A Few Minor Moves
As is usually the case, the news of some transactions is trickling in. Here’s a recap:
• Xavier Paul was placed on the restricted list yesterday. Further details have not surface, but the suspicion is that it may be related to the leave absence he was granted last month during spring training.
• Andrew Shay of The Patriot News is reporting that Josh Johnson has been promoted to Syracuse (H/T to Carl Goldstein for the heads-up in the comments).
• Marc Tomkins of the Tampa Bay Times has tweeted that the Nationals have sold Matt Buschmann to the Tampa Bay Rays (via MLB Trade Rumors).
• Chris McConnell has been reassigned from Syracuse to Harrisburg
It may certainly be possible that there is a correlation between the Paul and Johnson moves, but the Buschmann transaction appears incidental. As noted in the comments, there are more players in Extended Spring Training than is usual for this time of year and this may be simply in lieu of giving Buschmann his release.
As always, if/when more details come to light in the next 24 hours or so, this space will be updated.
UPDATE: Chris McConnell (above)
I’m surprised they haven’t sold/traded/released Jarret Hoffpauir. He has been pretty horrendous at second base so far. Have to think the goes to the bench and Johnson starts at second. Although they could put him at shortstop instead of Bynum and move Bynum to second base.
How many days do waivers run before a player can be assigned? Thinking about B Carroll’s DFA here. If unclaimed, would he end up in SYR? If so, the OF would appear to be getting slightly crowded, although the X Paul situation would free up 1 spot.
I realize you don’t have a beat writer’s resources but do you, or any fellow prospect followers, have any evidence to support or dispel the injury rumors on Purke.
3b11 — I read a tweet from Kevin Goldstein a couple weeks ago where he claimed that his “source” says that Purke is in fact injured. I asked him to elaborate and he never responded — I assume he wasn’t interested in exposing any “sources”! The nerve!! I have only read a couple reports about it, but nothing approaching a credible, non-anonymous source.
I’ll put it this way: If any of the beat writers did have any reliable information on Purke beyond what’s already been reported, I doubt they’d sit on it. This is the tweet in question by Goldstein. There are a number of ways to interpret that, but I don’t think we should get our collective panties in a bunch over those six words.
As Mr. Schmidt put it, absent a credible source (I’m okay with anonymous, as long as I know the source 😉 the rumors are just gossip by another name.
Hmmm, I am almost expecting a promotion for Jeff Kobernus given the McConnell move. That would give the Nats just the right amount of depth against possible injury. Adding him to the 40-man in advance of the rule 5 draft would say a lot about what they think of him.
Kobernus does seem like he could handle AAA but its still early and Rizzo likes prospects to master each level … with Harper the exception.
Kobernus at 2nd, Johnson at short, and the now resurgent Rivero at third? Seems like a pretty good infield for the Chiefs? Especially with Teahen as backup.
Kobernus has just barely played AA, let’s let the Eastern League have a crack at him for a couple of months before Rhineharting him.
Old friend Garrett Mock should up last night in Syracuse wearing a PawSox uniform. Looks like he entered the game in the 7th with the bases juiced, gave up a hit allowing an inherited runner to score, but eventually struck out the side.
Dammit. I’m writing up the N&N right now… don’t ruin one of my bon mots!