2024 Minor League Transaction Thread

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

A couple more interesting MiLB Signings per Curt Hogg

 

Ohhhhh man. Don't get me even daydreaming about Duplantier. That's not really fair. 😅 Like this is exactly the type of fringe add the Brewers are so adept at executing. Duplantier was lights out in Independent ball. Struggled with the Mets @ Syracuse. Was released. Picked up by the Dodgers for the final month plus and really had some success when called up to the PCL. Perhaps, they've found something here as he's removed further from injury and is entering his 30's. I'm unreasonably interested in this move!

Oliva had a really nice year for the Mariners' Double-A affiliate (Arkansas Travelers) last season. Brewers continue to replace with recent losses. Oliva can also very much fill in on the CF grass (spent Double-A in the Texas League last season but very much has Triple-A experience). Did this in game 1 of the Texas League Championship series:

The travelers went on to win that series and Oliva bat clean-up throughout with a 0.330ish BA and 0.990 OPS. He did everything you'd want from a guy that age (approaching 30) at Double-A. I imagine (?) the Crew will place him @ Nashville as an everyday starter off the bat. 

[sveumrules]

Yeah, it was only 35 IP but Duplantier shoved to the tune of a 3.15 FIP | 3.57 ERA during his Dodgers stint to end the season, mostly in the PCL.

Oliva opened his career with 1,215 PAs of 120 wRC+ between A-AA from 2017-19, but got derailed at the pandemic and followed with 923 PAs of an underwhelming 91 wRC+ in AAA from 2021-23, before bouncing back to the tune of a 138 wRC+ with 37 SB / 3 CS over 248 PAs back down in AA last year.

Maybe it was just a small sample of man amongst boy type stuff, but I’d imagine the Brewers saw something(s) they liked on the scouting side too.

[jay87shot]

I like all the minor league adds but we have like 40 pitchers between AA and AAA. Is there going to be a large amount of decent arms being cut or traded?

[Joseph Zarr]

5 hours ago, jay87shot said:

I like all the minor league adds but we have like 40 pitchers between AA and AAA. Is there going to be a large amount of decent arms being cut or traded?

I've heard this sentiment more than once now so I think it's important to add some accuracy to the claims:

Even if you add Deivi Garcia, Thomas Pannone and Jon Duplantier - obvious Sounds arms - there are only 27 pitchers between the Shuckers and Sounds (they haven't officially been added to their roster page). 15 of those arms currently are on the Shuckers staff. The Brewers clearly have a plan they are trying to execute with in-season pick-up RHP Sam McWilliams who they've kept on the Sounds staff.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I've heard this sentiment more than once now so I think it's important to add some accuracy to the claims:

Even if you add Deivi Garcia, Thomas Pannone and Jon Duplantier - obvious Sounds arms - there are only 27 pitchers between the Shuckers and Sounds (they haven't officially been added to their roster page). 15 of those arms currently are on the Shuckers staff. The Brewers clearly have a plan they are trying to execute with in-season pick-up RHP Sam McWilliams who they've kept on the Sounds staff.

He is talking about pitchers who are projected for AA/AAA, including 40 man roster guys who wont make the Brewers staff and A+ pitchers who deserve a promotion.  The current Sounds and Shuckers roster pages online do not include any of these yet. I also am projecting 40 pitchers for those AA/AAA spots so I believe Jay87shot is accurate.  

That being said, this is not unusual for the Brewers.  They usually oversign for the top two affiliates to account for injuries and poor performances in spring.  There will also be a few releases and maybe a trade or two.  Having too many good pitchers is not a bad thing.

[Joseph Zarr]

17 minutes ago, ClosetBrewerFan said:

He is talking about pitchers who are projected for AA/AAA, including 40 man roster guys who wont make the Brewers staff and A+ pitchers who deserve a promotion.  The current Sounds and Shuckers roster pages online do not include any of these yet. I also am projecting 40 pitchers for those AA/AAA spots so I believe Jay87shot is accurate.  

That being said, this is not unusual for the Brewers.  They usually oversign for the top two affiliates to account for injuries and poor performances in spring.  There will also be a few releases and maybe a trade or two.  Having too many good pitchers is not a bad thing.

That helps. Thanks.

Even given that addendum, I still purport that's speculatively bullish. I mean, are you all seriously contemplating 9 early-season or off-season promotions from Wisconsin?!? OR are you considering, say, a realistic 2-3 with more FA adds? I don't think you can realistically look at the T-Rats current staff and commit to any more than that. 

Anyhow, I'm going to remind myself from this point on: this is the transactions thread. Let's move any more conversation about this over HERE. Thanks!

[Jim Goulart]

On 11/24/2024 at 12:55 PM, ARobsBrewCrew said:

Venezuelan RHP Jose Arias has been signed to a minor league contract.  That’s all the info we have on Arias at the moment.

Arias' player page is now up, 6'1", 160, he'll turn 18 in March.

