Here are today’s minor moves from around the league, all of which are reported by Baseball America’s Matt Eddy, unless otherwise noted…
- The Nationals and Scott Sizemore have agreed to a minor league contract. Now 30 years old, Sizemore was once a prospect of great intrigue in the Tigers’ system — a potential long-term answer for Detroit. However, after a trade to Oakland, Sizemore wound up missing consecutive seasons when he tore his ACL in 2012 and tragically did so once again after just two games in 2013. Sizemore spent most of the 2015 campaign with the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate and didn’t hit much, though he’s been great in six games with the Nats’ Triple-A club since signing: .375/.412/.563. Sizemore can play both second base and third base.
- The Blue Jays have released right-hander Phillippe Aumont, whom they’d previously inked to a minor league pact back in July. Formerly the No. 11 pick in the draft (2007, Mariners), Aumont was one of the key pieces sent to Philadelphia in Seattle’s acquisition of Cliff Lee. However, Aumont’s big league career has never panned out; he’s 26 years old and has a 6.80 ERA in 43 2/3 innings in the Majors. The former Top 100 prospect has battled his control all season long, working to a solid 3.14 ERA in 83 Triple-A innings with 8.8 K/9 but a very troubling 6.8 BB/9 rate in that time. His control worsened upon joining the Jays organization, as he walked 22 batters in 18 innings (he did whiff 23 in that time as well, though).
Did Washington sign Sizemore for the remainder of this season or next season as well?
Aumont’s situation reminds me of a young randy Johnson. Aumont is a big boy that has control issues. Johnson was a big boy and was absolutely wild when he first came up. Both are hard throwers. Johnson didn’t develop passable control until he was 29-30. (Also- the strike zone was a bit larger in the early 90’s) Granted, Aumont’s is no Johnson, but the situations are comparable.
A smart team with a forward thinking pitching coach should consider signing him to a 3-4 year minor league deal, with incentives for mlb time, and look to develop him into something.
Aumont is a coachable pitcher with a mature head on his shoulders.