Brewers claim infielder Jeff Bianchi from Cubs

[djoctagone]

tweeted by jon morosi.

 

stats

[monty57]

The Brewers can certainly use SS depth in the minors. I think Izturis will be the Brewers' backup SS, but Bianchi could fight it out with Maysonet for the AAA job.

[djoctagone]

bianchi was added to the royals' 40-man roster following the 2009 season and has one minor league option remaining. great ss depth on the major league roster.

[umphrey]

I can see why he was available as a 24/25 year old who couldn't OPS .700 in AA last year with 500 plate appearances

[bucksman4]

bianchi was added to the royals' 40-man roster following the 2009 season and has one minor league option remaining. great ss depth on the major league roster.

Just because they've got 'depth' it doesn't mean it's quality depth. Having multiple options does not mean they are quality options...the old quantity over quality debate.

[monty57]

I can see why he was available as a 24/25 year old who couldn't OPS .700 in AA last year with 500 plate appearances

 

Does anyone know why 2010 is missing from his stats? An injury could possibly explain why he hit poorly in 2011.

[brettac1]

He had Tommy John.

[GoudaBrew]

Fangraphs had him as the Royals #8 prospect following the 2009 season. Sounds like his career has been full of injuries.

 

Finally healthy, Bianchi showed consistency in ’09 and reached double-A.

In high-A ball, the shortstop hit .300/.360/.427 in 220 at-bats. Moved

up to double-A, Bianchi responded with a triple-slash line of

.315/.356/.441 in 270 at-bats. He also stole 22 bases on the year and

was caught just six times. The 23-year-old infielder strikes out too

much (21.5 K%) for his modest power.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/kansas-city-royals-top-10-prospects/

[And That]

In the 2010 Prospect Handbook, BA stated this about Bianchi, then the Royals #11 prospect:

Bianchi has a tick above-average arm at shortstop and he showed average range thanks to great footwork. He's the surest-handed fielder in the system and has picture-perfect fundamentals [at shortstop and second base].

He's had a slew of injuries, as noted.

[FoxyFoxes]

Without looking at much and just being kind of stupid here but....

Casey McGhee part two?

[And That]

Casey McGhee part two?

Bianchi can play the middle infield and has decent speed. So, no.

[dadofandrew]

He can run and play SS at an above average level. Even if he can't hit at all, he is a solid utility infielder option just based on those two plus skills. No downside, nice ceiling, if he can get healthy.

[TooLiveBrew]

Solid pickup, not much risk here & sounds like there could actually be some upside.

[NievesNoNO]

Just at a quick glance he looks to be a solid fielder with a little upside left. Looks like a good utility IF option.

[And That]

When looking at Bianchi's stats from the last few years, you have to remember that he was drafted out of high school. So while he spent a few years in A-ball putting up modest - and OBP poor - numbers, he was pretty young and actually hit .315/.356/.441 in a half-season of AAA as a 22 year old back in '09.

 

Given that he lost all of last year for development time, he's not in bad shape as far as 25 year olds who have yet to see AAA. He'll get next year to (hopefully) prove he can hit PCL pitching and progress in his plate discipline.

 

No downside pickup, really. He fills an organizational need and has a pretty decent chance to contribute in Milwaukee.

[MNBrew]

There's no downside to the pickup, but as someone who's never seen AAA, the odds of him making it to MIL this year would seem both very long and predicated by multiple position-specific injuries.

[trwi7]

MNBrew wrote:

---

There's no downside to the pickup, but as someone who's never seen AAA, the odds of him making it to MIL this year would seem both very long and predicated by multiple position-specific injuries.

Not sure about that. As of now his only competition is Cesar Izturis. I'd rather have Bianchi than Izturis with the knowledge that Izturis is on a minor league deal and Bianchi has an option remaining as well as more upside than Izturis.

[JohnBriggs12]

MNBrew wrote:

---

There's no downside to the pickup, but as someone who's never seen AAA, the odds of him making it to MIL this year would seem both very long and predicated by multiple position-specific injuries.

Not sure about that. As of now his only competition is Cesar Izturis. I'd rather have Bianchi than Izturis with the knowledge that Izturis is on a minor league deal and Bianchi has an option remaining as well as more upside than Izturis.
Let him play at AAA. I'm fine with Izturis, who I think will be starting more games than people think. If Gonzalez struggles (which I believe he will) no way they let that contract vest at the 525 plate appearances. Hopefully Bianchi can do what Taylor Green did and show progress 2 years removed from major injury, and then be a factor for 2013.

[thumperden]

Is he worth a 40-man roster spot though? At the expense of whom? I don't know. The team surely needs more middle infielders in the minors though.

[Crew2323]

Let him play at AAA. I'm fine with Izturis, who I think will be starting more games than people think. If Gonzalez struggles (which I believe he will) no way they let that contract vest at the 525 plate appearances. Hopefully Bianchi can do what Taylor Green did and show progress 2 years removed from major injury, and then be a factor for 2013.

Gonzalez may struggle, but the Brewers didn't sign him for his bat. They signed him for his glove. That's going to keep him in the lineup more than anything. And he'll be more tolerable batting in the bottom of the order. I'm willing to guess that most will be ok with that, especially since we don't have a SS prospect on the horizon to replace him.

[CheezWizHed]

Is he worth a 40-man roster spot though?

 

Yes. Because even after claiming him, we still have one extra spot open. If it gets to the point where the 40-man is full and you need an extra spot, you always have the option of waiving him, exactly like the Cubs just did.

[thumperden]

Fair enough CheezWizHead. Why not put him on the 40-man if there's room. He's young enough and may still have potential to battle for a big league job in a couple years.

[dadofandrew]

I think they'd take Farris off the 40 before Bianchi.

 

Eric is a AAA 2B, and not a really good one offensively.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think they'd take Farris off the 40 before Bianchi.

 

Eric is a AAA 2B, and not a really good one offensively.

It would depend on whether they are making room for a pitcher, or an everyday player. I can't imagine Zelous Wheeler would be any more secure than Farris. Farris wasn't awful offensively but a big part of his game is running, and he was coming off a leg injury the year before that limited that part of his game.. He could bounce back this year.

[dadofandrew]

I can't imagine Farris being claimed on waivers, but Wheeler would likely pass through as well. At least Zelous (and Kjelgard) offer some power (Wheeler can play several spots too), which is in far greater demand than 2B that can run.