November-December 2021 Phillies Minor League Transactions/Discussion

[julio]

#Phillies have signed RHP Andrew Bellatti to a minor league contract.

— MiLB-Transactions ( @tombaseball29 ) December 2, 2021

[andyb]

Might as well throw this in here, but there will be a minor league rule 5 draft this week. Jim at PhuturePhillies gives a good summary of who they might protect from that draft. Teams can protect players on their AAA roster (38 more) that would be eligible for the major league draft but not the minor league portion where the only cost is money to select a player.

I suspect there might be a little more action in this draft than in the past as teams prepare for all sorts of contingencies and uncertainties.

https://phuturephillies.com/2021/12/07/protected-players-for-the-2021-rule-5-draft/

[julio]

Yes. The minor league Rule 5 draft takes place this afternoon at 2 pm EST.

[Philsmania]

Mods, feel free to move this elsewhere if it is the wrong thread for it, but Reading unveiled plans for the renovation of the old ballpark to save MiLB in Reading. My personal opinion is that as charming as that old ballpark is, they would probably be better served by building a new one as close as possible to downtown Reading and which has a view of the city skyline, Mt. Penn and the Pagoda beyond the outfield wall. That just might give a kickstart to downtown Reading and its nightlife scene (though there is ample nightlife, dining and imbibing just across the river on the Penn Street strip in West Reading).

Renderings Revealed for FirstEnergy Stadium Improvement Project

[julio]

Makes sense to me to have off-season minor league discussion in these threads, since most off-season minor-league activity is, in fact, transactions.

[Philsmania]

Makes sense to me to have off-season minor league discussion in these threads, since most off-season minor-league activity is, in fact, transactions.

Ok. I wasn't quite sure if this was the right place or not but glad that it is!

[gmwannabe]

just following up on PM's post. might be a nice idea, but i don't know of any land around to build. unless there is any, "down by the river" (props to Chris Farley) near where Penske is. Which would make it like Harrisburg's stadium. The old Municipal Stadium is still a beauty and a great place to go to a game.
gm

[zambonir]

Who would pay for a new stadium? Certainly not the Phillies, and probably not the city/state either. This $7.5 million is plenty. The idea that stadiums revitalize downtowns or add to economic development at all is largely a myth anyway, and probably even more so in the minors.

[bkox]

As someone who used to live Reading... I cant see anywhere it would go thats near downtown... and with all the shootings there Im not sure we want it there anyway.

Unless Penske wants to give up his area, the only open tract seems to be over by the Olivet boys and girls club.. and thats not really near downtown.

[BaseballCat]

Any change would be a shame, but I do want the Phils to stay there. When I lived in the Philly area it was one of my favorite places to see a game. And delicious hotdogs - what could be better!!

[zambonir]

Actually a pretty expensive deal, and the team did put in a share. I assume the lease will be extended and revised accordingly.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s investment of $7.5 million in the project, combined with investment of $3 million each from the R-Phils, City of Reading, and County of Berks, will allow for the planned $16.5 million project to move forward.

R-Phils Thank the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Funding for FirstEnergy...

[bkox]

I hate seeing tax money going to this (or any stadium deal). It wasnt long ago that Reading was called the poorest city in the US. That 3 mil could go to many other areas.

[zambonir]

Agreed, but it's certainly not just sports I bet Penske gets more than that in tax breaks or other subsidies (just the city/county portion). And while the general arrangement where the team doesn't actually own the stadium is also something that tends to favor the team, and the fact that MLB threatened to leave the market is odious, there's probably no scenario where the city and county don't have to pay that kind of money to maintain their building, whether with the Phillies, something else, or nothing.

[bkox]

minor league rule 5:

Phillies drafted RHP Matt Seelinger off San Francisco's Double-A affiliate. Draft lasted 5 rounds. No Phillies' minor leaguers selected. Seelinger struck out 64 in 41 IP for double-a Richmond in 2021, 35.56% of batters faced (180 batters faced).

— jim peyton ( @jimpeyton19 ) December 8, 2021

[andyb]

Looks like a relief pitcher with some deception. 93-94 mph fastball and a decent curve. Good enough to be traded for Erik Kratz! Another minor acquisition that took a detour through Tampa so likely our new asst GM here.

https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2019/05/20/san-francisco-giants-matt-seelinger-acquired-erik-kratz-trade/

[zambonir]

Endeavor creates Diamond Baseball Holdings, plans to acquire 9 MiLB teams

Since we've made this the global minor news thread, I guess. Includes SWB and every single Atlanta affiliate.

Endeavor also owns IMG which runs most of the marketing for college athletic departments too. This is probably a similar step.

[xogfog]

...and a glowing testament to the Phillies farm system, nobody was taken from the Phillies.

[andyb]

Added a 26-year-old utility infielder who was in AA last year:
https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/12-14-21-phillies-sign-infielder-wendell-rijo

And some more on the free agents a few days ago:
https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/12-14-21-catching-up-on-some-minor-league-signings

Cyr seems interesting with velocity and deception (and he does not give up home runs).

[julio]

A post was merged into an existing topic: January 2022 Phillies Minor League Transactions/Discussion

[julio]