Author Topic: 2014-2015 Minors Transactions (Read 14363 times)

Nate Colbert · « **on:** November 07, 2014, 04:09:43 pm »

1B Bobby Borchering and P Matt Heidenreich released per Matt Eddy tweet.

Neither one much of a surprise there (although the Astros thought enough of the latter to send him to the AFL to pitch last fall). Borchering came in the Chris Johnson trade and Heidenreich in the Brett Myers swap.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2014, 07:37:15 pm »

C Brett Clements (NDFA, 2013) and INF Yonathan Mejia (NDFA, 2009), who both played at Greeneville in 2014, have been released.

Reuben · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2014, 01:19:22 pm »

Wasn't Mejia an international signing? I feel like he was one of the bigger non-Ovando signings for the Astros at the time ($250k or so).

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2014, 02:58:53 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on November 08, 2014, 01:19:22 pm

Wasn't Mejia an international signing? I feel like he was one of the bigger non-Ovando signings for the Astros at the time ($250k or so).

"...after being signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in July of 2009."

You're right that he was a significant bonus baby (boy, that's a dated term). Astros County, citing BA, said he signed for $370K.

Reuben · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2014, 04:04:51 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on November 08, 2014, 02:58:53 pm

"...after being signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in July of 2009."

You're right that he was a significant bonus baby (boy, that's a dated term). Astros County, citing BA, said he signed for $370K.

Huh. Odd that someone who technically can't be drafted would be referred to as "non-drafted," as opposed to guys who are eligible but just don't get drafted.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #5 on:** November 08, 2014, 04:27:13 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on November 08, 2014, 04:04:51 pm

Huh. Odd that someone who technically can't be drafted would be referred to as "non-drafted," as opposed to guys who are eligible but just don't get drafted.

I can see why it might cause some head-scratching but according to some older Astros media guides I have it's a term that's also been used for international signees since at least 1987.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2014, 09:49:29 pm »

Some more released players per the BA transactions page:

RHP Luis Ordosgoitti, RHP Raul Rivera, LHP Kevin Ferguson, 2B Will Dupont, 2B Jean Estrella and SS Juan Santana.

Estrella was a $115K signing just 2 years ago. Ordosgoitti was once thought highly enough by the Astros that they had him skip the DSL and brought him straight to the US. Rivera and Ferguson was a late round pick and NDFA, respectively. Dupont was a 16th-rounder of the Blue Jays in 2013 who came to the Astros in a swap for Adron Chambers. Santana spent 4 years in the organization, never getting further than Tri-City.

Duman · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2014, 01:07:46 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on November 10, 2014, 09:49:29 pm

Some more released players per the BA transactions page:

RHP Luis Ordosgoitti, RHP Raul Rivera, LHP Kevin Ferguson, 2B Will Dupont, 2B Jean Estrella and SS Juan Santana.

Estrella was a $115K signing just 2 years ago. Ordosgoitti was once thought highly enough by the Astros that they had him skip the DSL and brought him straight to the US. Rivera and Ferguson was a late round pick and NDFA, respectively. Dupont was a 16th-rounder of the Blue Jays in 2013 who came to the Astros in a swap for Adron Chambers. Santana spent 4 years in the organization, never getting further than Tri-City.

Ordosgoitti showed some promise his first year in Gville, got injured in 2012 and never really bounced back. A good reminder that TINSTAAPP (There is no such thing as a pitching prospect) Injuries claim many promising guys.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #8 on:** November 13, 2014, 12:06:51 pm »

Quote from: Duman on November 11, 2014, 01:07:46 pm

Ordosgoitti showed some promise his first year in Gville, got injured in 2012 and never really bounced back. A good reminder that TINSTAAPP (There is no such thing as a pitching prospect) Injuries claim many promising guys.

