2023 Minor League Transaction Thread

[Joseph Zarr]

16 hours ago, ARobsBrewCrew said:

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.

This pleases me greatly. My thoughts on Navs and how vastly underrated he is are known...I sure hope Harold can experience some prolonged availability and success. He's been dynamite, even dominant, when healthy!

[ARobsBrewCrew]

9 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

This pleases me greatly. My thoughts on Navs and how vastly underrated he is are known...I sure hope Harold can experience some prolonged success. He's been dynamite, even dominant, when healthy!

Confirmed with Navarreto as I spoke with him this afternoon!  Completely agree on Chirino, as well, glad to have them both back.

[Ro Mueller]

• Signed RHP Jose Nova and assigned to DSL Brewers 1

It appears this is the same 6'5" pitcher that the Red Sox signed in 2021 out of the Dominican Republic. He's yet to officially debut and will be 22 years old in April, so perhaps Nova will make the quick climb to Arizona?

[Joseph Zarr]

- The contracts of C Jeferson Quero and RHP Bradley Blalock have been selected by the Milwaukee Brewers

(Rule 5 Protection)

[Joseph Zarr]

- RHP Miguel Segura has been released by the ACL Brewers

 

[Joseph Zarr]

- RHP Chad Patrick was assigned to the Nashville Sounds (via the INF Abraham Toro to the Athletics trade)

[Joseph Zarr]

- INF Yonny Hernández has agreed to a Minor League FA contract with the Milwaukee Brewers with an invite to Spring Training:

Quote

Hernández, 26 in May, spent the 2023 season with the Dodgers but was mostly kept in the minors, only getting into 14 major league contests. In 93 games at the Triple-A level, he hit .252/.395/.342. He walked in 18.4% of his plate appearances and struck out just 19.9% of the time but hit just four home runs, with his overall production translating into a wRC+ of 93. He also stole 17 bases but was caught 12 times. Defensively, he lined up at shortstop, second base and third base

 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

- RHP Enoli Paredes and LHP Jared Koenig have signed Minor League FA deals with the Milwaukee Brewers with invites to Spring Training

 

[Ro Mueller]

On 11/15/2023 at 6:45 AM, Joseph Zarr said:

- RHP Miguel Segura has been released by the ACL Brewers

 

RHP Miguel Segura was signed as a 17-year old out of Venezuela in July 2019, but only debuted in July 2021 after the Covid wipeout. Just 18 innings (1.50 ERA, 25 Ks) in the Dominican Summer League were enough for the Brewers to bring him stateside to Arizona the next month, where he continued to excel: 1.86 ERA in 19.1 IP with 22 Ks.

The 2022 season was a bit rougher, taking on the Low-A Carolina challenge over 22 games (10 starts): 4.38 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 7.8 K/9. Unfortunately, Miguel was injured in late August 2022, was apparently injured again in 2023 Minor League Spring Training, then proceeded to miss the entire 2023 season. We hope that 21-year old Miguel Segura is fully healthy now and ready to take on his next opportunity.

[edfunderburk]

On 11/7/2023 at 4:51 PM, logani54 said:

I would actually be a bit shocked if Payton Henry doesn't find his way back to the org.

I hope Payton Henry is resigned & gets a legitimate opportunity to be on the big league roster as our backup catcher

[Joseph Zarr]

The Brewers have agreed to Minor League deals with RHP Easton McGee and OF Brewer Hicklen (destiny fulfilled!).

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Getting out ahead of this here. Considering we don't have an International Free Agent Signings thread yet let's pique our fancies:

(Notes to Self: We do have an International Free Agency Thread, silly. HERE)

[Jim Goulart]

On 11/29/2023 at 10:36 PM, Mass Haas said:

 

Nice video follow-up, and nice to have Barrel Banter's David Go as a Brewerfan video-form contributor:

 

[Jim Goulart]

As discussed briefly here, noting Joe Gray Jr.'s departure via Rule 5 to the KC organization. Good luck, Joe!

