Here are Monday’s minor moves from around the league…
- The Padres have signed right-hander Jonathan Aro to a minor league contract, per Aro’s agent, Gene Mato (Twitter link). The 27-year-old Aro, who was traded from the Red Sox to the Mariners as part of the Wade Miley/Carson Smith deal, has recorded excellent numbers at the Triple-A level but has yet to receive an extended look in the Majors. That Aro received a 50-game suspension earlier this season for a violation of MLB’s joint drug agreement didn’t help his case in that regard. Still, Aro owns a lifetime 2.96 ERA with 8.7 K/9 against 2.1 BB/9 in 130 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level. He’s a pronounced fly-ball pitcher, though that’s less of an issue at San Diego’s Petco Park than it would be in some settings.
- Outfielder Brandon Barnes is joining the Indians on a minor league contract, tweets SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo. The PSI Sports Management client hit .276/.331/.420 with Miami’s Triple-A affiliate last season but didn’t appear in the Majors — his first season without big league action since splitting the 2011 season between Double-A and Triple-A. The 31-year-old Barnes has drawn considerably above-average reviews for his work in the outfield, per Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating, but he’s a career .242/.289/.356 hitter. Barnes can play all three outfield spots and could conceivably fill a role similar to the one Austin Jackson held in Cleveland last year, but although he’s a right-handed bat, he lacks Jackson’s track record against left-handed pitching.
- The Giants announced that infielder/outfielder Orlando Calixte has been outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento after clearing waivers. The 25-year-old batted .143/.185/.163 in 55 MLB plate appearances in San Francisco and hit .243/.283/.421 in 401 Triple-A plate appearances last season. Calixte has seen brief action with the Giants and Royals over the past two seasons and is a career .247/.300/.382 hitter in parts of eight minor league seasons. He was designated for assignment last week when San Francisco was setting its roster prior to the Rule 5 Draft.
I’m wondering if it was sign of next to no depth and desperation when SF promoted a player with a line of .247/.300/.382 at AAA to the Majors?
he was hitting something like .280/.330/.450 when he was called up, after 3 of 4 different LF/CF options went down bc of injury or underperformance. That slash line is OK considering he could play anywhere but catcher and pitcher. Jarrett Parker, Chris Marrero, Drew Stubbs, Mike Morse, Eduardo Núñez, and Kelby Tomlinson were all tried out there and none of them panned out before Calixte was called up. They even toyed with putting korean third baseman Jae-Gyun Hwang in left at AAA. 2017 was a cursed season for Giants left fielders.
His defense was very good when he was up, just couldn’t get the bat going. He was definitely a fill-in due to injuries.
Aro is a nice pickup for the Padres. Got to see quite a bit of him when he was in Greenville. Had a mid-90s FB with so much late tail that he missed the zone with it sometimes and a plus slider. If I remember correctly he also had a changeup that needed some work and a slurvy pitch that he didn’t throw much. Solidly built guy, but not real tall. Comes out of a high 3/4 slot. Perfect guy to slot into AAA and bring up when injuries or poor performance happen.
He kind of disappeared off the radar. I guess that is because of the 50-day suspension. I wonder if that was for PED or recreational drugs?
Bath salts
So he is nuts?
Hopefully he has a great personality
Chemistry is key to a rebuild; minors and majors
Chewy will love Barnes. His kind of player.
Giants should see what the Rays want for Longoria.