Six-Year Minor League Free Agents: 2008-AL

November 16, 2008 · Filed Under General Opinion

Each year Baseball America puts out a list of the 6-year minor league free agents. And each year I break down the list to players that are notable to me. I also have to comment on a few of the names I see. Here’s the AL players of note:

Baltimore Orioles (20)

RHP: Cory Doyne (AAA), Gary Knotts (AAA),Tim Spooneybarger (SS)

LHP: Randy Keisler (AAA)

SS: Brandon Fahey (AAA), Luis Hernandez (AAA)

OF: Chris Roberson (AAA), Luis Terrero (AAA)

Luis Terrero was the top organizational prospect of the Diamondbacks in 2002, but he hasn’t been able to hit above .250 in the majors.

Boston Red Sox (16)

RHP: Miguel Asencio (AA), Edgar Martinez (AAA), Marcus McBeth (AAA)

LHP: Daniel Haigwood (AA), Jon Switzer (AAA)

3B: Keith Ginter (AAA)

OF: Jason Lane (AAA)

Ginter was an offensive minded for the Brewers and Athletics. Jason Lane was showing promise after a 26 home run season in 2005, yet he fell apart since.

Chicago White Sox (20)

RHP: Jason Childers (AAA), Franklyn German (AAA), Tomo Ohka (AAA), Jose Rosario (DSL)

LHP: Scott Sauerbeck (AAA)

1B: Brad Eldred (AAA)

OF: Jeff DaVanon (AAA)

Eldred hit 38 home runs in the minors in 2004 and 40 in 2005. He couldn’t hit for an average in the majors though and Triple-A pitchers have found his holes too. DaVanon was a good 4th outfielder for a few years.

Cleveland Indians (22)

RHP: Preston Larrison (AAA), J.D. Martin (AA), Brian Slocum (AAA), Jeff Weaver (AAA)

LHP: John Halama (AAA)

1B: Matt Whitney (AA)

2B: Tony Graffanino (AAA)

3B: Morgan Ensberg (AAA)

OF: Wil Cordero (AA), Todd Linden (AAA), Bronson Sardinha (AA)

Weaver hasn’t pitched worth a crap since his playoffs appearance with the Cardinals in 2006. I don’t think even Dave Duncan can save him now. Halama is a control pitcher that has stuck around forever. Ensberg is another former Astro power hitter that has fallen on hard times. He hit 36 home runs in 2005, but hasn’t held an average above .235 since 2006. Wil Cordero? Old!

Detroit Tigers (13)

RHP: Yorman Bazardo (AAA), Blaine Neal (AAA)

OF: Freddy Guzman (AAA), Timo Perez (AAA)

Guzman was expected to become the next centerfielder in Texas after a trade from the Padres, that never happened. Timo Perez saw a bunch of time as a 4th outfielder. I still don’t know why.

Kansas City Royals (17)

RHP: Jose Capellan (AAA), Roman Colon (AAA), Matt Peterson (AA)

LHP: John Foster (AAA)

1B: Mike Stodolka (AAA)

SS: Gookie Dawkins (AAA)

OF: Brian Buchanan (AAA), Damon Hollins (AAA)

After a dominant rise through Atlanta’s minor leagues in 2004, he was deemed to be the Brewers’ future closer after a trade that year. But he couldn’t hold on to a spot. Matt Peterson was the Mets’ third ranked prospect in 2004, he was even the top prospect in the Kris Benson trade that year. But he struggled for a few years at Double-A for the Pirates and hasn’t pitched much since. Stodolka has tried to go the Ankiel route after being drafted in the first round as a pitcher, he’s now a first baseman. He has a good batting eye, but not hasn’t displayed much power for a first baseman.

Los Angeles Angels (13)

2B: Adam Morrissey (AAA)

OF: Dee Brown (AAA)

Minnesota Twins (13)

RHP: Julio DePaula (AAA), Danny Graves (AAA)

1B: Garrett Jones (AAA)

SS: Sergio Santos (AAA)

OF: Joe Gaetti (AA), Darnell McDonald (AAA)

Once a dominant closer, Graves has lost his fastball and hasn’t been able to make it back to the majors since 2006. McDonald was the 2nd ranked organizational prospect of the Orioles in 2003. Joe’s the son of former major league great, Gary. But he likely won’t make it to the majors.

New York Yankees (18)

RHP: Scott Strickland (AAA), Victor Zambrano (AAA)

LHP: Eric Milton (AAA)

1B: Ben Broussard (AAA)

Victor Zambrano will always be linked to Scott Kazmir in my book. Milton was a former Yankee prospect that was traded to the Twins. He had some success there, but was always overhyped for what he provided (5.01 career major league ERA). I always thought Broussard would take off if given a full-time job, ‘my bad’.

Oakland Athletics (14)

RHP: Shane Komine (AAA), Bret Prinz (AAA)

LHP: Chris Michalak (AA), Ryan Wing (AAA)

1B: Casey Rogowski (AAA)

3B: Jesus Guzman (AA)

Wing is a lefty with decent stuff, someone will give him another try. Guzman had a good season in High-A ball in 2007 (.909 OPS) and Double-A in 2008 (.979 OPS). But he hasn’t really found a defensive location. Can the switch-hitter get another chance?

Seattle Mariners (22)

RHP: Travis Chick (AAA), Jon Huber (AAA), Jorge Sosa (AAA)

LHP: Jason Kershner (AA), Ryan Ketchner (AA), Nelson Payano (AA)

OF: Victor Diaz (AAA), Craig Wilson (AAA)

Chick always had great stuff, mediocre control. But he’s still only 24 and had a 1.09 WHIP in Tacoma this season. Sosa won 13 games for Atlanta in 2005, but he hasn’t been that great since. Craig Wilson was a bomber for the Pirates for a few years.

Tampa Bay Rays (22)

RHP: Steve Andrade (AA), Colter Bean (AA), Ben Hendrickson (AAA)

1B: Chris Richard (AAA)

3B: Joel Guzman (AAA)

Ben was on the Brewers top prospects list for four years, but he never made an impact in the majors. Guzman was the top prospect in the Dodgers’ system in 2005. Defensively, he never found a good spot and he never hit in the upper levels of the minors.

Texas Rangers (18)

RHP: Kiko Calero (AAA), Trey Hodges (AA),Brandon Puffer (AA)

LHP: John Rheinecker (AAA)

1B: Jason Hart* (Lo A)

SS: Drew Meyer (AAA)

Rheinecker was the 2nd overall prospect of the Athletics in 2003, but he never pitched well for the Rangers after a 2006 trade.

Toronto Blue Jays (31)

RHP: Rick Bauer (AAA), Jonah Bayliss (AAA), Lance Carter* (AAA)

LHP: Chris George (AAA), Mike Gosling (AAA)

1B: Brant Colamarino* (AA)

SS: Danny Sandoval (AAA)

OF: Chad Mottola (Hi A)

Chris George was the Royals’ top prospect in 2001, but he never had an ERA below 5.50 in KC. Colamarino was a draftee in the Moneyball book. Mottola was the 5th overall pick in 1992 by the Reds, he was also one of their top prospects for five years. But he never hit enough in the majors to secure a spot.

Tags: Six-Year Minor League Free Agents