Jim Goulart

Link to the Trent Oeltjen thread in the major league forum (big league camp invite)

Thunder from Down Under Aren't all Aussies inherently popular?

Nice job by Vinny, as Rottino earns a major league camp invite with the Marlins

Nice job by Vinny, as Rottino earns a major league camp invite with the Marlins

Had to figure at age 25 with his defensive skills, catcher Carlos Corporan was going to be a quick and popular target for someone this winter (Diamondbacks). And ho-hum, Chad Moeller re-signs with Baltimore, expected to back up Matt Wieters. It must drive AAAA catchers mad, the difference between them and being a big league backup is so negligible. Chris Coste to the Mets a few days ago, indications are it will be tough to crack that roster. All are minor league deals...

Had to figure at age 25 with his defensive skills, catcher Carlos Corporan was going to be a quick and popular target for someone this winter (Diamondbacks). And ho-hum, Chad Moeller re-signs with Baltimore, expected to back up Matt Wieters. It must drive AAAA catchers mad, the difference between them and being a big league backup is so negligible. Chris Coste to the Mets a few days ago, indications are it will be tough to crack that roster. All are minor league deals...

Rick Peterson Todd Coffey

Lisa Winston of MiLB.com

Jim Breen over at Bernie's Crew (Sports Bubbler) continues to do a nice job and his site remains one of my daily stops. Here he chats with Jonathan Lucroy.

Well, the Braves will save whatever money they don't have to pay the 20th pick in the draft. Red Sox clean up again, sign Wagner in July, get two top draft picks for doing so.

Link while active, text follows: Axford set to prove himself DARRYL G. SMART, Brantford (CN) Expositor Now that he's got a taste of Major League Baseball, Port Dover's John Axford will be doing everything possible to stay there. Despite a busy off season, which included getting married to St. John's College teacher Nicole Burroughs recently, Axford is now honing in on spring training. "I'm really excited about getting there in February," Axford said after being the guest speaker in a St. John's English class Monday. "Showing them (Milwaukee Brewers) that I belong is something I've always known. I had to be patient, work hard and get my chance. Now it's time to show them that I am here to stay." In seven appearances last season with the Brewers, the right-handed pitcher struck out nine batters, while giving up five hits. "The first game in Chicago was a bit shaky, but, all in all, it went well," Axford said. "They told me that I would get a lot of jitters in that first game and, after that, everything would be all right and it was. I think I did a good job and proved I belong." Usually focused on the task at hand, there was one moment prior to throwing that first pitch, where he thought about everyone that was involved in his journey to Major League Baseball. "I usually don't do that but right before I toed the rubber I thought about my parents, Nicole and my old pitching coach (the late Doug King)," Axford said. "It popped in my head and I was very thankful." He then delivered that memorable first pitch and hasn't looked back. "It's been a great experience. It's what I've worked towards all of these years and now I just want to keep it going," Axford said. "I proved that I belong and now I want to make sure I keep doing that. I feel like I have a very good opportunity and I want to take advantage of it." To do that, Axford said he's working on getting stronger mentally and physically. "I'm a pretty intense person when I'm working out," Axford said. "I'm not a social guy when I work out. I get there and push myself mentally and physically to get the job done." As cliche as it may sound, that's exactly what he learned while he was in Milwaukee, especially from the veterans. "Seeing some of these all-stars work at their job shows you what you need to do to stay in the big leagues," Axford said. "It's your job and you have to take it seriously. Seeing these guys set that example, you understand what it takes to be at that level. I want to be there, so I'll be as prepared as I can for spring training."

The latest from Fangraphs on McGehee

Two years ago, Carlos Silva signed a four-year, $48 million deal with Seattle in mid-December, and then laughed as the money dried up for nearly all other signees. A Bill Bavasi albatross for Jack Z. That's my statement regarding signing relatively early, as opposed to comparing a Wolf signing to a Silva signing.

