Some recent minor moves from around baseball:
- The Rockies have signed right-handed reliever J.D. Hammer to a minor league deal, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. In 23 2/3 innings at Triple-A this year in the Phillies’ organization, Hammer managed an ERA of 3.80 with a hefty 34.3% strikeout rate but also an elevated walk rate of 12.4%. At the big league level, he logged 20 innings with an ERA of 4.95, 23.4% strikeout rate and 11.7% walk rate. The Phils outrighted the 27-year-old at the end of the season and he elected free agency.
- The Diamondbacks announced that they’ve returned infielder Jake Hager to the organization on a minor league deal. Hager started 2021 in the Mets organization and then was designated for assignment and claimed on waivers three times, bouncing to the Brewers, Mariners and Diamondbacks. Arizona then outrighted him in September. The 28-year-old didn’t hit much in the big leagues this year, but in a tiny sample of 30 plate appearances over 14 games. He played 82 Triple-A games in 2021 between those four organizations, hitting .240/.311/.461.
- The Giants have agreed to a minor league deal with right-handed reliever Trevor Hildenberger, according to the MLB.com transactions tracker. Hildenberger logged 2 1/3 MLB innings for the Mets this year before being claimed and outrighted by the Giants. In 23 Triple-A innings for Sacramento River Cats, the 30-year-old put up an ERA of 4.70 with a strikeout rate of 22.5% and walk rate of 12.7%.
- The Nationals have signed infielder Richard Urena to a minor league deal, per the MLB.com transactions tracker. The 25-year-old has played in 91 big league games in his career but hasn’t cracked the majors since 2019. In 2021, he played 92 Triple-A games in the Blue Jays’ system, hitting .272/.310/.438.
- Outfielder Henry Ramos is joining the KT Wiz of the KBO, as relayed by Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net. The 29-year-old had an unbelievable Triple-A season in 2021, slashing .371/.439/.582 over 294 plate appearances. He was selected by the Diamondbacks in September and got into 18 games, hitting .200/.255/.300 over 55 plate appearances. He was outrighted by the DBacks in October.
J.D. Hammer is an awesome name for a pitcher.
Yes. Ten times better than Balfour, who was ironically the better pitcher.
Or Walker Buehler
Or Homer Bailey.
With those glasses “you’ll shoot your eye out”
Rockies have also had Brooks Pounders and Josh Outman. Outman was pretty decent for them.
He is the Rocks big signing this year,
WE THE PEOPLE!
GUARDIANS…….zzzzzzzzzz…….zzzzzzzzz
You really need something else to bother yourself about.
I mean REALLY.
New Orleans didn’t get this much flack for the PELICANS. PELICANS! Are you kidding me?
Hammer is a nice depth add. I’m a little puzzled that the Phillies let him walk. By all accounts he was solid except for a few dud outings.
Sometimes you just can’t keep everyone, not if you want to add via FA or trade, which I’m assuming the Phillies will eventually do.
Sounds like the KT Wiz aren’t interested in keeping Jared Hoying for 2022 especially with Henry Ramos having crushed in 2021 while in AAA.
would love it for Hammer if he figures it out, but really doubtful at this point. not a bad AAA get though
Can’t touch dis.