The latest minor league moves from around baseball…
Latest Moves
- The Rays have signed catcher Joe Odom to a minors pact, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. A 13th-round pick of Atlanta in 2013, Odom stuck with the Braves organization through 2017 before joining the Mariners in the ensuing winter’s Rule 5 Draft. Odom did make it to the majors for the first time last season with Seattle, collecting 44 plate appearances, but the 28-year-old batted a meek .128/.209/.128 with no extra-base hits and 20 strikeouts. The Mariners outrighted him after that.
Earlier Today
- The Rangers signed right-hander Luis Ortiz to a minors contract, the team announced. Ortiz has a 12.71 ERA over career 5 2/3 innings in the majors (with the Orioles in 2018-19), and is making his return to Texas after being drafted 30th overall by the Rangers in 2014. He has been part of two notable deadline trades, included as part of the trade package sent to Milwaukee for Jonathan Lucroy in 2016, and then the Brewers shipped him to the Orioles in July 2018 as part of the Jonathan Villar/Jonathan Schoop swap.
- The Brewers signed outfielder/first baseman Dustin Peterson to a minor league deal, as originally reported by Ana Soriano of RIDA Sports (Twitter link). Originally a second-round pick for the Padres in the 2013 draft, Peterson has a .262/.316/.382 slash line over 2918 career minor league plate appearances in the Padres, Braves, and Tigers farm systems. At the big league level, Peterson has a .570 OPS over 49 PA with Atlanta and Detroit over the 2018-19 seasons. Most recently, Peterson posted big numbers for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters in 2020 and is currently tearing it up in the Mexican Pacific Winter League.
- Catcher Tim Federowicz has signed with the Dodgers, as Federowicz revealed himself on Twitter. This will be the veteran’s second stint in Los Angeles, as he spent his first four MLB seasons (2011-14) with the Dodgers. It’s probably safe to assume that it is a minor league contract, as the Dodgers have Will Smith and Austin Barnes in the majors and top prospect Keibert Ruiz in the wings after his Major League debut last season. Appearing in parts of eight seasons with six different teams, Federowicz has a .568 OPS over 443 career plate appearances and 163 games at the big league level. He didn’t see any MLB action in 2020 after signing a minors deal with the Rangers last offseason.
Vet to work with AAA staff to prepare them for the majors. Smart.
in all fairness he has amassed 39 rbi the last 9 years
Quality over quantity.
Idk why, but these kinda bad backup catchers that the Rangers have, always end up being fan favorites somehow. Brett Nicholas, Bengie Molina, and Tim Federowicz were all very well liked players and I’m not sure why lol.
I’d say Gimenz over Bengie since he was a starter for most of his career. But I do agree.
Gimenez fell out of favor once he talked crap about the Kangaroo Court in the Rangers clubhouse headed by Beltre. Gimenez spoke out a little too much.
I think it’s because 3rd string catchers usually play in the minors for years and often have a more “regular-guy” physique.. Feel like you can relate to this type of player a little more.
Think Crash Davis from “Bull Durham”
Hell of a ball player!
Yeah no kidding. I don’t understand it either
Drew Butera in Kansas City was every gal’s favorite player. His hair flip “celebration” made him an icon as a backup to Salvy. Everyone loves the gritty underdog
Bad is not the right word to use here. They are offensively challenged, but all are there to call games and help the staff. They are good at what they do behind the plate.
Bengie was brought in for the stretch run in 2010 as he was given a chance to start over sitting on the bench behind Posey. The Others were basically AAAA players
@Rangers29 – Not on topic, but who are you hoping for for the #2 overall pick in 2021 MLB Draft for TEX? Jordan Lawler (HS – SS)? Jack Leiter (Vandy – RHP)? Someone else? That’s a prime spot, with all the mocks pegging PIT taking Kumar Rocker. Would be crazy to see 2 Vandy pitchers go back-to-back, though a lot can change from now until then. Lawler looks like a stud – and from the area.
