Fangraphs: The Considerable Charm of the Milb Free Agent

[weams]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/on-the-considerable-charm-of-the-minor-league-free-agent/

Yesterday in these pages, the author - standing on the shoulders of the giant that is the Steamer projection system - attempted to identify the player most likely to serve as 2015′s edition of Yangervis Solarte. Surely, that post has already made household names of Buck Britton and Jose Martinez and Deibinson Romero.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-top-minor-league-free-agents-by-the-projections/

Buck Britton, 2B/3B, Baltimore (Profile)

PA AVG OBP SLG wRC+ Off Def WAR

550 .261 .307 .388 94 -4.1 2.0 1.7

Danny Valencia really was invoked nearly at random in the discussion of Jared Goedert above. The invocation of Danny Valencia here is less random, however, Selected out of Lubbock Christian University by Baltimore in the 35th round of the 2008 draft, Britton has played in the Orioles system ever since or, until now, at least. In 2013, he actually played alongside Valencia at Triple-A Norfolk. While the latter was eventually promoted to the majors, Brittion remained at Triple-A. Entering the 2015 season, Britton - just a year younger than Valencia - is actually projected to outhit his former teammate. Steamer calls for a 94 wRC+ from Britton; just an 89 wRC+ from Valencia.

[weams]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/on-the-considerable-charm-of-the-minor-league-free-agent/

Yesterday in these pages, the author - standing on the shoulders of the giant that is the Steamer projection system - attempted to identify the player most likely to serve as 2015′s edition of Yangervis Solarte. Surely, that post has already made household names of Buck Britton and Jose Martinez and Deibinson Romero.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-top-minor-league-free-agents-by-the-projections/

Buck Britton, 2B/3B, Baltimore (Profile)

PA AVG OBP SLG wRC+ Off Def WAR

550 .261 .307 .388 94 -4.1 2.0 1.7

Danny Valencia really was invoked nearly at random in the discussion of Jared Goedert above. The invocation of Danny Valencia here is less random, however, Selected out of Lubbock Christian University by Baltimore in the 35th round of the 2008 draft, Britton has played in the Orioles system ever since or, until now, at least. In 2013, he actually played alongside Valencia at Triple-A Norfolk. While the latter was eventually promoted to the majors, Brittion remained at Triple-A. Entering the 2015 season, Britton - just a year younger than Valencia - is actually projected to outhit his former teammate. Steamer calls for a 94 wRC+ from Britton; just an 89 wRC+ from Valencia.

Well, the Dodgers thought so.

[weams]

Free Agency

Major league free agents who sign minor league contracts who are not added to the opening day roster or unconditionally released five days before opening day receive additional $100,000 retention bonus and the right to opt out by June 1.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7272337/details-baseball-new-labor-deal

[Camden_yardbird]

Well, the Dodgers thought so.

Andrew Friedman thought so, and that should scare you.

[weams]

Andrew Friedman thought so, and that should scare you.

Really? Why? Our guy has been more successful lately.

[Can_of_corn]

Really? Why? Our guy has been more successful lately.

Remind me again who was the last impact position player the Rays' developed?

[weams]

Remind me again who was the last impact position player the Rays' developed?

Eva Longoria.

[weams]

Eva Longoria.

Because they were the worst team in all of baseball for a while, they did draft and develop some good pitching. Then it was DC and they did well for a spell, and of course the Pirates. Some think that Houston is on that pathway. We really screwed up being bad. We were not bad enough and not real bad for long enough. And then we had some bad drafts. And other folks questioned our development. Glad those days are long behind us.