Spring Transactions -- Latest: Bruso release re-visited

[MassBrew]

First, a link to the now-closed Off-Season transaction thread:

 

p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...mp;stop=20

 

Baseball America reports the following new names:

 

Milwaukee Brewers signed RHP Junior Corporan and 3B Jose Jimenez

 

Most likely these are two new rookie-level youngsters, and we'll have details on them once the media guide is available to us in a couple of weeks.

 

Earlier this off-season, the Brewers inked a new Venezuelan outfielder, Herman Jimenez, and 1B Carlos Corporan will likely play at Brevard County this year. No word on whether there are connections there.

 

This year's organizational "duplicates" include the Adams boys (Mike and Brian), the Corporan's, the Cruz's (Nelson and Enrique), the Davis' (Doug and Kane), the de la Cruz's (Fredy and Carlos), the De La Rosa's (Jorge and Anderson), the Gallardo's (Yovani and Carlos), the Hall's (Billy and Bo), the Jimenez', the Johnson's (Kade, David, and Mark), the Lewis' (Will and Jeremy), the Miller's (Damian and Ryan), the Parejo's (Freddy and Miguel), and the Ramirez' (Carlos and Luis).

 

No "triplicates" this year.

 

Just think how much richer your lives are knowing all that...

[jwaltz]

Aren't the three Johnson's triplicates?

[H0FFY]

Aren't the three Johnson's triplicates?

 

They may, in fact, be considered three duplicates: AB, AC, and BC

[Past Member]

The Ramirez' should be triplicates. You forgot Manuel Ramirez who spent 2004 in Beloit.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I believe the Brewer's Manny Ramirez was cut during or soon after the season.

[colbyjack]

Junior Corporan probably isn't related/connected to Carlos, since Carlos is Puerto Rican and all Puerto Ricans are subject to the draft. That means they can't sign as free-agents, unless they go undrafted.

 

Perfect Game and the WWBA had 3 different Jose Jimenez' listed, and all of them were '05 grads from Florida.

[MassBrew]

Aren't the three Johnson's triplicates?

 

Well, when I do mis-speak around here, at least it's on the important issues http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[MassBrew]

As mentioned in the minor league game thread, the Brewers have indeed signed RHP Jeff Farnsworth (former Detroit Tiger, 2002, and Indianapolis Indian, 2004) and are giving the 29-year-old a chance to compete for an organizatonal roster spot this spring.

[Clemente21]

Catcher Joel Alvarado released this mourning from minor league camp. A Natural behind the plate and a great competitor.

[MassBrew]

OF Travis Ezi, acquired for C Mark Johnson -- bench speed for Brevard County, most likely:

 

Career stats:

 

www.thebaseballcube.com/p..._ezi.shtml

 

http://www.somdbaseball.com/art/ourstaff/002%20-%20Travis%20Ezi.jpg

[dadofandrew]

One thing I admire about Melvin, he truly offers AAAA type players every chance to find a big league job. While I realize Mark Johnson is hardly anything but a dime a dozen reserve C, albeit with some OBP ability, I'd just as soon have him at AAA along with Pat Borders. But, I assume the Cubs asked about him, and Doug sent him on his way for roster filler.

[endaround]

I'm not sure Ezi even approaches the level of roster filler.

[Kraft4a3]

Sounds like Ezi is an easy guy to cheer for. For the people who are always out to get sports because of this or that, I always like to point out these examples in how a young adult can join a team instead of a gang. That is why we can't let funding for schools and other positive organizations be taken away. (Sorry if that is political, and erase if need be)

 

Back to the Brewers. I am glad Doug makes these types of moves. Trading Johnson to get him more PT can only help make the Brewers out as a classy organization.

 

With the Seligs now completely gone and a more professional owner in place free agents hopefully will start look at Milwaukee as a great place to play instead of a stepping stone.

 

And who knows Doug's mentality is that speed often develops late. Might as well get the speediest guy with no other tools and see if he develops. Doug could complete his thesis if Ezi even gets a cup in the bigs.

[DHonks]

sounds like he's the kind of guy you love to have in the clubhouse. Good guy, hard worker, has earned everything he's got. Could be a great influence for some of his teammates, and who knows, maybe he'll learn to walk and hit a bit

[MassBrew]

Batman on Ezi:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewDai...portId=347

[MassBrew]

The Huntsville Times reports that LHP Brian Adams, featured just this week in the 2005 Huntsville Stars thread here, was given his release by the Brewers this weekend.

 

Following the box scores and listening to as many games online as we can in recent seasons, Brian was as rubber-armed as any, quite the staff-saver at times. Here's wishing the young man well.

 

Brian Adams Brewerfan Player Index Page:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=537

[MassBrew]

In addition to LHP Brian Adams and catcher Joel Alvarado, we've learned that three other veterans of the system were let go this past weekend:

 

RHP Greg Bruso, acquired from the Giants in the August 2003 trade of Eric Young, is probably the biggest surprise. He'll be 25 years old this May. It's likely that the scapula (right shoulder) injury he suffered prior to training camp in 2004 is still affecting his velocity, otherwise it's hard to imagine the Brewers giving up on him at this time.

 

Greg Bruso Brewerfan Player Profile Page:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=606

 

Bruso peaked at # 15 on the Power 50:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPow...ayerId=606

 

RHP David Nolasco, the Brewers 23rd round pick in 2001, will be 26 next month. Nolasco had to be bummed when he spent all of 2004 in High Desert after finishing with Huntsville in 2003, but to be honest, his numbers never really impressed along the way.