Yeah ... He was the only one of those guys I will miss at all, and I still can't argue with that decision either.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #9 on:** November 14, 2014, 01:37:57 pm »

MLFAs Rudy Owens signs with A's and Pat Urkfitz signs with Marlins.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #10 on:** November 17, 2014, 10:15:32 am »

Signed Dylan James, a NDFA out of West Texas A&M. Struck out 126 in 98 IP in 2014 for the DII school.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #11 on:** November 18, 2014, 09:39:09 am »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on November 17, 2014, 10:15:32 am

Signed Dylan James, a NDFA out of West Texas A&M. Struck out 126 in 98 IP in 2014 for the DII school.

A little Schadenfreude here while looking at the rest of that link:

Quote

Among the released players are two prominent members of Milwaukee’s 2009 draft class: third-round second baseman/outfielder Josh Prince, who swiped 37 bases for Double-A Huntsville this season, and outfielder-turned-lefthander Max Walla, a second-rounder who signed for $499,000 and did not advance past low Class A Wisconsin.

The Brewers received value from the 2009 draft with seventh-rounder Khris Davis, 16th-rounder Scooter Gennett and 22nd-rounder Mike Fiers, but none of the club’s six picks in the first three rounds have clicked. That sextet includes Prince and Walla (above), plus first-rounder Eric Arnett (also released), sandwich picks Kentrail Davis and Kyle Heckathorn and second-rounder Cameron Garfield.

This Bud's for you.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2014, 09:22:00 pm »

MLFA David Martinez signs with Rangers.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2014, 04:48:08 pm »

MLFA (and currently rehabbing) Jose Cisnero signs with Chintzy (Reds).

Also, MLFA Paul Clemens has signed with the Phillies.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2014, 05:36:53 pm »

MLFA C Rene Garcia signs with the Phillies.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #15 on:** December 15, 2014, 01:20:57 pm »

Former Athletic/Ray/White Sox/Oriole/Blue Jay 1B Dan Johnson signed to minor league deal (not yet reported but presumably it comes with a big league camp invite).

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #16 on:** December 24, 2014, 04:25:18 pm »

Per BA transactions page, RHP Pat Christensen, RHP Aaron Vaughn, LHP Kyle Gehrs and LHP J.D. Osborne have been released.

All were late round draft picks or NDFAs: Christensen (27th rounder in '13), Vaughn (NDFA in '14), Gehrs (NDFA in '14), Osborne (36th rounder in '13).

In other former junior stros news:

LHP Alex Sogard, traded last July to Arizona, was released by the D-Backs.
Former 10th-rounder 1B/DH Erik Castro was released by the Braves.
MLFA Adron Chambers, traded to the Blue Jays back in June, signed with the Cubs.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #17 on:** January 15, 2015, 11:17:19 am »

7th-rounder (2014) Derick Velazquez has had TJS and will obviously be placed on the DL and miss the entire 2015 season. (McTaggart tweet)

Put up nice numbers (1.57 ERA, 24:2 K to W ratio in 23 IP) for Tri-Cities in his debut pro season.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2015, 05:33:18 pm »

Terrell Joyce (12th round, 2012) has been released. A recent drug suspension may have contributed to his release.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2015, 04:39:57 pm »

RHP Andrew Walter (NDFA, 2011) suspended 50 games for 2nd positive test for drug of abuse.

(McTaggart tweet)

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #20 on:** February 04, 2015, 02:16:15 pm »

RHP Miguel Severino, acquired from the Padres for 37th-rounder (2012) Michael Dimock last year, has been released.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #21 on:** February 11, 2015, 07:20:32 pm »

Astros sign a slew of 18 & 19 year-old DR and Panamanian players that safe to say likely amount to org depth:

RHP Luidin Toribio
3B Anthony Rodriguez
RHP Luis Castro
OF Jose Hernandez
2B Nicolas Miranda

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2015, 03:37:14 pm »

MLFA Ross Seaton signs with Tigers. Seaton of course was a local boy and 3rd-round pick back in '08 out of Second Baptist HS.

Bobby Borchering also signs with Detroit.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #23 on:** March 13, 2015, 03:26:56 pm »

Astros sign another ex-Cardinal w/Luhnow ties: former 2nd-round pick (2009) Robert Stock who is a catcher turned RHP.

