TODAY: Middlebrooks will earn $1.2MM if he makes the Brewers’ Major League roster, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link). If he hasn’t reached the majors by July 1, Middlebrooks can be released for a spot on another club’s roster.
TUESDAY: The Brewers have agreed to a minor league pact with third baseman Will Middlebrooks, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports on Twitter. Middlebrooks, 27, was non-tendered by the Padres, who elected to cut bait with the former top prospect rather than pay him an arbitration salary that MLBTR projected at $1.5MM.
Though Middlebrooks opened the year as San Diego’s regular third baseman after coming over via trade, he was not able to regain his once-promising trajectory there. He put up a meager .212/.241/.361 batting line with nine home runs over 270 plate appearances last year. Middlebrooks spent a lengthy stretch at Triple-A, too, and managed only a .255/.287/.379 slash in the favorable offensive climate of the PCL.
Milwaukee has been without a clear option at third after dealing away Aramis Ramirez last summer. The team also recently acquired another former Red Sox prospect in Garin Cecchini, and could let those two (among others) battle for playing time this spring.
Well his stock has officially bottomed out.
I was hoping the Pirates would give him a shot. Not a bad move for the Brewers.
Why? He sucks. Pirates should be signing guys that are good.
Pittsburgh is seriously the worst baseball city. People are so clueless. Those fire works nights tho….
Fireworks comment made me legit lol! Nicely done.
Not a good move for the Brewers either. Middlebrooks plays well below average defense(-6 DRS), can’t hit, and struck out 60 times vs. just 10 walks. What is even scarier is that he had a .241 OBP last year while hitting .212. That 4% walk rate is pathetic.
The Brewers aren’t contending next year so it’s not a bad move to try and catch lightning in a bottle.
I wonder if J-Dell is gonna like being in Milwaukee.
That’s if Mrs Dell even makes it to the majors. Where is their AAA affiliate? I wonder if Jenny will like it there?
Colorado Springs. She could be happy being a yuppie snob there.
White Sox should have gone after him for a minor league contract. They need help at the hot corner in the worse way, even with Lawrie
Yet another Red Sox busy from the most overrated system in history.
Red Sox produced more good players in the last 10-15 years than any other team in Majors
That sounds like a fun research project. Tampa Bay has been impressive. And what qualifies a farm system better: quality or quantity?
Yes, certainly the Red Sox three World Championships over the last 11 years is a sure sign that their minor league system is “over rated..” DUH. I guess you don’t believe in the idea of a results based evaluation.
Yet another Red Sox bust from the most overrated system in history.
While I agree that he didn’t pan out and was over hyped I wouldn’t go as far too say Boston has the most over rated system.
No surprise. A good low risk gamble. He’s merely a place filler anyway. The Brewers won’t be relevant until at least 2018.
This move is fine and all, but we had Matt Dominguez who was better and younger, and we just dumped him.
Makes ya wonder if this was one of many topics adding to a disfunction in the Padres clubhouse. With Pat Murphy in Miliwaukie now you would think he was involved in this decision and thinking Middlebrooks has value.
Will be interesting to watch this play out.
Had some pop in the minors but wasn’t much of a walker in the minors as well.
The typical bust type prospect that doesn’t make it.
I like this move. Low risk high reward situation
Not his fault he had the misfortune of playing half his games in pitchers park in SD. Put him in Colorado and his numbers might have read a much better .222/.251 instead.Who really knows
Absolutely. What’s the worst that could happen? He gives prospects in AAA a perfect glimpse at how nothing is a sure thing..
Will was coming on until he hooked up with JDell. Coincidence? A lack of focus? IDK.