Misc. Free Agent News

[questionmarkgrace]

per rotoworld: we just signed lefty reliever Trever Miller to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. Seems to have declined quite a bit over his last two years but its better than signing relievers to 3 year 15 million dollar deals.

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/sports/mlb/baseball

[davell]

With all of our lefties being unproven out of the pen, other than Russell, this one makes a little sense. Doubt he makes the team, but a decent stopgap nonetheless.

[Little Slide Rooter]

For a moment, I had him confused with Trevor Hoffman and was a lot more intrigued. This being said, Miller's still a pretty decent lefty, and if I thought that we had any chance to contend I'd like the move a lot more than I do. Not that I hate it, it just is.

 

We may mock a lot of these random minor league signing, but if every play on the team aside Castro really is for sale,it makes sense to have some of these spare relievers and infielders if guys like Baker, DeWitt, or Russell are moved.

[Post Count Padder]

He's been a quietly decent lefty reliever for some time now. He could be an effective LOOGY or he could be insurance in case of injury. I've got no problem with this.

[Little Slide Rooter]

May as well put this here: According to Bruce Miles, Trever Miller, Michael Brenley, Chris Rusin, Marco Carillo, Trey McNutt, Jay jackson, Brett jackson, Alfreda Amezago, Edger Gonzalez, Jonathon Mota, Matt Tolbert, Bobby Scales, Jae-Hoon Ha, Dae-Eun Rhee, James Adduci, Rodrigo Lopez and Jason Jaramillo are among the Cubs 21 non rosterinvitees to Spring Training.

[wvcbxl]

May as well put this here: According to Bruce Miles, Trever Miller, Michael Brenley, Chris Rusin, Marco Carillo, Trey McNutt, Jay jackson, Brett jackson, Alfreda Amezago, Edger Gonzalez, Jonathon Mota, Matt Tolbert, Bobby Scales, Jae-Hoon Ha, Dae-Eun Rhee, James Adduci, Rodrigo Lopez and Jason Jaramillo are among the Cubs 21 non rosterinvitees to Spring Training.

 

I admit I had never heard of Alfredo Amezago.

Apparently, his claim to fame is being drafted one spot ahead of Albert Pujols. :roll:

[Omar]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/brewers-sign-corey-patterson.html

The Brewers signed outfielder Corey Patterson to a minor league contract, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. Patterson, a client of Jim Bronner and Bob Gilhooley, doesn't have an invitation to Major League Spring Training at the moment.

[OleMissCub]

Danny Valencia indicating that the Cubs have signed infielder Matt Tolbert.

 

https://twitter.com/#!/dannyvalencia19/status/160495427412705282

 

The good news is he can play all over the field and he's a switch hitter.

 

He's extremely versatile having played professionally at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, and RF. He's got plus speed and a plus glove. Good player to have come off the bench. He's been poor offensively in the bigs unfortunately. Pretty good minor league career got him spots in the Futures Game and AAA All Star game though. Hopefully if he makes the team he'll have better numbers because his plate appearances off the bench should go up a good bit being in the NL now. I'm glad he's a Cub!

[biittner77]

Danny Valencia indicating that the Cubs have signed infielder Matt Tolbert.

 

https://twitter.com/#!/dannyvalencia19/status/160495427412705282

 

The good news is he can play all over the field and he's a switch hitter.

 

He's extremely versatile having played professionally at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, and RF. He's got plus speed and a plus glove. Good player to have come off the bench. He's been poor offensively in the bigs unfortunately. Pretty good minor league career got him spots in the Futures Game and AAA All Star game though. Hopefully if he makes the team he'll have better numbers because his plate appearances off the bench should go up a good bit being in the NL now. I'm glad he's a Cub!

 

Too lazy to play catcher?

[ctcf]

Danny Valencia indicating that the Cubs have signed infielder Matt Tolbert.

 

https://twitter.com/#!/dannyvalencia19/status/160495427412705282

 

The good news is he can play all over the field and he's a switch hitter.

 

He's extremely versatile having played professionally at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, and RF. He's got plus speed and a plus glove. Good player to have come off the bench. He's been poor offensively in the bigs unfortunately. Pretty good minor league career got him spots in the Futures Game and AAA All Star game though. Hopefully if he makes the team he'll have better numbers because his plate appearances off the bench should go up a good bit being in the NL now. I'm glad he's a Cub!

 

Too lazy to play catcher?

 

Yea I don't think we have room for slackers like that on the Cubs.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Danny Valencia indicating that the Cubs have signed infielder Matt Tolbert.

 

https://twitter.com/#!/dannyvalencia19/status/160495427412705282

 

The good news is he can play all over the field and he's a switch hitter.

 

He's extremely versatile having played professionally at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, and RF. He's got plus speed and a plus glove. Good player to have come off the bench. He's been poor offensively in the bigs unfortunately. Pretty good minor league career got him spots in the Futures Game and AAA All Star game though. Hopefully if he makes the team he'll have better numbers because his plate appearances off the bench should go up a good bit being in the NL now. I'm glad he's a Cub!

 

I wouldn't expect him to make the team. Unless someone is traded, our reserves will be Baker, DeWitt, and Johnson, with either Sappelt or Campana rounding it out and of course a backup C. It is interesting how many spare MI we have invited to Spring Training. between Tolbert, Amezaga, E Gon, as well as Scales and Mota. Could be that they're still shopping Baker and DeWitt. I guess if Stewart gets hurt or is a total bust, Baker and/or DeWitt could hold down 3rd and one of them could be called up.

