Interested in learning about the players that have just reached the open market as minor-league free agents? There are quite a few, and Matt Eddy of Baseball America lists them all.
Here are some notable recent minor transactions from around the game:
- First baseman Ike Davis has decided to wrap up his playing career, according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post (Twitter link). The 31-year-old had most recently attempted to revitalize his career by moving to the mound, drawing some positive initial reviews from the Dodgers. He ended up only making a few rookie ball appearances, though, so obviously the transition did not work out. Ultimately, Davis will be remembered for his time in a Mets uniform. The former first round pick showed plenty of promise early in his career, but a lower leg injury and bout with valley fever in 2011 seemingly sidetracked him. Davis ultimately compiled a .239/.332/.414 slash line with 81 home runs in 2,392 trips to the plate at the game’s highest level.
- Padres righty Kazuhisa Makita was outrighted after clearing waivers, per MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell (via Twitter). That’s no surprise, in light of his $1.9MM salary for the coming season. Makita could yet emerge as a useful asset for the Pads, as he showed an ability to generate both swings and misses and quite a few infield flies at the MLB level. Unfortunately, the Japanese hurler was also tagged for seven home runs and a 5.40 ERA in 35 innings in his debut big league campaign.
Ike Davis had a relatively successful career. I mean starting for a big league team for multiple years has to mean something. I suspect we will hear from him again as a hitting coach down the road.
I hope not.
No. He had a very poor career. You have to compare him to other major leaguers, not other human beings. Why would he make a good hitting coach?
He was a first round draft pick. Many times first rounders that don’t pan out in the bigs make excellent hitting and pitching coaches. They have all of the talent and knowledge on how to do the job, they just never had the ability to do it that well. In other words, the perfect teacher.
You don’t HAVE to compare him to other major leaguers, you CHOOSE to. He managed to live out his dream and play in the majors and not embarrass himself. That is a successful career. Not a HOF career, not a great career, but a successful one.
The BA link won’t load up
It worked for me. Maybe they fixed the link?
Positive initial reviews but ultimately not rave reviews…
I love that everyone still gets that joke
Valley fever can be some nasty stuff. It derailed Conor Jackson’s career as well. It’s estimated that one in three people that live in the SW have but for most it does not get so severe as to require hospitalization. Most people pass it off as a reoccurring cold or flu.
I hear he is a really nice guy from my fiancée, she went with him. He is still very young, I doubt there isn’t something down the line in baseball operations for him.
She went to school with him *
Makita was an expensive way for Preller to try and gain some scouting cred in the ML-level pitching department. The only surprise is that Preller actually ate some crow and DFA’d the guy.