Here are today's minor moves from around the league…
- The Dodgers have signed third baseman Josh Bell, tweets Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. The one-time top prospect has only seen 282 career MLB plate appearances, over which he has a meager .195/.223/.265 triple slash with four home runs. Spending time at Triple-A in the Yankees and White Sox systems last year, Bell hit a combined .226/.324/.356 in 210 plate appearances.
- The Orioles have signed first baseman Chris Marrero to a minor league contract, according to Baseball America's Matt Eddy (on Twitter). Now 25 years old, the former No. 15 overall draft pick and top prospect has a .232/.256/.272 batting line in 133 career Major League plate appearances but has a solid .281/.353/.413 line in 1140 career PAs at Triple-A.
- Right-hander Luis Marte and infielder Danny Worth have both cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Toledo, the Tigers announced. Marte, 27, was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Rajai Davis. Worth, 28, was DFA'ed to clear a roster spot for Joba Chamberlain.
- The Blue Jays have signed infielder Jared Goedert to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The 28-year-old spent last season in the Pirates organization, batting .241/.316/.390 with 11 homers in 519 plate appearances. The longtime Indians farmhand is primarily a third baseman and owns a career .261/.332/.459 batting line in 1562 Triple-A plate appearances.
Now I get to enjoy a day of “Fire AA” comments on the Blue Jays website, Sportsnet, Facebook, etc. from all the casual Blue Jay fans that freak out over minor league signings.
I don’ think it’ll be because they signed this guy. It’ll be because the biggest signing of the offseason so far has been Navarro, and all the hotties on the dance floor are being scooped up by everyone else. Granted most of the good pitching market is still left out there.
haha, I agree… and I’m probably at the head of the pack. AA has a big deal in the works… three teams involved… no no, 12 teams are involved! Next day, “Thad Weber is sold to South Korean team”. C’mon.
In his defense, sometimes no (real) deals are the best deals. But when you finished LAST in your division (injuries or not), he needs to stop acting busy and make a smart move. Signing Navarro may not make a dent and could easily backfire. Sadly, he’s battling the Orioles for fourth place in 2014.
I was hoping he was going to save his job by making a manager hire. I’m not a gibbons fan either.
Not saying he shouldn’t make a move, but sometimes the smart move is no move. With Stroman and Sanchez potentially impacting the roster either this year or next, it’s hard to commit the years and money to guys like Garza, Santana or Jimenez, which is why I think AA is preferring the trade market. Unfortunately, the only way they will acquire anyone of value is by parting with at least one of those two guys. It’s a tough situation to be in, and all I can say is thank god I am not the one in that situation.
Ladies and gentlemen, our 2014 starting second baseman
*stands
*claps
*then wonders if Adam Lind can play second base.
Ya but does he throw a knuckleball?
open tryouts at Rogers Centre parking lot in February… knuckleballers apply.
They did officially sign Tomo Ohka today w/ a ST Invite. 37 year old reinvented knuckleballer.
Does anybody know if Dionner has any experience catching knuckleballs? Or Kratz? Or Is the plan to have Thole catch Dickey?
As a Tigers fan I’m happier that Marte will get a chance in spring training to show whether he can regain 2012 form after injury..
I believe the Dodgers were the team that originally drafted Josh Bell.
He has one heck of a tattoo collection.
He indeed was. I remember when he got traded to Baltimore for George Sherrill, a few fellow Dodgers fans were quite upset. Then Bell faded over there, Sherrill was gone, and all was forgotten.
Had some pop in his bat through the minors, Baseball America had him rated as decent prospect. Big question marks over his glove if I remember right. Another prospect who never really prospered unfortunately.
Since the Baltimore Orioles lost Brian Roberts to free agency to the Yankees, the Mariners & O’s should pull off a trade between both teams addressing needs at some positions. Jack Z and Dan Duquette ought to think about making the move to trade catcher Matt Wieters & either pitcher Chris Tillman (third or fourth starting pitcher to return back to the M’s after being traded w/ Adam Jones for Eric Bedard) or Darren O’Day as the closer or setup man to Farquhar for Nick Franklin as Chris Schoop may not be quite ready to start at second base, pitchers Brandon Maurer or Tyler Pike & Carson Smith, Justin Smoak (can be traded to a team in a three team trade w/ Chris Schoop or Jemille Weeks that needs help at first & second base) and a player to be named. Wieters can be a solid insurance to Zunino at catching, while Franklin can start second base in spite Schoop or Weeks to back up Franklin/Hardy at times to give either a day off. Not a bad idea on making a three team trade. What three way trade do you think Mariners & Orioles can pull off helping each of those teams?