Didi Gregorius Signs With Mexican League’s Algodoneros de Unión Laguna
The Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League announced that they have signed infielder Didi Gregorius for the 2023 season.
Gregorius, 33, has been a regular in the majors for the past decade. He debuted with the Reds back in 2012, getting into eight games late in that season, then was dealt to the Diamondbacks that winter in a three-team deal that involved Shin-Soo Choo and many others. He spent the next two seasons in Arizona, hitting a combined 13 homers and proving difficult to strike out, though his overall offensive contributions were modest.
Going into the 2015 season, the Yankees needed a shortstop for the first time in many years, as Derek Jeter had just retired. In yet another three-team deal, Gregorius wound up in the Bronx as Shane Greene went to the Tigers and Robbie Ray and Domingo Leyba became Diamondbacks.
It was with the Yankees that Gregorius would have his best seasons. He found a bit more power, hitting 16 or more home runs in four straight seasons starting in 2016, while keeping his strikeout rate around half of league average. In the five-year stretch with the Yanks from 2015 to 2019, he launched 97 homers and hit .269/.313/.446. That offensive production was a hair above league average, as shown by his 101 wRC+ in that time. But his strong defense and 27 stolen bases helped him earn 10.8 wins above replacement over that stretch, per the calculations of FanGraphs.
Gregorius reached free agency prior to 2020, signing with the Phillies and having a solid campaign. He hit 10 home runs in that 60-game season while batting .284/.339/.488 overall. The Phils re-signed him to a two-year deal after that, but that’s when things went south for Gregorius. He hit .209/.270/.370 in 2021 and then just .210/.263/.304 in 2022. He lost his playing time in that latter season to Bryson Stott and was released in August. He remained unsigned throughout the remainder of last season and through the winter, but will now join the Algodoneros for 2023 and see if he can get back in a good groove.
Dodgers Sign William Cuevas To Minor League Deal
The Dodgers have signed right-hander William Cuevas to a minor league deal. The signing was announced by the Diablos Rojos, Cuevas’ team in the Mexican league. Cuevas will pitch tonight for the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City.
Cuevas, 32, last appeared in the big leagues in 2018 in a brief stint with the Red Sox. He’s spent the past four seasons in Korea with the KT Wizz, working to a 3.89 ERA over 82 starts and 489 1/3 innings.
Originally signed by the Red Sox out of Venezuela back in 2008, Cuevas worked his way through Boston’s farm system before earning his first big league call up in 2016. While never a top prospect, Cuevas had shown some amount of promise in the minors. His three game stint in the big leagues in 2016 amounted to five innings with three strikeouts, six walks and two earned runs surrendered.
Released at the end of that year by Boston, Cuevas latched on with the Tigers for the 2017 season. He’d only record a single out in his only big league appearance that year, as Cuevas was tagged for four earned runs and found himself released by the Tigers at the end of the year. He played out the rest of the 2017 season with Miami’s Triple-A affiliate.
2018 brought about a return to the Red Sox, and Cuevas’ longest run in the big leagues. The Venezuelan tossed 17 innings of 7.41 ERA ball for Boston, showing off a solid 23.8% strikeout rate alongside a troubling 13.8% walk rate. All told, Cuevas owns an ERA of 8.06 across 22 1/3 big league innings with a career 21.2% strikeout rate and a 15% walk rate.
Mike Montgomery Signs With Mexican League’s Acereros De Monclova
The Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League announced last week that left-hander Mike Montgomery has signed for the 2023 season (Spanish-language link). The Acereros also announced a deal with reliever R.J. Alaniz (on Twitter).
Montgomery, now 33, pitched in the majors in each season from 2015-20. A top prospect between 2010-12 while in the Royals’ system, he was involved in a pair of trades before breaking into the majors with the Mariners. Montgomery had a career-best showing in 2016, working primarily as a multi-inning reliever between the M’s and Cubs. He threw 100 innings of 2.52 ERA ball across 49 regular season appearances and famously earned the save in the tenth inning of that year’s classic World Series Game 7.
While that was obviously the highlight of Montgomery’s time in the Windy City, he remained a productive member of the pitching staff through 2018. He worked to a 3.68 ERA across 254 2/3 frames between 2017-18. Montgomery got off to a tough start in 2019, though, and Chicago flipped him to the Royals for Martín Maldonado at that year’s deadline. The southpaw’s return to K.C. was mostly tarnished by a lat strain that cost him virtually all of the shortened 2020 campaign.
