We’ll use this post to keep track of today’s minor league signings…
- The Marlins have re-signed southpaw Mike Kickham to a minors deal with an invitation to spring training, according to the Associated Press. Last season was the first in the Miami organization for Kickham, who divided the year between the minors’ two highest levels and posted a 3.65 ERA over 145 2/3 innings (27 appearances, 25 starts). Kickham also logged 7.4 K/9 against just 1.5 BB/9. The 29-year-old brings minimal big league experience, with his most recent stint being a two-inning showing with San Francisco in 2014.
- The Orioles have signed infielder/outfielder Anderson Feliz to a minors pact without a spring training invite, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com tweets. The O’s are the third organization for Feliz, who was previously in the minors with the Yankees (2009-14) and Pirates (2015-17). In his first Triple-A action last season, the 25-year-old Feliz batted a meek .209/.257/.328 in 145 plate appearances.
Earlier Updates
- Angels lefty Nate Smith will remain in the organization after clearing waivers and being outrighted, the club announced. The 26-year-old had earned a 40-man spot in advance of the 2017 Rule 5 draft, but he ended up missing the bulk of the year due to elbow/forearm issues. Things only got worse this winter, as Smith ended up requiring anterior capsule surgery that will cost him all of the coming season. He was designated for assignment recently. Smith has generally been regarded as one of the Halos’ best pitching prospects in recent years, though he had struggled somewhat at Triple-A in 2016 (4.61 ERA in 150 1/3 innings) before the injury bug hit late that season.
- The Marlins have inked outfielder Scott Van Slyke to a minor league deal which includes an invitation to spring training, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com tweets. Van Slyke had spent his entire pro baseball career with the Dodgers’ organization, with the small exception of 57 games he played for the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate. The 6’4″ outfielder owns a career slash line of just .230/.308/.390, but his most useful role is as a platoon hitter versus left-handed pitching against. When facing southpaws, he’s posted a .252/.358/.462 line with a 130 wRC+. Van Slyke has seen a performance decline in recent seasons, however; he was roughly average against lefties in 2016 and wasn’t able to muster much offense at all in 29 major league plate appearances last season. He’ll now join a rebuilding Marlins club with whom he has a better chance of earning playing time at the MLB level.
- Also joining the Marlins is right-hander Javy Guerra, per Tim Healey of the Sun-Sentinel. The 32-year-old gave Miami 21 innings of 3.00 ERA ball in 2017 and has managed to crack the big leagues in each of the pat seven seasons. It has been a while, though, since Guerra held down a regular relief role. Despite his bottom-line success last year, Guerra managed only 5.1 K/9 (on a marginal 5.3% swinging-strike rate) against 3.0 BB/9. That said, he did produce quality groundball (54.4%) and infield fly (21.1%) rates.
his new twitter profile pic is of the marlins cap
That would be quite fitting seeing as though he just signed with…wait for it…THE MARLINS!
but what could this mean!!!!
“ . . . his most useful role is as a platoon hitter versus left-handed pitching against.”
That last word should be omitted.
I’ve only seen Van Slyke intermittently over his MLB career. Was he once a pretty fair player and has fallen off since then, or was he never that good to begin with and his best numbers were an aberration?
never watched him play, but his stats suggest that he was a pretty okay 4th or 5th outfielder, who also played first base. He’s not deserving of much playing time though, but for the Marlins, he might.
The Marlins are going to look like a AAA club for a couple of seasons
He couldn’t get a spot on the reds, so idk if he will have a spot on Miami either. But two differant rebuilding clubs so who knows.
He’s never been that “great” of player in my opinion as a Dodger fan having seen a lot of him. He got one opportunity to play everyday and couldn’t do much at the plate. He’s definitely a bench player or platoon against leftys at best as he’s also average to below average on defense
What I dont understand is… why are teams going after mediocre at best guys like van slyke to be platoons? The 2016 NL home run king remains unsigned and available for relatively cheap.
Because it’s a depth move, simple as that. All teams do stuff like this throughout the offseason, nothing to get worked up over or overanalyze.
I agree. Its mindblowing to me.
Little shocked smith cleared. Looked like a 60-day stash candidate
Always liked SVS when he was with the Dodgers and thought he ought to get a shot at regular at bats…could possibly turn into a late bloomer in the mold of Jayson Werth if given a chance with the Marlins
I agree. He did deserve more playing time then he got.
Can Slyke is a beast when healthy. The guy can crush the ball. The problem is he was inconsistent early in his career and when he finally found himself he started being inured often. Sucks for him, will always be one of my favorite players even if he hasn’t been able to get a full time role. Hope he can stay healthy and have some success this season.
*Van Slyke
He’s just this side of awful. Who are you, his dad?
Lol