Early this season, we checked in on the players that were playing notable MLB roles after settling for minor-league deals over the winter. (Position players; starting pitchers; relievers.) It was small samples galore.
Unsurprisingly, many of the names that featured in the initial look have faded, while other minor-league signees have emerged. Accordingly, we’ll reexamine this year’s crop of budget acquisitions to see which players have provided real utility over the course of the season to date.
We’ll begin, as we did the last time around, with position players. Frankly, as is typical, there haven’t been many significant contributors from among the MiLB contract ranks. But these five are all worthy of note:
- Alen Hanson, Giants: Once a notable prospect, Hanson has made the most of his first extended MLB opportunity this year in San Francisco. Driven by a surprising .194 isolated slugging mark, the out-of-options 25-year-old owns a .276/.301/.469 slash with six home runs and five stolen bases through 208 plate appearances. While defensive metrics aren’t in love with the glove, Hanson’s versatility has been of use and he adds value on the bases, too. He seems like a keeper for the Giants, who control him through the 2022 season.
- Mark Reynolds, Nationals: The 35-year-old languished on the market before landing with the Nationals, but has proven he can still draw a walk and hit for power. On the year, he carries a .269/.359/.537 slash with 11 home runs in 156 plate appearances. That certainly helped keep the Nats afloat as injuries derailed the team’s original plans, though certainly Reynolds remains severely limited by his defensive limitations and poor baserunning.
- A.J. Ellis, Padres: Long a respected presence behind the dish, the 37-year-old Ellis has contributed with the bat as well in 2018. As usual, his most notable offensive skill is his plate discipline — his 15.0% walk rate even exceeds his peak levels — but Ellis has also hit for more average than usual thus far. While the .370 BABIP gives cause for skepticism as to sustainability, Ellis has been one of the game’s biggest on-base threats this year among players with at least 100 plate appearances.
- Max Muncy, Dodgers: Okay, this is cheating a bit. Muncy signed with the Dodgers in 2017, after all. But he did not appear with the organization at the MLB level until the present campaign, and the results have been too good not to warrant mention. True, Muncy has come back to earth of late, slumping out of the All-Star break, but he still owns a stunning .253/.380/558 slash line with 24 home runs on the season. Better still, he has not only received good marks on the basepaths, but has mostly drawn average marks for his fielding while lining up at five different positions.
- Jose Bautista, Mets: Yup, I’m bending the rules here again. Joey Bats signed onto the MLB roster with New York, but he squeezes onto the list because he initially inked a minors pact with the Braves. You also have to put up some blinders on his early showing in Atlanta. Since going to the Mets, though, Bautista has contributed a .208/.360/.372 slash. The once-prodigious power just isn’t there, and he’s striking out at twice his mid-prime rate, but a 17.5% walk rate has allowed Bautista to rate as an above-average offensive player despite a sub-Mendoza batting average for the season.
- Niko Goodrum, Tigers: With a hat tip to MLBTR commenter JosephofMichigan for the suggestion, we’ll add the 26-year-old switch-hitter here as well. Goodrum is swinging and missing too much and only has a .294 on-base percentage through 340 plate appearances, but he’s showing good pop (.188 ISO, ten home runs) and adding value on the bases (3.1 BsR, eight steals). As with Hanson, the metrics are somewhat bearish on Goodrum’s glovework, but he has been asked to play all over the infield along with both corner outfield spots.
Did I miss a worthy player? Let me know in the comments.
Mark Reynolds. His type of player is dying, plus playing Coors (his Coors’ splits) killed his value, despite back-to-back .350 OBP and .450 SLG (as I said day of his signing)
I wish Adam Lind, signed minor league pact, then made MLB to make this list Jeff 🙁
How is his type dying? High strikeout and power numbers? That’s pretty common these days
He went 5-for-5, 10 RBI game, with 2 HRs.
How many people can do that?
“It might keep me on the team for a couple more weeks.” – Mark Reynolds joked on 5-for-5, 10RBI.
Turns out, he was wrong. Mark Reynolds’ the man
Reynolds first 12 games (40 PA) after call up .432/.475/.946 the next 19 games (61 PA) before his player of the week week .094/.180/.151….his player of the week week 7 games (19 PA) .625/.684/1.250 and since then…. 16 games (36 PA) – I didn’t look to see if he played today – .179/.361/.321. Hot and cold running Mark. Lots of guys get of short hot streaks, I would rather have consistency
What do Pat Seerey, Willie Mays and Lou Gehrig have in common? Each hit 4 HR in a game. The difference is Serrey went on to hit 86 in his lifetime. I doubt I have to mention how well the others did.
Hasn’t hit enough to warrant a promotion, unfortunately.
How about Niko Goodrum for the Tigers?
I can get into this, yeah. Will investigate and perhaps add him.
His bat has slipped a tad, but arguably for the same reason as Hanson(gives the Tigers/Giants a somewhat valuable utility option) he could potentially be on the list
def missed Cahill or Edwin Jackson
Both are pitchers. Cahill signed a big league deal, also.
Nick Martini honorable mention albeit small sample size
Read the headline…geesh
Position players
I think Valencia is worth a mention
I considered Danny, but he’s average or somewhat below with the bat and not very good otherwise. He was on the early-season version of this but I decided to leave him out this time.
Dereck Rodriguez has been a stand out in my opinion and was signed on a minor league free agent deal this season.
I’d assume he’ll be in the starting pitcher version of this
I expect he’ll feature prominently when I run down the pitchers in a future post.
Don’t forget Derek(Dutch) holland when your doing pitchers Jeff!
Nick Martini has been good in 64 PA.
