The Brewers have signed corner infielder/outfielder Richie Shaffer and outfielder Rymer Liriano to minor league contracts, according to Jim Goulart of Brewerfan.net (h/t: Adam McCalvy of MLB.com). Both players will report to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Shaffer had been without a team since the Indians released him June 8, which came after he opened the season with a .164/.216/.310 line in 125 Triple-A plate appearances. The 27-year-old was far better last season with the Indians’ top affiliate, hitting .227/.338/.464 with 30 home runs in 546 PAs, though he did post a 34.4 percent strikeout rate.
Strikeouts have long been a problem for Shaffer, a former Clemson slugger whom the Rays chose 25th overall in the 2012 draft. Still, Shaffer has registered a useful Triple-A line (.229/.327/.440 with 64 HRs in 1,449 PAs). He also logged league-average major league production in 142 PAs with the Rays from 2015-16, when he combined to bat .213/.310/.410 with five long balls.
Liriano, 27, quickly landed on his feet after the Angels released him Wednesday. Unlike Shaffer, Liriano has held his own at Triple-A this year, hitting .268/.343/.523 with 16 HRs in 269 PAs. Liriano’s now set for his second stint with the Brewers, with whom he suffered facial fractures on a hit by pitch during a spring training game in 2016. He ended up missing the season as a result, and the Brewers waived him that fall.
Also a former Padre and White Sox, Liriano has recorded an impressive Triple-A line of .282/.361/.466 with 47 homers in 1,389 PAs. Despite that, Liriano hasn’t delivered on the promise he had with San Diego, where he topped out as one of the game’s 50 best prospects. Thus far, he has amassed 167 major league plate trips and slashed just .220/.293/.287 with a pair of HRs.
Damn, the Crew IS going to make a run at the Cubs. I thought they’d do nothing at the deadline like usual.
Boy that’s a troll comment if I’ve ever seen one. I should watch what I am saying though since Jesse Chavez is elite……
You really think the Cubs are done dealing? Lol.
And do you really think the Brewers are done?
Does anyone think any of these players are all of a sudden going to explode and become all-stars?
Of course not. But they are minor league contracts so why not take the chance? It’s not like they signed these guys to play everyday. Plus they may need someone to play OF in AAA if they deal guys from their system in the next couple weeks and don’t want to bump any of their younger prospects up yet.
The Cubs have plenty of guys without Chavez. Milwaukee…not so much.
You might be the only person on the planet that would take the Cubs bullpen over the Brewers.
They have some difference makers… that’s for sure. I can’t wait till we get Zach Davies back he’s sure to strike fear in the cubs hitters
“Do nothing at the deadline like usual”
Do you not understand how a rebuild works?
Brewers aren’t rebuilding anymore so ..
Last year they were considered still to be finishing their rebuild. No one expected them to be good.
Without difference makers, I’m not sure the Brewers understand how to rebuild either.
Can you please define “difference maker”. Because if its All-Stars, well they had the most in the NL and if its WAR, Cain is leading the NL…
Neither team is done dealing, but it depends on who wants it more. My guess is that the Cubs will be more “all in” that the Brewers, as in they’re more likely to go after an impact player. Just my feeling. Also, the Brewers signings may be a move to add extra bodies to the farm system in the event a trade removes some of those pieces. And brewcrew08, ray_derek’s comment was kind of funny…….
The problem with the Cubs going “all in” is that their farm system is depleted. The system was already ranked as one of the lowest and then their #1 prospect (Azolay) suffered a major injury that severely dropped any value he has and their #3 (De La Cruz) got hit with a PED suspension. Their #2 Ademan has had a rough year as well. They do have some interesting pitchers in Lange/Little/Hatch, but none are really headliners for an all in move. If they try to make a major move they will probably have to deal from the MLB roster, and I’m not sure they’re too keen on that.
The Cubs farm system is alive and well….it’s just that it calls its home Wrigley Field. The Cubs aren’t going anywhere for quite a while.
I didn’t say they were, but that was not the point. He said they were more likely to make an all in type trade and was just pointing out that without dipping into the MLB roster they probably don’t have the pieces to get it done.
Wonder why Liranio never got any big league time with the Halos. When Calhoun was struggling/injured the continued to give Jabari Blash ABs despite nonexistent results. Would have liked to see Rhymer get some play…
It still confuses me why the Angels signed Chris Young.
It’s easy he is what you want in a fourth outfielder. Not much playing time with Upton, Trout, and Calhoun. He can play all 3 OF positions pretty well and hits lefties so he can play against the tougher lefties instead of Calhoun.
There doesn’t appear to be Rymer reason for this, but I will wait, hoping to Shaffer the moment.
well done
Dozier and Escobar for Freddy Peralta?
Lol cmon Peralta is not leaving the crews rotation
why not?
Not in a deal for a rental… If he wasn’t available for Machado he won’t be available for Dozier
Because they want to trade for guys but not give anything up for them!!
Stop please
I can’t wait until Pittsburgh and STL catches Milwaukee.
Dude why don’t you go take a dump somewhere else?
I can’t wait until you catch herpes…but wait, that would mean you would need to have contact with an organic female so that’s not happening.