Rattlers Alumni Report 2/6
Welcome to a very late edition of the Alumni Report. Some of these moves date back to early December, so bare with me while I try to catch up. This exciting and busy offseson as yet to slow down (have you seen the new webstore?), so just transactions in this edition, but I hope to do a stats update in the next couple weeks.
Atlanta agreed to terms with RHP Emiliano Fruto ('02) on a minor league contract
Fruto spent the 2008 season with the Damondbacks triple A farm club in Tucson, going 6-6 with a 5.26 ERA. The Columbian native also went 6-6 for the Timber Rattlers back in 2002.
Baltimore signed LHP Bobby Livingston ('03); selected RHP Andrew Barb ('07) in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft and reinstated him from inactive list
Livingston split the 2008 season with three Reds affiliates as he worked his way back from a major arm injury. Barb was a Midwest League All Star for the Rattlers in '07, saving 10 games with a 2.33 ERA. Acquired by the Mariners in the deal that sent Jamie Moyer to the Phillies, Barb sat out the 2008 season.
Boston agreed to terms with C Carlos Maldonado ('97-'99) on a minor league contract; acquired LHP Fabian Williamson ('07) from Seattle for RHP David Aardsma
Don't remember Williamson? You are not alone. He made one appearance for the Timber Rattlers at the end of the '07 season, pitching 6 scoreless innings. Maldonado spent a little more time in Appleton, playing in 196 games over three seasons with the Rattlers. He played the last four seasons with the Pirates organization.
Cincinnati signed C Korey Feiner ('08)
The Wisconsin native and UW-Oshkosh product finished the 2008 season in the independent leagues after his release by the Mariners.
Detroit declined to tender a 2009 contract to RHP Aquilino Lopez ('00)
I'm not sure what I am missing with Lopez. He went 4-1 with a 3.55 ERA for the Tigers, appearing in 48 games. His career ERA is 3.78 in the Majors, pitching more than 200 innings. Detroit had major issues with their pitching staff in 2008, and many question marks heading into '09. Yet they decline to offer him a contract.
Los Angeles Angels agreed to terms with LHP Brian Fuentes ('97) on a two-year contract
After saving 111 for the Rockies over the last 4 seasons, Fuentes hit the free agency jackpot with the Angels.
Los Angeles Dodgers signed LHP Shawn Estes ('93-'95)
Injuries had limited Estes to only 34.1 innings over the 2006-07 seasons, but he bounced back and made it to the Majors with San Diego in 2008.
New York Mets agreed to terms with C Rene Rivera ('03) on a minor-league contract; traded RHP Aaron Heilman, OF Endy Chavez, LHP Jason Vargas, 1B Mike Carp, RHP Maikel Cleto and OF Ezequiel Carrera to Seattle for RHP J.J. Putz ('00), OF Jeremy Reed and RHP Sean Green, and RHP Joe Smith to Cleveland in a three-way deal that sent OF Franklin Gutierrez to the Mariners and 2B Luis Valbuena ('06) to the Indians
Rivera split the 2008 season between Double A Jacksonville and Triple A Las Vegas in the Dodgers organization. He actually hit 40 points higher (.271 to 2.31) with the Triple A 51's in roughly the same amount of games (37 to 38). J.J. had and injury plagued 2008 season and now heads off to the Big Apple to be the setup man for another new Mets acquisition, Francisco Rodriguez. Valbuena will compete with another former Timber Rattlers second baseman, Asdrubal Cabrera ('05), for a starting spot with the Indians.
New York Yankees agreed to terms with INF Justin Leone ('00) on a minor league contract
Despite hitting 17 homers for Fresno, Leone never got a shot with the offensively challenged San Francisco Giants. After getting 102 at bats for the Mariners in 2004, Justin has only 1 at bat in the Majors since.
Philadelphia agreed to terms with OF Casey Craig ('06) on a minor league contract; agreed to terms with OF Raul Ibanez ('93,'94) on a three-year contract; named Steve Roadcap (MGR'99,'04) manager for Reading (EL) and Dusty Wathan ('95) manager for Lakewood (SAL)
Craig had a nice season for the Savannah Sand Gnats (.288, 16 2B, 49 RBI), but was a little old for the league. Ibanez cashed in after hitting at least 20 home runs and driving in over 100 runs each of the past three seasons with the Mariners. Roadcap was the manager for the Lakewood Blueclaws the last two seasons, while Dusty Wathan moves up from Williamsport in the New York - Penn League.
Pittsburgh agreed to terms with INF Ramon Vazquez ('96,'97) on a two-year contract
Originally a 27th round draft pick in 1995, Vazquez has now played in close to 600 games in the Majors. He had the finest season of his career in '08, hitting .290 for the Texas Rangers.
San Francisco named Pat Rice (PC '95-'97) pitching coach for Fresno (PCL) and Mike Goff (MGR '95,'96) manager for the Giants (Arizona)
Rice was the pitching coach for the San Jose Giants of the California League last season and Goff managed the Chattanooga Lookouts in the Southern League.
Washington agreed to terms with RHP Jorge Sosa ('01) on a minor league contract
Sosa was a nomad in 2008, pitching in the Majors with the Mets and the Minors for the Astros and Mariners. He hopes to find a more permanent home with the Nationals.
American Association
Sioux Falls Canaries signed INF Trevor Lawhorn ('07)
Lawhorn returns to the independent leagues after spending 2008 in the Nationals chain. He hit .305 for the Canaries in 2007 before the Mariners signed him and sent him to Appleton.
Can-Am League
Ottawa Rapids released INF Jake Daubert ('01)
Daubert hit .290 in 52 games with the Rapids, but apparently it wasn't enough.
Northern League
Schaumburg Flyers traded RHP Justin Jordan ('05) to Edmonton (Golden) for INF Jose Valdez
Jordan pitched well for the Flyers in '08, going 2-3 with a 3.68 ERA and will now head off to the great white north.
Previous Alumni Reports:
Is there somebody I missed? Somebody you would like to know if they are playing anywhere? Email me at [email protected].