[Joseph Zarr]

On 10/29/2024 at 9:14 AM, Ro Mueller said:

- Signed RHP Johandry Ramirez

He’s 17 years old, from the Dominican Republic, listed at 6’1”

Closing this loop for now:

• RHP Johandry Ramirez has officially been assigned to the DSL Brewers #1

[Joseph Zarr]

On 11/25/2024 at 1:54 PM, Spencer Michaelis said:

A couple more interesting MiLB Signings per Curt Hogg

 

 Closing of the current loop here for now:

• RHP Jon Duplantier was officially assigned to the Nashville Sounds (as was to be expected)

[Joseph Zarr]

On 11/18/2024 at 12:48 PM, markedman5 said:

 

Like Duplantier above, closing this loop for the time being:

• RHP Deivi García was officially assigned to the Nashville Sounds today (as was to be expected)

[Ro Mueller]

In the minor league phase, we picked up RHP Zach Peek (Orioles) and OF Garrett Spain (Blue Jays), but lost INF/OF Miguel Briceno.

 

[sveumrules]

15 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

In the minor league phase, we picked up RHP Zach Peek (Orioles) and OF Garrett Spain (Blue Jays), but lost INF/OF Miguel Briceno.

Ahem, that's INF/OF/pitcher Miguel Briceno.

[Joseph Zarr]

Man,

I am taking hits left and right today. I just waxed poetic on Briceno in our last Mudcats pod.

At least he goes to the Twinkies. There is solace.

Just a very very solid baseball player. I will forever be salty he got zero AB's vs Fredericksburg. I may need some counseling after today. 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

33 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

In the minor league phase, we picked up RHP Zach Peek (Orioles) and OF Garrett Spain (Blue Jays), but lost INF/OF Miguel Briceno.

 

OK, excited to learn about these new players. This is definitively an area where the Brewers tend to cook.

[Joseph Zarr]

A Final homage to another sweet Prince gone to another Kingdom:

Quote

 

'Miguel Briceno'

(A Haiku)

Perhaps if he were
Also a Catcher, we would 
Have our Shining Star

 

 

 

 

[Ro Mueller]

I didn’t mind losing Joe Gray Jr. in 2023, but I’m not pleased with what transpired today.

Shane Smith was a top 3 pick (#1 overall actually), as expected. The only rational explanation I can imagine for leaving him unprotected is that there’s a secret, looming injury risk.

Briceno seemed like a team leader on an incredibly young Mudcats’ team. In reality, he was still slightly underage for the level and posted an above-league average OPS (.685 vs. 661) without excessive luck (BABIP .309).

Sure, Briceno is not likely to ever make the Majors (so few actually DO make it and he only hit 3 HRs in 2024), but he looked like someone worth keeping in the clubhouse and on the field for a while.

Go make your families proud, gentlemen!

[Jim Goulart]

1 hour ago, Ro Mueller said:

In the minor league phase, we picked up RHP Zach Peek (Orioles) and OF Garrett Spain (Blue Jays), but lost INF/OF Miguel Briceno.

 

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[biedergb]

3 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I may need some counseling after today. 

I hear ya. Briceno was a nice swiss army knife player, and meshed well (or so it seemed) with the guys in A ball.

I still am sitting here wondering about maybe I didn't overvalue Shane Smith. Maybe the Brewers brass undervalued him? I don't know time will tell, but I just felt like he was one of those players who could shine with our organization. Oh well, as you stated (and @Jim Goulartthen responded!) - let's see what AAA Rule 5 pick up gems we may have unearthed and see if those guys can become keys to the Brewers success, particularly Peek.

[biedergb]

3 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

Shane Smith was a top 3 pick (#1 overall actually), as expected. The only rational explanation I can imagine for leaving him unprotected is that there’s a secret, looming injury risk.

Or his prior injury limited him to just relief, and they valued Chad Patrick as a starter, along with Henderson, Rodriguez, MIz, and just felt it was a risk to take. But still Tyler Jay and Vinny Capra are on the 40 man. I mean I am sure they are quality players, but just don't seem to be way above average MLBers, and Smith could be a lightning in a bottle like Cousins, Topa, Feyereisen who could excel for a few seasons or become a valuable trade asset.

[Playing Catch]

16 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

 

3540 rpms?? Really? I'm dubious.

[brewmann04]

hopefully he stays healthy and the Brewers find a Prospect and thoughts if he be  reliever or starter?

where  does he start double A?   

[Spencer Michaelis]

42 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

3540 rpms?? Really? I'm dubious.

He only threw one inning on Statcast in 2023, pitching in the AFL, but he averaged 3,345 on the five he threw, so I'd say 3,540 is within his range. Also found out that he throws all three forms of fastballs, and the changeup looks pretty good to me. I have to say, I'm pretty intrigued.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

He only threw one inning on Statcast in 2023, pitching in the AFL, but he averaged 3,345 on the five he threw, so I'd say 3,540 is within his range. Also found out that he throws all three forms of fastballs, and the changeup looks pretty good to me. I have to say, I'm pretty intrigued.

 

So, what you're saying is you took a Peek under the hood and you liked what you you found.