2006 Minor League Free Agents

The following is the list of minor leaguers who have been declared free agents following the 2006 season, as provided by Major League Baseball:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...ws/262709.html

And a summary provided by Thundering Turtle on Red Reporter:

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Here's who I'd rate as the best of the crop, not that anyone is likely to make a huge impact. A few of these guys might have a shot at making the Reds better:

-- Juan Brito-C-Ari. Age 27. Didn't hit in cups of coffee with AZ and KC. Went 8-43-.296 .360 .449 in AAA in '06.
-- Jeff Bajenaru-RHP-Ari. Age 29. 14 MLB games last 3 years. 4-3 4.50 w/7 SV 79 H in 80 IP 72 K 40 BB .258 BAA in AAA in '06. Traded for Alex Cintron last season. Hard-throwing RP.
-- Mike Bacsik-LHP-Bal. Age. 29. 5-5 5.88 in 22 MLB games. Hittable, but doesn't walk many. 11-0 2.79 w/81 H in 87 IP 59 K 19 BB and .248 BAA last year in AAA. Might finally be coming around.
-- Brian Bowles-RHP-Bal. Age. 30. 10-10 3.23 w/156 H in 156 IP 78 K 53 BB and .264 BAA in AAA last year. Was OK in brief stint with Jays. Throws 94, but lacks command.
-- Eddy Rodriguez-RHP-Bal. Age 25. Tolerable in two short MLB stints. 3-1 1.71 w/12 SV, 33 H in 47 IP 55 K and 18 BB with .191 BAA in AAA in '06. I like this guy.
-- Jermaine Van Buren-RHP-Bos. Age. 25. 4-0 2.98 w/37 H in 45 IP, 46 K 18 BB and .233 BAA in AAA in '06. Cup of coffee w/Cubs in '05. Reds reportedly were interested in him last season. Herky-jerky motion makes him hard to hit, but has trouble with control.
-- Luis Montanez-OF-ChiC. Age 24. 3rd overall pick in 2000 draft. Played in Futures Game. has taken awhile to come around, but hit .368 in AAA in '06.
-- Lee Gwaltney-RHP-ChiC. Age 26. Hits 94 and has a plus-plus splitter. Good numbers in minors. Out until July w/torn labrum. Probably not worth the time.
-- J.R. House-C-Hou. Age 26. 5-36-.412 in AAA in '06. I interviewed him when he was considering playing football at Marshall. Opted for baseball, then football at WVU, then back to baseball. Nice kid.
-- Jose Diaz-RHP-KC. Age 24. Traded at various times in deals for Jeromy Burnitz, Scott Kazmir and Matt Stairs. Mid-90s arm but lacks command. 4-3 3.07 w/4 SV and 58 H in 92 IP w/91 K and 57 BB in '06.
-- Mitch Wylie-RHP-NYM. Age 24. Rule 5 pick in '06, but was returned. 2-4 2.96 47 H in 48 IP 53 K 11 BB in AAA in '06.
-- Jesus Colome-RHP-NYY. Age 29. 6 OK MLB seasons with TB. 11-22 4.73 career line. Throws hard. Couldn't hurt.
-- Steve Andrade-RHP-SD. Age 29. 3-2 3.19 with 54 H in 67 IP 67 K and 30 BB in '06. .218 BAA. Rule 5 pick who bounced around. 4 games with KC last year.
-- Guillermo Quiroz-C-Sea. Age 25. 3-28-.304 .359 .428 in AAA in '06. 0-10-.200 in 3 MLB seasons. Solid catcher.
-- Jean Mach-RHP-TB. Age 24. 6-1 2.64 16 SV 68 H in 71 IP 68 K 37 BB in AA in '06. Has hit 98 mph.
-- Al Reyes-RHP-TB. Age 35. Was very good w/STL before arm injury sidelined him all of '06.
-- Jon Leicester-RHP-Tex. Age 28. 5-1 3.89 40 H in 41 IP 35 K 15 BB with Cubs in '04. Plus FB, but inconsistent control.
-- Matt Riley-LHP-Tex. Age 26. Ex-Baltimore prospect. 5-4 5.99 in 4 years with Orioles.

Others of mild interest: Brian Forystek-RHP-Bal, Jason Pearson-RHP-Bal, Mike Restovich-OF-ChiC, Tim Redding-RHP-ChiW, Stephen Randolph-LHP-ChiW, Tino Sanchez-C-Col, Lee Gardner-RHP-Det, Nick Trzesniak-C-Fla, Edgar Gonzalez-2B-Fla, Mike Gallo-LHP-Hou, TJ Nall-RHP-LAD, Matt Merricks-RHP-LAD, Tim Lavigne-RHP-NYM, Kevin Olsen-RHP-Oak, Brett Roneberg-IF-Pit, Luis Figueroa-C-Tor.

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There looks like a lot of hard throwing projects. I wouldn't mind taking a chance on Van Buren or Colome. I think Rodriguez would be the best pickup.

from that list I assume we will be adding 1-2 guys from this list. It can be a good source of middle relievers and 4th outfielders. From the list these are the guys that intrigue me:

1)Eddy Rodriguez-25(rhp)
2)Jermaine Van Buren-25(rhp)
3)Jean Machi-24(rhp)
4)TJ Nall-26(rhp)
5)Michael Restovich-27(of)

With the trading of one of the outfielders, we will need a 4th or 5th outfielder that will be a cheap role player, and has some experience. With Restovich being a former Twin, I think he will surface as that guy. Of the others they are all hard throwers with the excption of Nall, and would be nice additions to a staff of soft tossers.

I like Van Buren, Jean Machi, Luis Montanez, Matt Riley, and Eddy Rodriguez

While it's hard to say you love anybody on this list, I wouldn't mind it at all if the Reds took a flyer on Mitch Jones from the Yankees organization. He is 28 years old and has struggled to hit for average at the AAA level, but he has considerably above average power, is a right handed hitter, and can play three positions (1B, RF, LF) at a competent level. He's a nice guy to have at AAA for a short term fill in, and you never know if a hitting coach with a different philosophy might help his approach. As an added possibility....Bucky Dent was his 2005 manager at AAA Columbus in his best year to date in the minors.

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Originally Posted by dougflynn23

While it's hard to say you love anybody on this list, I wouldn't mind it at all if the Reds took a flyer on Mitch Jones from the Yankees organization. He is 28 years old and has struggled to hit for average at the AAA level, but he has considerably above average power, is a right handed hitter, and can play three positions (1B, RF, LF) at a competent level. He's a nice guy to have at AAA for a short term fill in, and you never know if a hitting coach with a different philosophy might help his approach. As an added possibility....Bucky Dent was his 2005 manager at AAA Columbus in his best year to date in the minors.

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He will always be one of the guys I root for. I went to the Clippers game (my first Clippers game ever) in 2005 where he hit for the cycle. My friends and I just left the game going "Who the heck is Mitch Jones?" But from then on he was "our boy Mitch." :laugh: