Author Topic: Offseason Transactions 2016-2017 (Read 9191 times)

Nate Colbert · « **on:** September 13, 2016, 10:57:42 am »

RHP Martires Arias--BA reported the Astros have signed the 6'10" Dominican pitcher to a 2017 contract. The 25 year old was originally signed by the Mets and spent 7 years in that organization before leaving as a MLFA after the 2015 season and joining the Padres where he spent this past year until recently being released. Control has been a huge problem for him with 196 walks in 406 career minor league innings. Stats for the 2016 season: 37 walks vs 70 strikeouts in 56 IP for Lake Elsinore with 62 hits allowed. Also 6 plunks and 10 WPs. Has never pitched above high-A ball.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #1 on:** October 10, 2016, 05:30:36 pm »

INF Danny Worth--just like after last season (when the Astros signed him to a minor league contract) elected to become a MLFA.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2016, 08:31:10 pm »

The complete list of Astros' minor league free agents is here. In addition to the previously-identified Evan Grills and Chan Moon, catcher Roberto Pena and pitcher Cesar Valdez are also MLFAs.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2016, 09:03:53 pm »

LHP Evan Grills--signs minor league deal with the Rockies. Although it hasn't yet been announced, I wouldn't be surprised if it comes with a ST invite.

Unless Roberto Pena re-signs (which I'm not expecting at this point), I don't believe there are any picks from the 2010 draft still remaining in the organization.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2016, 02:25:17 am »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on October 10, 2016, 05:30:36 pm

INF Danny Worth--just like after last season (when the Astros signed him to a minor league contract) elected to become a MLFA.

Signed a 1 yr/$700K deal with the SK Wyverns of the KBO. Not exactly coincidence: he'll be managed by former Astros bench coach Trey Hillman.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #5 on:** November 17, 2016, 10:40:18 pm »

RHP Cesar Valdez--the MLFA signed a minor league deal with the A's. The Astros had signed the 31-year old ex-MLBer off the scrap heap last January after he had been pitching in the Mexican League the previous four years. Turned into one of the most effective starting pitchers in the PCL this past season.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #6 on:** November 27, 2016, 03:15:39 pm »

C Roberto Pena--as expected, the MLFA signs a minor league deal elsewhere. He's joining the Chicago White Sox. The former 7th round pick maxed out with 15 games at AAA this past season.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2016, 11:42:31 am »

LHP C.J. Riefenhauser--according to this, has signed a minor league deal with the Astros with an invite to major league ST. A total of 6 years in the minors with the Rays after being drafted by them in the 20th round back in 2010 out of Chipola JC. 20 IP at the big league level with that organization in 2014-2015. Sent to the Mariners as part of a multi-player trade in Nov. 2015. Acquired by the Orioles the following month along with Mark Trumbo in exchange for Steve Clevenger. DFA'd by Baltimore in Feb of this year and claimed by Cubs where he spent most of the year at AAA Iowa. Released in August. In 476 minor league innings, has a K/9 of 8.4 and BB/9 of 2.9.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2016, 10:07:01 pm »

INF Reid Brignac--the future Fresno Grizzly has been signed to a minor league deal/big league camp invite. Has spent most of the past 2 seasons in AAA in the Marlins and Braves organizations. Parts of nine seasons in the bigs. Best year was 2010 with the Rays when he hit .256/.307/.385.

Reuben · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2016, 08:12:20 pm »

The replacement for Nolan Fontana? I can't think of any notable SS or 2B in the system that are ready to start at AA or AAA next season. I must be forgetting... someone.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2016, 08:37:37 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on December 13, 2016, 08:12:20 pm

The replacement for Nolan Fontana? I can't think of any notable SS or 2B in the system that are ready to start at AA or AAA next season. I must be forgetting... someone.

Nunez and/or Duarte will be in Corpus, but you are right about AAA.

ETA: Oh. You mentioned 2B as well as SS ...
Jack Mayfield will probably also be at AAA and Nick Tanielu might get the bump too. (He did OK in Arizona.) If Tanielu is in Fresno, then some combination of Brooks Marlow, Aaron Mizell and Marc Wik will probably be in Corpus Christi. They seem to think enough of Keach Ballard's defense that he would also be a candidate, and I could even see 21yo Ryne Birk make the jump given his first-year success at Tri-City & Quad Cities.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2016, 09:47:15 pm »

Quote from: VirtualBob on December 13, 2016, 08:37:37 pm

ETA: Oh. You mentioned 2B as well as SS ...
Jack Mayfield will probably also be at AAA and Nick Tanielu might get the bump too. (He did OK in Arizona.) If Tanielu is in Fresno, then some combination of Brooks Marlow, Aaron Mizell and Marc Wik will probably be in Corpus Christi. They seem to think enough of Keach Ballard's defense that he would also be a candidate, and I could even see 21yo Ryne Birk make the jump given his first-year success at Tri-City & Quad Cities.

