j2 murmurs

Other than RHP Gabby Vizcaino (DR) and C Melvin Novoa (NI), Ben Badler has Texas linked to C Deivi Grullon (DR). Badler also notes that Texas might have some interest in out of shape Cuban OF Yasiel Puig, who has been out of baseball for a year after being suspended by his team for previous attempts to defect.

UPDATE:

Badler adds Dominican SS Wendell Rijo and Panamanian RHP Ariel Jurado to the list. Sleeper of note: Mexican LHP Julio Urias. Bonus amounts for Mexican League players only count 25-33% against the cap as most of the bonus goes to the parent club.

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Roster Moves

Loads of roster moves the last couple days. I assume Cone would have been promoted if he hadn't been DL'd with an achilles issue. Chris Grayson has slumped greatly the last 2 months but he may yet get the call if only because he might suck less than everyone else in the Pelicans' lineup. Chad Bell over Barret Loux or Jake Brigham is a little odd though I would expect the latter two to get the call next week after their weekend turns, with Brigham possibly seeing time in the pen. Nick Urbanus was a bit of a surprise but a good one if he is ready for LowA. I would expect the remaining round of promotions to involve the LowA - AA rotations in the next week (or two): Eickhoff/NMart; Hendricks/Henry; Loux/Brigham. Phil Klein, Joe van Meter and Jimmy Reyes are a couple of pen arms likely to get the call as well.

AAA

Chad Bell, Guilder Rody, Joe 'Panzón' Ortiz

DL: Greg Miclat

AA

Cody Buckel, Jared Hoying, Richard Bleier, Ross Wolf, Neil Ramirez

DL: TMurph (precautionary?), Castillo (elbow)

HighA

Luke Jackson, Hanser Alberto

LowA

Nick Urbanus, Alex Selen, Roughned Odor, Dan Lopez

DL: Deglan (wrist), Cone (achilles)

Spokane

Denny Peralta, Brandon Garcia (UDFA, OF/P/C), Jose Monegro, Pat Cantwell

AZ

Jorge de Jesus

DSL

Crisford Adames (2011 j2, 200k), Jose Gomez

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MiL Promotion Week

Now that the A-Ball AS games are done with, who will get the call for a promotion this week (or soon enough)? Here's a quick rundown of the likely candidates:

AAA

Mike Olt, Jake Brigham (pen), Barret Loux

AA

Jared Hoying, Cody Buckel, Kyle Hendricks, Randy Henry (pen), Joe Van Meter

A+

Jerad Eickhoff, Nick Martinez, Phil Klein, Zach Cone, Hanser Alberto, Chris Grayson

Look for Santo Perez to get bumped from the Hickory rotation in the second half with about 4 other guys vying for available innings in the roto: McBride, Hanna, Faulkner, Lamb.

Any demotions on the horizon? Probably not, but all of the HighA kids should be looking over their shoulder, particularly Jake Skole and Josh Richmond, while Kellin Deglan and Jordan Akins will keep their LowA spots despite their terrible #s.

The AZL starts today and the roster has been updated.

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Draft Bonuses

Update: Texas has now signed all of its top 10 picks after inking Pat Cantwell for 50k and is currently ~83k under their bonus allotment. They also have an extra ~328K (so about 411K) to play with if they want to go 5% over their 6.57M total.

#1 Lewis Brinson, 1.625m (Slot)

#1a Joey Gallo, 2.25m (slot, 1.325m)

#1b Collin Wiles, 975K!!! (Slot 954.8K)

#2 Jamie Jarmon, 601.5K (Slot)

#2 Nick Williams, 500K (slot: 515.6k)

#3 Pat Cantwell, 50K (slot: 381.7K)

#4 Alec Asher, 150k (slot: 277.6K)

#5 Preston Beck, 207.9K (Slot)

#6 Bollinger, 50K (slot: 155.9K)

#7 Cam Schiller, 10k (slot: 141.4K)

#8 Cody Kendall, 5K (slot: 132K)

#9 Joe Niggli, 10K (slot: 125k)

#10 Casey Shiver, 15K (slot: 125k)

#11 Eric Brooks, 100K (slot)

#19 James Smith, 135K (slot: 100K)

*source BA

JR Ryan Bores has reportedly agreed as well but I imagine it was for no more than 100K. If they decide to go 5% over their allocated budget, that would give them an extra 329k to play with. So we could still see one more over-slot sign, with the three most likely candidates being Ryan Burr and Jacob Lemoine. If footballers Winston and Smith sign, you'd expect it to be for no more than 100K so they wouldn't count against the cap.

