The Brewers have released the following players. We wish these guys well. Click on their name to see their career statistics:
RHP Steve Bray -- Coming off his age 26 season in 2007 (check out those insane statistics), it was impossible to think Bray would not at least get a cup of coffee in Milwaukee in 2008, but it wasn't to be. After being picked up as a minor league Rule 5 draftee prior to the 2006 season from the Royals' system, Bray enjoyed two years of success and one very tough season in the Brewer organization. After '07, his non- 40-man status was debated to the point that some (including myself) felt he was primed to be plucked by another organization.
RHP Brian Reith -- A minor league free agent signing this past offseason, the Nashville site detailed his signing as follows:
Reith, 31, who has spent the majority of the last two seasons in the independent Atlantic League, has five years of Triple-A experience with the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations. He has a minor league career record of 61-59 with a 3.63 ERA, and 838 strikeouts in 1,008 innings pitched in 257 games. Reith spent the 2008 season with Atlantic League Champion Somerset Patriots, where he logged a 5-4 record, a 3.94 ERA, 16 saves, and 85 strikeouts in 80 innings in 41 games pitched. He began the season as a starter, where he was 3-0, but flourished in his role as the team's closer in the second half of the season. Reith was even more impressive in the post season, helping to lead the Patriots to their league leading fourth championship. He was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, three saves, and six strikeouts in four innings pitched in four games in the playoffs. Reith had a 2.70 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 40 innings in eight games for Somerset in 2007 before leaving to play in Taiwan.
RHP Richie Gardner -- Gardner, 27, was claimed off of waivers from Cincinnati this exact time last season. His 1.71 WHIP in 17 starts and 13 relief appearances for Nashville in '08 was high, even for the offense-happy Pacific Coast League, and Gardner is still looking for his first big league action. He lost his 40-man roster spot last September 1st.
RHP Reed Dickert -- Dickert, who will be 25 in June, made his affiliated ball debut last season after toiling in independent ball for two seasons. He posted fine peripheral numbers at West Virginia against younger players, but won't be back for 2009.
RHP Bobby McEwen -- McEwen, 24, was signed last July as an undrafted free agent out of Gonzaga, where his numbers didn't foretell pro success. But his backstory proved to be interesting as was detailed in this post. McEwen appeared in eight games in Maryvale last summer.
LHP Curtis Pasma -- The 23-year-old Pasma was drafted in the 36th round in 2007 out of the University of Pacific. He spent all of 2008 at West Virginia.
LHP Adam Arnold -- Arnold will turn 23 in May. He was drafted out of a British Columbia university in the 41st round in 2007. His 2008 Helena numbers covered 15 appearances (remember, click on name for link).
1B / OF Stephen Chapman -- Chapman, 23, was the Brewers 6th round pick out of a Florida high school in 2004, and he had a five-year run in the system that saw him peak at # 16 on the Power 50 after the 2007 season. His P50 history can be followed here. That sure was an interesting campaign at age 21 in West Virginia.
1B Cameron Robulack -- The big 20-year-old Toronto-area product was drafted in the 20th round in '07. So much sacrifice in that brutal Arizona Summer League sun for two seasons, it hurts not to reach Helena at least.
Just an FYI, but it's part of the agent biz -- Chapman, and Robulack are both clients of Josh, our Agent39.
OF Brent Krause -- Krause, 27, was signed out of independent ball late last August, and apparently had turned some heads in camp early this spring training. Krause briefly had another stint in affiliated ball with the Orioles in 2007.
IF Miguel Vasquez -- The Brewers drafted the now 22-year-old Bronx kid Vasquez in the 32nd round in 2007, out of a Florida junior college. Vasquez always seemed to post the best box score lines on those struggling Maryvale teams the past two summers, but his Helena stint was only 19 games in 2008. he saw some time in the outfield as well during his stay in the system.
OF Jose Rangel -- The Venezuelan Rangel will turn 21 in June. Unfortunately, a .495 OPS in 225 Arizona League AB's over two seasons usually won't earn a player another invite. Rangel was not a big-money international signing.
Those are the updates for now. We can't say there won't be more before rosters are announced. We don't know that at this time.
