May Transactions: Latest - Draft-and-Follow Signings Wrap Up

[Mass Haas]

First, a link to the now-retired Spring Training / April Transaction Thread:

 

p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...mp;stop=40

 

To make room for LHP Manny Parra on the Brevard County roster, infielder Carlos de la Cruz was placed on the disabled list with an undisclosed injury.

 

de la Cruz, 24, debuted impressively at Helena in 2004, skipped low-A in 2005, and is repeating high-A this season:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=657

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Press Release:

 

CHARLESTON, WV (May 4, 2006) - The West Virginia Power, Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers have made another roster move.

 

Today, outfielder Steve Chapman was added to the West Virginia Power roster from extended spring training to take the place of outfielder Michael Brantley who has been placed on the disabled list.

 

Brantley was placed on the disabled list after experiencing soreness in his right shoulder. Brantley is hitting .186 on the season with a run scored and an RBI through 19 games. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2005 draft.

 

Chapman, a sixth round pick in the 2004 draft out of Marianna High School in Florida, will take the place of Brantley. Chapman spent the 2004 season with the Arizona Brewers and hit .229 with four home runs over 49 games. Last year he played with the Helena Brewers and hit .269 with six home runs and 25 RBI over 54 games.

[Mass Haas]

Charleston Gazette:

 

Right-handed pitcher Robbie Wooley is also headed to the DL with an elbow injury, Power pitching coach John Curtis said. In four starts, Wooley was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. He walked 10 and struck out seven in 18 innings.

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Press Release:

 

CHARLESTON, WV (May 5, 2006) - The West Virginia Power, Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers have made another roster move.

 

Today, right handed pitcher Robbie Wooley was placed on the disabled list. Wooley has experienced soreness in his right elbow and he will miss at least one start. Wooley is 1-1 on the year with a 4.50 ERA over five starts.

 

No move has been made to replace Wooley on the roster.

[bork]

No move has been made to replace Wooley on the roster.

 

I thought I remember a report saying that Holmberg could be back by this weekend.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site:

 

Winkelsas Wings Way to Nashville

 

The Milwaukee Brewers have promoted right-hand pitcher Joe Winkelsas to triple-A Nashville, filling the roster spot vacated upon Jared Fernandez?s promotion to Milwaukee yesterday.. He will join the Sounds in time for their regular scheduled game Saturday against New Orleans.

 

Winkelsas worked in 10 games for the Stars, posting a record of 1-1 with three saves and a 2.13 earned run average in 12 2/3 innings pitched.

 

He suffered the loss in Saturday's game at West Tenn, and was scored on for the first time in eight outings, covering ten innings of scoreless work.

 

No corresponding roster move for the Stars has been announced.

 

Joe Winkelsas Brewerfan Player Index Page:

Pro stats date back to 1996...

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=886

[And That]

The Brewers really should promote either Jeremy Lewis or Josh Alliston to AA. There's only so far Lewis can develop as a 25-year-old lefty in A+, and Alliston has a healthy month behind him, so I think it could be time to move him on and up.

[Mass Haas]

SS Alcides Escobar's sore finger is better, and he's been activated from the Brevard County DL.

 

No word on a corresponding move at this time, although it appears one is required with 26 active players. It's possible RHP Mike Jones is now on the DL.

 

Just a shame there's no hint of media presence or web site value for the Manatees. We shouldn't have to track these moves down arbitrarily. Hopefully an audio deal next year if the affiliation continues -- they're working on it...

[Oswald Chesterfield Cobble]

one of the funniest things i heard on the radio broadcast this season was powell informing us that Winkelsas was movin gup to AAA, and Uecker just responded I am out of here. There was silence for about a minute which I will assume that they were laughing much too hard to be on the air. Anyway he had a decent first appearance so we will see how it goes.

[Mass Haas]

No word on a corresponding move at this time, although it appears one is required with 26 active players. It's possible RHP Mike Jones is now on the DL.

 

Mike Jones was indeed placed on the Manatee 7-day Disabled List back on May 6th. The minors make use of a 7-day, not 15- or 60-day DL. That's not an indication of how long he'll be out, just the earliest he could be back.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=820

 

Stars Pitching Staff Loses Two, Gains One

 

Huntsville, AL - The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that pitchers Alec Zumwalt and Corey Thurman have been promoted from Huntsville to triple-A Nashville. They will join the Sounds in Tucson, AZ. The Brewers have also announced that pitcher Joe Winkelsas will be sent back to Huntsville from Nashville.

