2025 Minor League Transaction Thread

[Jim Goulart]

You served us well, 2024 Minor League Transaction Thread (now locked).

We await 2025's moves within this new thread.

When possible, we'd prefer this thread be limited on commentary/discussions and remain a repository of the moves themselves, though some posts will inevitably enter that way. Moderators have the ability to split and merge threads as needed to make sense of the flow on the forum.

[Jim Goulart]

Best wishes to Mason Molina with the Rangers as the Brewers traded for RH reliever Grant Robinson.

With the score tied 1-1 in the winner-take-all Midwest League Championship Game, all I could think of was how awkward it must have been for the highly successful (to that point) Molina to be consoled by teammates who had just met him. Pretty sure all involved handled it professionally.

 

[Jim Goulart]

As a technicality it's a minor league transaction and thus will be noted here, but because of the big-league camp invite, discussion thread on Jake Bauers re-upping with the Crew can be found in our forum here.

[Joseph Zarr]

On 1/6/2025 at 5:06 PM, Jim Goulart said:

As a technicality it's a minor league transaction and thus will be noted here, but because of the big-league camp invite, discussion thread on Jake Bauers re-upping with the Crew can be found in our forum here.

Hey, having a 1B/DH Nashville platoon of Ernesto Martinez; Wes Clarke; and Jake Bauers is pretty dang awesome. I am one happy camper!

[Joseph Zarr]

It is going to be quite interesting to follow the careers of RHP's TJ Shook and Shane Smith. That's all I'm going to say about this.

[Joseph Zarr]

This is not as of yet confirmed but it's mildly interesting none the less. Many of you likely remember Alfaro's clutch hitting as a Padre. He bounced back and forth with the Red Sox, Marlins, and Cubs of late. He is currently playing for Tigres del Licey:

 

[ARobsBrewCrew]

LHP Joey Broughton threw a baseball for the first time since his July 2, 2024 Tommy John procedure on Tuesday.  That puts him slightly behind the typical 4-5 month return to playing light catch.  The goal is still to make it back to the mound in time for the conclusion of the ACL season, but, right now, that seems like a bit of a stretch.  Given how highly the organization regards him and this current timeline, he may be better off making his pro debut later in the summer with the Mudcats if Milwaukee is comfortable with handing him that challenge coming off of a major surgery.

[Ro Mueller]

46 minutes ago, ARobsBrewCrew said:

LHP Joey Broughton threw a baseball for the first time since his July 2, 2024 Tommy John procedure on Tuesday.  That puts him slightly behind the typical 4-5 month return to playing light catch.  The goal is still to make it back to the mound in time for the conclusion of the ACL season, but, right now, that seems like a bit of a stretch.  Given how highly the organization regards him and this current timeline, he may be better off making his pro debut later in the summer with the Mudcats if Milwaukee is comfortable with handing him that challenge coming off of a major surgery.

Thank you for the update, ARobsBrewCrew

[Joseph Zarr]

The 2025 Brewers International Free Agent class has begun being formally announced on the MiLB Transaction Page(s). You can view those 29 some additions HERE, if you would like. 

[Ro Mueller]

On 1/16/2025 at 7:32 PM, Joseph Zarr said:

The 2025 Brewers International Free Agent class has begun being formally announced on the MiLB Transaction Page(s). You can view those 29 some additions HERE, if you would like. 

27 of the 29 signings have been added to the MILB transaction log, with RHP Luis Aguayo and LHP Daniel Garcia remaining.

UPDATE: Aguayo and Garcia have been added to the MILB transaction log, so all 29 signing are now accounted for.

[Joseph Zarr]

Not a transaction, per se, but certainly a worthwhile development worthy of highlighting:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

- RHP JB Bukauskas has been DFA'd by the Milwaukee Brewers

This was a result of this move:

I feel for JB here. He couldn't get healthy in 2024 but he has been very solid since he stepped foot in the Brewers org. He will latch on somewhere should he choose to go the route of FA - hopefully, for my sake (and the Brewers), he stays with the Sounds to earn his way back up.

[Jim Goulart]

26-year-old RHP Ryan Sandberg gets his first chance at an affiliated opportunity.

Remarkably, there don't seem to be any feature stories in terms of the young man's name association with MLB Hall of Famer and Cubs' legend Ryne Sandberg.

Baseball Reference

2020 Player Page at Florida Athletic

2022 Player Page at Wilmington University

Press Releases from Queensborough Community College regarding Sandberg's 2024 season, his second season with Quebec in the independent Frontier League (champions both seasons, with Quebec currently on a three-peat):

May 11th debut

Selected as All-Star

Season-End Wrap-Up

The only video footage I could locate is from five, six, even seven years ago, not much point in linking.

