Baseball America has posted its traditional roundup of minor moves dating to the start of the offseason. We’ve already covered quite a few of the transactions over the past several weeks, but there are several additions on minor-league pacts that have to this point eluded detection …
- The Braves have signed left-handed pitcher Chris Nunn to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training, according to Robert Murray. Nunn, originally a 2012 draftee of the Padres, has yet to see Major League action since his professional debut, making stops in Independent leagues along the way. Now 28 years old, he’s played in the upper minors with the Astros and Dodgers organizations in the last two years. Last year, in 50 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, Nunn struck out 66 batters while walking 24. After posting a 1.33 ERA in Double-A, his numbers ballooned at the next level, though he largely maintained his bat-missing prowess.
- The Padres signed outfielder Abraham Almonte. The 30-year-old switch-hitter saw action in 17 MLB games for the division-rival Diamonbacks in 2019. He was quite productive with the Snakes’ Triple-A affiliate in Reno last season, slashing .270/.382/.558. That dwarfs his prior MLB performance, though. In 1,138 plate appearances over the past six seasons, the center field-capable Almonte has compiled a .239/.298/.373 line (81 wRC+).
- The Reds re-signed infielder Christian Colón and added catcher Francisco Peña to the organization. Colón, most known for his top five draft status and World Series heroics with the Royals, logged eight MLB plate appearances in Cincinnati last season. That rewarded a solid .300/.372/.443 line in extended action with Triple-A Louisville, although Colón was unsurprisingly bumped from the 40-man roster at season’s end. Peña tallied 202 uninspiring MLB plate appearances with the Royals, Orioles and Cardinals from 2014-18. He’s shown decent pop for a catcher at Triple-A, though; in parts of six seasons at the minors’ highest level, he has compiled a .259/.301/.469 line.
- The Dodgers re-signed right-hander Justin De Fratus. The former Phillie has spent the last two seasons in the L.A. organization, but he hasn’t seen the majors since 2015. While all 191 of De Fratus’ MLB appearances have come out of the bullpen, he’s primarily been a starting pitcher in the minors in recent years, albeit with uninspiring results. The Dodgers also added hard-throwing lefty reliever Reymin Guduan. Guduan is still just 27 and had little trouble racking up strikeouts in the Astros’ organization, both in the high minors and at the MLB level. He’s always issued a few too many walks, though. Perhaps more concerning, Houston released Guduan in September after a team-imposed suspension for an undisclosed disciplinary issue.
- The Rockies re-signed righty reliever Wes Parsons. The 27-year-old was claimed off waivers midseason from the Braves, but a dreadful MLB showing cost him his 40-man roster spot. Parsons logged a cumulative 5.45 ERA with more walks (29) than strikeouts (26) in 34.2 innings. Colorado also signed outfielder Michael Choice. The former top prospect, now 30, hasn’t logged significant MLB action since 2014. He’s spent the past two seasons in the Mexican League, but a strong 2019 effort there earned him another look in affiliated ball.
- The Braves signed veteran infielder Pete Kozma. The longtime Cardinal has just a .215/.278/.291 career line (54 wRC+) in parts of seven MLB seasons. He hasn’t done much at the dish in the minors, either, but he’s a well-regarded defender around the infield.
- The Angels signed former Cubs’ prospect Arismendy Alcántara. Alcántara hasn’t played at the highest level since 2017, and his career .189/.235/.315 line (49 wRC+) reflects the plate discipline woes that have done him in. He’s still just 28 years old, though, and his 2019 return to affiliated ball following a year in the Mexican League went well. The utilityman was productive across two minor-league levels in the Mets’ organization last season and showed better discipline than he has in his MLB career.
- The Mets added former White Sox outfielder Ryan Cordell. Twice traded as a prospect, the 27-year-old fell flat in his first extended MLB look in 2019, with just a .221/.290/.355 line (73 wRC+). He’s capable of logging some time in center field, though, and he put together a decent minor-league resume between myriad injuries.
