Tigers Add To their 40-Man Roster
By Blake VandeBunte • Nov 20th, 2008 • Category: Alredo Figaro, Casper Wells, Guillermo Moscoso, Wilkin Ramirez, Zach SimonsThe Tigers purchased the contracts of five players and added them to their 40 man roster. This move ensures that these five players will not be made available in the Rule 5 draft. If a Tiger would have been picked in the Rule 5 draft, the organization would risk losing them for good. Johan Santana was a Rule 5 player who the Florida Marlins let get away. So this could be a big deal.
Added to the 40 man roster were these five fine gentlemen:
- Wilkin Ramirez (OF): Ramirez was impressive during Spring Training until an injury got him sent out of camp. He responded well after the injury and put together a pretty nice season in AA. While down in Erie, Ramirez hit .303/.371/.522 with 19 homers and 26 steals. If the Tigers can find a way to thin out their outfield situation at the big league level, Ramirez would have a great shot at making the club.
- Casper Wells (OF): Wells split last season between West Michigan and Erie and put up some very impressive stats. He hit a combined 27 homers and hit .289 after his promotion to Erie. Like Ramirez, Wells showed some speed on the bases and stole a combined 25 bases in 2008.
- Alfredo Figaro (P): Figaro, 24, spent most of last season in West Michigan but earned a late season promotion to Lakeland and made 5 of his 24 starts down there. Figaro went 12-2 with the West Michigan Whitecaps and posted an ERA of 2.05. He had a WHIP of 1.05 and struck out 96 batters in 123 innings.
- Guillermo Moscoso (P): Moscoso split the 2008 season between Lakeland and Erie. He started half his games in Lakeland and made six starts for Erie. He had a combined record of 5-4 and struck out 122 batters in only 86.2 innings, those are Joel Zumaya numbers. His WHIP at both Lakeland and Erie was below 1.00, which is phenomenal. Watch out for this guy.
- Zach Simons (P): This is the guy the Tigers got for Jason Grilli back in April. Simons made 39 relief appearances for Lakeland in 2008 and struck out better than a batter per inning. He an ERA of 2.36 and an equally impressive WHIP of 1.11.
These moves put the Tigers 40 man roster at 38 players. That means that the Tigers are leaving a spot open for free agents signees or Rule 5 draft picks.
Blake VandeBunte is a posting fiend.
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Ramirez profiles best as a corner outfielder. Hoping he becomes more selective at the plate with better pitch recognition. Wells has improved his stock in the AFL. Figaro is a cousin of Rodney so he will also wear his cap crooked, Moscoso has alot of upside, same with Simons the Tigers received him from the rockies in the grilli trade.
Marte is not rule 5 draft ready.
Leaving Skelton off the 40 man hoping another team won’t claim them. Skelton would have to stay in the majors for all of 09 as a third string catcher. Will Rhymes looks like he could be picked off the rule 5 and possibly jay sborz.
Hessman is protected because if Inge goes down there is no one to take his place in the organization. highest ranked 3rd baseman is francisco martinez an 18 year old.