Off-Season Alumni News
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As teams set their 40-man rosters prior to the Rule V drive during the Winter Meetings, several former Crawdads were added to the their respective clubs rosters.
Matt Nevarez ('09) The Crawdads closer for most of the 2009 season, before he was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Houston Astros, was added to Houston's 40 man roster.
Bryan Morris ('08) Obtained by the Pirates as part of the Jason Bay/ Manny Ramirez 3-team trade, Morris was added to the major league roster by Pittsburgh.
Brad Lincoln ('06, '08) The former Pirates first round pick was added to Pirates 40 man roster.
Romulo Sanchez ('05-'06) was added to 40 man roster of the New York Yankees. Sanchez was released by the Pirates earlier in the 2009 season.
The following players filed for free agency following the 2009 World Series.
Joe Beimel ('99): Middle reliever spent most of the season with the Washington Nationals before a trading deadline deal sent him to Colorado as part of their playoff run. Beimel was 1-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 71 appearances.
Chad Bradford ('98) Middle reliever spent most of the season on the Disabled List with the Tampa Rays after off-season surgery. Bradford was 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA in only 20 games
Joe Crede ('97) The Minnesota Twins 3B hit .225 with 15 HRs and 48 RBIs before having season ending back surgery.
Brendan Donnelly ('93) After spending most of the season in the minors, Donnelly re-emerged with the Florida Marlins for 30 games out of the bullpen. He was 1-0 with 2 saves and a 1.78 ERA.
Josh Fogg ('98) The middle reliever spent part of the season at AAA- Colorado Springs before a mid-season call up by the Colorado Rockies. Fogg was 0-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 24 games.
Jon Garland ('98) Struggled with the Arizona Diamondbacks (8-11) before a trading deadline deal sent him to the Dodgers. With Los Angeles, Garland was 3-2 with a 2.72 in six starts during the Dodgers playoff run.
John Grabow ('99) Middle reliver was 3-0 in 45 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates before a trade deadline deal to the Chicago Cubs. Grabow has re-signed with the Cubs.
Adam La Roche ('08) The first baseman started the season with the Pirates before a trade sent him the Boston Red Sox for a week. The BoSox then sent LaRoche to the Atlanta Braves. In 150 games overall, LaRoche hit .277 with 25 HRs and 83 RBIs.
Greg Norton ('93) One of the original Crawdads, Norton had a tough season with Atlanta battling injuries, as he hit only .145 in 76 at bats.
The following players have become minor league free agents by virtue of their six seasons or more in the minor leagues.
Bryan Bullington ('03) Pitched with Las Vegas (AAA-Toronto) going 3-1 with three saves,and a 3.52 ERA. Also had four relief appearances with the Blue Jays
Brandon Chaves ('01-'02) The infielder hit .210 in 106 games in the Tampa Bay Rays system, mostly with AA-Montgomery.
David Davidson ('05-'06) Pitched with Indianapolis (AAA- Pittsburgh) and New Orleans (AAA-Florida) before a brief call-up with the Marlins. Signed with the Orioles, but did not pitch due to an arm injury.
Jason Delaney ('06) An All-Star outfielder the past three seasons, Delaney hit .271 with 7 HRs and 65 RBIs in 125 games at AA-Altoona (AA-Pittsburgh).
Brad Eldred ('03) The big 1B hit 17 HRs with 59 RBIs at Syracuse (AAA- Washington).
Angel Gonzalez ('07) The utility infielder hit .184 in 74 games, mostly with AA- Altoona.
JR House ('99-'00) The Omaha Royals (AAA) starting catcher hit .251 with 9 HRs and 53 RBIs in 127 games.
Victor Igsema ('06, '08) Pitched in only 2 games in the Pirates Dominican Summer League club going 1-0 with a save.
Mark Johnson ('95) The catcher battled injuries most of the season, playing in only 22 games, batting .169.
Henry Owens ('03) Returning from Tommy John surgery and a 50-game suspension, Owens pitched in 11 games in the Marlins system with one save and a 0.66 ERA.
Pedro Powell ('05) The speedy outfielder split the season between Charlotte (Hi-A) and Montgomery (AA) in the Tampa Bay system, hitting .252 with 28 steals.
Corey Ragsdale ('09) The shortstop turned pitcher was 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA at Hickory.
Milver Reyes ('02-'05) The long-time, journeyman catcher hit .282 in 14 games at AA- Altoona.
Jaime Romak ('07) The outfield slugger hit .191 with 8 HRs and 38 RBIs in 106 games at AA-Altoona and High A-Lynchburg.
Danny Sandoval ('98) The utility infielder signed midseason with AA- Tulsa (Colorado) hitting .264 in 58 games.
Chris Shelton ('02) Named to the 2009 Triple A All-Star Game, the 3B hit .314 with 15 HRs and 58 RBIs for AAA-Tacoma (Seattle)/
Craig Stansberry ('04) The Portland Beavers (AAA- San Diego) starting 3B hit .269 with 7 HRs and 41 RBIs in 118 games.
John Van Benschoten ('02) The Charlotte Knights (AAA-Chicago White Sox) pitcher was 2-8 with a 6.35 ERA in 22 games.
David Williams ('99-'00) Split time between Washington's AA- Harrisburg and AAA- Syracuse clubs. Pitched in 40 games going 1-4 wiht a 5.37 ERA.
Yurendell de Caster ('01) The infielder hit .301 with 5 HRs and 21 RBIs in 53 games wtih the Scranton-Wilkes Barre (AAA) Yankees.
Jared Keel ('07) The outfielder hit .229 with 11 HRs and 44 RBIs at Lynchburg (Hi-A Pittsburgh)
Eddie Prasch ('06-'07) The 3B hit .190 in 55 games, mostly with Lynchburg. Prasch has signed with the Kansas City Royals.
Kent Sakamoto ('07) The 1B-OF hit only .189 in 72 games with Lynchburg.
Bobby Spain ('08) The Crawdads All-Star 3B in 2008 was released by the Pirates after hitting .275 with 4 HRs and 47 RBIs in 75 games with the West Virginia Power (Low A-Pittsburgh).