- Finally, the Yankees brought aboard utilityman Rosell Herrera. Herrera logged fair MLB time with the Reds, Royals and Marlins the past two seasons. His resultant .225/.286/.316 slash (63 wRC+) won’t turn any heads, but Herrera has an 82nd percentile sprint speed, per Statcast, and has logged time at six different positions (short, second, third, and all three outfield spots) as a big leaguer.
Alrighty then
What’s with this Kozma signing? I know it’s probably for defense since we stand to lose Hechavarria but man he seems terrible. Hechavarria isn’t a good player overall but Kozma seems significantly worse. As my dad would say after looking at his numbers, “This guy PURELY sucks.”
I don’t get the addition even if it is low risk. You can add a lot of different purely suck players for the league minimum if you want to. This reminds me of the John Ryan Murphy acquisition. What did he get with the Braves last season? I think 1 at bat… Total. Then released. The Braves paid $100+ grand for that type of production out of someone they already expected to be a 4th string player behind McCann, Flowers and Cervelli. I know $100 grand isn’t much to pay a player but it is way to much to pay for one completely useless at bat. At least JRM could play the catcher position though. Kozma can’t even do that. I definitely hope the Braves aren’t actually desperate enough to give Kozma any roster time next season. He sounds awful. Maybe this pitcher they just signed will be better.
It’s a Braves tradition, dumpster diving.
Every fan base thinks their team does this. It’s a low risk no money signing. Stop overthinking.
Thank you
Why doesn’t the link to Baseball America work?
It used too…..
Works for me
Works for me too
Hey Jorge78! Long time no talk. How ya been, man? What do you think about the whole JD situation? Rumor has it that the Braves offered him a 4-year $104 million contract and he hasn’t accepted yet because he wants $110 mill. This site hasn’t confirmed the total value but other sites claim it is so. This site is more trustworthy generally but the other sites acknowledged the Braves 4 year offer days before MLBTR even recognized it happened. I even posted all about it and they ignored it (or didn’t see it) and then they confirmed the offer actually occurred a few days later. The same sites that originally posted the offer are saying it is $104 million but MLBTR hasn’t touched it. I don’t know who to believe. MLBTR is more reputable but they were definitely behind the ball when it came to the offer being made in the first place. The sites that were on the ball put up the $104 million financials. It seems those sites might have an inside line in this one. What do you think?
shows up blank for me.
try changing browsers
there are no browsers on the app, genius.
I’m on my phone using the app so there is no app.
I’ve posted this comment before and others have
said it happens to them.
It used to work for me on this same phone same app. Anymore ideas
genius?
baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-transacti…
Hafta wait for someone on their end to fix it, if they do. I’ve seen it happen twice on chats and once on a poll. I remember they fixed the poll pretty quickly, the chats idk if they ever fixed. I gave up checking on both after a few hours.
Yeah… Jorge is right. I have a cheap phone and the app will download but it is just flat out terrible. I am at the point now that I don’t even care about the app and I just want to make the sight better. The dual ads cause a problem on a cheap phone but I understand they need to monetize as much as possible. What I don’t get is why they have to put a massive “No New Comments” button smack dab in between the two adds. That doesn’t even make them money and there has to b a better way to do that. 3 things blocking the specific area you are supposed to type in? Really? And the biggest thing doesn’t even make you money?
I didn’t know MLBTR only catered to people wealthy enough to buy nice smart phones. I thought a less expensive smart phone would still grant me equal access to this site. Fascists.
That fascists line was just a joke, but everyone else is throwing that word around in situations like this so I figured: Why not?
It just hates you.
My ex-wife has that covered…..
Yeah, I definitely know how you feel there, my friend…
Didn’t Pete Kozma “catch” the infamous infield fly? I was at that game. Pure mayhem.
Yes he did. Greatest play ever!!!
I think you mean worst call of all time. Over 100 into the outfield isn’t even remotely an infield fly.
