promotion to Double-A. We also have scouts that have input in these decisions, so it is an organizational decision on player movement.

 

Sounds like Yo to AA...

[Mass Haas]

Both LHP Steve Hammond and RHP Yovani Gallardo will be off to Huntsville once their temporary inactive stints end shortly, according to the latest press release from Manatee GM Buck Rogers.

 

Seems like the Brewers just need to shake out their rosters accordingly before the two pitchers officially become Stars.

 

Hammond to be in AA midway through his second pro season...

[brewmann04]

good to see the promotions maybe Don Money finally gets some help.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers have released five players from the rookie ranks, all among their previous Latin signings:

 

Infielder Jose Jimenez, just turned 19, hit .286 in Arizona and briefly Helena last season in his first year of pro ball. 22 of his 59 hits went for extra bases, so this release is quite the surprise. Sometimes you wonder what other circumstances go into the releases of the very young kids.

 

21-year-old outfielder Jhonathan Blanc, also of the Dominican, hit .244 in 197 at-bat's over the past two summers in Maryvale. We liked how he spelled his name.

 

Infielder Oscar Emeterio, 20 years old, was a surprise Opening Day Helena Brewer in his first pro season last summer. After just one game, he was with the Arizona squad, and struggled at the plate.

 

19-year-old RHP Jesus Chourio is the one Venezuelan in this group (the others are all Dominican). Chourio allowed 23 earned runs in 30.1 Arizona League innings in 2005.

 

Still only 19 years old, catcher Ruben Angoma hit .273 in a small sample of 22 Arizona League at-bats last summer. The huge recent infusion of catching talent must have squeezed Angoma out. It'd be kind of a bummer if Angoma was indeed around all spring, helping to catch all those extended spring training arms, only to be released in mid-June.

[Mass Haas]

Veteran outfielder Carlos Valderrama, 28 years old, an offseason free agent signing who has spent the entire year on the Huntsville disabled list, has been released.

 

Valderrama becomes another "ghost" alumnus, never appearing in an official game for the organization.

[bork]

I was just noticing that no Power 50 players are on the DL now. I can't remember the last time that happened.

 

Also, Hardy and Richardson are the only position players on the DL. So except for the MLB pitching, the organization is pretty healthy.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes:

 

SIMPSON RETURNS TO SOUNDS; MABEUS SENT TO DOUBLE-A: Right-hander Allan Simpson rejoins the Sounds today after being designated for assignment by Milwaukee on Tuesday, clearing waivers, and being outrighted to Nashville. He made two relief appearances for the Brewers and posted a 3.38 ERA (1 ER / 2.2 IP) after having his contract purchased on June 3. Simpson, who coleads

the Sounds with five saves, opened the year by posting a 2.57 ERA in 20 relief outings for Nashville.

 

To make room on the roster for Simpson, right-hander Chris Mabeus was reassigned to Double-A Huntsville. He had logged a 5.68 ERA (4 ER / 6.1 IP) in six relief appearances for the Sounds after joining the club from the Oakland A?s organization in mid-May.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard Site confirms a couple of not-so-secret promotions:

 

Hammond and Gallardo Promoted to AA

Jenny Rennie, Media Relations Director

 

Two Manatees starting pitchers received promotions to the Brewers AA-Affiliate, the Huntsville Stars. Southpaw Steve Hammond will join the pitching staff along with right-hander Yovani Gallardo.

 

Hammond, a former Long Beach State standout, has posted a 6-5 record and 2.53 ERA in 14 games started with Brevard County. In 85.1 innings pitched, Steve has struck out 70 while only walking 23. Another FSL All-Star, Gallardo, will be joining Hammond. Gallardo leads all Florida State League pitchers with 103 strikeouts and holds a 6-3 record with a 2.09 ERA. The Fort Worth, Texas native has held opposing hitters to a .196 average. Gallardo was recently named to the Futures Game World-Team Roster in conjunction with the MLB All-Star Weekend.

[Mass Haas]

All newly signed draft picks and undrafted free agents now have Brewerfan Player Index pages, and the rosters represented in the Player Index are 99% accurate to our knowledge. We have a question or two we'll square away with the Brewers in coming days...