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Hot Stove Thoughts

Offseason in the minors isn't quite as busy...

As mentioned in the comments section, things have slowed down here while we wait for winter to pass. And I know it’s not technically even winter yet.

There aren’t much in the way of transactions, but I’ll report the few of note in the past couple of weeks…

  • Resigned RHP Jimmy Barthmaier
  • Signed OF-1B Jonathan Tucker (spent 2010 with AAA Norfolk)
  • Outrighted RHP Ryan Mattheus to Syracuse

I’m sure more news will trickle in, once folks get over the shock of the Matt Stairs signing.

My buddy Shawn in Hagerstown posted a story about winter in Hagerstown, updating us on the changes to the field and stadium that have been going on since the team was sold. It’s a little amusing to me that the Suns are selling the Bryce Harper angle less than one year after another highly touted prospect didn’t quite start where everybody thought he would. But then again, with 24 home games before Memorial Day to sell, you can’t really blame them that much.

As the picture suggests, this is the time of year when teams start selling their hot-stove banquets. Potomac has not yet announced its keynote speaker, but Syracuse (yes, they’re using a Facebook page) will have GM Mike Rizzo and manager Jim Riggleman. Harrisburg, meanwhile, is leveraging its new facility with a Holiday Sale to benefit local charities. Auburn has not yet made an announcement.

That’s all for now, folks. Feel free to use the comments for discussion.

10 Commments

  1. I’m sure Auburn will have a Hot Stove Meeting. The Nats will be very happy with the relocation to Auburn, I’m sure. The players will be treated very well by the community. There’s a good deal of cooperation between the Chiefs and Doubledays as well.

    An interesting bit of history in Central New York baseball is the fact that the good folks of
    Auburn get a lot of credit for helping save the Chiefs’ franchise from possible ruin. The Chiefs’ ballpark at the time, Mac Arthur Stadium, was hit by a devastating arson fire in 1969. The Chiefs needed a place to play home games for about a month. Rochester refused to let them move any games there, so Oneonta and Auburn stepped up to the plate and let the Chiefs use their facilities. As a Chiefs’ fan and stockholder, I am eternally grateful to the folks in Auburn and Oneonta.

  2. Looks like BinM has a challenger for my oldest commenter 😉

    I was thrilled when Auburn became an affiliate because it would make it realistic to see multiple Nats affiliates on the same trip without that much extra driving. I came very close to attempting to see both Syracuse and Vermont on the same trip last year but couldn’t make the timing work.

  3. Buck Coats signed by Syracuse late last week. Looks like he was most recently at Charlotte

  4. So what is the deal/ Jonathan Van Every? AAAA? or blocked by Red sox outfielders? Any shot at playing? Does he fit the Rizzo athletic mold?

    1. Yes, to all the questions, but his likelihood of playing much will be small. Here’s the scouting report from Soxprospects.com:

      center fielder with a good arm and a great glove. Average bat, speed, and on base ability. Has shown flashes of above average power, but not consistently throughout his career. Hits to all fields. Streaky at the plate, but generally has a good hitting approach.

      1. Smells a little like Maxwell… In fact, based on the scouting “snapshot”, he smells alot like Maxwell, minus the injuries.

  6. Sue_D: All joking aside, a possible ‘Hot Stove’ point of interest might be how Nationals ‘farmhands’ are performing in the winter leagues (either good or bad). A weekly rundown there could carry us into late January, easily.

    Toss in a weekly ‘capsule’ summary of system additions / losses (like today’s post), and there’s something for all of us to chew on.

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