Here's where we'll keep track of today's minor moves…
- The Pirates announced that they have signed first baseman Jeff Clement to a minor league contract. Clement, 28, posted a .201/.237/.368 line for the 2010 Pirates, but didn't appear in the Major Leagues in 2011. The former third overall pick spent this past season in Pittsburgh's minor league system, where he posted a .733 OPS in 106 plate appearances.
- The Giants have signed right-hander Eric Hacker to a minor league deal, according to the player's agency, Sosnick Cobbe Sports (Twitter link). Hacker spent 2011 in the Twins organization, starting 25 games with Triple-A Rochester and making two relief appearances with Minnesota.
- The Nationals announced nine minor league signings today.
Frustrating to see the players the Mariners passed on to select Clement: Braun, Zimmerman, Tulowitsk, Ellsbury…
Frustrating to see your spelling of Tulowitzki
Tool’owhichkey?
That was the Bavasi era for you.
Seems like every guy in that draft became an All-Star. That was a gold mine. The Mariners came away with fools gold…
Clement hit well in college and the minors and everyone thought he was going to be a great pro. He had knee surgery and was never the same.
major league curveballs arent an injury, they are a reality
major league curveballs arent an injury, they are a reality
Chins up M’s fans. At least they were able to flip Clement for Jack Wilson and Ian Snell… so not a total loss.
Offhand I don’t know who the Buccos took over Braun, Zimmerman, et al. But I’m sure it was equally frustrating, if not more. Best not to dwell on it.
They took Andrew McCutchen that year with the #11 pick.
The year that really stung was 2002, taking Bryan Bullington #1 overall over guys like BJ Upton, Prince Fielder, and Zack Greinke.
…or 2006, taking Brad Lincoln over Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum.
To piggy-back off a thread from the other day… “who knows”, maybe Lincoln will outpitch both Kershaw and Lincecum this year!
They picked McCutchen at #11. Tulo, Zimmerman, Braun were off the board by then.
And a couple of the other good players that came afterward in that round, Ellsbury and Garza, were also passed over by about 10 other teams, so it would be second guessing in any case.
Thanks for the update guys. I guess I’m just conditioned to think any Littlefield era draft pick was frustrating. I guess Cutch was an acceptable pick.
rumor has it that Littlefield wanted Maybin, not mccutchen
rumor has it that Littlefield wanted Maybin, not mccutchen
Someone has to fill out the AAA roster.
Nick Evans can also play OF and Clement can also Catch.
clement is done catching, which is why his career as a MLBer is pretty much done as well