*Hat tip to @BrewerNation for unearthing the tweet that Javik referred to.

[Ro Mueller]

On 1/18/2025 at 4:12 PM, Jim Goulart said:

26-year-old RHP Ryan Sandberg gets his first chance at an affiliated opportunity.

Remarkably, there don't seem to be any feature stories in terms of the young man's name association with MLB Hall of Famer and Cubs' legend Ryne Sandberg.

Baseball Reference

2020 Player Page at Florida Athletic

2022 Player Page at Wilmington University

Press Releases from Queensborough Community College regarding Sandberg's 2024 season, his second season with Quebec in the independent Frontier League (champions both seasons, with Quebec currently on a three-peat):

May 11th debut

Selected as All-Star

Season-End Wrap-Up

The only video footage I could locate is from five, six, even seven years ago, not much point in linking.

*Hat tip to @BrewerNation for unearthing the tweet that Javik referred to.

Javik (AA Biloxi) has his eye on Mr. Sandberg: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

- Signed 26-year old RHP Abdiel Mendoza and assigned to AA Biloxi

Thanks to Javik Blake for some videos. Find additional info in this December 2022 Canadian blog. 

 

[sveumrules]

Looks like Bukauskas went unclaimed on waivers and will remain with the organization getting a Spring Training invite.

[Jim Goulart]

Baseball Reference

MiLB Player Page

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

And, now for the some other types of less fortunate moves within the greater system:

- INF Yohandry Cruz has been released by the DSL Brewers #1

- RHP Elias Gonzalez has been released by the DSL Brewers #2

- RHP Daiyiro Candelo has been released by the DSL Brewers #2

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Stay tuned for more detailed 'farewells' on our behalf. Candelo and Cruz were parts of the 2024 International FA Class. It would appear, from afar and unconfirmed, both Candelo and Gonzalez's departure may be related to injury. Candelo leaves the org after, unfortunately, never pitching an inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

44 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

Baseball Reference

MiLB Player Page

Yes, folks, that nickname does indeed translate to: 'The Sushi'. Already moves up my list of arms to watch.🤭

[Jim Goulart]

• 01/23/25    DSL Brewers 1 released SS Yohandy Cruz.
• 01/23/25    DSL Brewers 2 released RHP Elias Gonzalez.
• 01/23/25    DSL Brewers 2 released RHP Daiyiro Candelo.

 

---

 

We do not have signing bonus info on these three players, all likely in the $10,000 pool of contract expenditures.

Cruz only turned 17 years old last May and is a rare Brewers international signee to not get a second chance year in the system. The RH bat did knock a double and home run in his 58 plate appearances, so he'll always have that. Despite being listed as a shortstop on signing day (because that's the law), Cruz saw action in nine games at first base and four in left field.

Gonzalez would have entered his age 21 season in 2025. He missed all of 2024 with an undisclosed injury, so his 15.1 inning 2023 sample is all that stands for now. He squeezed a lot of categories within however - 3 HR, 12 BB, 9 K, 4 HBP, 4 BK, 2 WP. His 1.304 WHIP seems impressive considering.

Candelo only turned 18 years old three days after Christmas. Candelo, of Venezuela (Cruz and Gonzalez are Dominican natives) will not have any pro stats on his pages unless he finds another organization. He went from the 7-day to 60-day IL in June of last summer.

Hoping that these players find their new baseball homes, should they pursue their careers.

[Spencer Michaelis]

55 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

 

 

Didn't like my wording the first time, so deleted it and re-uploaded, but now see that it was already posted here lol. My bad Jim!

[edfunderburk]

8 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Looks like Bukauskas went unclaimed on waivers and will remain with the organization getting a Spring Training invite.

This makes me happy. I like him more than 3 or 4 players at the bottom of our 40-man roster. I hope he gets another chance in 2025. 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

It would appear the Brewers have signed former 10th Rd Yankee sinker baller LHP Josh Maciejewski to a Minor League deal:

He did have some success last season in 7 some Big League innings. He's a low velo guy across the board. In addition to the 89-90 mph sinker he has a change-up and a breaking ball, I believe.

[wiguy94]

4 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

It would appear the Brewers have signed former 10th Rd Yankee sinker baller LHP Josh Maciejewski to a Minor League deal:

He did have some success last season in 7 some Big League innings. He's a low velo guy across the board. In addition to the 89-90 mph sinker he has a change-up and a breaking ball, I believe.