The D-backs have released more than 60 minor league players over the past couple of weeks, and Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper reports several of the names that were cut loose (Twitter links). Veteran right-hander Edwin Jackson was the most experienced player to be released. Arizona also parted ways with outfielders Travis Snider and Dalton Pompey; right-handers Aaron Blair, Mauricio Cabrera, Damien Magnifico and Michael Tonkin; and lefty David Huff. All have big league experience. Each of the releases technically took place on either May 28 or May 22, per the Pacific Coast League’s transactions page.
Jackson, 36, threw a no-hitter for the Diamondbacks way back in 2010 and returned to the organization on a minor league pact this winter. He split the 2019 campaign between the Blue Jays and Tigers, posting a whopping 9.58 ERA in 67 2/3 frames. Still, Jackson is regarded as a revered clubhouse presence with experience pitching in variety of roles. As recently as 2018, he was a key part of the Athletics’ pitching staff in a season that saw them win 97 games and capture a Wild Card berth; in 92 frames for Oakland that year, Jackson worked to a 3.33 ERA (4.65 FIP) with 6.7 K/9 against 3.6 BB/9. More anecdotally, of course, Jackson famously has pitched for more teams than any other player in MLB history (14).
Snider, perhaps surprisingly to some, is still just 32. He hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since 2015, but the former No. 14 overall pick and ballyhooed top prospect turned in a terrific .294/.402/.497 slash in 93 games with the D-backs’ Triple-A club in Reno last year.
Pompey, Blair and Cabrera were all one-time top prospects themselves. Blair was a first-round pick by the D-backs and was the sometimes-forgotten third piece shipped to the Braves in the Ender Inciarte/Dansby Swanson/Shelby Miller blockbuster. Magnifico and Tonkin both have limited experience in big league bullpens, and Tonkin has had some success both in Nippon Professional Baseball and on the indie ball circuit.
Huff, 35, has spent the past four seasons pitching overseas. After starring for the LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization and serving as one of the better arms in the league, he spent two seasons with the Yakult Swallows in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Huff inked a minor league pact in hopes of a big league return this year but like Jackson now faces some uncertainty regarding the next steps in a lengthy career.
Pirates, please sign Jackson when you can re-engage in contract and transaction talks. He needs to extend his record of teams played with.
Man I remember snider on the jays back when it was him, JP and Ricky as the big up and coming can’t miss prospects partying it up in Vegas. Not to shocking that after this group came up the jays switched to buffalo as their aaa team. Wonder what would have happened to their careers if they had played in buffalo instead
Jackson is going to be on to yet another team
I want to see him get into the Hall just to see a jersey representing every team he’s been on. Would make Gaylord Perry look like a lifer.
He already played for 6 more teams.
I thought Travis Snider retired in 2015. I guess it’s cool that he’s still out there doing his .210 batting average thing.
As a Braves fan, it was frustrating watching them invest time in Blair. You could tell he didn’t have ‘it’. Hard to be too upset, though. Great trade that netted Ender and Dansby.
Manfred needs to make a rule prohibiting Jackson from signing with or being traded to any team he has already played for.
no mention of Cody Reed?
A different Cody Reed than the one who pitches for Cinncy.
How am I not watching Travis Snider in the KBO?
You might in the near future; the Kiwoom Heroes are looking for a replacement for Taylor Motter
As a DBacks fan, I’m disappointed that they made so many cuts. A few of these guys played long enough to have some financial security, but a lot of them were relying on those paychecks. It seems like it would have been the right thing to do to keep most of them and pay them at least the $400 or so a week
Jackson should be the next MLBPA rep. He’s been everywhere, met everyone, and everyone still likes him. Either him or Boras.
I feel bad for guys like jackson, part of the winnowing of MiLB means that guys like him are going to have a much harder time as teams can’t stash more marginal players in the minors waiting for them to resuge or breakout