Rockies, Blue Jays sign former O's minor leaguers
According to the latest list of minor league signings on the Baseball America Web site, the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with four former Orioles minor leaguers – two with each team.
The biggest name on the list, from an Orioles perspective, is Brandon Fahey. The 28-year-old middle infielder hit .224 with two home runs and 36 RBIs in 189 games, spanning three seasons, in the major leagues. Last season, he batted .226 with no home runs and 12 RBIs in 58 games for the Orioles. Fahey signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays. He also received an invitation to spring training.
In the discussion about Fahey’s signing, Baseball America talks about the different shortstops that the Orioles used in 2008:
Not a team afraid to take chances on discarded shortstops -- think Royce Clayton, Pedro Lopez, Hector Luna, Ray Olmedo, Danny Sandoval, Jason Smith and Jorge Velandia just from the past two seasons -- the Blue Jays now have signed Fahey, part of the ‘08 Orioles’ five-headed monster at shortstop. The other four: Freddie Bynum, Juan Castro, Alex Cintron and Luis Hernandez. (Just think about that the next time you pity your favorite team’s assembled depth at a particular position.)
The Blue Jays also agreed to terms on a minor league deal with left-handed pitcher Rommie Lewis Jr., who pitched for the Double-A Bowie Baysox in 2008. Lewis was 1-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 38 appearances (five starts) for the Baysox last season. He had 63 strikeouts and 26 walks in 66 innings.
The Orioles selected the 26-year-old left-hander in the fourth round of the 2001 MLB draft. Lewis pitched in the Orioles’ minor league system for the first seven seasons of his professional career. He didn’t pitch in 2005, and spent three years with the Single-A Frederick Keys – 2003, 2004 and 2006.
Overall, Lewis was 13-30 with a 3.64 ERA in 252 games (37 starts) in the Orioles’ minor league system. I was always impressed with the 6-foot-6, 203-pound pitcher’s stuff, but it’s probably best that he hooked on with another organization. Lewis is getting older, and the Orioles have an influx of young pitchers who are ready to take his spot.
The Rockies agreed to minor league deals with two players who played for a brief period in the Orioles’ minor league system.
Mike McCoy, who the St. Louis Cardinals selected in the 34th round of the 2002 MLB draft, played in 53 games for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides last season. The 27-year-old utility player hit .276 with two home runs and 16 RBIs for the Tides. He had six stolen bases and 25 runs scored.
Ruddy Yan split time between the Tides and Baysox during the 2007 season. He batted .149 in 14 games for the Tides before being demoted to Double-A. In 98 games for the Baysox, the 27-year-old outfielder hit .263 with three home runs and 22 RBIs. Yan played in nine games with Veracruz in the Mexican League last season.
The biggest non-Orioles name on Baseball America’s latest list of transactions, in my opinion, is former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jonny Gomes, who recently agreed to a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds. I’ll never forget watching the 28-year-old outfielder hit one of the longest home runs that I’ve ever seen in person at Camden Yards against the Orioles on Opening Day in 2006.
His best season was in 2005, when the 6-foot-1, 205-pound right-handed hitter batted .282 with 21 home runs and 54 RBIs. The Reds are a little thin in the outfield, so don’t be surprised if Gomes rejuvenates his career in the National League Central.
Categories: Former O's minor leaguers
Comments
The Orioles will miss the services of Brandon Fahey. He tried hard and played well when he did play. He was always glad to be on the field in the majors. He was not allowed to play much and deserves a chance to play everyday. He is an asset to any team that gets him. Good Luck to Brandon!
Posted by: John L. GRUMBACH | January 27, 2009 11:04 AM
Fahey could be a solid utility player. What does Gomez give you that Fahey doesnt? Dont tell me Fahey cannot play 1B. I wish we would have kept him as a reserve.
Posted by: Cereal Blogger | January 27, 2009 11:35 AM
Dean--Thanks for the info. I would say that Freel "likely playing elsewhere" is an unusual way of putting it.
-------------------
RESPONSE FROM DEAN: Barry -- Good call. I tweaked the language to clarify that statement. I was just trying to say that they'll be missing those outfielders. Thanks for the heads up.
Posted by: Barry | January 27, 2009 11:37 AM
OH NO! the world is going to end Faheys gone. LOL the Orioles wont miss him they have plenty to fill his spot. Im sure hes a nice guy and all but not to knock him he was easily replaceable.
Posted by: x orioles fan | January 27, 2009 11:46 AM
Fahey is typical of the sub-par major league talent that the Orioles have been putting on the field for the last 10 years. Probably a nice guy, but so was Brooke Fordyce.
Posted by: Enough Already | January 27, 2009 12:47 PM
I was at Fenway early on in '06 and watched Gomes knock 2 HR's out of the park - behind Kazmir's pitching and much to the silence of the Red Sox crowd. Then every Fantasy Baseball Guru rushing to pick him up on their teams - that lasted a few a week or so as I recall. Memories of Sam Horn anyone..?
Posted by: Chicago Orioles | January 27, 2009 12:57 PM
Fahey can't hit his weight and that is pretty sad. by the way i think he tops out at 165.
Posted by: blancione | January 27, 2009 1:10 PM
Cereal Blogger wants to know what Gomez gives you over Fahey - Let's take a look at the 2007 season when BOTH played for the Birds. Fahey played in 40 games and hit a scintilating .167(his listed weight is 160, by the way). Gomez played in 73 games and hit .302!
Just take a look at the career numbers and that Gomez is a "clubhouse" guy and can help mentor the other young ballplayers.
Fahey just can't play 1st base - he really doesn't belong in the majors. Sorry to upset the Fahey fans but the fact the O's had to use him show the serious lack of depth in the farm system.
Posted by: Dean | January 27, 2009 2:41 PM
Fahey was an absolute joke. The guy simply could not hit at the major league level. Last year I thought that he was the worst position player in the league that got regular playing time.
Frankly, I'm stunned that he's getting a shot somewhere else.
Posted by: Summer of 69 | January 27, 2009 3:16 PM
Gomez can play any infield spot and he can hit. Better fielder and hitter period. Sorry but Fahey can't hit at this level and made to many errors . I liked him personally and wish him the best. Gomez defines the word professional , he comes prepared and works hard . We should have never let him go , we got Freddie Bynum , how did that work out ?
Posted by: Dew Jones | January 27, 2009 3:25 PM
Do not understand alot of Orioles fan's love affair with players that frankly don't have major league caliber ability. First the outrage at Salazar on waivers now Brandon Fahey! An earlier poster asked for the difference between these two..besides Gomez being older he also has the ability to hit! Nice skill to have for a MLB player.
Posted by: Joel C | January 28, 2009 12:04 AM
Does anyone feel like its a good thing for other teams to be signing our minor league players? When was the last time that happened?
Perhaps it is further proof that our minor league system is out from the dulldrums of the past 10 years.
Here's hoping.
Posted by: Ryan | January 28, 2009 12:27 PM
Fans affection for Fahey is more evidence we need a winning team soon.No contending team would have Fahey on 40 man roster, much less the major league club. Obviously fans have forgotten what a contending teams makeup of talent should be.
Posted by: Pasadena Paul | January 28, 2009 6:47 PM