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Carlos Garay

Here is a blurb about DSL (VZ ) catcher Carlos Garay, signed out of the Carlos Guillen Academy in Maracay in April. Texas was on him during early Spring showcases in Venezuela and then again during the Guillen academy showcase in Surprise during Spring Training:

Maracay.- (Rafael Cadenas). Fue visto por la organización de los Rangers de Texas desde que fue presentado por la Academia Carlos Guillén, posteriormente el novel receptor Carlos Garay fue llevado a la tierra del tio Sam para ser evaluado por los ejecutivos de los vigilantes en Arizona y luego de meses de preparacion, llegaron a un acuerdo con el careta criollo para estampar su firma e iniciar su etapa como pelotero profesional.

El nativo de Maracay, cuenta con 16 años y entre sus atributos ha demostrado buen contacto, velocidad para lanzar a las bases y excelentes reflejos. “Es un momento importante para mí, estoy agradecido con el Sr. Clemente Álvarez, siempre ha estado pendiente de nosotros para que seamos mejores en todos los aspectos del juego. Ahora inicio otra etapa en mi vida y se que no será nada facil, pero como mi familia sabe, voy a dar lo mejor de mí para llegar a las mayores”, dijo emocionado Garay, quien estuvo acompañado de su familia.

Clemente Álvarez, director de la Academia manifestó. “Estamos contento porque se ha cumplido otra etapa, es nuestro objetivo, prepararlo para que logre su firma, gracias a Dios, lo consiguió y ahora depende de su trabajo en las menores para llegar lejos”.

En relación sobre las posibilidad de firmar con un equipo en la pelota venezolana, comentó que hay varios equipos interesados, pero que va a evaluar la situación con su familia, por lo pronto senalo que se reportará a la Academia de Texas.

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Janluis Castro

Here is a PG blurb on 16th rd 2B Janluis Castro (PR). Listed as 2b, he also has played catcher:

Janluis Castro is a 2012 MIF/C with a 5-9 150 lb. frame from Trujillo Alto, PR who attends Colegio Hector Urdaneta HS. Slender young build, room to get stronger. Versatile defensive player, can play either C or 2B at next level. Compact, quick actions at 2B, works through the ball well, good feet and balance, gets rid of the ball quick, good charging. Quick footwork and release behind the plate, compact actions, accurate throws, will have to add strength/weight to catch full-time. Switch-hitter, has skills/bat speed both sides, quick hands, simple short swing mechanics, line drive swing plane, flashes some power from the left side. Plays above his raw tools in all areas. Good student, signed with Alabama State.

UPDATE:

Frankie Thon said the kid can really hit with excellent mechanics and the club thinks of him as a super utility player, a 2b who can play some SS, 3B, OF, and catch a little bit.

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Sam Stafford, 13th rd

13th round pick Sam Stafford was a 2nd rd pick of the NYY last year but had any contract nixed due to concerns about his shoulder. In the end, surgery ended his 2012 season, and Jason Cole confirms that he will sign with Texas and finish his rehab with the team. Possible steal if his shoulder injury isn't of the Eric Hurely variety (labrum and cuff). Here is BA's 2011 profile of the kid:

Lefthander Sam Stafford hasn't been able to nail down a spot in Texas' weekend rotation, though not because he lacks stuff. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder hit 96 mph while winning pitcher-of-the-year honors in the California Collegiate League last summer, but he has to dial his fastball down to 90-91 mph to try to find the strike zone. He has good shape to his curveball and doesn't always locate that pitch where he wants, either. Stafford can be unhittable at times. If he can't improve his command he'll be ticketed for the bullpen as a pro.

Update:

Surgery for a small tear (labrum?) on 2/20/12; 5-7 months of rehab - possible instructs ETA? Fagg noted that the club expects a "full recovery" (as much as that is possible I guess).

Update:

In an interview with Jason Cole, Stafford notes that his labrum surgery with the Rangers' team doctor included a second procedure for TOS. He confirms that he will start his throwing program in August.

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