Without editorial comment from yours truly, here's some recent baseball audio to whet your whistle... MLB.com's Michael Bauman Brian Anderson (following the Winter Leagues, nice) Anthony Witrado

Ruben "Buddy" Flores, the 25-year-old RH reliever acquired in the Billy Hall dump (er, I mean trade), has been re-signed to a minor league deal. He had become a minor league free agent recently. If Flores is able to break camp in Huntsville, it will be his first pro action above high-A. LINK from August: Ruben Flores is a right-handed pitcher the M's selected in the 12th round of the 2003 Draft out of El Paso Community College in Texas. He's always been wiry -- measuring at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at about 180 to 185 pounds, rather than the 170 listed on his MiLB player page. Flores has always thrown hard, had control issues and been a relief prospect only. His delivery is quite violent, he has trouble repeating it, but has great arm speed, good deception on a pretty good changeup and a power curve ball in the 82-84 mph range. His fastball has good life and touches 94, and has been as high as 96. Flores has battled arm problems, however, having labrum surgery in 2005, missing the entire season and fidgeting around getting back to full strength until late last year... but not until he had a second surgery on the throwing shoulder. His velo is back to the low 90s, but he's still very wild, in and out of the zone, and at 25 now, is simply a live arm with a chance to figure it out. He was having a great year in Class-A Clinton when promoted to High Desert, but hadn't pitched in a week until the trade.

Every year when we try and determine who is eligible for minor league free agency, this issue comes up. Then we don't see their names on any Baseball America transaction list and get puzzled. Someone was kind enough to help us out -- Normally the player is signed to a contract with the same number of years that were remaining on the player's original contract when he was released. It's kind of picked up where it was left off. It saves an organization the hassle of having to renegotiate more contracts each season and doesn't delay the player's minor league free agency (if the player makes it that far). Plus the player is often more than willing to sign for multiple years, given they don't normally have any other options as a released player. So in Sean McCraw's case, for instance, he was signed to a 3-year contract last spring. Makes perfect sense, and now we know. Less headaches next fall! Thanks!

The Brewers are definitely going with their own DSL squad next season, and will not be sharing players with the Orioles. That's quite a few players they're going to have to sign to field a full squad, and we probably won't get a sense of them all until the media guide is out in March. You've got to figure an older, productive player like C / DH Jhonatan Javier is going to be brought state-side.

In addition to linking to articles like the one in the prior post, one of the fun things we do here is document as best we can all the minor league signings -- these should be heating up again soon. This was the March 2008 post on Axford, along with the one that follows it at that link. It just goes to show that what may be an insignificant signing (Joe Thatcher comes to mind, undrafted) can lead to a future big league match, and is part of why we do what we do here.

Link while active, text follows: Axford hits target with message for students DARRYL G. SMART, Brantford (CN) Expositor Students in Allison Batten's English classes at St. John's College discovered Monday that there are many sides to Milwaukee Brewers pitcher John Axford, which made for an interesting and very appropriate guest speaker. "I took a Shakespeare class at university (Notre Dame)," Axford said to the class. "I think we had to learn all of his plays and sonnets. It was pretty intense." And then it clicked in with the students: they actually have a lot more in common with a Major League Baseball player than they thought, seeing that they were about to embark on reading Romeo and Juliet. There were the regular questions most want to ask a big leaguer, like wanting to know about players do away from the field. But Axford's message of hard work, the importance of a good education and focus were things that began to sink in as the students began to ask more questions. Axford's message was a simple one. "Make sure you get a good education. It'll be one of the most important things you will do," Axford said. "I wouldn't have traded the opportunity for anything. Besides getting a great education, a large majority of my best friends are guys I went to school with. A lot of them were in my wedding party." Although the temptation of MLB money came early in Axford's career, he stuck to what he believed in, knowing it would all pay off in the long run. "I had the chance to sign with Seattle (Mariners) for a good amount of money," Axford said. "But we decided at the time that the best decision was to stay in school." Axford knew that the hard work ethic that was instilled in him by his parents and coaches would eventually pay off. And it did when he finally got the call to the Brewers last season. Once Axford fielded a barrage of questions like he would a ground ball hit to him, much of the class was devoted to focus, which came as a result of a question about his favorite music. "What many people may not know about me is that I really enjoy reading," Axford said. "I actually do a lot of reading while I'm listening to music. When I do that, I get a different focus. I can really visualize the story, especially when I'm listening to music." And focus is one of the main reasons Axford has got to the majors and is something he is working on to stay there. "At this level, a lot of it is about being able to focus in," Axford said. "It's your job to go out there and pitch and to get out there and perform, you need to be in the right frame of mind. Focus is a large majority of it." After Axford's session, Batten was thrilled with the end result. "Axford's down-to-earth demeanour and stories of real-life experiences are useful to young students who can sometimes feel defeated or hopeless," Batten said. "The students identified with him as a local person, whose positive attitude and ability to persevere lead to great success." She said the visit was both enjoyable and educational for the students. "He spoke about the importance of his own education and how it served as a vehicle for his baseball career," Batten said. "The students learned how crucial it is to always have a plan B, as he stressed the importance of having a backup plan. He explained how his degree in film and television will provide him with various career options once baseball comes to an end."

