August 2019 Phillies Minor League Transactions

[phillychuck]

I'll bet Cozens requested his release rather than being DFA'd off the 40.

[julio]

I'll bet Cozens requested his release rather than being DFA'd off the 40.

Yes, he may have been eligible to declare free agency rather than accept a DFA. I'd have to hit the Rules again to be sure, and I really don't feel like that tonight (we hiked most of the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen this afternoon, and I'm feelin' it!).

[Lucky_Beagle]

Yes, he may have been eligible to declare free agency rather than accept a DFA. I'd have to hit the Rules again to be sure, and I really don't feel like that tonight (we hiked most of the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen this afternoon, and I'm feelin' it!).

Lovely place for a hike!

[LoneStarPhan]

Nick Williams back to AAA. He was hitting well there but when called up again, he just didn't do much in the bench role. I hope he can regain his hitting and put up good numbers in AAA. He really may be auditioning for his next team.

[zambonir]

According to a recent Stark column, minor leaguers can still be traded. But presumably nobody wanted Cozens on their 40. He can probably find some ABs in September somewhere though.

Walding's journey still not done?

[DurhamBull]

Nick Williams back to AAA. He was hitting well there but when called up again, he just didn't do much in the bench role. I hope he can regain his hitting and put up good numbers in AAA. He really may be auditioning for his next team.

Both Williams and Cozens are just 25 (Williams is almost 26) but both have regressed from their respective peaks which is curious to me. I think Williams especially could benefit from a fresh start elsewhere. He's had some major league success (2017) and was tearing up AAA but the Phils have shown no confidence in him this season and in the majors he has played down to their expectations.

I totally agree that his best angle is to continue his great performance at AAA to catch some other team's eye. I have to imagine the Phils would take just about any offer for him at this point.

[phillychuck]

I think it might have been as simple as Cozens asking for the release, and the Phils granting his request.

[Austinfan]

Neither Cozens or Williams had any chance of playing in Philly again.
Cozens simply can't make contact.
Williams lacks plate discipline, which ML pitchers exploit, and he's a negative fielding LF.

With Bruce signed for next year for peanuts, Haseley showing that he belongs, Quinn might even stay healthy, and if Dickinson shows well he could be resigned, there is simply no room, especially with Moniak and Stephen in Lehigh next year.

[LoneStarPhan]

I guess there is still a chance that Cozens and/or others recently DFA'd could be traded in a minor league trade. Every club has such players that they need t move and the Phillies might want to take one for a closer look this month.

[phillychuck]

Cozens was released, not DFA'd.

[zambonir]

I think Cozens was DFA'ed and then released. He likely cleared waivers. Also, we (myself included) are forgetting he's basically out for the season (despite his protests) so I doubt any team wanted to acquire him. So it almost doesn't matter if he asked for his release (or was entitled to it), it was probably just a courtesy, let him get on with his plans for next year (and maybe he was going to be a minor league FA this off-season anyway?).

Actually seems a little unfair, does he lose the remainder of his AAA salary while still being injured? Does going off the 40 decrease his salary in the minors? And can you even release an injured player who got hurt working for your organization? If not it probably was at his request, maybe there was even small payout.

I still think they will get something for Williams, even if it's just a different kind of bench piece or depth relief arm. Or perhaps he'll be folded into a bigger off-season deal.

[julio]

I think Cozens was DFA'ed and then released. He likely cleared waivers. Also, we (myself included) are forgetting he's basically out for the season (despite his protests) so I doubt any team wanted to acquire him. So it almost doesn't matter if he asked for his release (or was entitled to it), it was probably just a courtesy, let him get on with his plans for next year (and maybe he was going to be a minor league FA this off-season anyway?).

Cozens was in fact going to become a free agent in October, unless the Phils added him back to the 40-man roster (which wasn't going to happen, IMHO) - this was his eighth seaon in the organization. So my guess is that the Phils just asked (and got) release waivers instead of outright waivers. Given that he's out for the season anyway, he wasn't going to play if outrighted, and after the season he was gone.

As for his salary, per the CBA, Cozens will be paid his full season's salary, at the minor league rate on a split contract, if - as I assume - he signed a split contract. The 2019 minor league minimum for players on the 40-man roster is $90,400.

[phillychuck]

A post was merged into an existing topic: Minor League Games - Friday, August 2, 2019

[julio]

This could spell the end of Mitch Walding's career with the Phillies organization:

8/7/19: Lehigh Valley IronPigs placed 3B Mitch Walding on the 7-day injured list. Right shoulder labrum tear.

That's his throwing arm. Labrum tears are serious. Walding wasn't going to be added back to the 40-man this winter in any case. He'll be a minor-league free agent. Shame.

[David_Criss]

Is that an injury he could have had for a while? Or is it one that just happened? I can see him giving it another shot to be a backup 1B/3B somewhere.

[julio]

Is that an injury he could have had for a while? Or is it one that just happened?

Have no way of knowing. Although if he has any kind of serious labrum tear, I can't imagine he'd have been making throws across the diamond.

[andyb]

In the somewhat interesting short season category, our Italian pitcher (Samuel Aldegheri) was assigned to GCL East. He is still 17 so younger than most of our Euro signees. He was part of this year's J2 class (2019) but was old enough to play immediately I guess.

And Victor Vargas who has been solid this year (1.44 ERA) but has not missed too many bats (15 Ks in 25 IP) was promoted to Williamsport. Should be a good test for the 18-year-old.

[allentown]

if he has any kind of serious labrum tear, I can't imagine he'd have been making throws across the diamond.

So not an old injury, since 11 of last dozen games he started were at 3B -- right up to the end of July.

[andyb]

We signed Nick Hundley to a minor league deal for LHV today.

Insurance for September I imagine and they are thinner after the Bossart deal. I suppose he could be in the mix for a September callup if they do not want to start the Grullon service time clock though Grullon is probably going to be protected on the 40 in the Fall anyway. Not sure he is good enough any more to be a threat to Knapp.

[Squire]

Mitch Rupert says LHP Erik Miller being promoted from Williamsport to Lakewood