Too small a sample for what I was going for, but I did think about him.
How bout annibal Sanchez!!!
The pitchers list is gonna be absurdly long it seems lol.
How about Ryan Brasier
Another pitcher … but hey, keep ’em coming, glad to get a crowdsourced head start on the other lists!
Buchholz, Tyson Ross, Neil Ramirez, Vidal Nuno, Anibal Sanchez, Erik Goedell, Helly, LeBlanc, EJax, Derek Holland, Big Sexy
LeBlanc was a major league deal. He signed a minor league deal with Yanks, got released, then signed $650K major league deal w/ SEA. (That turned to his subsequent extension)
What about Jeremy Hellickson and Bartolo Colon?
Beat me to it on Hellickson. Lot easier watching him vs. Gio.
“what about Jeremy Hellickson and Bartolo Colon” has comprehension just completely died.
NOBUDDY KAREZ MAN
SAYS TYPO MAN
Is this ancient Arabic?
When in Rome (or in the comments section), dumb it way down to fit in.
Just so you know, Jeff Todd has answered six of my questions already in chat, so please refer all further comments to my agent since I’m famous now.
Just gonna refer you to the truant officer.
Muncy seems to be a classic late bloomer. I wish him well in his efforts to keep it rolling. It’s always good to see stories like his.
You guys here are all just a bunch of super nerds!
Love, Jayson Werthless
Yep. Do you think Jayson Werth has yelled at more clouds or kids to get off his lawn these past couple of days?
arguably the biggest omission, anibal Sanchez. Huge part of the Braves turn around this year
aaaand just realised its position players only…awkward….
Not really. You politely pointed out what you thought was “mistake”
Even if you were incorrect, not awkward at all. It’s only awkward if you make it awkward.
Seems a lot of people missed it is position players only lol.
Weak list when Bautista makes it.
Seriously, he’s been a joke. He’s struck out like 25 times in a row. Just a SSS, dead cat bounce from Joey B. Mets only going to bring him back because they will be tanking in 2019 as well.
If they were tanking 2019, they would have traded deGrom, Syndergaard, (even Wheeler!) already.
I think Mets are in denial. “Tanking” illustrates losing on purpose, by design. if Mets suck in 2019, this would be without by design, because they expect to compete. If it fails, could lead to tank
“I think the Mets are in denial.”
Do you know what the financial position of the Wilpon-Katz group which owns the Mets is at the moment, xabial? Have they paid down their debts to manageable size yet?
It’s silly to talk about the Mets plans without understanding the finances involved. When they had money, or thought they had it, they spent it on talent. If they ever reach that level of stability again I’d expect them to be spenders again. But don’t look at the player moves, follow the money. That’s how you’ll know when the Mets are ready to compete again.
I thought the Mets were in New York. Denial is in Egypt.
Daniel Palka has helped the White Sox with his bat. His glove needs work.
Waiver claim
Melky Cabrera?
If you’re going to bend the rules, Joey Wendle (DFA’d, acquired for cash) is hitting clean-up for the Rays these days…….
as a giants fan you have holland for sure, circumstance had the guy go from maybe a bullpen arm to solid rotation piece and he has stepped up in the role.
Hahahhaah Bautista?
Shohei Ohtani
Technically Eric Kratz was signed to minor league deal then traded to the Brewers lol
As a Brewers fan, even I don’t think he should sniff this list. He should be DFA’d any day now.
Buchholz and Edwin jackson
Where do you find if they were a Major League free agent vs a Minor League free agent?
Try out our transaction tracker under the “tools” bar on the site.
Was Leonys Martin a MiLB signing?
Major League contract for guaranteed $1.75MM.
Curt Casali and Jim Adduci. Maybe not for inclusion now( small sample size) but by year’s end.
Randy Rosario. Brandon Bass.
*Anthony Bass
Lance Bass
Bubble Bass
Large Mouth Bass
Brandon bass LSU and Dallas Mav legend!
Big Bassman, failed WWF/WWE gimmick.
Wade Miley
TIL; that almost half of MLBTR commenters do not read article titles.
Since we’re bending the rules a tad, I think Roselle Herrera has been a pleasant surprise this season for KC…
We may do a similar look at recent waiver claimees at some point.
You are missing Bartolo Colon.He just passed Dennis Martinez as having the most wins by a Latin born player. Now he is chasing Juan Marichal for the most innings pitched by a Dominican born player.
… dude, read the headline.
Confirmation bias is a thing even at the highest levels. That’s why a lot of executives won’t promote players they didn’t initially think were worth putting on the major league roster, even if they’re doing great at triple A, and the initial choice is doing poorly in the majors.
That’s why it would be interesting to look at minor league numbers as well. I bet it would be a much longer list of shunned players proving the decision makers wrong. (Japanese numbers should be looked at as well … if there’s anyone who was shunned and elected to sign in Japan instead of the minors, this year).
So the owners were right. The free agents last year sucked.
Well you kind of half to suck to only get a MLC. This wasn’t the best FA signings this is the best of then minor league contracts
Yep. JDM, LoCain, Arrieta, and a whole lot of suck.
Richard Rodriguez, Justin Miller, Louis Coleman, Anthony Bass, Dylan Floro, Tyler Clippard and Oliver Perez for relievers, Shohei Otani for starters.
Like LeBlanc, Oliver Perez signed a MiLB deal with the Yanks, was released to persue a better oppurtinity, and ultimately signed a major league deal with the Indians.
People sign minor league deals with the Yanks, get released only to sign major league deals Lol
Francisco Pena hasn’t been a bad backup, at least defensively, for St. Louis. Not many AB’s due to Iron YADI Molina though.