Keeping track of the day’s minor moves…
- The White Sox sent outfielder Christian Marrero to the Braves for cash considerations, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). It appears that he'll start the 2012 season in the minor leagues.
- The Phillies signed Joe Thurston, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com (on Twitter). He'll open the season in the minors. The Astros released the utility player earlier today, according to the team’s senior director of social media, Alyson Footer (Twitter link). The 32-year-old has MLB experience at second and third and in both corner outfield positions. He owns a .226/.305/.323 line in parts of seven MLB seasons.
- The Dodgers signed right-hander Kyle Smit, Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus tweets. Smit had spent the past few seasons in the Cubs’ organization.
- Cristian Guzman says the Indians released him, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter link). The veteran infielder signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland last month, though he didn't play affiliated baseball in 2011.
I just looked on baseball reference for “Joe Thurston”, and he has only hit one home run in his career. Duane Kuiper much?
And…?
I saw Thurston play a few spring games with the Astros. Plays hard, hustles, but is getting long in the tooth and really is just a gap filler…..could play a few games here or there and not really hurt you (but won’t be of much help either). Good guy…..amongst all the good guys in baseball.
Philly will end up grabbing a Thurston/Cora type for the utility guy..You watch and regret it.. These types have been of no use for years.
No offense to these players, but Cora has no range anymore and -0- arm to make any throws from 3b and Thurston is a defensive liability and has -0- bat. Was sooo glad Boston let him walk several years back.
Philly really should try and find someone who either has a solid glove, or a decent hitter at least.. 1 or the other if they cannot find a total package type guy and are worried about Utley’s health this season as a 2nd utility type behind Wiggy.
Umm.. that guy is Galvis.
For some reason, my fellow Phillies fans LOVE those type of players.
If the fans had their way, it seems like there would be a ground swell of support for a Wilson Valdez statue our front of Citizen’s Bank Park.
not an upgrade from Pete Orr
If Guz gets helthy quick, he’s gonna find a job this summer. Lots of clubs seem to need middle infield help.
Joe Thurston is a great guy, really hope he catches on somewhere.
Thurston signs minor league deal with the Phillies, 2nd time around with the Phillies.
Id rather have an AL relief pitcher bat instead of Chin-Lung Hu
I would rather have an AL relief pitcher bat instead of half of the players on the Phillies 25 man roster right now.
I thought we signed Hu awhile ago…
SOMEBODY needs to play short stop for the Iron Pigs. Hopefully we can add a MLB infielder though so there’s absolutely no shot Hu sees the MLB roster.
Hu’s on first…
Rarely.
More like never.
Why did the Mets acquire him anyway?
It won’t be long until we see the spin-off, “Hu’s on the unemployment line”…
First off Kyle Smidt was reported by Matt Eddy minor league Transactions march 13-19th Los Angeles Dodgers Signed: RHP Kyle Smit
so how in the world is someone else reporting when it already been reported..
Also Ian snell was released by Los Angles Dodgers today from Kevin Goldstein tweet
The Phillies signed Hu???
figures that out of the three infielders released today the Phillies sign the least effective player. Guzman isn’t great in the field, but once he gets some playing time under his belt he’s a .300 hitter, whereas Hu & Thurston are career .300 hitters they’ve only hit it in AAA and are around the Mendoza league in the MLB. I’d rather have the guy whose played the last 10 years in the majors vs. 10 years in AAA.