Catching up on some of the minor league signings on a busy day of transactions…
Latest Moves
- The Reds are releasing Alfredo Rodriguez, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon (via Twitter). Rodriguez was a highly-regarded member of the 2016-17 international signing class, and Cincinnati paid a hefty $7MM bonus to land the Cuban infielder. However, Rodriguez never produced much in the Reds’ farm system, hitting .260/.310/.321 with eight home runs over 1758 career minor league plate appearances.
Earlier Today
- The Tigers signed righty Miguel Diaz to a minor league deal, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (via Twitter). Diaz will be invited to the club’s MLB Spring Training camp, and he’ll earn $800K if he makes Detroit’s big league roster. A Rule 5 Draft acquisition out of the Brewers’ farm system in 2016, Diaz posted a 6.62 ERA over 66 2/3 innings with San Diego from 2017-19 before knee surgery put him on the shelf for much of the 2019 campaign. Returning to the Show in 2021, Diaz had a much more respectable 3.64 ERA over 42 relief innings for the Padres last season, but had trouble limiting home runs and walks. This led the Padres outright Diaz following the season, and he elected free agency.
- The Dodgers have signed right-hander Reyes Moronta to a minor league deal and invited him to their big league Spring Training camp, MLB.com’s Juan Toribio reports. Moronta will lock in a $1.5MM salary if he makes Los Angeles’ active roster, adds ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. A shoulder surgery sidelined Moronta for the entire 2020 season and he made only four appearances this past year for the Giants before a flexor strain sent to the injured list and then the minors for the bulk of the 2021 campaign. San Francisco outrighted him off its 40-man roster after the season and Moronta opted to test free agency, and the 29-year-old will now get a chance to revive his career wit the Giants’ chief NL West rival. Before injuries curtailed his production, Moronta had a very solid 2.66 ERA and 29.8% strikeout rate over 128 1/3 relief innings for the Giants in 2016-18, albeit with a 13.6% walk rate.
- The Marlins signed righty Jimmy Yacabonis to a minor league deal, as per young reporter Hayes Mish (off a tip from his father, Craig Mish of The Miami Herald). Yacabonis spent 2021 with the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma, marking the first season since 2016 that he hadn’t seen any big league action. Over 104 career MLB innings with the Orioles and Mariners, Yacabonis has a 5.71 ERA.
Moronta was so promising, now I have to root against him smh
Why is Moronta not getting a big league contract and only a minor league? Dude had some good stats… work ethic or off the field stuff?
Simply Injury history I don’t think his stuff is what it was in 2019
I’m going with conditioning issues
No, it’s some major injuries that have sidetracked him. Smart pickup for LA.
Another depth chart addition. Let’s do something relevant.
They might do something that would help the team overall but I think this is probably the best for now. Adding depth and see where they stand at the trade deadline.
If we get a legit Closer, we’ve had a complete offseason. That’s what I’m hoping for.
darn it. wanted PHI to sign Reyes. Rich just get richer again.
Phillies aren’t exactly poor, Dark.
Marlins fans may see a lot of this guy after a couple of their youngsters inevitably go down with TJS.
I seriously doubt that. They have the makings of the best rotation in baseball
Yacabonis was great in triple-a last year. May have figured something out
Mr Yakabonis Mr Jim Yakabonis
Alfredo Rodriguez was always a glove first SS I believe. We knew it wasn’t going to work out after not hearing about him in the past 5 years.
Moronta was a future closer for SF, and if he comes back from his injuries it will especially hurt that he’s with the Dodgers. Nevergheless, I wish him well.
Back when Moronta was being talked about that way, I heard a surprising take from Marty Lurie on one of his radio shows. He suggested that the Giants should trade Moronta because his max-effort mechanics presented a serious injury risk. Just six weeks later he blew out his shoulder. I’ll never forget that.
I wish him well too, from what I heard he was good guy. But jeez – not with the Dodgers pleeze… 🙂
Yes, I remember someone talking about his mechanics, maybe Marty. It’s really sad to see a guy with so much promise disappear so quickly at such a young age.
It will be hard to see him in a Dodger uni, but I do hope he gets back to MLB.