Here are today's minor moves from around the league…
- Scout.com's Kiley McDaniel reports that Jerry Sands has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Durham by the Rays (Twitter link). The 26-year-old Sands was designated for assignment earlier in the week when the club claimed Pedro Figueroa.
- The Brewers and lefty Brad Mills have agreed to a minor league contract, according to MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo (on Twitter). Mills, 29 in March, posted a 3.87 ERA with 6.7 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 97 2/3 innings for Triple-A Round Rock in the Rangers' organization in 2013. He requested his release midseason to sign with Nippon Professional Baseball's Orix Buffaloes. Mills has a 7.76 ERA in 53 1/3 career big league innings.
- Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports that the Nationals have signed Mike Fontenot to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training (Twitter link). Last year marked the first season since 2006 in which Fontenot didn't appear at the Major League level. He spent the duration of the campaign with the Rays' Triple-A affiliate, batting .264/.335/.379 in 120 games.
- The White Sox have signed infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson to a minor league contract, tweets Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune. The 30-year-old began last season with the Atlantic League's York Revolution, batting .275/.342/.527 with 13 homers in 294 plate appearances. That production led to him getting picked up by the Brewers, but he slashed just .204/.291/.235 in 111 plate appearances at Double-A Huntsville. Patterson has not appeared in the Majors since 2011.
The stellar careers of the Brothers Patterson, as well as Felix Pie, are a testament to the scouting acumen of the previous Cubs regime.
Baseball America had Corey at #2 and #3 overall, so it’s not like the Cubs were the only people high on him. Similar situation to Pie.
Sometimes guys don’t pan out, and two data points isn’t a lot.
It goes both ways. Commitment by owners to scouting and development, proper front office staff.
How Pittsburgh has been ran the last half dozen years is an example vs the previous 15 years and the picks they made.
Cubs (and a few not named other organizations) can learn from this. It’s too late to use the Tampa Bay mold with the new CBA, but the Pittsburgh and KC way is possible.
pretty sure pittsburgh and KC copied Tampa quite a bit.
There is nothing wrong with copying Tampa at all. I hope my beloved Brewers will soon do the same thing
Baseball America had Corey at #2 and #3 overall, so it’s not like the Cubs were the only people high on him. Similar situation to Pie.
Sometimes guys don’t pan out, and two data points isn’t a lot.