Minor League Free Agents
As noted earlier this week, Baseball America has released its list of the minor-leaguers who have become free agents. Without further ado, ze list…
(* = spent entire season on DL)
CATCHERS
AA — Mitch Canham, Brian Jeroloman
SS-A — Alex Marquez
INFIELDERS
AAA — Brandon Laird, Will Rhymes
AA — Melvin Dorta*, Oscar Tejeda
OUTFIELDERS
AAA — Destin Hood,
AA — Quincy Latimore
LHPs
AAA — Aaron Laffey, Tyler Robertson
AA — Zach Kroenke
RHPs
AAA — Mitch Lively, Omar Poveda, Daniel Stange
AA — Paul Demny, Tyler Herron
Two of the names are notable if for no other reason than they were 2008 Nationals draft picks: Destin Hood (2nd Rd.) and Paul Demny (6th). After a career year in Syracuse (.294/.344/.482), Hood will undoubtedly sign with another organization. Let’s face it: He’s third in line behind the likes of Steve Souza and Michael Taylor when it comes to the last couple of outfielder slots on the Nats 40-man roster.
Demny, who has languished at AA for three seasons, is far less of a surprise. Even with a shift to the bullpen, his velocity has dropped, and he spent significant time on the DL this year as well. At 25, he seems more likely to either retire or go to the indy route if he is to continue pitching professionally.
Believe it or not, this list of 17 is actually the smallest in the five seasons this site has been in existence. Whether that’s a good thing or not is something to debate. We’ve certainly noticed that in the Rizzo era, he has no qualms in peppering the AA and AAA rosters with free agents and much like his predecessor (sorry, but it’s true) he favors the guys he’s drafted or scouted. However, he has also released a fair amount of guys already from his first two drafts (2009, 2010) so there may not be very many (or any) eligible to re-sign this time next year (if you’re wondering, just three not on the 40-man already from 2009 — Danny Rosenbaum, Pat Lehman, and Matt Swynenberg).
Add Rob Gilliam to next year’s list as well
Gilliam was picked up in a trade in December 2011; the last parenthetical referred only to Nats draftees.
Sorry – missed that caveat!
Luke, we shall see what small trades nats
Make to bolster bullpen and bench.
Laird would be a nice retention
Maybe Hood resigns if Goodwin lost on rule
Five or Souza traded .
Roger Kieschinick seems available for Cuse
Depth especially if Ramsey repeats city isle
Luke, fellow Swede. Ty for this weekend
Habit which goes well with tea and cinnamon
Buns!!
Cliff Pennington the ole Longhorn seems like a
Player Rizzo could add on the cheap.
Jonathan Herrera cut loose by bosox.
The previous question days ago on Tejeda
Should be coupled with Laird.
Late summer saw thin outfield corp for
Hagerstown deemed for for Potomac promotion
2015. Minor league FA add or rule 5 minor league
Portion ?
That would be significant if both Hood & Goodwin are lost in the same offseason.
With Hood, you had to wonder if he could keep improving along the same lines as last year. If he did, he’d be banging on the door big time.
Luke, you sense that with minor league FAs
Testing the FA waters coupled with some
Guys not making the AA to Cuse jump
The nats will be importing new guys for
AAA roster and even a couple for AA?
Roger Kieschnick a good example for Cuse
??
Mick, you watched Destin Hood and likely know him. What’s the story? Is he gone from the organization for good? What is the reason they gave up on his continuing climb when he had such a promising 2014?
The only way the Nats could have held onto Hood was to place him on the 40-man roster (as they did with Souza last year). It also bears repeating that minor-leaguers have to put in SEVEN (7) seasons before they get the chance to look elsewhere without having been released. The Nats may have wanted him back at AAA, but you can hardly blame Hood or any other player for leaving for a better opportunity.
Can’t blame him but I can blame the Nats for not at least trying to flip him for value while they could. Isn’t that what the farm system is coordinated for?
Hood was a Bowden draft pick bear in mind .
A winter to restock the Cuse cabinet .
Bowden pick, but Lerner money. 1.1 million is a lot of coin to squander for no return when you can trade HRod for Ian Dickson. I just feel like something else is up – perhaps Mick knows?
What this may mean is Vettleson is expected to go to AAA. With Goodwin and Taylor coming back to AAA, or even Souza to keep fresh (though doubtful), I would have to think they plan to have more than Jeff Kobernus.
Lerner had ownership then? I guess so
Since MLB29 would not have forked that
Over and they had the Latin pipeline spicket
Turned off with Felipe Alou back in frisco.
Lerner had ownership then? I guess so
Since MLB29 would not have forked that
Over and they had the Latin pipeline spicket
Turned off with Felipe Alou back in frisco.
Good angle , Gil Grissom
Gil Grissom, maybe we should include
Rick Hague as another utility guy who could
Cover some IF? Maybe Kevin Keyes has a good
Spring pushing him to Cuse ?
Let’s hope Hood doesn’t go to the braves!
Actually, perhaps not a Vettelson issue. Braves signed a Yankee minor league FA OF today to a major league contract. So Hood is not on the 40 Man and playing the open market to see if he can get that major league deal or one from an organization like the Yankees that overpays for its organizational stock. Doesn’t mean he can;t come back. Doesn’t mean he will.
We’ll have to wait and watch the musical chairs of all organizations. Seems like a pretty active winter to start. Cuddyer already inked.
Can’t see Keyes or Hague getting out of Harrisburg anytime soon. More like a Keyes-Vettelson (still needs to show plate selectivity)-Oduber-Ramsey OF on City Island, at least until Ike Ballou earns the promo or Brandon Miller, your guy, shows he’s no washout.
1B – Pleffner, 2b – Renda, ss-Perez, 3b – Wooten with Martinson and Hague vying for PT. C Severino. .
A group therapy question: did anyone hear
Who stood out in the prospect invite camp post season ?
Another guy who needs to be pushed onto
City isle with short dimensions is Estarlin
Martinez.
I dont understand how Herron wasn’t resigned. He was one of the best pitchers in the organization the last two years. Led AA in appearances and had strong numbers for the second year in a row. Last year he lead all pitchers in the organization in k/9. Amazing the lack of evaluators in the nats front office.
You’re assuming the Nats didn’t want him back; for all we know, they did. But it’s also Herron’s perogative to go elsewhere if he feels like he’ll have a better chance, or more money (relatively speaking), etc. That’s how it goes with minor-leaguers once they put in their six years.
That is not the case. They have made no attempt to resign at this point. Which to me doesn’t make any sense considering the talent that is in the organization right now.