After a brief stint in South Korea, Montgomery returned to the affiliated ranks last year. Signed to a minor league contract with the Mets, he spent the 2022 season with their top affiliate in Syracuse. He worked 69 2/3 innings through 22 outings (17 starts) and was hit hard to the tune of a 6.72 ERA. Montgomery induced grounders at a quality 50.9% clip but struck out fewer than 17% of opponents. He’ll try to put that season behind him and get back on track in Monclova.
Alaniz, 31, has pitched in 15 MLB games dating back to 2019. The bulk of that time has come as a member of the Reds. He spent last year on a minor league deal with the Braves. Injuries limited the righty to 20 appearances and 26 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett. Alaniz had strong numbers in that time, posting a 3.81 ERA with a massive 37.2% strikeout percentage against a reasonable 8.2% walk rate. Nevertheless, he never got a big league look in Atlanta and now heads to the Mexican League.
Jose Miguel Fernandez Signs With Mexican League’s Saraperos De Saltillo
The Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League announced this afternoon they’ve signed infielder José Miguel Fernández for the 2023 season. The left-handed hitter heads to Mexico after four seasons in South Korea.
Fernández, a native of Cuba, was a high-profile player in the Serie Nacional throughout his 20’s. He eventually defected and signed with the Dodgers, topping out at Triple-A. After being released by the Dodgers, he signed with the Angels going into the 2018 season. The left-handed hitter played well in Triple-A and earned an MLB call midseason, where he hit .267/.309/.388 over 36 games.
After that season, the Halos designated Fernández for assignment. He cleared waivers and then turned his attention overseas, signing with the Korea Baseball Organization’s Doosan Bears. That proved a fruitful signing for the Bears, as Fernández broke in with a .344/.409/.483 showing. He’d return to the Bears on a series of one-year deals in each of the ensuing three offseasons.
Fernández reached base at a .391 clip or better in each of his first three years, walking more often than he struck out in each season. He connected on at least 15 home runs in those seasons. The 2022 campaign was more of a struggle, though. Fernández hit only six homers. He still batted above .300 but his .353 on-base percentage was the lowest of his time in the KBO, as was his .400 slugging mark.
All told, Fernández hit .328/.391/.457 over four KBO seasons. He’ll now make the jump to the Mexican League for his age-35 campaign, his 15th year of professional baseball.
Renato Nunez Signs With Mexican League’s Toros De Tijuana
The Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League announced this afternoon they’ve signed corner infielder Renato Núñez for the 2023 season. It’ll be the first stint in Mexico for the 28-year-old, who played in the majors from 2016-21.
Núñez suited up for four different MLB teams. He’s best known for his time with the Orioles, where he logged over 1000 plate appearances between 2018-20. Núñez popped 31 home runs in 2019 and another 12 longballs during the abbreviated 2020 season, bringing some right-handed power to the organization. That came with fairly modest on-base numbers and a spotty defensive profile, however, and Baltimore cut him loose over the 2020-21 offseason.
The Venezuela native signed with the Tigers for 2021. He only managed a .189/.218/.472 line through 14 contests with Detroit and was twice outrighted off their 40-man roster. A subsequent minor league contract with the Brewers didn’t result in a big league opportunity. Núñez concluded the campaign with a .245/.308/.452 line across 307 career MLB games.
Last offseason, he made the jump to Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Núñez signed on with the Nippon-Ham Fighters and split the 2022 season between the top level and their minor league affiliate. He hit well over 31 minor league games but mustered only a .174/.228/.299 line through 63 NPB contests. That proved to be his lone season with the Fighters.
Núñez is now a couple seasons removed from offensive productivity. He’s still relatively young and has some power upside. He’ll try to get back on track in a hitter-friendly environment in the Mexican League.
Julio Teheran Signs With Mexican League’s Toros De Tijuana
Right-handed pitcher Julio Teheran is set to sign with the Toros De Tijuana of the Mexican League reports the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. It’s the second contract of the 2022 season for the former Brave, who signed a contract with the Atlantic League’s Staten Island FerryHawks back in April.
Long one of baseball’s most consistent starters in Atlanta, Teheran last appeared in the majors in April 2021 with the Tigers. A shoulder injury limited his stint in Detroit to just one start, and no doubt influenced his lack of 2022 opportunities with major league clubs.
Based on his strong play in the Atlantic League this year, however, Teheran may yet find a summer suitor with a big league club if he continues to excel in the Mexican League.Through six starts and 33-plus innings with the FerryHawks, the two-time All-Star is sporting a 1.60 ERA with 35 strikeouts and only six walks.
