Here are today’s minor moves from around the league…
- Infielder Jake Fox has agreed to a deal with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net reports (via Twitter). Fox was playing for the Blue Jays’ Double-A affiliate after signing a minor league deal with Toronto during the offseason, and Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reports that the Jays released Fox to facilitate his move to KBO. Fox last played in the majors in 2011 and has since bounced around between the minors, independent leagues and Mexican leagues.
- ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin reports (via Twitter) that the Mets have signed former Blue Jays and Indians first baseman David Cooper to a minor league deal. Cooper, a former first-round pick, was batting .273/.351/.394 in 18 games for the independent Lancaster BarnStormers when the Mets brought him on board. He’ll serve as a depth piece for the organization and has been assigned to Double-A Binghamton, according to Rubin.
- Infielder Luis Jimenez has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A by the Red Sox, tweets Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald. Jimenez, 27, received just one plate appearance with Boston and has 17 on the year between the Sox and Brewers. He’s a career .217/.253/.268 batter in 168 trips to the plate but has authored an impressive .295/.327/.485 triple slash in 287 Triple-A games throughout his minor league career — all in the Angels’ system.
- Right-hander Anthony Swarzak has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus after clearing waivers, the Indians announced (on Twitter). Cleveland designated Swarzak for assignment when they needed a 40-man roster spot for Bruce Chen. The DFA was somewhat of a surprise, given that Swarzak has produced excellent results this season after signing a minor league deal this winter. The long-time Twins swingman has tossed 13 1/3 innings, yielding five earned runs for a 3.38 ERA. Swarzak did surrender 18 hits, but those knocks come as a result of a .395 BABIP. The 29-year-old punched out 13 hitters against just three unintentional walks with the Indians and averaged 92.2 mph on his heater. Swarzak’s uptick in strikeouts may be the result of his conversion to a two-pitch pitcher, as he’s thrown nothing but four-seamers and sliders in 2015, jettisoning a two-seamer, his curve and a rarely used changeup.
I can’t even fathom what baseball will be like when any mention of Bruce Chen ceases to exist. Dude has been around FOREVER.
if you’re a LHP……it seems there will always be someone interested.
With the solid numbers he’s put up so far this year, it’s not only surprising that the Indians DFA’d him, but also that he accepted an outright assignment. I guess he figures he’ll be back with the Indians in relatively short order given how pedestrian Chen looked in his first start.
Hope the Pawsox find a way to keep Jimenez on the 7 day DL, or release him. Already have jemille Weeks, Sean Coyle, Cecchini, Deven Marrero.. There is no place on the PawSox roster. Even the Portland AA team can’t manage to get Gragnani and Asuaje in the same game, due to logjams.
Remember when they thought they (Mets) were good?
Poor jake fox. Looked like such a promising prospect before he landed in Pinella’s dog house.
David Cooper puts up good numbers everywhere he plays yet he was playing independent ball? Is there something about him that I’m missing?