A mighty crowded OF at Fresno of Tucker, Fisher, Teoscar, Aplin, and Kemmer (not to mention Laureano, although he's probably back at CC to start the season) most likely pushes Kemp to 2B. Tanielu thus is back to CC as well.

Brignac seems to slot in at SS for the Grizzlies. Mayfield (at best) is a utility guy.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2016, 10:23:49 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on December 13, 2016, 09:47:15 pm

A mighty crowded OF at Fresno ... most likely pushes Kemp to 2B. Tanielu thus is back to CC as well.

Brignac seems to slot in at SS for the Grizzlies. Mayfield (at best) is a utility guy.

Agree on all counts. They might want Tanielu as a backup 2B/3B though and cut bait on Mayfield.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #13 on:** December 16, 2016, 04:28:09 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on November 17, 2016, 10:40:18 pm

RHP Cesar Valdez--the MLFA signed a minor league deal with the A's. The Astros had signed the 31-year old ex-MLBer off the scrap heap last January after he had been pitching in the Mexican League the previous four years. Turned into one of the most effective starting pitchers in the PCL this past season.

Announcement today that Valdez also received an invite to the A's big league camp.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2016, 08:05:34 pm »

C Juan Centeno--the 27 y/o has been signed to a minor league deal with big league camp invite. Cups of coffee with Mets and Milwaukee in 2013-2015. Spent most of last year in the bigs with the Twins where he hit .261/.312/.392. Threw out just 14% of runners and data says he's a poor framer.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2016, 05:31:51 pm »

RHP Brendan McCurry--suspended 50 games for use of methamphetamine.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #16 on:** January 11, 2017, 05:39:46 pm »

Per the milb.com transactions pages, a couple of players were released recently:

LHP Austin Nicely--overslot signing from the 10th round of the 2013 draft (received a reported $610K bonus) who never even managed to make it past SS ball.

RHP Agapito Barrios--the Panamanian hurler spent 6 years in the system after being signed back in 2010 for less than $100K and despite generally good numbers never rose past low-A ball. An injury this past season which limited his work might have factored into his release.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #17 on:** January 13, 2017, 04:44:28 pm »

RHP Makay Nelson--20th rounder from 2015 suspended 50 games for amphetamine use.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #18 on:** January 13, 2017, 08:41:07 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on January 13, 2017, 04:44:28 pm

RHP Makay Nelson--20th rounder from 2015 suspended 50 games for amphetamine use.

If his performance was enhanced last year, he really ought to consider a new line of work.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #19 on:** January 18, 2017, 10:47:18 pm »

Some other players released as noted in today's BA transactions pages:

LHP Ryan Radziewski--9th round pick in 2014 out of the U of Miami. Was on the DL all last season.

OF Leo Heras--acquired out of the Mexican League back in 2013 (along with Japhet Amador). Spent almost all of last season on loan to his old Mexico City Red Devils team.

RHP Manuel Gonzalez--just one season in the organization after being picked up last year after being released by the Padres.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #20 on:** January 21, 2017, 05:23:48 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on May 22, 2016, 08:17:05 pm

Signed as an international free agent by the Astros back in 2005, RHP Dayan Diaz eventually reached A ball with the Lexington Legends before leaving the system after the 2012 season as a minor league free agent. After playing with several other organizations since, he finally signed with Cincinnati this offseason and was assigned to AAA Louisville. Fortuitous, as the Reds horrendous bullpen led to wholesale demotions in the last several days and the callup of Diaz after pitching 11 years in the minors. Congrats to him!

Back in the organization as the Astros have signed him to a minor league with big league camp invite. While he did have 6 appearances for the Reds in 2016, spent most of year at AAA Louisville where he had a 1.214 WHIP and 3.05 ERA in 56 relief innings.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #21 on:** January 24, 2017, 10:52:29 am »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on January 13, 2017, 04:44:28 pm

RHP Makay Nelson--20th rounder from 2015 suspended 50 games for amphetamine use.

And has now been released, according to today's BA Transactions Page.

2B Kolbey Carpenter--the OU-ex and 33rd round pick in 2015 has also been released.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #22 on:** February 28, 2017, 11:36:04 am »

Some more releases just prior to ST gearing up:

OF Chaz Pal--38th round pick last June out of South Carolina-Aiken. Batted .269/.336/.462 for the G-stros in 28 games.

C Jorge Martinez--25th round pick out of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in 2015. The PR native played in just 35 games over the last 2 seasons for the GCL club.

1B Cristopher Luciano--international free agent signee out of the DR back in 2014. Decent numbers in 2015 in his second year in the DSL but those numbers collapsed when brought stateside this past season.

OF Edgar Lorenzo--very similar to Luciano, an IFA signing in the 2013-2014 period who spent a couple of years in the DSL before cratering in the GCL when he hit the states.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #23 on:** March 24, 2017, 03:02:53 pm »

Some additional releases:

C Marlon Avea--signed out of Nicaragua back in 2010, his six years in the system were spent mostly as a fill-in guy.

