Braves Minor League Free Agents

by gondeee on Nov 10, 2010 9:15 AM EST in Braves Minor League News

Just in case you're curious, here is a list of all the Braves minor leaguers who are free agents, courtesy of Baseball America:

RHP: James Parr+ (AAA)
LHP: Mariano Gomez (AAA)
C: Orlando Mercado (AAA), Clint Sammons (AAA)
2B: Joe Thurston (AAA)
3B: Christian Colonel (AA), Eric Duncan (AA), Wes Timmons (AAA)
SS: Luis Bolivar (AAA)
OF: Mike Daniel (AA)

Five dollars says James Parr already has a deal in place with the Royals. Just a hunch.

It would be nice to have Wes Timmons back, but if he didn't get the charity call this year he may never get it from the Braves. I've always thought Mariano Gomez would be a serviceable bullpen LOOGY, but we're pretty much set with those types.

While we're on the subject of four-A minor leaguers, here is a nice article on J.C. Boscan from MiLB.

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Comments

So my question is.....

Do we try to sign Andy Marte back to a minor league deal for some organizational depth and insurance for the majors if Chipper can’t get himself back together??

by garlick on Nov 10, 2010 9:23 AM EST reply actions

Marte

never thought I’d think that Andy Marte would benefit the Braves ever again, but the guy seems to be exactly what we need right now.

by apoxonbothyourhouses on Nov 10, 2010 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

and my question is whether there are any enticing AAAA pick-up opportunities in the big right handed bat LF or corner infielder, or elite defensive CF categories.

my comment is I seriously doubt the Braves will have interest in Andy Marte at this point.

by fandave on Nov 10, 2010 10:16 AM EST reply actions

At worst, we got a AAAA-type defensive CF in Jordan Schaefer if he can’t recover from the wrist stuff.

I’d give him a shot in spring- seriously, though I wouldn’t be expecting anything.

by Broccoman on Nov 10, 2010 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

I enjoyed watching Timmons this year, he was one of the few minor leaguers I thought could have helped this year outside the pitchers. It seemed like Timmons, Young and Freeman were on base inning after inning.

Write your own recap!.....mvhsbball

by bighop on Nov 10, 2010 10:23 AM EST reply actions

I concur with this…I think Wes would make a nice backup infielder if we got a good enough offer to get rid of Infante.

by Dave_D on Nov 10, 2010 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

I concur as well.

"Check out this bitchin' homemade tesla coil!"

by bwellnjonesco on Nov 10, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

I'd never heard of..

Eric Duncan, but wow is that a depressing degradation of performance…

OPS
2003 – .836
2004 – .830
2005 – .734
2006 – .735
2007 – .712
2008 – .661
2009 – .527
2010 – .719

by YakuzaFro on Nov 10, 2010 11:07 AM EST reply actions

What makes is even worse is that he was a first round pick. By the Yankees.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 10, 2010 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

Anybody get the feeling...

…that Boscan is a potential future manager of the Braves?

by cavebird on Nov 10, 2010 11:13 AM EST reply actions

I think Mercado, Timmons, and Daniel are definitely gonna be back.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 10, 2010 11:45 AM EST reply actions

Timmons looks like a Braves AAAer for life at this point.
The guy really deserves a call-up one of these years.

by fandave on Nov 10, 2010 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

Rule 5?

When will we start to hear about our Rule 5 guys?

by Sevenpointthree on Nov 10, 2010 11:46 AM EST reply actions

Further on the subject of MiL vets looking for a break ...

here is a feature story on Braves RH LF bat Beau Torbert, who according to DOB “morphed into a slugger at 6 feet 4 and 240 pounds, 25 pounds heavier than in his leadoff-hitting days in the Astros organization.”

Didn’t realize he had that kinda size.

by fandave on Nov 10, 2010 1:06 PM EST reply actions

I liked that Hudson seems to be in his corner. Hope he has a good year, low risk to let him try.

Write your own recap!.....mvhsbball

by bighop on Nov 10, 2010 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

Wilkin Ramirez?

Did we release the guy or something? I thought he would be on the list of MiL FAs.

by parish on Nov 10, 2010 1:33 PM EST reply actions

DOB stated

That the Braves resigned him.

by Jay212033 on Nov 10, 2010 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

Link, por favor? Not that I don’t believe you, just would love to read for myself.

by tgthree on Nov 10, 2010 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/11/02/13-years-later-edgar-wins-another-world-series/

David O’Brien

November 6th, 2010
2:36 pm

richbrave: Wilkin Ramirez was removed from the 40-man roster in September when Braves needed a roster spot. They just re-signed him as a six-year minor league free agent.

by Jay212033 on Nov 10, 2010 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks!

by tgthree on Nov 11, 2010 1:11 AM EST up reply actions

Brandon Wood

If he gets non-tendered by the Angels, I think he would be a good option as a depth guy for us. As long as he doesn’t mind spending some time in AAA, I like the thought of grabbing him.

by mj10catchit10 on Nov 10, 2010 1:52 PM EST reply actions

I assume Wood...