Nearly every organization can point to strong-armed pitchers in Rookie Ball, Low-A and even high-A and say that they've got a stable of fine potential arms at the lower levels. Guys drafted or signed internationally within the past 2-3 years who have dominated and/or flashed brilliance. They either haven't been properly challenged yet or haven't hit their injury stage yet. Let's not proclaim the Brewers kids that much above others until this first crop deals with AA for a full season. Then you'll have some value there (or not). Don't kid yourselves that the value is currently that much greater than 20 other organizations right now.

Regarding Luis Pena, 2009 was certainly a lost year due to injury, although I'm not sure I remember exactly what was its nature.. Josh, isn't the two-year deal pretty unique for a non 40-man roster player? Is it based on the fact Pena might miss some or most of 2010 as well? Who initiated that concept in this case, you or the Mariners? Was it a way for you to say, hey, if you stick by Luis with his rehab, he won't seek to benefit elsewhere in 2011 if the comeback goes really well?

Adam McCalvy's mailbag discusses Aybar and also includes this: The Brewers opened their own training facility north of the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, the first time since 2003 that Milwaukee has a standalone presence in Latin America. The Brewers had ceased operating an academy soon after Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash were hired and put that money toward higher-profile signings, but resumed a presence this year in a co-venture with the Orioles. The new facility is an existing complex previously owned by the Phillies, complete with two baseball fields, batting cages, housing and mess facilities and classroom space where players are instructed in English, among other topics. The idea is to prepare these 16-19-year-olds to eventually move to affiliates in the U.S. Seid was impressed with what he saw and praised Brewers special assistants Reid Nichols and Dan O'Brien for their work in setting it up. Outfielders Jose Pena (who received a $400,000 signing bonus when he signed with the Brewers in July) and Juan Barrini show the most promise, said Seid, who was also impressed by another shortstop named Andres Martinez, who signed in November 2008, reportedly for $225,000. The pitcher who most caught Seid's eye was Adrian Rosario, a right-hander who has been in the organization since 2006. Rosario, who turned 20 in September, pitched 14 games for the Brewers' advanced rookie affiliate in Helena, Mont., in 2009 and had a 5.06 ERA.

This article has Coach and his kids discussing Manny Ramirez not from a financial point of view, but after his steroid scandal this season, and we get this photo: http://nbcsportsmedia1.msnbc.com/j/apmegasports/200905081737634433479-pf.widec.jpg

Coach, do you have others in pro ball now besides Angel, so we can follow their careers as well? NOTE: Catcher Jean Carlos Rodriguez, featured in this 2008 pre-draft article, was not drafted but signed with the Phillies organization. He's since been released, apparently. NOTE: Fernando Frias (6'1", 230), featured in this pre-draft article, interesting, played at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa (culture shock?) after being drafted in the 50th round in 2008 by Washington. And if not (others in pro ball now), doesn't that go a long way towards saying just how tough it is to become a pro ball player at even the lowest minor league level? Congratulations on the graduation rate, sir, that's fantastic.

I want to broach this subject carefully, because it does not define who Coach is, and because Coach always indicates "he would never come to Manny (Ramirez) with his GW hat in hand, looking for a donation". But he also says, "Brewers prospect and former GW star Angel Salome offered to buy the Trojans championship rings with his signing bonus if they won the title in 2004, the same day that he was drafted by Milwaukee. The team lost, and Salome is making peanuts in Triple-A right now. But Mandl says "if (Salome) gets that contract, he'll help us. He's that kind of person." Both quotes can be found in the article linked here. Here is a very insightful audio interview with Coach Steve. It's from Boston in 2007, so Manny is discussed, but also much, much more about his program.