[BrewerFan]

On 12/2/2023 at 7:02 PM, Joseph Zarr said:

Getting out ahead of this here. Considering we don't have an International Free Agent Signings thread yet let's pique our fancies:

(Notes to Self: We do have an International Free Agency Thread, silly. HERE)

That's fine...this draws more interest to it and people will then go check out the other thread.

 

[edfunderburk]

In another FA thread - someone mentioned that Payton Henry - my preferred backup C to William Contreras - signed a minor league deal with Toronto 

If true - I’m disappointed & sad

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, edfunderburk said:

In another FA thread - someone mentioned that Payton Henry - my preferred backup C to William Contreras - signed a minor league deal with Toronto 

If true - I’m disappointed & sad

It is true. It is a bummer indeed. AND, also: don't sleep on Navarreto. We lost a good one. We have a good one. This also opens a clear path for Quero at Triple-A to work himself onto the MLB doorstep. 

To Add, regardless of what this individual transaction means there is no doubt the catching position within the organization in the lower levels is in flux. Navs and Kahle are the only listed catchers in Nashville and Biloxi (Quero was added to the 40-man to Rule 5 protect). We've lost Henry, Jackson, Diaz, and Sibrian all within the last six months. What was a position of broad depth within the organization is now facing openings and opportunities and a bit of uncertainty as a result.

What will this mean for Darrien Miller, Matt Wood, Blayberg Diaz, and the bounty of catchers in the ACL and DSL? Time will tell. AND, I imagine the Brewers as an org will be bring free agents aboard or some of the above mentioned men back. 

[Joseph Zarr]

- LHP Rob Zastryzny has agreed to a Minor League (read: Triple-A Nashville) contract with the Milwaukee Brewers

More HERE

Quote

Zastryzny, 31, has appeared in parts of five big league seasons but was out of MLB from 2019-21. He returned for a brief look with the Mets and Angels in 2022 before logging a more significant workload of 20 1/3 innings over 21 appearances with the Pirates this past season. Zastryzny posted a 4.79 ERA with a 15.5% strikeout rate, 13.3% walk rate and 38.8% grounder rate in that time. Overall, he carries a 4.70 earned run average, 18.4% strikeout rate and 11.2% walk rate in 59 1/3 MLB frames.

While the big league track record may not leap out, Zastryzny has been quite sharp in his past three seasons of Triple-A work, pitching to a 3.62 ERA with respective strikeout and walk rates of 28.8% and 8.1%.

As the article indicates (linked above), Zastryzny has no ML options remaining. This would appear to be a (1) earn your way straight out of Spring Training or (2) start the season establishing yourself in the Nashville Pen (while giving Sweet a proven Triple-A lefty) with a chance to get the call-up and stick. If he doesn't stick, for whatever reasons, he would likely pass through waivers and head back into the ML FA pool.

[Jim Goulart]

Would prefer we limit this thread to transactions only, so as much as we’ll miss Cam Devanney and Ryan Brady, any associated commentary should be placed here.

Almost time for the 2024 Minor League Transaction Thread!

[Jim Goulart]

 

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As detailed in the release (do read it, please) and at the Baseball Reference link here, Polancic, age 25, already has seven years of pro ball under his belt (does not include the lost 2020 Covid season).

Four years in the Diamondbacks' system, three in indy ball, Canadian native signed out of high school for $100,000 (11th round, 2016)
 

 

 

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Lots of Rapsodo data here.

Draft day story

 

Lost and Found Glove Story (pre-draft)

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

Busy day on the indy ball signing front --

This will be Rund's first taste of affiliated ball, He completed his college career at Campbell in the spring before moving to Florence, Kentucky's Frontier League indy team this past summer.

Baseball Reference - Turns 25 in June

Campbell University Player Profile Page
 

 

 

[Jim Goulart]

It is rare, but until the two transactions above post on MiLB (could take a while, particularly given the upcoming holiday week), the deals are likely pending physicals. It is rare, but we have seen indy ball signings not come to fruition before.

Of course, the independent team (and college) are anxious to share the news right away, can't blame 'em.

[Joseph Zarr]

It is official:

- RHP Coleman Crow (12/20 Houser and Taylor to Mets trade) and LHP Rob Zastryzny have both been assigned to the Nashville Sounds