I don’t have my rule book. What’s the furthest it can be in the outfield before it’s not an infield fly?
Apparently the foul lines of left field. Still egregious to this day. A left field umpire should be responsible for…um left field, not the infield.
That’s an oxymoron…..
There’s no specific distance. It’s judged to be if the infielder could be expected to make the play, and clearly Kozma was there under the ball, but when he saw the veteran Holliday coming all the way in for it even though Matt was not calling for the catch, rookie Kozma yielded to him. Holliday was the cause of the chaos, not Kozma. The call was correct.
That was a ridiculous call by Holbrook.. I’ve never seen an infield fly called on a ball that far out in the outfield.
If the call is technically correct, why isn’t it made more often?
How does not ever seeing a play like that relate to the rules are enforced?
Not seeing a play like that ever does relate to how rare a play may have been, but not how a rule was or was not enforced.
Michael Choice was an excellent one to sign indeed.
The Mexican league is like AA or AAA so don’t get too excited about that one
Loved seeing him in Laredo. The Mexican League Tecolotes (Owls)
plays half their games on
the U.S. side.
Mexican league is not all AAA talent but draws AAA size crowds, so they get to call it that. If they were AAA talent, they’d be on AAA teams in the US.
Watch that Ryan Cordell guy be playing center field in May/June with the Mets.
I guess you’re counting on another rash of injuries with or without trades, but that’s the reason for depth signings.
obviously its easy to hit in the Mexican league, but Choice’s numbers were eye-popping. good signing.
Jake Taylor couldn’t cut it in that league though
Glad he couldn’t
And that is relevant how?
So Rosell Herrera will no probably have slash of .280/.360/.460 now that he’s a yankee. Just like every player that went from water to wine they signed last year.
Herrera’s low-key a very solid player. He’s taken a while to adjust to each level throughout his career, so a year or so to adjust to major league pitching is expected. His versatility will be used well by the Yanks
Pete’s one of those guys that puts up one decent showing and make a long time career because of it, even though overall he’s been quite bad.
Well, bravesfan, everyone has their own opinion. You’ve obviously not watched any AAA baseball in the past 7 years. Try it and you might find that they still play the game the right way as opposed to MLB games where it’s just an entertainment business with cheaters still playing the game and being idolized, over-hyped, and over paid.
Bitter at all?
What? No way. Just grew up watching Mantle, Maris, Berra, Koufax, Yas, Drysdale, Bench, Seaver, etc. and a true baseball game. Today’s major league games are like wrestling and extreme sports. Fake, furious, and phony.
Minor league ball is much more satisfying to watch now.
Guduan will be useful if the Dodgers get into a beanball war. He’d have plausible deniability.
Nice aaa pick up for the Mets. At 27, maybe he can bounce back. He was a pretty solid prospect and as many do, struggled against major league pitching. At the very least, he is a true centerfielder.
Why do padres keep signing guys who cant hit in ML????
Easier than finding any that can.
To go to Spring Training and battle Preller’s millionaires who can’t hit in the ML.
Crazy how just a few years ago, Almonte would not have been on the “minor transactions” feed
Neither would Colon and Choice
Guess the Braves don’t need Donaldson anymore♂️
I think the Braves have decided that 4 yrs/104 mil (if the rumors are correct) is how high they are willing to go. If Donaldson wants to play in ATL, he might have to “settle” for slightly less money.
Good for the Braves. That is a solid offer if true
With the Nats and Twins pulling out, would the Braves lower their offer since they are the only one left in the bidding? I’m not saying they will, just putting the question out there.
If no one else wants him, maybe the Braves are questioning why they do. Sure, he had a good OBP and 37 HRs, he also had more strikeouts(155) than hits(142) and hit .158 in the playoffs. Austin Riley: 4 years $15MIL(approximately) Donaldson: 4 years $110MIL. The question becomes: Is Donaldson 7 times better than Riley over the next 4 years?