 

Zumwalt, who finished the 2005 season in Nashville, worked in 10 games in relief for the Stars this season, compiling a 1-0 record with five saves in five chances. The right-hander had a 2.93 earned run average and struck out 14 in 15 1/3 innings.

 

Thurman went 1-4 with a 2.56 earned run average in seven starts. He suffered the loss in Tuesday's 3-0 win by Montgomery after giving up three runs on eight hits over six innings. The veteran right-hander allowed only one earned run, on an Elliot Johnson home run, in his first four starts. He lasted six innings in four turns and suffered from a lack of support, as the Stars managed to score only 12 runs in his seven outings.

 

Winkelsas was promoted after last Friday's game and pitched in one game for the Sounds, going five innings and allowing one run on three hits and striking out six on Saturday. He is 1-1 with three saves and a 2.13 earned run mark with Huntsville.

 

The Stars and Montgomery were rained out Wednesday afternoon and will play a twin bill Thursday morning starting at 10:05 a.m. For more information about the Stars, visit the team's web site at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

***

There simply must be more moves forthcoming, as these leave the Stars with only nine pitchers, and down two roster spots -- Mass Haas

[DHonks]

might Narron and Saenz be back?

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America reports that the Brewers released just-turned 19-year-old Venezuelan RHP Alirio Ledezma. The youngster posted decent numbers in Arizona Rookie ball in 2005:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=772

[Mass Haas]

With the Huntsville staff down to eight healthy arms (Khalid Ballouli has not been placed on the DL, but left Thursday's game with shoulder tightness), the Brewers have traded with St. Louis and acquired RHP Matt Smith from the Cardinals' AAA Memphis club, and assigned him to the Stars. No news on the terms of the deal, likely a PTBNL (by the way, no news on final terms of the Greg Sain and Matt Yeatman trades from earlier this off-season.)

 

Smith, 27 years old and 6'5", 240, made 66 relief appearances for the White Sox AAA team in Charlotte last season, and has Southern League experience with Birmingham in 2004. Smith was originally drafted by the Mets in the 18th round of the 1999 draft out of Southwest Michigan State.

 

Matt Smith Career Statistics through 2005 (Brewerfan Player Index Page):

 

www.brewerfan.net//ViewPl...ayerId=938

 

Smith has struggled with a 7.71 ERA in seven appearances (one start) thus far in 2006.

 

2006 Statistics:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...pid=434599

[Mass Haas]

Another reinforcement for the depleted Huntsville staff:

 

Huntsville site:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=825

 

Veteran Hurler Added to Roster

 

The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired right-hand pitcher Travis Phelps from Camden of the Atlantic League and assigned him to Huntsville. He will join the team in Sevierville, TN and will be in uniform Friday night when the Stars open a five-game series against the Tennessee Smokies.

 

The veteran appeared in 75 games, all in relief, in the major leagues for the Devil Rays in 2001 and 2002 and made four relief outings for the Brewers in 2004. He owns a career record of 3-5 with five saves and a 4.34 earned run average. Last season, he pitched for Iowa and Colorado Springs in the triple-A Pacific Coast League, Louisville in the triple-A International League and Chattanooga in the Southern League. Phelps went a combined 4-2 with one save in his four stops.

 

Tampa Bay originally drafted Phelps in the 89th round of the 1996 draft. He made 21 starts for Orlando in the Southern League in 2000 and went 7-8 with an ERA of 3.00. He was released by the Devil Rays in spring training in 2003, signed with Atlanta and pitched at triple-A Richmond and was then released following that season.

 

Travis Phelps Brewerfan Player Index Page:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=617

[Mass Haas]

Here are three articles on new Huntsville RHP Matt Smith. They detail his signing by the White Sox after a release from the Mets early in his career and his rise in the ChiSox system (he was a 40-man roster player at one point). It appears he signed with St. Louis as a minor league free agent this past offseason. Decent background info here:

 

12/18/2003:

 

www.zwire.com/site/index....&rfi=8

 

07/15/2004:

 

www.zwire.com/site/index....&rfi=8

 

11/29/2004:

 

www.zwire.com/site/index....&rfi=8

 

http://images.zwire.com/local/Z/Zwire1719/zwire/images/SP1_O148.jpg

[dadofandrew]

Phelps is a nice veteran, many teams have a worse 11th or 12th man in their pens.

