IBC

Brewers release Jamie Vermilyea

Brewers sign Fernando Tatis

Phillies release Doug Brocail

Phillies sign Jody 0-Gerut

Padres release Samuel Gervacio

Padres sign Ricardo 0-Romero

Padres release Kieron 0-Pope

Padres create Zachary 6-Dials

Tigers release Adam 0-Russell

Tigers sign J.D. Martin

BlueJays release Rich 0-Dorman

BlueJays claimed Doug Brocail

Phillies release Brad Harman

Phillies sign Charlie Haeger

DBacks release Adam Loewen

Best wishes at becoming the 2nd version of Rick Ankiel.

By Jim Callis
July 21, 2008

Rick Ankiel has pulled off an improbable transformation from pitcher to outfielder, and now Adam Loewen will try to follow the same path. A stress fracture in his left elbow derailed Loewen in 2007, and the same injury recurred this summer. Faced with the prospect of a second surgery and an 18-month rehab, Loewen and the Orioles decided he would be better off trying to become an outfielder.

The fourth overall pick in the 2002 draft, Loewen spent the next spring as a two-way player at Chipola (Fla.) Junior College before signing with Baltimore as a draft-and-follow. In the Feb. 5, 2003 Ask BA, I dealt with Loewen's potential as a position player:

. . . The [Major League Scouting] Bureau graded Loewen higher as a pitcher, but he's not far behind as a hitter. He finished third at the 2002 World Junior Championships in batting with .542-1-10 totals in 24 at-bats. Our crack Expos/Canadian correspondent Michael Levesque reports that one scout who saw Loewen in high school graded his power potential as a 75 on the 20-80 scouting scale. The scout also gave him a 60 for his batting potential and an 80 for arm strength. His speed and defense project as fringe average because Loewen will slow down as he gets bigger.

Because Loewen is lefthanded and has such good stuff (92-96 mph fastball, nasty curveball, a splitter that serves as a changeup and a new slider), I'd be surprised if a team moved him off the mound. But if that happened, Loewen certainly has the talent to make it to the majors as a hitter.

Orioles release Jason Botts

DBacks create Luis 0-Exposito

From Peter Gammons:
"One scouting director claims that while some clubs will overdraft a catcher out of desperate need, "none of the catchers in this draft are much better than second or third rounders." That includes Pepperdine's Chad Tracy, who comes with extraordinary bloodlines as Jim's son, as well as high schoolers Max Sapp of Windermere, Fla., and Hank Conger of Huntington Beach, Calif. "We liked Luis Exposito (signed by Boston out of St. Pete J.C. as a draft and follow) better than almost any of them," says a scouting director."

Rays release Charlie 0-Zink

Rays create Zachary 7-Cozart

Pirates sign Joe Bateman

Athletics release Brian 7-Rike

Athletics sign Chris 6-Johnson

Pirates release Freddy 0-Dolsi

Pirates sign Chris 0-Lambert

Nationals release Diory Hernandez