 

David Nolasco Brewerfan Player Profile Page:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=115

 

Finally, speedy OF Chris Morris, acquired from St. Louis along with LHP Mike Matthews in the trade that sent RHP Jamey Wright and cash to the Cardinals in 2002, was also cut. Hard to forget his 111 stolen bases in 135 attempts in 2001 -- the stat line that caught our eyes upon his arrival. Morris turns 26 years old this July.

 

Chris Morris Brewerfan Player Profile Page:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=366

 

Chris Morris Brewerfan Power 50 History:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPow...ayerId=366

 

Brewerfan wishes all these guys well, and hopes to see their names in future transaction reports should they choose to continue their pro careers.

[bork]

This leaves Diggins as the only player left in the system who was acquired via a Dean Taylor trade.

[batman]

I'm awfully surprised with the release of Bruso... he was one of the mid-level prospects that I thought had a pretty good chance of playing in the big leagues someday. I hope for Greg's sake that MassBrew's injury speculation isn't true, but that's the only thing I can think of that would have prompted to the Brewers to release him, too.

 

Best of luck to him... I hope he can find a job somewhere.

 

~Bill

[Never Outhustled]

Bruso is another example of the deals that keep Brian Sabean afloat in San Fran. He constantly recognizes prospects that won't make it, but look worthwhile to others. Sabean then deals them for proven major league talent.

[igor67]

Well Bruso hasn't completely failed yet. Some of it is just a numbers game. There's a lot of systems out there that should snap him up and see what happens. It's kind of a new feeling to be the organization that's losing talent in these transactions.

[clancyphile]

igor67

 

Agreed. I mean, it was worse when the Crew's best prospect was Antone Williamson, but some of these guy are pretty good.

 

Mark Johnson traded - I bet that's because some of these other catchers have been doing pretty well (Vanden Berg, Rottino, etc.)

[SoCalBrewfan]

Mark Johnson traded - I bet that's because some of these other catchers have been doing pretty well (Vanden Berg, Rottino, etc.)

 

Right. We had to clear that backup AAA spot for the oncoming freight train of catching prospects...

[MassBrew]

Apparently Terry Trofholz, the 24-year-old 2003 22nd round outfielder out of TCU, has hung up his spikes after two productive seasons with Helena and Beloit.

 

I speculated earlier that Chris Morris' release may have opened a AA spot for Terry, not the case. Good luck to him in his post-Brewer career.

 

Terry Trofholz Brewerfan Player Index Page:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=556

[MassBrew]

We're waiting on any official confirmations on the following players, news such as released, official disabled list stints, etc. -- we'll note news we believe is acurate below if we have updates (italics)...

 

RHP Juan Cerros, 28; minor league Rule 5 pick from the Reds

 

RHP Jeff Farnsworth, 29; minor league free agent signed just before camp

 

RHP Jerome Gamble, # 41 on the Power 50, Red Sox free agent signee with a long injury past

 

LHP Josh Habel, 24; acquired from the Giants for Dave Burba

 

LHP Sam Narron, 23; waiver claim from the Texas Rangers

 

RHP John Novinsky, 26 on April 25th; emerged as Huntsville's closer in 2004 and saw time in the Arizona Fall League; there doesn't seem to be a defined AA closer at the moment (Ryan Miller?)

 

RHP Jason Ryan, 29, former Minnesota Twin, free agent signee back in January

 

RHP Landon Stockman, 25; minor league Rule 5 selection from the Cleveland farm system

 

C Kelley Gulledge, 26; former Twin farmhand with some interesting potential

 

C Kade Johnson, 26; recovering from wrist surgery if he's still officially with the organization; 1999 2nd round pick

 

OF Mario Mendez, 23; Dominican product with 15 HR's in High Desert last season

 

LHP Carlos Ramirez, 20; did not play in 2004 (arm injury) after a stellar rookie ball season in 2003 -- was protected at the AA level for Rule 5, hopefully primed for a return to Helena in June

 

C Alberto Segura, 21, # 46 on the Power 50, was protected at the AA level for Rule 5

 

(The news apparently is odd on Segura, who was not in camp this spring -- some bizarre visa-related stuff, hopefully he's back on the radar soon.)

 

RHP Eric Thomas, 24; 2002 3rd round pick hasn't pitched in two years; was protected at the AA level for Rule 5; he's not listed in the current media guide

 

RHP Josh Alliston, 25; 2002 21st round pick, another injury-related returnee

 

LHP Eric Henderson, 25; 2000 4th round pick struggled at High Desert in 2004; saw action as an OF/DH as well

 

RHP Greg Moreira, 2001 10th round pick showed some promise at Beloit in 2004 (apparently still in camp, and we're not aware of an injury concern at this time)

 

RHP Joel Needham, 23; last year's 32nd round pick out of UC-Davis finished up at High Desert to help cover for injuries on that squad

 

OF Jake Serfass, 23; non-drafted University of West Virginia kid who was an emergency call-up to High Desert to end 2004

 

IF Wandel Campana, 26; mid-season independent league signee saw action with Beloit

 

RHP Justin Barnes, 22; he of the 67-to-14 K/BB ratio in 57 IP last season with Helena / Beloit (apprently still in extended spring training -- no news of an injury at this time)

 

LHP Edwin Walker, 21; more arm problems for the former Tommy John surgery patient

 

OF Charlie Fermaint, 19; some type of injury concern at the moment

 

3B Tony Festa, 24; hand injury of some sort

 

OF Hasan Rasheed, 21; some sort of injury has him off the West Virginia squad for now

 

LHP Jared Theodorakos, 24; not in camp at moment with permission, apparently a non-baseball related issue

 

And of course, this update does not include players likely to debut at the rookie ball level in 2005.

 

Keeping these pending players in mind, we believe the Brewerfan Player Index Page is as accurate as possible at this moment.