The Brewers claimed infielder Jeff Bianchi off waivers from the Cubs, according to a press release. The addition brings Milwaukee's 40-man roster count to 39 and opens a spot for new Chicago starter Paul Maholm.
Bianchi, 25, was drafted by the Royals in the second round in 2005. He spent his entire career with their minor league teams, until the Cubs claimed him on waivers in December. Bianchi hit .259/.320/.333 in 499 Double-A plate appearances last year, playing the middle infield positions.
How did he end up on waivers again already?
It’s easy to slag a guy who hasn’t made a dent yet, but Bianchi is a 25 year-old former top prospect who was seen as a potentially above-average SS defensively and offensively. Injuries derailed him, but he’s healthy now and still young. If you’ve got a place for him to play in AAA, there’s no reason not to take a chance on him with a minor league deal, just to see if you get lucky. He could still end up a Rich Aurilia type.
I assume that his time in the KC system was up, which is why he was available in December for the Cubs. Milwaukee adding him to the 40-man is odd, though. We still have to decide if we sign Aoki, and if we don’t then we need another option as our #5 OF. Plus, we need bullpen help.
Sounds like Bianchi would be a great signing for a team that has room on their 40-man. The Cubs didn’t have room, and the Brewers won’t either.
I always had hope for Bianchi – not ‘high hope’ – but hope. He was drafted at a time when he would clearly rank as a top Royals prospect, but not necessarily a ‘top prospect’ if you know what I mean.
He’s battled injuries but has shown flashes of what he could be. Personally, I believe if he stays healthy he could reach Willie Bloomquist-like utility. That’s about it.
hey kidsmoke… actually was put on waivers by the royals to make room for broxton. when the cubs claimed him, he stayed on the 40-man. just went through the same process to make room for maholm and will remain on the 40-man in milwaukee (they didn’t add him).
He ended up on waivers because the Cubs had to make a roster spot for Maholm. Who else are you going to drop from the 40 man roster? This move made the most sense in who you choose to drop.
What part of “not good enough for the Cubs” did Milwaukee fail to understand here?
The Brewers got two good seasons out of Casey “not good enough for the Cubs” McGehee. The Cubs are not exactly known as the most shrewd evaluators of talent.
Times’ a changin’ on that davbee.
Exactly, bacboris, maybe we should introduce davbee to the Cubs new President and owner of 2 World Series championships, Theo Epstein!
the part where the Cubs have Castro and the Brewers have Alex Gonzalez and nothing close in the minors
went to high school a year ahead of Jeff and have been following his pro career since he was drafted in 2005. shame he’s getting tossed around so much this offseason, but he’ll settle in and be a depth option this year. like most are saying, probably has a ceiling of a utility player (jason donald-type). he is a doubles machine when healthy and a sick defender up the middle. he’ll get his shot yet.
“Top prospect” was a poor choice of words on my part. He did spend a fair bit of time on Royals’ top prospect lists, and Baseball America was projecting him as a regular (though, it bears mention that Sickels never thought much of him).
Aurilia’s not that out-of-line a goal for him, unless you go off that fluke season Aurilia had in 2001. Could Bianchi someday be a guy who gives you seasons something like Aurilia’s career line (.275/.328/.433) with slightly above average defense? Yeah, there’s definitely a chance.
I’m not projecting him for that, mind you. Just saying the possibility exists and for the low cost, a team with a middle IF opening in AAA might should take a shot.