Let’s catch up on the latest minor moves from around the game …
- Right-hander Branden Kline announced his retirement Wednesday on Instagram. Kline, a hard-throwing Maryland native, joined the Orioles as a second-round pick in 2012 and ranked as one of their most promising prospects early in his career. But four arm surgeries, including the Tommy John procedure Kline underwent in 2015, slowed him, and his injury issues kept him out of minor league action until 2018. Kline did rebound well enough to appear majors from 2019-20, pitching to a 5.48 ERA with a 20.2 strikeout percentage and a 10.8 walk percentage in 46 innings, but the Orioles outrighted him last fall.
- If Kline’s retirement came surprisingly early, the opposite might be said of former MLB righty Manny Corpas. Panamanian journalist Aurelio Ortiz conveys Corpas’s decision to hang up his spikes, via Twitter. Though he’s far removed from his time in the majors — he last appeared in 2013 — the 38-year-old has until now continued to ply his trade in the indy ball and international ranks. Corpas wraps up his career with 374 1/3 frames of 4.14 ERA pitching at the game’s highest level.
- Corner outfielder Dillon Thomas has an agreement with the Mariners, per Robert Murray of Fansided (Twitter link). The minor-league accord includes an invitation to participate in MLB Spring Training. Thomas, 28, is a former fourth-round pick who has only briefly reached the highest level of the minors. In 2019, he turned in a .265/.339/.434 slash over 504 Double-A plate appearances.
NYYstateofmind
We interrupt your evening for more pointless drivel on minor league signings. Carry on.
Rangers29
They’re just doing their job… If you don’t like it just start another topic in the comments, but don’t provide nothing.
tom brunanskys black sock
Why are you here? Most fans care about these depth signings. 20 years ago you’d have to scour local transactions sections of local newspapers with a magnifying glass at the library to learn this stuff. It’s a frickin miracle we have it at a glance instantly. Yet here you are, sniping and whining. It’s so boring.
The article is literally entitled “minor league signings” and it lucidly and succinctly provides just that. If this is pointless drivel to you than I’m sorry, I have to doubt your comprehension skills, your sincerity or your intelligence. Id assume you’re just being flippant for the sake of having nothing else to offer. Next time, just stfu.
NYYstateofmind
Whoa, I see you are both in crybaby b!tc! mode tonight, pardon the hell out of me. But tommy feel free to continue to post nonsensical gibberish & Ferris Buehler quotes on every post that comes up & Tex, speaking of pointless drivel… Your opinions gentleman are worth exactly what I’m going to pay for them, NOTHING! As Oscar Wilde once said, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple” or probably more your speed is, “What a Maroon!” Bugs Bunny
Rangers29
@NYYstateofmind, you are like those staged WWE villains who nobody agrees with that are just there to get pummeled.
NYYstateofmind
Brilliant Tex… Brilliant! Did tommy have to go to bed cause it’s a school night?
Rangers29
Yeah, he bailed lol. He had to go meet up with his many alter egos.
NYYstateofmind
I know that’s right, Lol
Rangers29
I just have to ask: Is your username named after that one Jay-z song Empire State of Mind?
NYYstateofmind
No sir it is not, I think it’s ok, the wife actually loves it though
Rangers29
It’s overplayed, but it just seemed to fit your username lol.
NYYstateofmind
Mine is actually -kind of sorta- named after the Billy Joel song
Rangers29
Cool. Mine is named after a disappointing franchise and that franchise’s one great player lol.
NYYstateofmind
That’s pretty funny, listen you guys have had some pretty damn good teams over the years, keep the faith pal, it’s going to happen.
Rangers29
Especially when they draft me and I lift them up and over to a title lol. No, unlike others I’m an optimist, and I actually think that in a year’s time we’ll be in talks to be a WC team. In two years we’ll be true contenders.
Your team – on the other hand – needs to replace their manager (us as well), and then cut some payroll for the sake of keeping some guys. Stanton trades need to seriously be considered… with top prospects involved. He’s a huge hindrance to that team.
Rangers29
Obviously it is Al Oliver lmao.
Btw, are you new to MLBTR or have you been on for a while? I don’t really remember your username or profile.
NYYstateofmind
I’ve been using MLBTR for years but I just created an account, maybe 5 or 6 months ago. Are signed up with the pay/subscription service & if you are what do you think of it?
NYYstateofmind
I hear ya on all points pal. As far as the Yankees are concerned I like Boone -and I liked Girardi – just not as mangers for the NYY & I’m trying to still believe in peanut brittle, we’ll see. I gotta blow, but enjoyed speaking w/you, see ya in church.. or at the ballpark.
hashtahjimboutonwasright
I agree with you, bud. Every bit of news is, “Blue Jays show interest in…”, “Mets show interest in…”, “Padres don’t discuss…” or “27 year-old who pitched 33 games for one team that only 733 fans liked, retires.”
This winter sucks. Last season sucked. The upcoming season will suck. Only hapless fans in Southern California will enjoy what’s coming, maybe except for fans in Flushing who think Cohen will lead their team in a valiant, but futile charge through the Peach Orchard.
stretch123
Did someone force you to click on the article link?
Take your negative energy elsewhere.
terrymesmer
Lame.
MrMet62
Dillon Thomas? Whoever he was. The man ain’t got no culture!
tom brunanskys black sock
Do not go gentle into that good Safeco
Marty McRae
A fun time killer on baseball-reference is to search all the mexican or any overseas leagues to see what 35+ year olds are still playing. Some are pretty well known names who ended up having excellent non-MLB careers.
Rangers29
Chris Carter is one of the more notable ones.
NYYstateofmind
Name one.
Peart of the game
One? mykbostats.com/players/192-Choi-Hyungwoo-Kia-Tiger… I’d say he is pretty good in the KBO still.
NYYstateofmind
Huh! I spend a lot on BR & I didn’t know that option was available, thanks for the tip Tex.
Peart of the game
Also npb.jp/bis/eng/players/91195119.html was before this season
NYYstateofmind
Am I correct in assuming 29 refers to Al Oliver or am I asleep at the switch? Lol
AHH-Rox
Manny Corpas was great when the Rockies made their WS run in 2007. Decent for the next couple of years and then blew out his elbow. Never the same after that.
Best wishes in retirement to a good guy.
Rangers29
Jabari Blash retired today. This should be over all of the headlines.
MrMet62
You’re right! Fantastic name!
Metsfan9
Giraffeneckmarc will be disappointed
Rangers29
He is: twitter.com/GiraffeNeckMarc?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle…
tuck 2
Too bad for Kline – he had talent and it was a good story – local kid – UVA and then back home. Showed some good stuff in spurts but couldn’t stay on the field.
astrosfansince1974
Are you saying we was a good spurt? Spurtsman of the Year?
Orioles Fan
Kline going out with class.