Here's a write-up on Stock when he was released by the Cards back in December. Either as a catcher or pitcher, has spent all or parts of the last 6 years in the Midwest League. Yikes! And more yikes: 120 walks in 172 career IP (including 46 in 63 innings last year)!

Reuben · « **Reply #24 on:** March 14, 2015, 07:46:26 am »

Buy low, sell high.

sorry, couldn't resist.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #25 on:** March 14, 2015, 05:54:56 pm »

Signed RHP Christian Powell, a former 8th-round pick in 2012 out of the College of Charleston. Released by the Twins last May after never rising above low A ball in three seasons.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #26 on:** March 24, 2015, 06:09:54 pm »

Per a McTaggart tweet, the following guys were released today:

OF Ydarqui Marte
LHP Colton Cain
OF Jose Solano
OF Tanner Mathis
RHP Francis Ramirez
RHP Vince Wheeland
RHP Chris Munnelly

With the exception of Wheeland, all were either signed as NDFAs or int'l free agents. Wheeland was a 24th-rounder in 2014.

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 24, 2015, 06:25:15 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on March 24, 2015, 06:09:54 pm

Per a McTaggart tweet, the following guys were released today:

OF Ydarqui Marte
LHP Colton Cain
OF Jose Solano
OF Tanner Mathis
RHP Francis Ramirez
RHP Vince Wheeland
RHP Chris Munnelly

With the exception of Wheeland, all were either signed as NDFAs or int'l free agents. Wheeland was a 24th-rounder in 2014.

Cain came over in the Wandy trade after being drafted in the 8th-round in '09.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #28 on:** March 24, 2015, 06:29:34 pm »

Quote from: astrosfan76 on March 24, 2015, 06:25:15 pm

Cain came over in the Wandy trade after being drafted in the 8th-round in '09.

He is also the only one that is mildly surprising. Maybe lingering injury?

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #29 on:** March 24, 2015, 07:41:58 pm »

Quote from: VirtualBob on March 24, 2015, 06:29:34 pm

He is also the only one that is mdly surprising. Maybe lingering injury?

I was a little surprised, also, lefties with decent stuff get chances. But, I guess his stint at AA put him at a big disadvantage: 6.28 ERA in 14 games th a 33/26 K/BB ratio in 38 2/3 IP and .327 BAA. The Hooks also should have a stout rotation with Hader, Emmanuel, VV, Westwood, and McCullers as options, not to mention Appel.

Reuben · « **Reply #30 on:** March 24, 2015, 08:31:22 pm »

Quote from: astrosfan76 on March 24, 2015, 07:41:58 pm

I was a little surprised, also, lefties with decent stuff get chances. But, I guess his stint at AA put him at a big disadvantage: 6.28 ERA in 14 games th a 33/26 K/BB ratio in 38 2/3 IP and .327 BAA. The Hooks also should have a stout rotation with Hader, Emmanuel, VV, Westwood, and McCullers as options, not to mention Appel.

They'll still need 2 more, assuming they do the piggyback again this year.

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #31 on:** March 25, 2015, 07:49:45 am »

Quote from: Reuben on March 24, 2015, 08:31:22 pm

They'll still need 2 more, assuming they do the piggyback again this year.

Not sure exactly what it entails, but there is this:

Quote

Evan Drellich @EvanDrellich · Mar 22

Astros tandem pitching system will be changed somewhat this year. More regular routine at upper levels

pots · « **Reply #32 on:** March 26, 2015, 01:35:29 pm »

Quote from: astrosfan76 on March 25, 2015, 07:49:45 am

Not sure exactly what it entails, but there is this:

Yeah, it means they have less starting pitching talent. The tandem made a lot of sense when you had many more pitchers than spots in the rotations. Between the trades, promotions and the recent drafts, all of a sudden finding a spot in the rotation for players is easy

Mr. Happy · « **Reply #33 on:** March 26, 2015, 02:51:53 pm »