The Pirates better take a player named Harold with their next pick if they take Kumar
It’s probably because they try so hard!! It’s endearing!
Don’t forget Bobby Wilson as well.
Is it just me, or does it seem like Tim Federowicz has been around for like 20 years?
Over 33 years for me
Didn’t he play with Mays and Mantle?
i could believe that
It does.. I’ve always like Fed-X.. He was 1 of 3 good kid catchers Boston drafted within the 1st 10 rounds back in ’08.. Fed-X, Ryan Lavarnway, then Christian Vazquez.. Fed-X was known for his glove, Lava his bat and C-Vaz a 18yo Puerto Rican to dream on.. All are still around in some form or other, but only C-vaz made it big time to stay as one of the best catchers around now.
Unrelated:
Anyone catch that story about Omar Vizquel? It’s a shame if it’s true. I always liked him but never heard any of the allegations before. Can’t see him ever managing after this.
Guilty until proven innocent I see by you
This has to mean LA is hoping to move Ruiz elsewhere. How many catchers is that now? 4? 5? Two of which being top prospects within the last two years
Pretty sure signing a guy like Federowicz has no impact on what they do with Ruiz.
They may or may not decide to trade Ruiz, I think they will, but Fed has no barring on Ruiz. Much the same as Gale had no barring on Smith. It’s AAA depth. A vet to help guide young batteries at AAA.
Who is the next Jonathan that Luis Ortiz getting traded for??!!
Dumb move by Federowicz to sign with LA. He’ll never make it up to the majors with them. He should have waited out the market a little longer.
He would have better chance with TB Rays…Zunino is a .160 hitter – I dont know how long someone in a major league lineup continues to have a job outside of Orioles.
Best in Oakie City!
Re. the Dodgers catching situation, I kinda hope they transition Will Smith to 3B. I know it’s easier said than done, but he’s a good athlete, has a strong arm, the Dodgers clearly want Smith’s bat in the lineup everyday, & the Dodgers’ top position-player-prospect is a catcher.
Seager is almost certainly ticketed for 3B if not this coming season then next. Can’t see the Dodgers not going all in for Lindor, Correa, or Baez
Seager is not certainty ticketed to 3b. Much the same as Correa isn’t. On a platform year I would definitely bet Seager asks for a trade if bumped off SS.
The Dodgers aren’t handing out another 300M contract with Mookie, and their core heading towards FA. If they did the only person in that convo is Lindor. Correa and Baez aren’t even in that picture.
The Dodgers will hand out another $300 million contract for Lindor, maybe not as much as the other two but don’t rule out interest in Correa. And there has been talk of moving Seager to 3B going back last offseason when the Dodgers tried to get Lindor so the thought has been there for a while.
Sounds like a situation where Dodgers informed Federowicz that a trading of catchers from LAD is highly likely.
Sorta doubt that.
@Datashark
Or maybe Federowicz didn’t demand that large of a market. Who knows if anyone would offer him a contact? I’m sure he understood what he’s being brought in for. Which is most likely being a vet catcher on call in the minors in the event of an injury. In the mean time he’ll be mentoring young pitchers and catchers at AAA. I like this signing.
With the Dodgers pulling Ruiz from his winter ball assignment something up
With Dodgers flexibility there are all kinds of trade possibilities
It’s a minor league signing, and as much as Fed is tremendous defensively let’s stop acting he’s ever been offensively capable.
On Ruiz he wasn’t playing much, and wasn’t going to play very much going. Plus he wasn’t really hitting.
Federowicz is the minor league lifer who occasionally gets a cup of coffee in the big leagues. He knows what he is and he knows why he’s there. He’ll be that guy you hear about as a future Manager one day
As for the Rays minor signing he seems to be a great defensive Catcher and our pitchers love that. . Odom clearly knows how to call a game. Seems no other GM wants a fair trade with Neander since he is the best executive in baseball. The good news is the Rays don’t have to trade at all this year since we already have a World series caliber team!
Rays potentially have their catching duo for next season with Zunino back and Odom as the backup