Catching Up On Transactions
In addition to the news that longtime Nationals farmhand Chris Marrero has been outrighted to Syracuse, the latest transaction post from Baseball America has been released, revealing the following signings:
• RHP Hector Guance
• IF Adrian Sanchez (re-signed)
As was the case with the previous (presumably Dominican) signing last week (OF Telmito Agustin), there is very little to be found on Guance. Sanchez has chosen to remain the organization he has played with since 2007 at the age of 16 (he turned 23 this past August) but is most likely a candidate to repeat Potomac.
Marrero, of course, is the Nats 2006 1st Round pick who seemed on track for the majors after reaching High-A in 2007, posting a line of .275/.338/.484 with 23 homers. Inexplicably, that turned out to be his high water mark in terms of power as his slugging percentage steadily dwindled over the next four seasons. He would still make it to AAA at 22, but a hamstring injury limited him to just 53 games in 2012, enabling Tyler Moore to pass him by on the ladder (though his lack of defensive prowess was also an impediment).
Following the World Series, Marrero will most likely become a minor-league free agent.
I remember when Marrero was the Nats # 1 prospect for, I think, 3 years running.
My, how the system has grown.
The system has grown, but a prospect not quite making it isn’t really a sign of growth. It’s just … a guy not making it.