Quote from: pots on March 26, 2015, 01:35:29 pm

Yeah, it means they have less starting pitching talent. The tandem made a lot of sense when you had many more pitchers than spots in the rotations. Between the trades, promotions and the recent drafts, all of a sudden finding a spot in the rotation for players is easy

That's an astute point. I almost wish that we still had so much SP talent that we'd have to use the tandem system.

jbm · « **Reply #34 on:** March 26, 2015, 03:04:07 pm »

Wait a second now. I'm not saying Pots is wrong, but it is entirely possible that the present pitching depth in the minors is every bit as "good" as it has been; it's just they have changed their philosophy.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #35 on:** March 26, 2015, 03:06:34 pm »

Quote from: pots on March 26, 2015, 01:35:29 pm

Yeah, it means they have less starting pitching talent. The tandem made a lot of sense when you had many more pitchers than spots in the rotations. Between the trades, promotions and the recent drafts, all of a sudden finding a spot in the rotation for players is easy

I disagree. The tandem system didn't work well at AAA last year, and fell apart often, because of the need to move pitchers from AAA to Houston due to injury and ineffectiveness. I think this is an acknowledgement of that problem. And then there's Appel.

Mr. Happy · « **Reply #36 on:** March 26, 2015, 03:14:32 pm »

Quote from: jbm on March 26, 2015, 03:04:07 pm

Wait a second now. I'm not saying Pots is wrong, but it is entirely possible that the present pitching depth in the minors is every bit as "good" as it has been; it's just they have changed their philosophy.

I understand your point, and that of Jacksonian. However, I think that we traded some of our upper level SP depth in the off-season.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #37 on:** March 26, 2015, 03:20:31 pm »

Quote from: Mr. Happy on March 26, 2015, 03:14:32 pm

I understand your point, and that of Jacksonian. However, I think that we traded some of our upper level SP depth in the off-season.

My accounting of the starting pitcher usage from last year has enough starting pitchers to make tandems at each level without having to add pitchers who were exclusively relievers to the mix. Are they the highest end talent? No. Did the Astros think enough of them to have them in the tandems? Yes. The depth remains quite impressive.

Mr. Happy · « **Reply #38 on:** March 26, 2015, 03:24:34 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on March 26, 2015, 03:20:31 pm

My accounting of the starting pitcher usage from last year has enough starting pitchers to make tandems at each level without having to add pitchers who were exclusively relievers to the mix. Are they the highest end talent? No. Did the Astros think enough of them to have them in the tandems? Yes. The depth remains quite impressive.

I don't disagree with you. I actually like our younger pitchers better than some of the young starters we traded.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #39 on:** March 26, 2015, 03:42:59 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on March 26, 2015, 03:06:34 pm

I disagree. The tandem system didn't work well at AAA last year, and fell apart often, because of the need to move pitchers from AAA to Houston due to injury and ineffectiveness. I think this is an acknowledgement of that problem. And then there's Appel.

I think this is the key. I also agree with your later comments about depth. I expect them to use the tandem pretty much like last year below AA and probably even there. AAA is where I expect to see most of the changes.

juliogotay · « **Reply #40 on:** March 26, 2015, 10:07:19 pm »

One of the Astros announcers on a game this week quoted Luhnow as saying the depth is starting to really stack up at the upper levels of the minors for them. I don't think he was strictly speaking of hitters.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #41 on:** March 28, 2015, 08:48:35 pm »

Acquired 24 year old RHP Angel Baez from Royals for cash.

Quote

Baez pitched at Class AA last season, with a 4.65 ERA. He has a career strikeout rate of nine per nine innings, and a walk rate of 4.5. Baez has a plus slider and plus fastball when he’s going right.

pots · « **Reply #42 on:** March 31, 2015, 11:18:24 am »

Some more well known names released

Courtesy of What The Heck Bobby:

Quote

1B/C M.P. Cokinos - Drafted in the 31st round in 2012
RHP Jamaine Cotton - Drafted in the 15th round in 2010
RHP John Gatlin - Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2014
1B/C Ricky Gingras - Drafted in the 18th round in 2012
RHP Gerardo Juarez - International Free Agent signed April 2013
3B Jonathan Meyer - Drafted in the 3rd round in 2009
OF Jordan Scott - Drafted in the 14th round in 2010
RHP Robert Stock (MiLB free agent signed earlier this month)

