Some minor moves taking place during this year’s GM Meetings:
- The Orioles have landed right-handed pitcher Rico Garcia on a minor league accord, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. A 30th-rounder drafted out of Hawaii Pacific University by the Rockies in 2016, Garcia has posted promising (if inconsistent) results throughout his minor league career as a starter. The righty received brief looks in the Major Leagues for a 2019 Rockies team and a 2020 Giants team before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the 2021 season with the San Francisco organization. He will likely serve as relief depth for a Baltimore team that needs it on the heels of a historically poor pitching season.
- The Angels have struck a minor league deal with outfielder Aaron Whitefield, reports SKOR North’s Darren Wolfson. The 25-year-old Whitefield signed with the Twins out of his native Australia back in 2015 and had been a staple in their minor league ranks since. The speedster is coming off a decent Double-A campaign in 2021 where hit .257/.327/.353 but with a tantalizing number of steals (36, in 48 attempts) and centerfield-capable defense. He’ll now serve as a depth option for a Los Angeles team that is frequently beset with injuries and look to get called up to the Majors for the first time since a three-game cameo with Minnesota in 2020.
fun fact: Aaron Whitefield is a two time Australian Baseball League MVP
Lol
Does anyone know if Peter Moylan was a big deal in Australia? He had nasty stuff and he was signed after the World Baseball Classic when he was being used as a starter. I can’t imagine how his stuff would play as a starting pitcher but he must’ve been highly regarded to get that opportunity as a submarine pitcher. He was also a lot younger then so I’m guessing he was better.
Moylan is still pretty active in Aussie baseball. I believe he signed on as the new manager of the Melbourne Aces before the season was cancelled. And he played in all the WBCs for them except 2013 I believe. I think among baseball playing Australians he is considered one of the better players ever. Grant Balfour, David Nilsson and Moylan are considered the top three, along with Graeme Lloyd who won two World Series with the Yankees, and the recently emergent Liam Hendriks.
Not mentioned is the Yankees signing the quintessential New York name Pitcher Vinny Nittoli to a minor league contract
Please tell me this is true
It is true. Saw it on CBS Sports transactions list
it is
“eeyyyyyy! Im walkin’ heer!”
Cashman likes what Vinnie can do with a “saus-eeege”….
I kno Vinny. Great guy. He can suck a meatball through a garden hose. Heeeyyy!
Hawaii Pacific University implies Hawaii Atlantic University
Or Arctic. They must have some really ambitious expansion plans.
I can’t see how Hawaii Arctic University would have a really good baseball team though.