LHP Chris Cotton--14th rounder out of LSU in 2013, he split 2016 between Corpus and Fresno.

INF Connor Goedert--a 15th round pick in 2014 who signed for an overslot $200K bonus never was really able to get the bat going. Reached QC last season.

RHP Chris Murphy--24th rounder (2015) who spent most of 2016 with the River Bandits.

OF James Ramsay--a 7th rounder in 2013 out of USF, a Lancaster-fueled 2015 (.322/.384/.463) turned into a Texas League bust in 2016 (.195/.286/.293).

RHP David Schmidt--NDFA out of Stanford in 2015 who struggled with control and pitched primarily for Quad Cities last year.

RHP Angelo Serrano--signed at age 22 out of the DR, lasted just 2 years in the system topping out at Tri-City last year.

RHP Adam Whitt--16th round pick in 2015 out of Nevada-Reno struggled in the Midwest League last season.

OF Angel De Leon--never made it out of the DSL despite 3 years in the organization.

INF Eduardo Guzman--just one year in the system, playing in the DSL.

OF Nestor Tejada--signed for $300K out of Venezuela back in 2013, struggled mightily with the stick and never rose above the GCL.

mrpink · « **Reply #24 on:** March 24, 2017, 04:33:14 pm »

I'm surprised they let Cotton go. I guess we just have too many lefties...

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #25 on:** March 28, 2017, 02:15:38 pm »

More releases:

1B Conrad Gregor--4th round pick in 2013 out of Vandy whose .367/.449/.678 line in 47 games at Lancaster tantalized briefly but like so many others flat-lined when he reached AA.

LHP Zac Person--another LSU southpaw shown the exit. 2015 9th-rounder had some control issues in his 2 years in the organization.

3B Bobby Wernes--didn't show much of a bat while at the U of Arkansas so the NY-Penn batting title he won in his first year was likely unsustainable. And the 30th-rounder in 2015 did revert to form last year at QC, hitting just .215/.297/.274.

RHP Martires Arias--signed in September (see first post in this thread), gone in March.

INF Keach Ballard--31st rounder (2015) out of Oklahoma Baptist was bat-challenged. Cool name, though.

INF/OF Aaron Mizell--similar trajectory as Ballard who he followed in the draft as a 32nd-rounder, both able to reach Lancaster in their 2nd year but now gone.

C Kevin Martir--the Maryland Terrapin-ex was taken in the 18th round in 2015 but never showed much at the plate in his 2 seasons of SS ball.

RHP Kevin McCanna--the former Rice Owl came in the 13th round in 2015 and (like Ballard and Mizell) topped out with the JetHawks.

1B Chase McDonald--the big dude out of East Carolina (12th round, 2013) whiffed. A lot. Spent last season with the Hooks.

1B/OF Hector Roa--the Duman-coined "Roa Constrictor" was signed for $110K back in 2013. He flattened out as he climbed the ranks, batting just .211 last season for the River Bandits.

OF Brauly Mejia--the 2012 signee out of the Dominican rose slowly, topping out last year with the ValleyCats.

RHP Juan Santos--when you walk 85 in 113 career innings over 4 seasons, bad things tend to happen to you. Like getting cut. 39th rounder in 2013.

RHP Josue Uribe--2014 signee out of the DR is another guy who had trouble finding the plate during his 3-year career.

Although I thought perhaps one or two of these guys might see another season in the organization (e.g., McCanna), all in all certainly nothing surprising with this latest round of cuts.

Best of luck to all these young men.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #26 on:** April 06, 2017, 04:31:21 pm »

Quote from: Duman on March 29, 2017, 11:17:24 am

RHP David Martinez who spent 11 years in the Astros org (05-15) was released by the Tigers.

And the Astros have now re-signed him and assigned him to the Grizzlies.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #27 on:** April 12, 2017, 04:03:28 pm »

RHP Lupe Chavez--according to the milb.com transactions page, the 19-year old hurler from Mexico has retired. BA had him ranked as the 25th-best Astros prospect. Was the player received in last year's Scott Feldman trade with Toronto.

Reuben · « **Reply #28 on:** April 13, 2017, 10:54:40 am »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on April 12, 2017, 04:03:28 pm

RHP Lupe Chavez--according to the milb.com transactions page, the 19-year old hurler from Mexico has retired. BA had him ranked as the 25th-best Astros prospect. Was the player received in last year's Scott Feldman trade with Toronto.

What the hell...?

Mr. Happy · « **Reply #29 on:** April 13, 2017, 02:13:35 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on April 12, 2017, 04:03:28 pm

RHP Lupe Chavez--according to the milb.com transactions page, the 19-year old hurler from Mexico has retired. BA had him ranked as the 25th-best Astros prospect. Was the player received in last year's Scott Feldman trade with Toronto.

What in the world is going on? Is this a temper tantrum, or is it legit?

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #30 on:** April 14, 2017, 11:05:57 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on April 13, 2017, 10:54:40 am

What the hell...?

Crack reporter Jake Kaplan pretty much says the same thing.