[Mass Haas]

MLB.com with a detailed Travis Phelps story:

 

milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com...p;c_id=mil

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers have signed the first of their draft-and-follows from the 2005 draft, 45th round catcher Ulrich Snijders. Here's what our own draft guru, Patrick Ebert (colbyjack), posted in his review of the draft-and-follow candidates earlier this year:

 

45. Ulrich Snijders, C (St. Petersburg College, FL)

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/colbyjack/ulrich_snijders.jpg

 

Snijders hit .340 for St. Petersburg College a year ago, the defending state Junior College Champions in Florida. A native of Curacao, Snijders attended the Perfect Game World Showcase in January of 2004 and grabbed the attention of the scouts in attendance with a very strong performance both offensively and defensively. His cannon for an arm rates as his best tool, and he also shows very good potential at the plate with a quick, level swing that generates a fair amount of power. With a strong build and good tools, Snijders is definitely a player to watch this spring, particularly with the Brewers organizational need for catchers. He was drafted out of high school in 2004 in the 40th round by the Diamondbacks.

 

***

Nice to add another catcher to the mix at the lower levels; look for Snijders' name once the Helena and Arizona Rookie seasons begin. He'll be 20 years old in July, bats right, and is a solid 6'2", 220.

 

Look for a trickle of a few more DFE signees in the coming weeks, although once again this year, none will require the cash outlay nor the pressure-packed urgency of the Manny Parra signing a few years back, it seems.

[thelastbrewfan]

Enrique Cruz traded to Texas for Brian Shouse? Any confirmation on this rumor?

[Mass Haas]

Thread in the Major League forum discussing the Enrique Cruz and PTBNL for LHP Brian Shouse trade:

 

p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...1720.topic

 

Nashville Site:

Link for Enrique Cruz photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1947

 

The Milwaukee Brewers today acquired left-handed reliever Brian Shouse from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Sounds infielder Enrique Cruz and a player to be named.

 

Cruz opened the 2006 season by batting .261 (18-for-69) with one home run and 10 RBIs in 24 games for Nashville, appearing at second base, shortstop, third base, and as the club's designated hitter.

 

The 24-year-old former Rule 5 pick had hit safely in his final four games for the Sounds to match his longest hit streak of the season.

 

Cruz's lone longball for Nashville was a shot off the guitar-shaped scoreboard at Greer Stadium on April 21 against Omaha.

 

Shouse, 37, has spent the last three seasons with the Rangers, appearing in 62, 53 and 64 games, respectively. He has made all 215 of his Major League appearances out of the bullpen, pitching for Pittsburgh (1993), Boston (1998), Kansas City (2002) and Texas (2003-05).

 

Shouse went 3-2 with a 5.23 ERA in 64 appearances for the Rangers last season, holding left-handed batters to a .209 batting average (24-for-115). In his career, he has held left-handed batters to a .218 batting average (88-for-403).

 

Shouse has spent the 2006 season on the Rangers' disabled list with a strained left calf. He has made seven rehab appearances between Triple-A Oklahoma (5 games) and Double-A Frisco (2 games), going 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA (7ip, 3er).

 

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Brewers transferred RHP Vince Perkins to the 60-day disabled list. A 25-man roster move will be announced when Shouse reports to Milwaukee.

[dadofandrew]

That kid is sure built like a catcher...or a linebacker.

[Mass Haas]

Interesting note on RHP Vince Perkins, now on the Milwaukee 60-day DL, from Adam McCalvy of MLB.com:

 

Perkins out: To make room on the 40-man roster for Brian Shouse, the Brewers transferred right-hander Vince Perkins to the 60-day disabled list. Perkins underwent Tommy John surgery on Thursday to repair a torn elbow ligament and is finished for the season.

 

The Brewers knew Perkins' elbow was hurting when they claimed him off waivers from the Blue Jays last month, and the team placed him immediately on the disabled list.

 

"[surgery] was a possibility, but he's a big arm and we're looking at him as a long-term acquisition," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said.

 

The Brewers are making a significant investment in Perkins, who turns 25 in September. He will draw a full Major League salary this season (at least $327,000), and Ash estimated the costs of surgery and a year-long rehabilitation at about $500,000.

 

"It's significant, but if you look at draft choices, even down into the 34th round, that is the kind of investment you're talking about," Ash said. "We're talking about a top-10 prospect, so you're getting a bit more certainty than a draft choice, though the injury does add a degree of uncertainty."

[Never Outhustled]

More info here on Perkins, also Sam Narron has been activated and assigned to Brevard County

www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=423756

 

Seems the Brewer braintrust really thinks highly of Perkins.

[dadofandrew]

I find it hard to believe TOR can waive a player they think is injured. Who would pay for the surgery if the Crew wouldn't have picked him up?