2023 Minor League Transaction Thread

[Ro Mueller]

- LHP Alex Claudio of AAA Nashville elected free agency 

[Joseph Zarr]

- The ACL Brewers activated RHP Jared Albir off their 60-Day IL

[Joseph Zarr]

Two more 60-Day IL Activations:

- RHP Jhoan Cruz was activated off the 60-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats

- RHP Domingo Mejia was activated off the 60-Day IL by the ACL Brewers

[Joseph Zarr]

And, after those activations, as has often been the case with the new roster limitations, came the releases:

- The ACL Brewers released RHP's Domingo Mejia, Jared Albir, and Samuel Dario

- The ACL Brewers released INF Alberis Ferrer 

- The Carolina Mudcats released Jhoan Cruz

[Ro Mueller]

Those five releases include three rather sad ones for the players and the organization, as it’s always tough to see promising starting pitchers derailed by injuries. I could be wrong, but I don’t recall any of the following five players receiving anything material as a signing bonus when they joined the organization:

• 23-year old RHP Jhoan Cruz joined the Brewers in May 2018 out of the Dominican Republic, impressing with a 0.96 WHIP in 33.1 innings (3.51 ERA, 7.6 K/9) in the DSL that year. As a 19-year old for Brewers Blue in Arizona the following season, he posted a challenging 6.97 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 8.7 K/9 in 41.1 IP while starting 5 of 10 games. After the 2020 Covid wipeout, Cruz made 15 starts and 5 relief appearances for Low-A Carolina in 2021: 6.42 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 8.7 K/9 in 81.1 IP, but that’s the last time he pitched in an official game, as he missed 2022 and 2023 with injuries. We hope that Jhoan is back to full strength and wish him well in 2024 and beyond, whether in baseball or elsewhere.
• 22-year old RHP Domingo Mejia was signed in May 2021 out of the Dominican Republic, dominating 11 starts in the DSL that year: 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 12.1 K/9 in 50 innings. He was then the Opening Day starter for ACL Brewers Gold in 2022, but lasted only four games (7.88 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 7.9 K/9 in 16 innings) before an injury erased the next 18 months of his baseball career. We pray that he’s already fully recovered and able to seize any opportunity that comes available to him, in baseball or otherwise.
• 21-year old RHP Jared Albir was signed in January 2021 out of Nicaragua, starting 12 games in the DSL in 2021 (4.50 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 6.3 K/9 in 46 innings). He then started 7 of his 9 games for ACL Brewers Blue in 2022, understandably struggling a bit as he was only 19 years old: 6.81 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, 9.8 K/9 in 35.2 IP (.419 BABIP against). His last game was on August 11, 2022, which means he was likely shut down with 12 days left in that season. Unfortunately, Albir then missed the entire 2023 year with injury. We hope he’s made a full recovery and wish him success in whichever adventure he takes on next.
• 22-year old INF/RHP Alberis Ferrer joined the Brewers in June 2017 from the Dominican Republic, debuting in 2018. Over four active seasons (Covid year excluded), Ferrer was a solid infielder, making 57 starts at SS, 71 at 3B and 8 at 2B. At the plate, Ferrer posted OPS’s of .689 and .720 in the DSL in 2018 and 2019 (combined 306 PAs), then appeared to break through with a .308 AVG / .379 OBP / .573 SLG in Arizona in 2021, though in just 132 PAs (.400 BABIP). The year 2022 was a rough one at Low-A Carolina: .188 AVG / .277 OBP / .336 SLG in 170 PAs. Ferrer was then converted to a pitcher for the 2023 season but never officially appeared in that capacity. We hope that Alberis finds success wherever his journey takes him.
• 20-year old RHP Samuel Dario signed with the Brewers in March 2021 from the D.R., moving directly to Arizona as an 18-year old. He made 10 starts and 2 relief appearances in 2021, though it was tough going: 7.15 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 8.7 K/9 in 34 IP. The year 2022 was slightly better, with 22 relief appearances yielding a 5.40 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 in 31.2 IP. Still in Arizona to start 2023, an injury in his third game (June 14) essentially wiped out his season, though he did make one more brief appearance on July 14, throwing just 2.2 innings this year. We hope that Samuel is fully healed and ready to tackle his next opportunity.

[markedman5]

 

[sveumrules]

18 minutes ago, markedman5 said:

 

Not a whole lot of out there about Roller as a 30th rounder out of Community College back in 2017, but seems like he kinda fits that Blake Perkins profile of a plus defensive CF with late developing bat. 

Nice depth piece that will give them a little more cushion exploring trades for Mitchell, Wiemer, Frelick, Taylor, Perkins in the offseason.

[LouisEly]

I think it's more about giving Wiemer the year in AAA that he needs and perhaps not planning on Canha being back.  I really do think that Yelich will move to primary DH, especially once Chourio is ready.  That leaves an OF of:

LF: Taylor
CF: Mitchell
RF: Frelick
DH: Yelich
Bench: Perkins, ?
AAA: Chourio, Wiemer

Roller fills the backup OF/injury callup spot until Chourio or Wiemer are ready. 

