Spring Training Transactions

[950opsLHcatcher]

My Magic 8 ball says that these players are no longer with the organization:

 

Chad Petty

Calvin Carpenter

 

 

Someone keep an eye on Toby...this may put him over the edge...

 

My magic 8 ball says the Brewers suck.

 

Between this and Ramirez being stuck in Helena for getting to camp out of shape, grr.

[MassBrew]

My Magic 8 ball says that these players are no longer with the organization:

 

Chad Petty

Calvin Carpenter

Justin Gordon

Scott Wiggins

Phil Hendrix

 

Thanks for the info on the five pitchers.

 

How's that value for Alex Sanchez looking now (LHP Chad Petty, OF Noochie Varner)? And no, I wasn't a Sanchez fan, but Petty's performance in High Desert was just unspeakably unacceptable. The pro scouting staff really misfired on this one. If Petty had shown anything at all this spring, you'd figure he'd still be with the organization:

 

Petty's Player Index Page:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=542

 

Power 50 History:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPow...ayerId=542

 

Still just 21 years old, 2001 sixth round pick RHP Calvin Carpenter's another surprise cut, as the Power 50 takes another hit. This isn't 1997, and there's little time for patience in the new farm system landscape, with the abundance of arms.

 

Carpenter's Player Index Page:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=145

 

Power 50 History:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPow...ayerId=145

 

LHP Justin Gordon was Brewerfan's initial player interview (still available off the home page). 32nd round selection pitchers who saw limited mound time in amateur ball don't normally see five years of an affiliated minor league career. Good luck to my Massachusetts neighbor should he choose to pursue another baseball path.

 

Gordon's Player Index Page:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...layerId=13

 

Power 50 History:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPow...layerId=13

 

RHP Phil Hendrix was the Brewers' 35th round selection last spring out of VMI. There should be a rule against being cut after just one pro season, but for now, 24 innings constitutes Hendrix' Brewer career.

 

Hendrix' Player Index Page:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=568

 

28-year-old LHP Scott Wiggins was a free agent signee last November. He'll probably be always known as the player that the Blue Jays acquired in the cash-heavy Raul Mondesi trade.

 

Wiggins' Player Index Page:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=625

[Al the Thinking Man]

Surprised about Petty, as while his K/9 numbers were rather poor, he didn't allow any HR's. It's almost impossible to have a 6+ ERA while giving up only 3 homers.

 

Neither did Carpenter, more walks than K's last year though. It's odd to see a guy that young with a 3.89 ERA released.

 

If they didn't "fit in", maybe extended spring would have been the place for them, to at least give them some time to work out kinks and work away from the team until June.

[colbyjack]

If they didn't "fit in", maybe extended spring would have been the place for them, to at least give them some time to work out kinks and work away from the team until June.

 

This could be another one of those good-will gestures by Melvin, giving these players an opportunity to hook up with a different organization before the season starts. Being stuck in extended spring training certainly isn't going to do guys like Gordon, Carpenter & Petty much good. Carpenter is probably the most surprising to me, but as Al pointed out, his K:BB ratio last year was lousy. As Al also pointed out, there is a roster crunch even in the minor leagues, and some players just have to go. If nothing else we could look at it as a compliment to the depth in our system.

 

And I too thought of the Sanchez trade as soon as I saw Petty's name. I still can't complain about that too much, similar to the Franklin deal, I'm just happy we got something for the guy.

[lynchmobster]

Gotta get down to 120 or so, I assume.

Does that make it somewhere between 10-20 guys that need to be released? What are the maximum roster sizes that are allowed?

MLB: 25

AAA:- 25

AA:- ?

A+: ?

A: ?

 

How does extended spring training work as far as a roster spot for Parra, etc? Can some guys be left "in limbo" on the rosters for Helen, etc.?

 

I have to say I might enjoy brewcru1's inside information even more than foamboy's....

[Al the Thinking Man]

By 120, I meant 25 at each minor league team, and 20 or so in extended spring, waiting for June, and for injuries to heal up.

[pogokat]

In regards to neugie....i now the brewers still have to pay him the 40-man salary, but by optioning him instead of just putting him on the dl(i assume), Nick does not gain anymore ml service time...so, if im correct, that pushes arbitration back a year...because i believe he may have been eligible in 2005 if he gained more ml service time this year....

 

if im wrong here, someone help me out..

[brewcru1]

Due to lynchmobster's nice comments, I will let you know a few more releases:

 

Ricardo Gomez

Dan Hall

Orlando Viera

Greg Modica

Barrett Whitney

[MassBrew]

Thanks brewcru1. You had actually informed us about High Desert RHP Dan Hall earlier, and we commented previously in this thread.

 

The rest of this latest batch of names is truly for the fan of the most hidden and obscure -- RHP Ricardo Gomez was once Pirate and then Yankee property. Dick Groch (Special Asst. to the GM/Scouting) had apparently remembered him from that Yankee connection and recommended him this offseason -- Gomez has apparently been in Japan for the past two seasons.