While the quality of independent league hitters is not to be confused with major league caliber bats, it’s nonetheless noteworthy that Teheran’s strikeout-walk ratio is as good as it’s ever been, topping even the minor league numbers that made him a consensus top prospect a decade ago. A return to health is an equally important development, as even the post-peak, innings-eater version of Teheran was coveted enough to net him a $3MM contract last year.
Mike Fiers Signs With Mexican League’s Leones De Yucatan
Free-agent righty Mike Fiers has signed on with los Leones de Yucatan of the Mexican League, per an announcement from the team.
Fiers, 36, made just two starts in the big leagues last season, both coming with the A’s. A hip injury in Spring Training delayed his 2021 debut until late April, and Fiers returned for just two appearances before going back to the injured list with an elbow sprain that eventually proved to be a season-ender. During his 9 1/3 innings, he was tagged for eight runs on 15 hits and four walks with five strikeouts.
It wasn’t a good showing for the right-hander, clearly, but Fiers isn’t far removed from a sharp three-year run with the Tigers and A’s (2018-20) that saw him pitch to a combined 3.85 ERA through 415 2/3 innings. Fiers’ strikeout rate and velocity have continued to dip as he’s progressed toward his late 30s, but he’s maintained walk rates that are considerably better than league average and also induced plenty of harmless infield flies during that Detroit/Oakland run.
With a decent showing in Mexico, it’s possible Fiers will get another look with a big league team at some point in the 2022 season. The need for pitching is constant over the course of a given season, and in 1151 career innings at the big league level, Fiers has a 4.07 ERA with a 20.7% strikeout rate and a 7.0% walk rate.
Jose Martinez Signs With Mexican League’s Acereros De Monclova
Jose Martinez has joined the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League, according to a team announcement.
Martinez broke into the big leagues in 2016 and built a reputation as a bat-first player. Though his defense at first base and in the outfield corners was clearly lacking, he could certainly hit. Spending 2016 to 2019 with the Cardinals, he played 398 games and got 1,288 plate appearances, hitting .298/.363/.458, wRC+ of 122.
Prior to the 2020 season, the Cardinals traded Martinez, Randy Arozarena and a draft pick to the Rays for Matthew Liberatore, Edgardo Rodriguez and a draft pick. His production slipped a bit in the pandemic-shortened season, as he hit .239/.329/.388 for the Rays, before being dealt to the Cubs and not hitting at all in ten games there, finishing the season with a line of .182/.265/.295.
After the Cubs non-tendered him, he was signed by the Mets for the 2021 campaign. Unfortunately, he collided with an umpire in a Spring Training game, suffered a torn meniscus in his knee and never made it back to the big leagues. The club outrighted him at the end of the year.
This is the latest in a string of former big leaguers who have joined up with the Acereros. The club has also signed Josh Reddick, Pablo Sandoval and Keon Broxton in recent weeks.
Enderson Franco Signs With Mexican League’s Generales De Durango
The Generales de Durango of the Mexican League announced this week they’ve signed right-hander Enderson Franco for the 2022 season. It’ll be the first stint in Mexico for the 29-year-old.
Franco has a bit of big league experience, having suited up in five games with the Giants in 2019. The Venezuela native tallied 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball while averaging just under 96 MPH on his fastball, but he hasn’t logged any other MLB time. He’s spent a decade in the affiliated ranks, though, performing fairly well up through Double-A but struggling at the minors’ highest level. In parts of three Triple-A campaigns, Franco owns a 5.43 ERA with a below-average 19.5% strikeout percentage but a solid 7.4% walk rate.
While Franco has never missed many bats, his combination of arm strength and track record of throwing strikes caught the attention of the Korea Baseball Organization’s Lotte Giants last winter. He signed with the Busan-based club and spent the 2021 season in South Korea. Franco tallied 150 innings in the KBO and posted a 5.40 ERA with an 18.3% strikeout rate while uncharacteristically walking 11.1% of opponents. Lotte brought in former big leaguers Charlie Barnes and Glenn Sparkman as their two allotted foreign-born pitchers this offseason, replacing the outgoing Franco and Dan Straily (who signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks).
As the Generales noted in their announcement of Franco’s signing, he has experience in both rotation and relief roles. He has started 163 of his 183 minor league appearances, but he came out of the bullpen in all five of his big league outings and worked in both capacities (27 starts, 10 relief appearances) with Lotte last season. Franco pitched in seven games — all in relief — during Venezuelan Winter League action this offseason.