Brooks Conrad Rumors
Minor Moves: Conrad, Obispo
Tonight's minor signings can all be found right here...
- Brooks Conrad has signed a contract with the Hanshin Tigers, according to a Sponichi report (Japanese link). Conrad hit just .131/.181/.306 in 105 plate appearances between the Brewers and Rays this season.
- The Braves have signed Wirfin Obispo to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The 28-year-old right-hander pitched to a 3.00 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 96 innings between the Reds' Double-A and Triple-A affiliates.
Minor Moves: Slaten, Ohlendorf, Conrad
We'll keep track of today's minor moves in this post..
- Pirates left-hander Doug Slaten, Padres right-hander Ross Ohlendorf, and Rays third baseman Brooks Conrad are free agents after recent outright assignments, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (via Twitter). Slaten appeared in ten major league games for Pittsburgh while posting a 2.11 ERA with 5.1 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 40 relief appearances in Triple-A. Ohlendorf had a 7.77 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 24 walks in nine starts and four relief appearances for the Padres over the summer. Conrad saw time in 49 games for the Rays and Brewers in 2012.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Conrad, Kelly, Gwynn
The latest outright assignments...
- The Rays outrighted Brooks Conrad to Triple-A Durham according to the International League transactions page. Tampa Bay designated the infielder for assignment earlier this week. Conrad, 32, hit .172/.213/.362 in 61 plate appearances with the Rays. He also spent some time with the Brewers earlier this season.
- The Tigers announced that they outrighted Don Kelly to Triple-A Toledo (Twitter link). Detroit designated the utility player for assignment six days ago, after he posted a .175/.267/.243 batting line in 116 plate appearances at a variety of positions.
- The Dodgers outrighted Tony Gwynn Jr. to Triple-A Albuquerque, the team announced on its website. Gwynn, who was designated for assignment three days ago, accepted the outright assignment, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (Twitterlinks). Hernandez suggests Gwynn will return to L.A. when rosters expand next month.
Rays Designate Brooks Conrad For Assignment
The Rays designated infielder Brooks Conrad to create 40-man roster space for Evan Longoria, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (on Twitter). Longoria injured his hamstring on April 30th and has been on the disabled list ever since.
The Rays claimed Conrad off of waivers from Milwaukee on June 21st and manager Joe Maddon has played the 32-year-old at second and third since acquiring him. In 105 total plate appearances this year, Conrad has a .133/.181/.306 batting line. However, he has a career line of .207/.278/.400 in five MLB seasons.
Rays Claim Brooks Conrad
The Rays claimed Brooks Conrad off of waivers from Milwaukee, the Brewers announced. The Brewers, who removed Conrad from their 40-man roster two days, ago, announced that they're recalling right-hander Mike McClendon.
Conrad, 32, has appeared in 25 games for the Brewers this year, playing all four infield positions. He has just three hits and three walks in 44 plate appearances, however. His career numbers -- a .212/.287/.406 line in five seasons with the A's, Braves and Brewers -- are much better. Conrad joins a Rays infield mix that includes Elliot Johnson, Carlos Pena, Will Rhymes, Sean Rodriguez, Drew Sutton and the injured Jeff Keppinger and Evan Longoria.
Brewers Designate Brooks Conrad For Assignment
The Brewers designated infielder Brooks Conrad for assignment, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. The move creates roster space for Tyler Thornburg, who's being called on to start tonight's game against the Blue Jays.
Conrad, 32, has appeared in 25 games for the Brewers this year, playing all four infield positions. He has just three hits and three walks in 44 plate appearances, however. His career numbers -- a .212/.287/.406 line in five seasons with the A's, Braves and Brewers -- are much better.
NL Central Notes: Brewers, Conrad, Pirates, Francisco
The Brewers will honor Bob Uecker with a statue that will be unveiled on August 31. The legendary broadcaster joins Bud Selig, Robin Yount and Henry Aaron as other Milwaukee baseball heroes who are immortalized in statue form at Miller Park. At least, that's the intended location, as Uecker joked, "It's not going to be at (Miller) Park. Robin and Henry wanted their statues moved if mine was put there."
Some more news from the Brewers and elsewhere in the NL Central...