 

Side note, I did notice that E Gon has a solid minor league line (.296/.374/.449)and it's pretty consistant all the way through.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Brewers Sign Corey Patterson

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 30 at 4:23pm CST]

The Brewers signed outfielder Corey Patterson to a minor league contract, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. Patterson, a client of Jim Bronner and Bob Gilhooley, doesn't have an invitation to Major League Spring Training at the moment.

 

 

Everyone's favorite big league nomad back with Milwaukee. Damn, he was really looking like the real deal in '03 & '04.

[CubsInNC]

Danny Valencia indicating that the Cubs have signed infielder Matt Tolbert.

 

https://twitter.com/#!/dannyvalencia19/status/160495427412705282

 

The good news is he can play all over the field and he's a switch hitter.

 

He's extremely versatile having played professionally at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, and RF. He's got plus speed and a plus glove. Good player to have come off the bench. He's been poor offensively in the bigs unfortunately. Pretty good minor league career got him spots in the Futures Game and AAA All Star game though. Hopefully if he makes the team he'll have better numbers because his plate appearances off the bench should go up a good bit being in the NL now. I'm glad he's a Cub!

 

I wouldn't expect him to make the team. Unless someone is traded, our reserves will be Baker, DeWitt, and Johnson, with either Sappelt or Campana rounding it out and of course a backup C. It is interesting how many spare MI we have invited to Spring Training. between Tolbert, Amezaga, E Gon, as well as Scales and Mota. Could be that they're still shopping Baker and DeWitt. I guess if Stewart gets hurt or is a total bust, Baker and/or DeWitt could hold down 3rd and one of them could be called up.

 

Side note, I did notice that E Gon has a solid minor league line (.296/.374/.449)and it's pretty consistant all the way through.

 

 

Don't forget Mota has some experience behind the plate. he'll likely one of the latter players demoted back to minor league camp, just to be the an extra catcher.

[ctcf]

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal

Source: #Cubs also had interest in Qualls before #Phillies signed him. Cubs GM Hoyer had Qualls last season with #Padres. #MLB

 

Huh

[jersey cubs fan]

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal

Source: #Cubs also had interest in Qualls before #Phillies signed him. Cubs GM Hoyer had Qualls last season with #Padres. #MLB

 

Huh

 

What do you mean by huh? Are you asking why would the Cubs have interest in another middle reliever? My guess, and hope, is that the Cubs view that type of player as easy to acquire trade bait for July. I'd hate to see them go out and sign middle relievers to 3-year deals, but there's nothing wrong with spending a million here or there for a guy you might be able to turn into a B prospects in July.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Brewers Sign Corey Patterson

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 30 at 4:23pm CST]

The Brewers signed outfielder Corey Patterson to a minor league contract, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. Patterson, a client of Jim Bronner and Bob Gilhooley, doesn't have an invitation to Major League Spring Training at the moment.

 

[/quote]

 

Everyone's favorite big league nomad back with Milwaukee. Damn, he was really looking like the real deal in '03 & '04.

 

Corey Patterson isn't Jeremy Hermida?

[Post Count Padder]

Cubs signed LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith to a minor league contract.

The 29-year-old left-hander failed to reach the major leagues last year with Houston and had a brutal 6.75 ERA in 109 1/3 innings with the Mariners in 2010. He will function as organizational relief depth for the Cubs.

 

He was pretty bad the last two years but had a 3.62 ERA from 2007-09. A decent depth move if he puts it back together.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Cubs signed LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith to a minor league contract.

The 29-year-old left-hander failed to reach the major leagues last year with Houston and had a brutal 6.75 ERA in 109 1/3 innings with the Mariners in 2010. He will function as organizational relief depth for the Cubs.

 

He was pretty bad the last two years but had a 3.62 ERA from 2007-09. A decent depth move if he puts it back together.

 

Nothing to get worked up over, but wasn't he a pretty decent mid rotation guy at one point?

[Bote McBoteface]

The Indians signed Casey Kotchman.

 

 

Wonder if we could get LaPorta for a decent price.

[mookie]

Why, LaPorta isn't very good.

[Bote McBoteface]

Because he at one time was a pretty good prospect, and to me this seems like it means the Indians have lost faith in him. If he were to come here and put up a decent half season we could spin him for much more than we gave up when we bring up Rizzo. Or, his BR page says he plays LF. No clue how well, but it gives us an option if we do dump Soriano. He's been injured and has really only had a half season of healthy playtime in the majors. Edited February 3, 2012 by Enn Tea

[dew1679666265]

Because he at one time was a pretty good prospect, and to me this seems like it means the Indians have lost faith in him. If he were to come here and put up a decent half season we could spin him for much more than we gave up when we bring up Rizzo. Or, his BP page says he plays LF. No clue how well, but it gives us an option if we do dump Soriano. He's been injured and has really only had a half season of healthy playtime in the majors.

 

I'd have some interest if we could get him for dirt cheap. I'd rather give him a half season audition at first than LaHair.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The Indians signed Casey Kotchman.

 

 

Wonder if we could get LaPorta for a decent price.

 

If we could get him for next to nothing, sure. Even if we could get him for a package similar to the one that got us Ian Stewart I'd take the chance. If they want anything remotely resembling top guys, no thanks.

[davearm2]

Why, LaPorta isn't very good.

Then he fits perfectly with the "failed top prospect reclamation project" theme.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Free agents Luis Ayala, Shawn Camp, Scott Linebrink and Michael Wuertz are out there for teams seeking right-handed relievers.

 

As long as we're dumpster diving, why not scrape up he of the ninja slider? 2011 was't his finest, but he still seems to have solid stuff.