Random minor league notes:

[UK1679666180]

Outfielder Tyler Colvin, who was with the Smokies the past two seasons, had ligament replacement surgery after the season.

 

"We hope he'll be ready coming out of camp," Fleita said.

 

Colvin will start in Daytona.

 

"That's a perfect environment for rehabilitation," Fleita said. "I look for him to start there and DH. We'll get him back up there (Tennessee) as soon as he is ready."

 

The Smokies could have a new keystone combination. Second baseman Tony Thomas and shortstop Darwin Barney are likely to move up from Daytona.

 

Thomas, who played at Florida State University, was MVP of the Florida State League playoffs. Barney was Oregon State's shortstop when the Beavers won the College World Series in 2006 and 2007.

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/dec/21/cubs-set-carrer-path-for-sandberg/

[Wrigley Rat]

Thanks for that note - I assumed Colvin would start at Extended Spring Training (which he still might), but I assumed he would go directly to Tennessee or Iowa, not Daytona when healthy. It makes sense though.

[Wrigley Rat]

SS Andres Blanco has been re-signed to a minor league contract per Baseball Americas Transactions.

[Bear Cub]

I have put together a list of players that have been traded, released,or became FA's since April 1 2008. ( * = ML roster )

 

Pitchers : * Jon Leiber, * Bob Howry, * Scott Eyre, * Kerry Wood, * Tim Lahey, * Sean Gallagher, * Juan Mateo, Corey Bailey, Mark Holliman, Ryan O'Malley, Geoff Jones, Derrick Ellison, Les Walrond , Donnie Veal, Tanner Watson , Chris Shaver , Arik Hempy , Joel Santo , Ryan Meyers , Mike Phelps , Jose Ceda , Zach Ashwood , Matt Maradeo , Scott Meyer , Jon Mueller , Luis Astorga , Eduardo Figueroa , Kitt Kopach , Herman Ramos , Scott Taylor , Rafael Cova , Brett Jackson , Brett Summers , Junniol Lami , Leon Johnson.

 

Catchers: * Henry Blanco, JD Closser , Josh Donaldson , Roberto Sabates.

 

Infielders: * Mark DeRosa , * Daryle Ward , Matt Craig , Carlos R. Rojas , Ismael Salas , * Casey McGehee, Brian Dopirak , Luis Figueroa , Joe Simokaitis , Ryne Malone, Elvis Lara , Mark Sawyer.

 

Outfielders: * Matt Murton , * Eric Patterson , Josh Kroeger , Andres Torres , Corey Coles , Jeff Culpepper , Jesus Reyes , ChiHsaing Wen.

 

Thats sixty players who have bit the dust.

[Mephistopheles]

The Golden Retrievers didn't catch this one:

 

The Bad

 

[a snip snip here and a snip snip there]

 

Welington Castillo: The 21-year-old Castillo batted a composite .287/.337/.383, mostly split between high Class A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee. Castillo has good defensive tools, most notably a plus arm. His blocking and receiving tools are solid, but they don’t show up with enough frequency yet, as it’s one of the many phases of the game in which Castillo is still relatively raw. With Geovany Soto still under the Cubs’ control for five more seasons, there’s little need to rush Castillo.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=1835