Here are Monday’s minor signings from throughout the league…
- The Reds announced that they’ve signed right-handed reliever Ben Rowen to a minor league contract and invited him to Major League Spring Training. The 29-year-old Rowen has just 11 2/3 MLB innings under his belt (none since 2016), but the sidearmer has a lengthy track record of success in Triple-A. While Rowen had a down season in 2017, working to a 4.41 ERA in 63 1/3 innings, his struggles came in a hitters’ paradise — the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas. Overall, Rowen has a career 2.81 ERA with 6.9 K/9 against 1.8 BB/9 in parts of five Triple-A campaigns, and he has routinely racked up ground-ball rates north of 60 percent thanks in large part to his unorthodox delivery.
- The Dodgers have inked former Cubs/Rockies outfielder Tyler Colvin to a minor league deal, tweets SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo. Now 32 years old, Colvin hasn’t been in the Majors since 2014 and hasn’t been affiliated with a big league organization since a 2015 stint with the White Sox’ Triple-A club. He spent the 2016 season with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League and struggled to a .218/.264/.339 slash through 277 plate appearances, and he didn’t play professionally in 2017. Colvin had success in the Majors back in 2010 (113 OPS+) and 2012 (114 OPS+), but his overall .239/.287/.446 slash through 1309 MLB PAs is reflective of the fact that he’s had more struggles than success in the big leagues.
I normally don’t fret over minor league signings, but Colvin makes ZERO SENSE
Yeah, don’t see an angle there. You’d think you could find so many better options than a 30+ outfielder who struggled in independent ball 2 years ago and didn’t play last year. But he did have a bat once upon a time. Maybe he’s in good shape and the dodgers saw something they liked, but it seems silly to me.
This FO seems to really believe in having lots of minor league cannon fodder available. I suppose the theory must be if they ever have to dig that deep into the depth chart that the call up will be a player with some major league experience instead of a green rookie.
Which makes me wonder, why do all those ex-big leaguers want to sign with the Dodgers organization (which has had stacked talent the past several years). You’d think there was another organization interested in Colvin that would give him more playing time in AAA / a better shot at returning to MLB?
Beats me. In Colvin’s case, he sure wasn’t going to be awash in offers. I don’t see where this one includes an invitation to spring training camp so it looks like he was prepared to grab onto the lowest rung if it was offered.
Don’t fret. Minor league rosters are filled so they can field a team and play games. I highly doubt they are counting on him to lead them to the WS
Regarding the Reds newest signee, “What was he doing before he went out on the lake?”
Har-dee-har-har
Ha
Ian happ aka Tyler Colvin 2.0
Well you have zero baseball knowledge.
Colvin-smolvin
I predict a nice little season from Wilmer. Collins didn’t like him, but he can fill a role. Cleveland knew how to pull results from role players.
If Rowen can hit the strike zone a ground ball pitcher at GABP would be welcomed with open arms.
I remember when Colvin got hit by a shattered bat as a base runner at 3B. He was never the same after that.
what was he doing last year?