Minor Moves Of Former Braves

There has been a good deal of minor league free agent signings the past few days -- none by the Braves, of course. Several former Braves have found new homes. First off is the last remnant of the Mark Teixeira trade. Reliever Stephen Marek signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays. He'll still be recovering from Tommy John surgery he had last May, but I know many of us who followed him in the minor leagues really hope he comes back and can make it to the Majors. He deserved to be called up last year before he got injured, but the Braves didn't see it the same way.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Werthian outfielder Joe Mather has signed a minor league deal with the Cubs. The Yankees signed Dewayne Wise, who was in the Braves system a long time ago.

In releasing news, the Braves did some more of that to a few minor leaguers, releasing left-handed pitchers Matt Crim and Dustin Richardson, as well as outfielders Willie Cabrera and Marcus Lemon. Crim had a great start to his career in 09 at Danville, going 10-and-2 with a 3.18 ERA and being named the Appy League Pitcher of the Year, but he never matched those numbers as he climbed the ladder.

Richardson was a guy the Braves claimed off waivers from the Marlins last June, who had some Major League experience in the Red Sox bullpen. But he didn't pitch well for Gwinnett, and I'm actually surprised it took this long for them to release him.

Willie Cabrera was a draft-and-follow from the 14th round of the 2005 draft. He had some decent seasons, but never quite showed the promise or power the Braves were hoping for. Marcus Lemon was acquired last March from the Rangers for a non-existent PTBNL. He's a former seven-figure draftee who never amounted to anything.

Other than that and rumors the Braves have got nothing going on. Absolutely nothing.