The latest minor league moves from around the sport…
- The Cardinals have signed infielder Max Moroff to a minors contract that contains an invitation to the Cards’ big league Spring Training camp, Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors reports (Twitter link). A veteran of 104 Major League games with the Pirates and Indians from 2016-19, Moroff has a .183/.277/.319 slash line over 244 career plate appearances, though his ability to play second base, third base, and shortstop makes him a useful bench asset. Moroff signed a minor league deal with the Mets last winter.
- The Phillies signed utilityman Christian Bethancourt to a minor league deal, The Athletic’s Matt Gelb reports (via Twitter). The contract has an invite to the Phillies’ Major League spring camp. Bethancourt inked a minors deal with Philadelphia last offseason but didn’t see any action in any big league games or at the Phils’ alternate training site. Bethancourt hit .222/.252/.316 over 489 PA with the Braves and Padres from 2013-17, and he has since played in the Brewers’ minor league system and in South Korea with the KBO League’s NC Dinos. Though Bethancourt is known for his ability to play multiple positions around the diamond, he’ll likely be used primarily as a catcher by the Phillies, Gelb notes, since the team is lacking in catching depth.
And DeWitt said he wasn’t going to sign anybody
I’ve watched Moroff play, and I can confirm for you that the Cards still didn’t sign anybody.
Bwahahaha.
Yeah teams signing seemingly-inconsequential guys named “Max M.” never works out.
As Bugs Bunny would say about the Cardinals—— Errr That’s All Folks!!!
The Fans have grown accustom tho only getting rejects from other teams in the winter months and nothing at the trading deadlines to
Improve the Cardinals team.
We sure do wish some Billionaire would buy the Cardinals from the DeWitt’s. Someone who wouldn’t move the club out of St. Louis.
Would fire the entire front office.
Employ a batting coach who loves contact hitting rather than launch angles & Strikeouts.
Who would insure they recycled at least 3 impact bats per year.
Plus have a desire to employ the type of team who’s dedication is to make it to the World Series each year.
Set the goal each season to be in the World Series instead of a goal of playing competitive with an above .500 team average for each season.
there is no bottom of that barrel for the cardinals. signings get deeper every year.
Amen troll !!!! For a 60 year Cardinals Organization fan—— the poor attitude of the Cardinals front office and owners— is the worst I’ve ever observed!!!!!
Walt Jockerty did a great job for the Cardinals and brought in some great players!! John Mozeliak followed. After exhausting or trading off all of Jockerty’s acquisitions of impact players—- John Mozeliak has coined terms such as obtaining “Low Hanging Fruit!!!”, Dumpster diving!”, “Filling from within” after and impact player leaves the organization.
John Mozeliak must have a lot of blackmail information on the Cardinals or is married into the family. Otherwise— any other organization would have moved on from him and tried to get someone in Mozeliak’s position with positive outlooks toward the future such as Walt Jockerty did when he became the Cardinals GM.
JT who? We’ve got Bethancourt, baby!
Actually, what he said is that he couldn’t be certain what spending would look like for the upcoming season and that they would remain flexible.
I love your screen name. I popped this story open thinking we would have some Yadi or Waino news. Oh well, maybe soon
Well, he has a career 10.13 ERA so he’ll fit right in Philly’s pen…
Sad, but true.
This just in Bethancourt isn’t signed to be a backup catcher but as a reliever after showing his ability to hit 95+ on the mound a few seasons ago!
Yeah and then he got hurt.
Christian Bethancourt… he is still around ?
Nothing against Moroff personally but I’m always curious as to how a guy who hits like .230 in the minors winds up getting in 100+ games in the majors, when there are guys hitting .280+ that never make it to the bigs. I get that he’s a versatile defender and all… but idk it just always gives me pause when I see guys like this that get 100 games in the majors and then see other guys who toil away in the minors for a decade hitting .275-.280 and never get a shot in the majors. Just a curiosity… nothing against him… wish him the best next season! haha
it makes me wonder if we’re working on a trade including a couple infielders on the 40 man…probably wishful thinking
i had a guy tell me many years ago when i told him i wanted to play in the majors. he disappointed me by saying, “it was all political.” max must have someone in the good ole boy club backng him.
Why is Max Moroff’s nickname Maxwell if that’s his actual real name?
“Bang bang Maxwell’s silver hammer came down upon his head, dee doo do doo doooo…”
More low hanging fruit for the Cardinals, what a joke, you’ll miss Kolten Wong.
not low hanging, it’s rotten already
Having appeared at multiple positions in the past doesn’t mean you “can play” multiple positions.
Indeed. Moroff is a prime example of a guy who can play multiple positions, but not play any of them particularly well. “Versatility” in quotation marks.
And I just realized that you were probably referring to Bethancourt, who’s an even better example of “versatility”
As a Cards fan, I would say we are Moroff than On….
Why is everyone on Max tail? He has played with a few teams over the years so something is making these GM’S intrested in him. Most likely his versatility and he can be a depth piece at AAA.
Normal Cardinals acquisition. Another below .200 hitter just to make Matt Carpenter feel like he has company on the team.