…will be tendered. He is not arbitration eligible yet.

by cavebird on Nov 10, 2010 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

I think he is out of option years though

So who knows what the Angels will do with him

by alxn on Nov 10, 2010 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

Can anyone chime in here? Has he had enough time to be arb eligible? I heard somewhere he was but I want it verified…

by mj10catchit10 on Nov 10, 2010 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

Update:

Kevin Goldstein just tweeted (to me!) that would is out of options, so he will either be on their 25 man roster or gone. If he is gone, we should bring him in as upside depth.

by mj10catchit10 on Nov 10, 2010 6:12 PM EST up reply actions

that Wood* is out of options

by mj10catchit10 on Nov 10, 2010 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

He is out of options, but not arbitration eligible.

If they wanted him off the 25-man roster, he would be on waivers. At that point, an AL team would probably claim him, and he could suck for them like he did for the Angels.

by cavebird on Nov 10, 2010 10:19 PM EST up reply actions

Waiver rules/options question...

if a team claimed him off waivers because he was out of options with his original club, would his options refresh and they’d have the ability to send him up and down, or would the options carry over and any team claiming him off waivers be forced to include him on the 25 man roster same as the Angels?

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 11, 2010 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

Once you use up your options they’re used up, regardless of what team you’re with.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 11, 2010 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

thanks CB

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 11, 2010 10:46 AM EST up reply actions

Names I expected to see on this list...

Besides Wilkin Ramirez, who is addressed above…

J.C. Boscan: He was removed from the 40-man, but we’ve received no word about his status since then. He should be a free agent, unless the Braves already worked out a deal with him to return.

Brent Clevlen: We signed him as a six-year free agent last year, so he’s got the service time to return to the FA pool. Did they re-sign him too?

Luis Sumoza: He signed in July of 2004, so he’s had his six years. Shouldn’t he qualify for free agency?

by tgthree on Nov 10, 2010 2:14 PM EST reply actions

Until we see differently, I’m assuming those guys have been re-signed.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 10, 2010 2:36 PM EST up reply actions

Here are a couple interesting Minor League FA names

Lou Montanez (AAA) – OF
Wladimir Balentien (AAA) – OF

Both have tremendous power and both have below average defense but could be worth picking up and stashing in the minors to see what they can do.

by Jay212033 on Nov 10, 2010 5:20 PM EST reply actions

Help me remember

Wasn’t James Parr one of the Braves’ highest rated prospects a few years ago? How highly was he rated? He even got a call-up. What happened?

by JMar99 on Nov 10, 2010 7:41 PM EST reply actions

No was never rated highly

Did get called up but had TJ surgery that knocked him back.

by Jay212033 on Nov 10, 2010 9:11 PM EST up reply actions

Well

Of the group I would like to see Thurston return to compete in spring training with Conrad and others for a backup infield spot. I would rather have Thurston on the team than Diory anyday. Thurston has a below average bat but does have decent-good value in that he can play 3b-ss-2b, and his glove is better than Conrad’s. Brooks returns no doubt and I pray Hinske is resigned PLEASE WREN !

Also would like to see Timmons, and perhaps Gomez return as well, J. Parr it is now time to go to KC to join a bunch of other former Braves. See ya.

by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Nov 10, 2010 10:18 PM EST reply actions

Diory’s bat is better than Thurston’s and he’s a better fielder at all those positions.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 11, 2010 1:00 AM EST up reply actions

But Thurston is a vet...

he’s wily, and has that old man guile.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 11, 2010 9:12 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah. He’s a vet alright…

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 11, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

So you're saying...

he’s a professional? Professional fielder, professional hitter, or just a pro’s pro?

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 11, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

You know, I know after FUGA we joke about that, but there really are guys that I’ve met over the years that I’d describe as “a professional”. There are some guys who just do everything the right way and they’re exactly the kind of people you want to have playing AAA for you. Right off the top of my head Aaron Small was a guy that I always thought was the epitome of professional. He did everything right in every aspect of the game, from the way he played, to the way he was with teammates and fans, right down to the way he looked at the game. It is a fun joke, because a lot of people say “he’s a pro” and it doesn’t mean much, but really, when we’re being serious, I don’t think there’s a better compliment you can give a player.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 11, 2010 11:51 AM EST up reply actions

Understood, and agreed, but it's still a good joke imo...

what’s the one word you use to describe me?

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 11, 2010 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

Haha, it’s always a good time for an Arrested Development reference.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 11, 2010 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe Sammons will be resigned as our september-callup-third-catcher

"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones

by MBL1 on Nov 11, 2010 11:12 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

My guess is he’ll want to move on and see if he has better luck with another organization, but on the other hand he’s from Atlanta, has a family there, and playing in Gwinnett is a pretty good deal for him.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 11, 2010 11:51 AM EST up reply actions

The Braves have re-signed Brent Clevlen, so he will be back with the team in Spring Training, likely spending the year with Gwinnett again.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 11, 2010 1:08 PM EST reply actions