- The Brewers are looking for middle infield help but GM Doug Melvin said that it's a tough market since many other teams are looking for the same thing, writes MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. The Phillies, Athletics and Twins are just a few of the clubs known to be hunting for infielders. McCalvy also covers several other Brewers-related topics as part of this fan chat.
- Brooks Conrad is one internal infield option that the Brewers seem likely to keep on the roster, reports McCalvy. Conrad is in camp on a minor league deal and manager Ron Roenicke noted the value of Conrad's ability to play several positions and switch-hit. If Conrad is kept on the Major League roster, he will earn $510K. Conrad can play second, so the Brewers would probably focus on finding a shortstop if they do acquire another infielder.
- The Pirates' projected $52MM payroll makes sense for the team right now, writes Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, as there weren't any clear opportunities to spend last winter and the Bucs need to save their money for key long-term pieces (like Andrew McCutchen and his new six-year contract extension).
- Juan Francisco's failure to come to camp in shape and with a calf injury properly rehabiliated, not to mention his poor performance this spring, has turned him from a "near-lock" to make the Reds roster into a question mark, writes MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Francisco is out of options, as is Wilson Valdez, another contender for a spot on Cincinnati's bench.
- Also from Sheldon (via Twitter), he shoots down internet rumors linking the Reds and Phillies in a Brandon Phillips-for-Cole Hamels deal. No surprise that rumor is "false," it doesn't make sense for either team.
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tries to predict the Astros' Opening Day roster.
- Here are some Cardinals and Cubs news items from earlier today on MLBTR.
Brewers Sign Brooks Conrad
The Brewers have signed Brooks Conrad to a minor league contract, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Paragon Sports International client will compete for a utility job in Spring Training.
Conrad, 32 next week, was non-tendered by the Braves last month, though they had interest in re-signing him to a minor league deal. He hit .223/.325/.388 with four homers in 122 plate appearances in 2011 while playing first, second, and third bases. The switch-hitter is one season removed from a .250/.324/.487 effort in 2010, and his career numbers are significantly better against left-handed pitchers.
NL East Links: Johan, Cameron, Conrad
Thirteen years ago today, the Cardinals acquired Edgar Renteria from the Marlins for Braden Looper, Pablo Ozuna, and Armando Almanza. Here's the latest from the NL East...
- “We think he’s going to be ready, but he might not be," said Mets GM Sandy Alderson to Dan Martin of The New York Post when asked about the status of Johan Santana. "That’s where the [pitching] depth becomes important.”
- We can add Mike Cameron to the list of Nationals' bench targets according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Yesterday we heard they have interest in Greg Dobbs.
- By non-tendering Brooks Conrad rather than outright releasing him, the Braves will not have to wait until mid-May to re-sign the utility player according to Dave O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
NL East Links: Rollins, Conrad, Mets, Baxter
Eight years ago today, the Braves acquired J.D. Drew and Eli Marrero from the Cardinals in exchange for Ray King, Jason Marquis, and a pitching prospect named Adam Wainwright. Here's the latest from the NL East (all links go to Twitter) ...
- Dan Lozano, agent for Jimmy Rollins, told a source of ESPN's Jayson Stark that he is having dialogue with a team other than the Phillies. The Tigers are believed to have interest, however Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com says they insist they won't pursue the shortstop. People with other teams believe they will though, according to Knobler.
- The Braves non-tendered Brooks Conrad yesterday, and Dave O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution heard that the team told him to check out the free agent market. They do have interest in bringing him back on a minor league deal, though.
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson told Adam Rubin of ESPN New York that adding starting pitching will be tricky because they need to have the flexibility to move a new starter to the bullpen or even option him to the minors.
- The Mets have interest in bringing Mike Baxter back according to Rubin, though it depends on what the market offers the outfielder. Baxter was non-tendered yesterday.
- Alderson told Andy Martino of The New York Daily News that minority sales of the Mets could be complete next month. The GM answered more financial questions on FOX Business' "After The Bell," today. MLB.com's Anthony DiComo has a transcript.
- MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports (on Twitter) that Nick Green's minor league contract with the Marlins has been finalized. The infielder has not played in MLB since 2010, but he gets an invite to Spring Training.
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