[markedman5]

I don’t see Yelich being a primary DH next season. 

i see him as the everyday left fielder with some time at DH along with others.

Unless he proves capable of moving to first…….no reason to think that is likely but I guess it’s possible.

[Joseph Zarr]

On 10/1/2023 at 8:55 AM, Joseph Zarr said:

- RHP Janson Junk has been recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds

- LHP Eric Lauer was optioned by the Milwaukee Brewers to the ACL Brewers

Closing the Lauer loop and Brewers tenure:

- LHP Eric Lauer was sent outright to the Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers. He opted for Free Agency. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Staying current:

- The Milwaukee Brewers selected the contract of OF Chris Roller from the Nashville Sounds

[Ro Mueller]

- RHP Caleb Boushley outrighted to AAA Nashville by MLB Brewers. I suspect he'll likely also be a minor league free agent in a few days.

[Joseph Zarr]

- RHP Blake Holub has been assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers

 

[Joseph Zarr]

- RHP Tyler Herb has been activated by the Nashville Sounds

- LHP Brandon Knarr has been activated from the 60-Day IL by the Biloxi Shuckers

- RHP Harold Chirino has been activated from the 60-Day IL by the Biloxi Shuckers

[logani54]

Does anyone have a comprehensive list of Brewers minor leaguers in winter leagues?

 

[Ro Mueller]

8 hours ago, logani54 said:

Does anyone have a comprehensive list of Brewers minor leaguers in winter leagues?

 

We don't have a list in one place, but instead have three threads which cover the activity:

• Arizona Fall League - SS Eric Brown Jr., 1B Wes Clarke, OF Hendry Mendez, LHP Adam Seminaris, RHP Justin Yeager, LHP Justin King, RHP Shane Smith, RHP Joseph Hernandez 
• Australian Baseball League - LHP Brian Fitzpatrick, RHP Sam Gardner, 1B Tayden Hall
• Other Winter Leagues (Mexico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico) - OF Jackson Chourio, RHP Christian Mejias, RHP Kaleb Bowman, OF Carlos D. Rodriguez, INF Eduardo Garcia, RHP Edwin Jimenez, INF Jadher Areinamo, 1B Jesus Chirinos, LHP Jesus Broca, C Brian Navarreto (likely a free agent in a few days), LHP Fernando Abad (also likely a free agent), RHP JC Mejia (technically still a Brewer but suspended til late Sep 2024)

[logani54]

Thank you! LVBP is a must follow even outside of Chourio it seems to me.

[markedman5]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Now we begin to see the unfortunate FA turn...

- RHP Tyler Herb has elected free agency

- RHP Max Lazar has elected free agency

- RHP Luis Contreras has elected free agency

- RHP Jason Alexander has elected free agency

- RHP Cam Robinson has elected free agency

- LHP Karlos Morales has elected free agency

- LHP Fernando Abad has elected free agency

- RHP Caleb Boushley has (officially) elected free agency

- C Payton Henry has elected free agency

We wish these players ALL the best as they navigate the Minor League free agency waters. May they find their right fit. I hope to see some of these young men back in the fold though that is probably unlikely.

---

- INF Jheremy Vargas has been activated by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

- RHP Arielbi Gonzalez was activated from the 60-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats

- RHP Rosmel Reyes was activated from the 60-Day IL by the Carolina Mudcats

- RHP Fray Morelo was activated by the Carolina Mudcats

- RHP Rafael Garcia was activated by the Carolina Mudcats

[Joseph Zarr]

On 10/31/2023 at 11:40 AM, damuelle said:

- RHP Caleb Boushley outrighted to AAA Nashville by MLB Brewers. I suspect he'll likely also be a minor league free agent in a few days.

Indeed he has. See above. Quite the exodus! 😔

[logani54]

Max Lazar still has some interest to me. I would actually be a bit shocked if Payton Henry doesn't find his way back to the org.

 

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Outstanding that Ernesto is coming back.  I was really hoping we would get another year to see what he can do at the upper levels.

[Joseph Zarr]

- RHP Jason Woodward was activated by the ACL Brewers

- RHP Kevin Briceno was activated from the 60-Day IL by the ACL Brewers

- OF Duncan Garcia was activated from the 60-Day IL by the ACL Brewers

- RHP Miguel Segura was activated from the 60-Day IL by the ACL Brewers

- RHP Aldrin Gonzalez was activated by the ACL Brewers

- LHP Wande Torres was activated by the ACL Brewers

- LHP Caden Vire was activated by the ACL Brewers

- RHP Daurys Mora was activated from the 60-Day IL by the DSL Brewers 1

 

 

[ARobsBrewCrew]

From what I’m hearing, RHP Harold Chirino and C Brian Navarreto have both re-signed for 2024.  Waiting on official confirmation at this point.

[markedman5]

Looks like no NRI for Ernesto