RHP Steve Bray -- Coming off his age 26 season in 2007 (check out those insane statistics), it was impossible to think Bray would not at least get a cup of coffee in Milwaukee in 2008, but it wasn't to be. After being picked up as a minor league Rule 5 draftee prior to the 2006 season from the Royals' system, Bray enjoyed two years of success and one very tough season in the Brewer organization. After '07, his non- 40-man status was debated to the point that some (including myself) felt he was primed to be plucked by another organization.
RHP Brian Reith -- A minor league free agent signing this past offseason, the Nashville site detailed his signing as follows:
Reith, 31, who has spent the majority of the last two seasons in the independent Atlantic League, has five years of Triple-A experience with the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations. He has a minor league career record of 61-59 with a 3.63 ERA, and 838 strikeouts in 1,008 innings pitched in 257 games. Reith spent the 2008 season with Atlantic League Champion Somerset Patriots, where he logged a 5-4 record, a 3.94 ERA, 16 saves, and 85 strikeouts in 80 innings in 41 games pitched. He began the season as a starter, where he was 3-0, but flourished in his role as the team's closer in the second half of the season. Reith was even more impressive in the post season, helping to lead the Patriots to their league leading fourth championship. He was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, three saves, and six strikeouts in four innings pitched in four games in the playoffs. Reith had a 2.70 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 40 innings in eight games for Somerset in 2007 before leaving to play in Taiwan.
RHP Richie Gardner -- Gardner, 27, was claimed off of waivers from Cincinnati this exact time last season. His 1.71 WHIP in 17 starts and 13 relief appearances for Nashville in '08 was high, even for the offense-happy Pacific Coast League, and Gardner is still looking for his first big league action. He lost his 40-man roster spot last September 1st.
RHP Reed Dickert -- Dickert, who will be 25 in June, made his affiliated ball debut last season after toiling in independent ball for two seasons. He posted fine peripheral numbers at West Virginia against younger players, but won't be back for 2009.
RHP Bobby McEwen -- McEwen, 24, was signed last July as an undrafted free agent out of Gonzaga, where his numbers didn't foretell pro success. But his backstory proved to be interesting as was detailed in this post. McEwen appeared in eight games in Maryvale last summer.
LHP Curtis Pasma -- The 23-year-old Pasma was drafted in the 36th round in 2007 out of the University of Pacific. He spent all of 2008 at West Virginia.
LHP Adam Arnold -- Arnold will turn 23 in May. He was drafted out of a British Columbia university in the 41st round in 2007. His 2008 Helena numbers covered 15 appearances (remember, click on name for link).
1B / OF Stephen Chapman -- Chapman, 23, was the Brewers 6th round pick out of a Florida high school in 2004, and he had a five-year run in the system that saw him peak at # 16 on the Power 50 after the 2007 season. His P50 history can be followed here. That sure was an interesting campaign at age 21 in West Virginia.
1B Cameron Robulack -- The big 20-year-old Toronto-area product was drafted in the 20th round in '07. So much sacrifice in that brutal Arizona Summer League sun for two seasons, it hurts not to reach Helena at least.
Just an FYI, but it's part of the agent biz -- Chapman, and Robulack are both clients of Josh, our Agent39.
OF Brent Krause -- Krause, 27, was signed out of independent ball late last August, and apparently had turned some heads in camp early this spring training. Krause briefly had another stint in affiliated ball with the Orioles in 2007.
IF Miguel Vasquez -- The Brewers drafted the now 22-year-old Bronx kid Vasquez in the 32nd round in 2007, out of a Florida junior college. Vasquez always seemed to post the best box score lines on those struggling Maryvale teams the past two summers, but his Helena stint was only 19 games in 2008. he saw some time in the outfield as well during his stay in the system.
OF Jose Rangel -- The Venezuelan Rangel will turn 21 in June. Unfortunately, a .495 OPS in 225 Arizona League AB's over two seasons usually won't earn a player another invite. Rangel was not a big-money international signing.
Those are the updates for now. We can't say there won't be more before rosters are announced. We don't know that at this time.
