Somehow, we almost made it through January without having to do this annual “feature” about how (almost) nothing’s going on. How bad is it? Beat writers have resorted to noting that the Rangers now have two former Nationals pitchers named Ross We’re also at the point where the signing of non-roster invitees is over-reported. If …
The first pass at the player reports for the 2015 Watchlist is now done. Basically, I write up the Top 10 guys, the players I saw this past season at Potomac, the short-season guys, and the essays for the M*A*S*H and Notables.
The Baseball America handbook and John Sickels’s prospect PDF have been ordered, so now we wait until they arrive to fill in the gaps, which I’ve labeled “Report Not Yet Written,” because I believe one or the other will cover the player.
The latest BA Transaction post only covered two players that hadn’t been previously reported: 1B Mike Carp, another 4A non-roster invitee; and RHP Williantony Uribarri, presumably an IFA destined for the DSL.
As always, feel free to discuss in the comments.
Today the Nationals announced the trade of LHP Danny Rosenbaum for AAA veteran Dan Butler, as part of an offseason push to replenish the upper minors with catchers.
Rosenbaum was a 2009 pick out of Xavier University who quickly established himself as a workhorse, throwing 140+ innings in his first three full seasons (2011-2013). That also earned him a Rule 5 look-see during the 2012-13 offseason before developing Nationals elbow last spring. He was expected to spend 2015 rehabbing in the GCL and perhaps Auburn before becoming a six-year free agent.
As noted in the link above, Roberts is one of several minor-league veteran catchers (Steven Lerud, Omir Santos) added in the wake of the departures of 40-man backstop Jhonatan Solano as well as AA/AAA reserves Brian Jeroloman and Mitch Canham.
After a two-plus week hiatus, Baseball America has made its latest transaction post for the period of December 24, 2014 to January 8, 2015. Among the transactions not previously reported: SIGNED • OF Kevin Mattison RELEASED • RHP Travis Henke • C Austin Chubb • SS Willie Medina Mattison was released from Milwaukee’s AAA affiliate …
This morning John Sickels released his Washington Nationals Top 20 list. Here’s a look at how it breaks down by letter grade: A Lucas Giolito B+ Michael Taylor, A.J. Cole B Trea Turner, Joe Ross B- Wilmer Difo, Erick Fedde, Reynaldo Lopez, Drew Ward C+ Brian Goodwin, Austin Voth, Rafael Bautista, Jakson Reetz, Felipe Rivero, …
A little later than in years past, but five affiliates announced their 2015 coaching contingents yesterday (new hires in red): SYRACUSE Manager – Billy Gardner, Jr. Pitching Coach – Bob Milacki (new hire) Hitting Coach – Joe Dillon HARRISBURG Manager – Brian Daubach Pitching Coach – Chris Michalak Hitting Coach – Mark Harris POTOMAC Manager …
Yesterday, John Sickels’s protege Nick Melotte released his Top 20 Nationals Prospects. Melotte does the star system — 2.5 to 5, which roughly equates to Sickels’s C to A rating, with a 2.5-star player being an organizational guy and an five-star being a future superstar. The hyperlinked article explains the gradations before getting into the …
With the close of the Venezuelan Winter League last night, here’s the last look at how players in the Nationals organization did in the 2014-15 Winter Leagues. BATTERS PLAYER LG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG SB Tyler Moore DWL 22 77 19 23 4 0 6 17 …
In keeping with the new world order, I’m dropping back down to the more prototypical ten stories in the fifth annual edition of this piece. Naturally, they’re not ranked; I went through each month and started writing down ideas until I got there. I’m sure I may have overlooked something or somebody; 2014 was a …
By now most of you have heard about the fat guy that came along this week, so we’ll focus on the pitcher and two third basemen named in Baseball America’s latest transaction post. The pitcher is LHP Richard Bleier, a 6th Rd. pick in the 2008 Draft for Texas who has since moved on to …