Jays make "minor" moves

The Jays made some noise on the minor league front this week with a few moves. The biggest move they made was the addition of a minor league affiliate in the Gulf Coast League. The league is designed to acclimatize recent high school draft picks and Latin players making their North American debuts.

Last season the Jays had six affiliates as well – Syracuse, New Hampshire, Dunedin, Lansing, Auburn and Pulaski – but Pulaski was dropped after the 2006. Both Auburn and Pulaski were in similar leagues, both of which tend to attract first-year players signed out of college programs. As such, Pulaski became redundant.

The Jays said this was not the plan when Pulaski was dropped and they fully intended to go with five affiliates for the 2007 season (to save money) but that never made any sense. Why would the Jays leave Auburn as the only introductory team when they finally began to focus on drafting high school players, they signed a major Latin talent in Balbino Fuenmayor and they signed top Latin talent evaluator Marco Paddy away from the Atlanta Braves?

The Jays have teams in both the Dominican Summer League and Venezuelan Summer League. Most teams do, as this is where they develop the (usually) raw Latin teenagers for a year or three before bringing them over to North America.

In 2007, there could be an influx of Latin players into the lower levels of the minors as baseball and the U.S. government have worked to remove some roadblocks that make acquiring seasonal work VISAs for players difficult. As it stands right now, VISAs and in short supply so a player must truly impress to receive one.

The Jays have a number of players – especially pitchers – that had above-average seasons in the Dominican Summer League and deserve a spot on a North American squad. As well, Balbino Fuenmayor, 17, will very likely begin his career in the short-season Gulf Coast League this June.

The Latin players that could come to North America this year include (GO/AO = ground ball out to fly ball out ratio):
LHP Luis Perez, 22, 1.38 ERA, 3.35 GO/AO, .158 AVG allowed
RHP Joel Carreno, 20, 1.53 ERA, 1.70 GO/AO, .168 AVG allowed
LHP Maximilliano Belliard, 21, 3.59 ERA, 2.27 GO/AO, .248 AVG allowed
RHP Juan Bustamante, 20,  2.80 ERA, 1.50 GO/AO, .215 AVG allowed
LHP Joel Castillo, 19, 1.57 ERA, 0.50 GO/AO, .158 AVG allowed

2B Dany Faris, 21, .325 AVG .390 OBA .453 SLG  21/21 BB/K

OF Moises Sierra, 18, .253 AVG .345 OBA .376 SLG

Although Sierra’s numbers do not look that great, he was given a six figure signing bonus based on his physical tools and the Jays may decide to get him stateside to further his development. At 22, Perez is an older prospect (for a Latin player) but his numbers were filthy and he was the Jays’ Latin player of the year.

Other players who should find themselves in the Gulf Coast League this year:
Australians: catcher Chris House and pitcher Josh Wells (recovering from Tommy John surgery); 2006 draft picks outfielder Mikal Gabarino, infielder Jonathan Del Campo, as well as Canadian pitchers Brad Cuthbertson and Michael Lynch (an undrafted free agent), both of whom signed late last season but have yet to make their debut.

In other news, the Jays signed LHP Jesse Carlson to a minor league contract. He will compete for a spot on the already crowded Syracuse Chiefs’ pitching staff. Carlson pitched for the Jays in 2005 and was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers.

The Jays also signed 1B Manuel Rodriguez, who was let go by the Atlanta Braves. Rodriguez, 22, played last season in for Atlanta’s A-affiliate in Rome. He has some undeveloped power but has walked only 27 times in 697 career at-bats, albeit with a .271 average. Rodriguez with likely begin the year in Lansing backing up 2006 draft pick Luke Hopkins.