 

OF Orlando Viera (21st round, 2001) out of Puerto Rico, is still only 20 years old, but missed all of 2003 with an injury. He got in all of 90 AB's in the two prior summers with the Arizona Brewers.

 

RHP Greg Modica was signed from the independent ranks in the offseason. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the San Diego Padres following his collegiate career and pitched two seasons for Eugene in the Northwest League before making the Frontier League's All-Star Team in 2003, finishing the season 6-7 with a 4.07 ERA in 110.2 innings with 101 strikeouts.

 

1B Barrett Whitney's a bit of a surprise here. He'll be 24 tomorrow (4/6), but did contribute to the solid Helena offense last year. If I'm not mistaken, Toby projected him to High Desert, but apparently there are other alternatives set to be put in place.

[brewcru1]

My bad MassBrew. I'll substitute Mark Messina for the previously mentioned Dan Hall.

[RyDogg66]

How can we release a guy who is so close to being the next Mike Mussina?

[lend d money]

I "fought" with Toby last year over his placement in the Power 50. Simply stated, he couldn't throw strikes. IIRC, his first half was OK, but during the entire second half the plate was completely dancing on him. As a result, people like Jason Baker(long since released) passed him up in the rotation down the stretch.

[MassBrew]

This article appeared in the Arizona Republic in mid-March. It's about free agents who show up in Arizona looking for an opportunity. The article mentions that RHP Mark Messina signed with Bangor of the independent Northeast League, but apparently it was the Brewers who offered the contract. In the same article, it mentions recently signed catcher Tim Marks, who has been assigned to Beloit to back up Cap'n Lou Palmisano.

 

www.azcentral.com/arizona...ntsZ6.html

 

Scouts said they were impressed by the strong throwing arm of catcher Tim Marks, 22. They said he's good enough to play Class A ball, still the low minors, for a big league affiliated team.

 

Marks said he has a contract with the independent Richmond Roosters in Indiana but came to the camp looking for a minor league contract with a big league organization.

 

"You have to think that in order to continue to play the game," he said. "You don't want to give up on your dream."

 

Messina pitched at Binghamton University, and his senior year numbers were less than inspiring, to say the least:

 

www.sports-wired.com/play...p?ID=41971

 

It'll be up to squarepusher to determine if Messina earned a Brewerfan Player Index Page for his two and a half weeks of camp work...http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[rotoherb]

Alejandro Machado was traded to Montreal on Sunday for a player to be named later according to the Expos web site.

 

montreal.expos.mlb.com/NA...;fext=.jsp

 

Not sure if it has already been posted, but I haven't seen it.

 

EDIT: To activate link...

[squarepusher]

Thanks, herb. That one really flew under the radar!

[lend d money]

He made some dazzling plays in the field last year while I was in Huntsville. But, the kid had an awkward way of holding his hands while hitting and barely hit above his meager weight.

[MassBrew]

Lend, you're killing me on these post "subject" changes http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

By the way, this is the first Brewer / Expo trade since the Crew acquired OF Alex Diaz for infielder George Canale on October 16, 1991.

 

Only Toronto (Aug '91), Pittsburgh (Mar '89), and Seattle (March '82) had longer trading droughts with the Crew than Montreal's recently-renewed relationship.

[Al the Thinking Man]

Machado isn't a bad prospect by any means. If we couldn't find a roster spot for him, we may be more loaded than I thought. He could well have some time in the bigs, most likley in a utility role.

[lend d money]

(again) violating some sort of unwritten code(like being a Chuckie Carr type that won't take a 3-0 pitch) by doing that? If so, please accept my apology and I will try to refrain.

[EdgarDiazRocks]

By the way, this is the first Brewer / Expo trade since the Crew acquired OF Alex Diaz for infielder George Canale on October 16, 1991

 

George Canale, now there was a handsome guy.

 

http://www.ballcardz.com/images/canaleg.jpg

 

We need more like him for Miller Light "Laydeez Nights"

 

I'm trying to do all I can to boost attendance.

[BrewCrewin2005]

The reason he was traded is because there will be no room for him in Milwaukee in the future. His ceiling is not that high anyways, and with Rickie Weeks a lock with a very high ceiling and Spivey, Ginter, and Hall all capable of playing second base right now there is now need for anymore second base prospects. My guess is they will add another young arm with the player to be named later. You can never have enough young arms in your system.

[lend d money]

Though I fear the answers, I must ask what has happened to two of my favorite people within the minor league system. I don't see either Pete Esparagoza or Tony Stavros on the HD roster. Did they fall victim to the knife?

[Al the Thinking Man]

I know you're aware of Pete E's release, Lend, just wanted to mention how sad it is guys that are so much better than we ever were don't even make it out of low A ball, isn't it?

[colbyjack]

Pedro was a lot of fun to watch. I know Michael & I both marvelled at his defensive skills more than once. He was just a different kind of player behind the plate, similar to Henry Blanco in that you could tell he took pride in the work he did.

[igor67]

Well I can certainly imagine him getting another shot somewhere else with his defense, and if he's paying attention get a coaching job somewhere. Maybe work up to bullpen catcher?