We'll keep track of all of the day's minor deals right here:
- Righty reliever Jay Sborz, 26 in January, signed a minor league deal with the Braves with a Spring Training invite, MLBTR has learned. Sborz was outrighted by the Tigers on November 4th after posting a 4.74 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 4.9 BB/9, and 1.6 HR/9 with 19 saves in 43 2/3 Triple-A innings this year.
- The Twins signed Justin Huber to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training, tweets Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Huber last played in the majors with Minnesota in 2009, and has a .580 OPS in 175 career plate appearances.
- The Royals announced that four players have been designated for assignment: Jordan Parraz, Victor Marte, Gaby Hernandez and former #1 overall pick Bryan Bullington.
- The Rays released first baseman Jose Ruiz, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (on Twitter).
- The Tigers announced that they signed Al Alburquerque to a major league deal for 2011. GM Dave Dombrowski says the team has been impressed with the right-hander's winter ball performance and expects him to compete for a bullpen job in Spring Training. The 24-year-old has struck out 191 batters in 174 1/3 minor league innings in the Cubs and Rockies organizations.
- The Yankees have released Jonathan Albaladejo, who signed with a Japanese team, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).
- The Diamondbacks claimed right-hander Juan Jaime from the Nationals, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (on Twitter). The 23-year-old right-hander didn't pitch in 2010, but he has a 2.42 ERA with 11.8 K/9 and 5.7 BB/9 in 111 2/3 minor league innings.
- The Blue Jays signed Mike Hinckley, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America. The lefty posted a 1.93 ERA in 28 games with the Nationals from 2008-09. Last year he posted 6.8 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 46 2/3 innings in the upper minors.
- Josh Barfield, Ryan Feierabend and Brandon Moss all got Spring Training invitations from the Phillies according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
I’m not sure if this Hinckley fellow is any good, but he was drafted by the Expos,s o I’m happy with it.
Josh Barfield is one of my favorite players in Baseball…I hope he gets back up he was such a good story and player in SD.
I was shocked to see him fall so far off from that year he had in San Diego. I thought he was going to be at least decent.
We’ll see what happens, but signing with the Phillies, a stocked infield as it is, won’t help him get back to where he is.
Yeah, except Rollins and Utley have been making regularly scheduled DL appearances. Depth is vital to the Phillies infield.
Al Alburquerque. Best name since Steve Nebraska…
Bean Stringfellow is the greatest baseball name ever.
That title belongs to Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy, Sr.
How about Razor Shines?
That title belongs to Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy, Sr.
I’m partial to Pussy Tebeau
It’s only fitting for a Frenchman
.. but he was no Rusty Kuntz.
Are we counting nicknames? Because Oil Can Boyd has gotta be in the top 5. That and The Big Unit.
No love for the Clapp? Stubby Clapp, that is.
Look van mill was to be considered
What an unfortunate name, Al Alburquerque.
Next up for the Tigers: Phil Phoenix.
Batting cleanup, playing first base, Fred Fredericksburg.
And batting fifth, catcher, Ken Kennebunkport.
While they’re at it they should sign Mr. Manfredjinsinjin.
If all Albuquerque can get a major league deal, than so can I.
If all Albuquerque can get a major league deal, than so can I.
Well, this closes the door on what was a poor (though not particularly significant) trade by Brian Cashman. Clippard is likely to be the #2 guy in the Nats bullpen in 2011 and would’ve been a more useful fit in the 2010 Yankees bullpen than guys like Gaudin, Park, Mitre, Moseley and Albaladejo himself.
Well, this closes the door on what was a poor (though not particularly significant) trade by Brian Cashman. Clippard is likely to be the #2 guy in the Nats bullpen in 2011 and would’ve been a more useful fit in the 2010 Yankees bullpen than guys like Gaudin, Park, Mitre, Moseley and Albaladejo himself.
Its a shame the Yanks couldn’t even get one prospect back for Albaladejo.
It’s hard to get back a prospect for a guy who may be no more than a busted prospect himself. Albaladejo kept pitching like a AAAA guy. Too good for the minors and not good enough for the majors.
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Dear Jon,
Many of us love you and wish you the best of luck. It pains our hearts to see you go to a foreign country where you won’t know the language or have any friends.
Please take Kei Igawa with you.
Love and Kisses,
TDT
That’s funny. Cheer up. Maybe he figures something out in Japan. If you follow the career arc of some pitchers, they do figure it out and manage to have a career. Give ’em a mound, let ’em keep chasing it. Maybe it clicks.
I also see the Tigers are continuing to go out and get what they want, damn the cost. It’s one thing I love and hate about their GM at the same time-he’s being stupid and/or smart at the same time. Who knows which one he’s being here?
Why do I have a feeling that Juan Jaime might be one of the miracle relievers that Towers has had success finding?
not sure why the royals released bullington. thought he could atleast be a number 5 or provide some competition. had a decent year last year though his era doesn’t show it.
Barfield is only 27: I hope he revives he career.
Why did Ruiz get released from Tampa?! didn’t they just sign him outta Cuba? He hit pretty well this past season, I wonder what happened!
I was really hoping that the Blue Jays would sign Al Alburquerque, just so his nickname could be Al Al Cool Jay.
Justin Huber was AMAZING last year… in my current 2011 Baseball Mogul sim.
lol, that game is awesome. Recntly I pulled of deal to land Verlander and Choo
man, i didn’t think the yankees had lost faith in albaladejo yet, he was UNBELIEVABLE in the minors, and this year he wasn’t bad in the majors, they should have given him one more chance