VirtualBob · « **Reply #43 on:** March 31, 2015, 11:41:21 am »

Quote from: pots on March 31, 2015, 11:18:24 am

Some more well known names released

[urlhttp://whattheheckbobby.blogspot.com/2015/03/astros-minor-league-releases.html]Courtesy of What The Heck Bobby:[/url]

Again, no surprises. Cokinos couldn't replicate his one season of success at Lancaster; Cotton had reached his ceiling; Gingras never really had a ceiling to speak of; Meyer could not put it together and had fallen far below other younger options; Scott got every chance, but between injuries and a lack of power, really did not have much of a future. Gatlin, Juarez & Stock were roster filler.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #44 on:** April 01, 2015, 11:46:38 am »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on January 15, 2015, 11:17:19 am

7th-rounder (2014) Derick Velazquez has had TJS and will obviously be placed on the DL and miss the entire 2015 season. (McTaggart tweet)

And RHP Kyle Smith joins Velazquez as recently having had TJS and will miss all of 2015 (JDJO tweet).

4th-round, 2011 by KC who of course came to Houston for Justin Maxwell.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #45 on:** April 13, 2015, 04:19:33 pm »

According to the BA transactions page, RHP Yeyfry Del Rosario has been signed. He was released by the Blue Jays on March 31.

Walks have been an issue for him, but he has struck out 171 in 161 IP in his minor league career (beginning in the DSL in 2011 and topping out in the MWL in 2014). He has a career WHIP of 1.18.

Back in 2013 BA had him ranked as the BJs 29th-best prospect.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #46 on:** April 16, 2015, 02:14:13 pm »

According to MiLB.com, Bryan Muniz has joined Quad Cities replacing Nick Tanielu, who was assigned to Tri City.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #47 on:** May 09, 2015, 04:19:34 pm »

According to the BA transactions page, the Astros released a bunch of guys who had been in EST: RHP Jay Gause, RHP Juan Hernandez, RHP Krishawn Holley, RHP Gerardo Ramirez, LHP Christian Perdomo, C Hayden Timberlake.

Timberlake was signed in 2013 out of Australia and played last year in the DSL. Holley was a 39th rounder from back in 2010 who never rose above Tri-City in his 5 years in the system. Perdomo was a guy signed by the Red Sox out of (I kid you not) Advanced Software Analysis Junior College as a NDFA. Released by Boston after one year in the GCL, the Astros picked him up and after a second unsuccessful season in the GCL is now looking for a third organization to join. Hernandez was signed in 2011 as an intl FA out of the DR and his 3 years in the org were all spent in the DSL (excluding 3 GCL games). Ramirez was on his second organization after being signed out of Mexico by the Twins and released after 2 seasons. The Astros picked him up in 2013 where he pitched at Greeneville.

Perhaps the most surprising of the releases would be Gause. He came in last year's draft in the 10th round. While the numbers in a handful of appearances in the NY-P were fairly awful, such a quick hook after just one season is a bit odd for someone drafted (relatively) high. A swing and miss for the scouting staff.

ETA:
Actually, looking into it more, Gause was a college senior whose underslot sign at $65K contributed nearly $80K to the overall bonus pool so his being taken in the 10th round was more than just a function of talent level.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #48 on:** June 29, 2015, 05:55:44 pm »

RHP Rob Kahana, 32nd pick in 2014 who pitched last year at Greeneville and Tri-City, and LHP Sebastian Kessay, 22nd round pick in 2013 who had limited innings last season for the V-Cats, have both been placed on the 60-day DL.

BA Transactions Page

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #49 on:** July 06, 2015, 08:57:40 am »

Like Kahana and Kessay, Ben Smith added to 60-man DL. Smith was a 17th-round pick in 2014 out of Coastal Carolina who has yet to pitch in the system after undergoing TJS in April of that year.

BA Transactions Page