We’ll track the day’s minor moves right here:
- The Red Sox announced that they’ve re-signed right-hander Anthony Varvaro to a minor league contract. Additionally, they announced the signings of outfielder Ryan LaMarre (as WEEI’s Rob Bradford first reported), catcher Ali Solis, infielder Chris Dominguez and right-hander William Cuevas to minor league deals. Of that group, Varvaro, LaMarre and Dominguez played in the Majors last season, with Varvaro logging 11 innings in the Boston bullpen. The 31-year-old Varvaro has seen Major League action in each season dating back to 2010, highlighted by 128 innings of 2.74 ERA ball for the Braves from 2013-14. LaMarre, 27, made his big league debut with the Reds last season and appeared in 21 games but recorded just 26 plate appearances. Dominguez, 29, also received a brief look from Cincinnati in 2015 and got a similar cup of coffee with the 2014 Giants. Boston also confirmed its previously reported signing of veteran right-hander Sean O’Sullivan on a minors pact.
Earlier Updates
- Among the Twins’ recent minor league signees are outfielder Darin Mastroianni, shortstop Wilfredo Tovar, and righty Brandon Kintzler, MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger tweets. The 30-year-old Mastroianni failed to crack the majors last year for the first time in four seasons, and slashed just .257/.308/.345 in 484 Triple-A plate appearances. Tovar, 24, had spent his entire career in the Mets organization and put up a .283/.327/.356 batting line last year over 388 turns at bat in his first run at the highest level of the minors. Injuries have limited Kintzler, who is 31. He only threw 29 1/3 innings at all levels last year after contributing 135 1/3 major league innings of 2.93 ERA pitching over 2013-14.
- The Padres have signed backstop Erik Kratz to a minor league deal, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune recently reported on Twitter. Kratz, 35, only saw 28 MLB plate appearances last year but provides another depth piece for a San Diego club that has numerous options behind the dish.
Between 4 Rule 5 draft picks and now Kratz to fill in at shortstop, Preller has filled out the Padres lineup. They are sure to be a contender now.
Oops. Read that wrong. Another catcher.
Four Rule 5 picks doesn’t make a team a contender. The rotation still lacks solid depth, the lineup is unbalanced and their best hitters are Norris, Kemp and Myers…not exactly top-notch guys. Norris is solid, but the other two are injury-prone players who are best suited as a contributor but not necessarily a serious threat in a lineup.
I’m hopeless at this sort of thing but I think he was being sarcastic. There’s no way he was being serious. They’ll be battling it out with Colorado for fourth place.
It would appear there’s hope for you yet! You read it correctly.
While I don’t disagree that the foundation of the current roster isn’t that strong, I won’t accept the point that Kemp is an “injury-prone..contributor…” Over his final 300 PA’s of 2016, he hit .297/.350/.550 for an OPS of .900. He may have defensive drawbacks, but he still has the potential to be the centerpiece of an offense.
“Drawbacks” is quite generous.
And sadly, the first half of the season (in each of the last two years) does actually count in the overall statistical record.
Dombrowski has done a decent job with the few guys signed to MiLB deals and invites to spring training. Think it’s up to 7-9 now. Generally they only get 1 who could really help the club each year that way and rest are nothing more than retread depth. He’s already gotten Sandy Leon, Rutledge and now Varvaro all to return on minor league deals and off the 40 man roster.
Kemp drives in 100 runs…..Ill take it injury prone or not!
Also,if Myers plays 150 games he will be a nice contributor.Playing 1B will help keep him healthy as well.