We’ll track the day’s minor moves here:
- The Rangers announced that they’ve signed first baseman/outfielder Kevin Keyes to a minor league deal. The 27-year-old Texas native won’t be invited to Major League camp, however. A former 26th-round pick of the Nationals that has spent the entirety of his career in the Nats organization, Keyes reached Triple-A in both 2015 and in 2016, though last year represented the worst of his pro career. In 375 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A, Keyes slashed just .204/.304/.367. He’s a career .233/.309/.411 hitter in parts of seven minor league campaigns.
Earlier Updates
- The Mets have announced the signing of righty Wilfredo Boscan to a minor-league deal that does not include an invite to MLB camp. Boscan, 27, appeared in the majors for the first time last year — he had previously been on an active roster without being handed the ball — though he struggled in limited action. He did, however, managed 169 1/3 innings of 3.14 ERA ball at the Triple-A level, with 5.8 K/9 against 2.9 BB/9. Boscan’s broader track record in the upper minors suggests those results may have been something of an outlier, however; he has allowed more than four earned runs per nine innings over his 467 2/3 lifetime frames at Double-A and Triple-A. In any event, he’ll represent another depth arm for New York to call upon should a need arise this year.
Surprised they aren’t bringing Bosco to camp. Although he may not make the squad, I could see him shuttling between the Mets and Vegas for a spot start or two this year. Who knows, he might be a nice middle relief piece in the long run.
I like the track record. He gets hit, but it doesn’t look like he gets hit too hard. A major league defense would help him out. He could be a surprise call up due to an injury to the rotation, which is almost bound to happen in Queens.
He will be about 10th on the list, after Thor, Harvey, deGrom, Matz, Gsellman, Wheeler, Lugo, Montero, spot starts for Gilmartin or Goeddel and maybe Adam Wilk or Tyler Pill.
Wilfredo is a good organizational soldier. He doesn’t have lights-out stuff but he’s smart, doesn’t give up a ton of homers, and uses his defense. He was asked to absorb some innings for the Pirates and did it without complaint. I wish him well.