The latest minor moves from around MLB…
- The Astros released first baseman Jimmy Van Ostrand and right-hander Lance Pendleton, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com tweets.
- The Brewers released catcher Mike Rivera, according to the team (via media relations director Mike Vassallo on Twitter). The 35-year-old appeared in one game with the 2011 Brewers and has experience in nine MLB seasons.
- The Yankees announced that they released Russell Branyan from his minor league contract and re-signed him to a new one. The Yankees appear to save $100K with the maneuver.
- The Blue Jays acquired right-hander Ryota Igarashi from the Pirates for cash considerations or a player to be named later, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports (Twitter links). Davidi suggests the Blue Jays will likely assign Igarashi to Triple-A. The 32-year-old appeared in 45 games for the 2011 Mets, posting a 4.66 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 6.5 BB/9 in 38 2/3 innings.
- The Phillies announced that they traded minor league first baseman Matt Rizzotti to the Twins for cash considerations today. The 26-year-old spent the 2011 season at Double-A Reading and posted a .295/.392/.511 line with 24 home runs, 34 doubles and 79 walks in 587 plate appearances.
Reading is AA
Reading is broke…
reading is power!
Reading is fundamental.
Hopefully he gets a shot at the MLB Level, he always seemed to be a DH/PH type of player
Who is “he?” This is very vague.
matt rizzoti
He spent last season at Double-A Reading, not Triple-A. He absolutely tore the cover off the ball. If his numbers can translate to the Major League level, the Twins have a serious power-hitting threat in their lineup/bench.
he needs to keep eatin the roast beef sandwiches.
He prefers cheesesteaks, but I don’t think Minnesota has any!
Obviously you do not go to the Reading Games, or you would understand the Roast Beef RBi giveaway and the roast beef chants. I am a proud winner on many occasions thanks to Rizzoti
Of course I go to Reading games, who do you think starts the “Roast Beef” chants? Now that he has a chance to be a big-leaguer, he needs to go the extra yard with the cheesesteaks.
We do have Tony O’s Cuba Sandwiches at Target Field. Mmm…
Too bad he really can’t field at all. Going to the AL is the best thing for him if he can be a bench/dh guy.
Yeah because the Phillies have no need for a solid hitting first baseman? Howard has one achilles left and Thome is 42. Great move Amaro.
Technically your sarcasm starts and finishes right after, so what I’m getting is that the whole sentence you’re dead serious about.
Traded for cash considerations…I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a precursor to the phillies making a trade or signing a FA for the infield Considering how close they are to the luxury tax.
Igarashi wasn’t good last year.
He wasn’t bad either. He was atrocious…
He was pretty amazing in AAA 31.0IP 0.774WHIP. Hopefully he stays there all season.